I am finishing the binding on the fourth side of an all-flannel quilt which my daughter has laid claim to, and I just love this quilt. It is a work of love to have quilted this on my home sewing machine, after making the top more than ten years ago. I think I will send it to her tomorrow, because if I don't, I will want to keep it for myself. Do any of you promise a quilt, and than afterwards you want to keep it for a while to celebrate the work that went into it??

It takes me so long to finish one that I don't want to see it any more after it's finished! I have changed my mind about who I am going to give a quilt to once it's finished however.

I keep pictures, the ones that are mine never get finished.

Heh. I don't tell people I'm making them quilts, so they're not expecting them. When we went to my Granny's yesterday for lunch, I brought the quilt I made her. Granny was giving me all of her mother's fabrics and UFO's to have since she and my mother don't quilt. Granny said to me "Stacie, I hope you don't think I expect you to make me a quilt" because my mom had brought the one I made her to show Granny. I told her of I don't think you EXPECT it...but I already made you one. ;) She was so surprised and happy.

Anyway, long story short, I usually do just leave them on my couch for a couple of days before gifting. The one for Granny is the ONLY one I didn't do that with because I finished it *just* in time for the time I wanted to give it to her.

I give them away quickly, but have fallen in love with all of them. I do keep a picture album of them all though.

I make specific quilts for specific people....by now most of my family knows they will each eventually get one, but they don't really get to choose. However one SIL might design her own ...and my one sister requested I use her wedding dress....tore it apart yesterday.

I love the one I am working on now. I think it is my best work (so far) and I know that I am not going to want to give it away even though I am making it for someone specifically. However, she doesn't know I'm making it so... you just never know.

I give them away as soon as they are completed after taking a photo of it. If I don't give them away ASAP, I would be tempted to keep them.

Yeah -- that's totally my inclination. I want to keep them, even though the recipient is ecstatic to get the quilt. I think my antidote is to begin the next quilt and fall in love with it, so that I don't miss the one I just gave away. Hmmm...??!!

I know what you mean. Half the time I am making the quilt for a specific person/occasion and when it's done I send it off.
On the other hand I've made quilts for the challenge of it and keep the quilt tops till they're needed. I've never had someone want a quilt top that I made before it was "spoken for" and finished.

But for sure, I've had to learn to "give them up" totally. That means, you never know how family/friends will take care of your creations and you need to just "let them go" physically and mentally. Not everyone has the sentimental feelings you have for the quilt. After all it took you MANY hours of preparation, creation, sewing, etc. to get it to the "finish line".
But, actually most of the recipients of my quilts appreciate the gift, the sentiment, the quality, thoughtfulness, etc.
Only one used a lap quilt for their dog. Oh well.

There have been a few that were hard to part with, but most were made using someone else's color schemes so they went easier :D:D:D