Are You Generous With Giving Quilts Away?

I have three kids and they each have a quilt. My husband has a quilt, I have a few other quilts around the house. In general I'll gladly make as many quilts as my immediate family needs. I made a quilt for a SIL and her husband when they got married. I didn't make any quilts for my 7 siblings when their babies were born. But I have now made I believe 6 quilts for various friends who had babies. I am in the process of making two more for some friends who are (just had) babies. I'm not quite sure how or why friends end up with quilts but I don't make them for my brothers or sisters (now up to 20 nieces or nephews so maybe that's my excuse)
I just emailed a friend, Holly, asking her opinion on which quilt she thought another friend would like better (she's slightly closer in friendship since we moved away). Just before I sent this email I realized, I never made a quilt for Holly's baby who was born 3 months ago ... so now I feel obligated to not only make these two baby quilts but to make a third one as well since Holly is close friends with the two recipients I'm making quilts for. I'm glad I realized this snafu before I sent the email! To add to this; one of the quilts is for a friend who just adopted a baby and also realized she's due in Jan. I didn't know she was expecting until after I told her I wanted to make a quilt so now I feel obligated to make her 2 baby quilts. It's never ending!
Do you freely give away quilts to everyone for every event? Maybe I'd be more generous if I had a long arm machine and could whip them out faster.
Does any of this yadda yadda make sense?

There's very little I keep. I mostly keep home decorating things. Sometimes I'll make something just for us. Recently that would be holiday table toppers/runners. I know what you mean. It's like you don't want to leave anyone out.

I either give away or keep every quilt I make, but I'm selective in who I give them to. I've learned through the years who will actually use them and appreciate them and those who won't use them or never thank me for them. I love giving them, but want the recipient to like quilts. I found that not everyone does.

I have given away the majority of the quilts I've made. Like Rebecca I tend to keep home dec items...runners, placemats, pillows etc. I regularly make and donate quilts for benefits for local people having difficulties. I have been keeping a few quilts for us this year. DH and I have been married 4 1/2 years and he wants us to have some quilts I've made while married to him so he can see the whole process. I still make quilts for babies and immediate family and an occasional quilt for very special friends, but that's it. This year I quit taking special orders for quilts....yes, girls I'm slowing down some due in part to my Doctor pressuring me to slow down from a sprint to a jog!

I love giving handmade gifts to my family and friends however, I have learned the hard way to make sure my gifts go to friends, who will appreciate the time and love that went into them. I hope that doesn't sound selfish of me but I made an ocean waves quilt for a friend's birthday that took alot of time not to mention all the piecing that went in to it. While visitng her one day I found the quilt tossed in the corner on the floor with her dog using it as a bed. Lesson learned the hard way. I realize once a gift is given it's theirs to do with as they want but I must tell you i was very upset. I managed not to speak up and make an issue of it, but she is now on my store bought list only.

Well said, Cathy F! I don't think you're being selfish at all, just being sensible.

I would like to be thanked, and would like the recipients to enjoy the quilts. I've made a bunch of baby quilts that I never heard a word about, never saw them in use, and wondered if they were just stuffed in the closet. That is not why I would go to all the trouble and expense to make a quilt and give it away. I gave one to a lady down the street who had a baby at the same time two others had them. I finally heard this past Halloween that it was the kid's favorite blankie, he had been carrying it around for over 4 years, his mother finally acknowledged that it was important to them. I know new moms are busy, but a little thank you would be nice. I am making them for the hospital and I know they will be used, and made them for the foster kids, and heard that they were appreciated and loved. I see my own grandkid using theirs now.

I have given a lot away because I am practicing my quilting skills to improve so I can get to the point where my work could be sold. I am about to the end of the donation phase of my quilting life, and am ready to move on to becoming a vendor. How exactly that will happen, I'm not sure yet, but I'm going to give it a shot!

I'm in the process of making four for each grand child. I've only made nap pads before but never a pieced one. I'm actually going down to my quilt shop today to get some advice. I wanted to ask if any of you sell your quilts?

Lorie

I've given away all the quilts I've made. I've never made one for myself because there is always someone I want to bless with a quit. Right now I'm busy making quilts for my six grandkids for Christmas. After these I might just make one for me!

I go back and forth between making quilts and making pillowcases and pillowcase dresses for charity. So far this year I've sent about 80-90 dresses to Africa and India. The nice thing about dresses is that you can knock out 2 or 3 in a day. ( even more if you sew like Jean!).

I've been making quilts since I was 12-13.I didn't make quilts for my nieces and nephews as I was busy with my own family. Most of what I have made is put away for my kids babies as they have them(although I hope i can still make special ones for each baby) you just don't know.
I make them for gifts occasionally, and sometimes donate to charity auctions. I'm not into the whole"quilt worthy" thing some have going on, although I do like my gifts acknowledged. I also am not the type that feels I have to make a quilt for " my neighbor's Gd's best friend's sister". I have made quilts for some of my kids' friends as they have had babies and not others. can't really tell you why, just sometimes I am moved to make one for a particular person.

Carolyn I would love to do that! I have some etsy left overs I could donate. They are fun bright hawaiian prints that would be perfect. how do i go about it?

Lorie

I have given away a bunch of the quilts I have made, just now making a second one for us.
I would like to say that I love the quilt that Granny Wineman made for my son 38 years ago. I have cherished it and saved it for his child. I am not sure she ever knew that, I actually never met the lady, she was my MIL's neighbor. Just thought I needed to share that.

I gave away almost all the quilts I made in the first 20 years, but I am not going to do that anymore. I really don't think they were appreciated. One Christmas, I made my MIL a quilt, and when she opened the package, she only turned down a corner of it, and set it aside. She also received a turntable to play her old records on, and she spent hours with it never going back to her quilt. I said, that's it. No more giving it away. My daughter asked me what I am going to do with the quilts I am making. I said, fold them and stack them up in the corner! I don't care. She has quilts from me already.

I have only kept one. I didn't like the back how it came out so I wasn't going to give it to anyone. It is mine. I gave hubby his civil war quilt (which still needs the label sewed on - this weekend!) so we have two in house. All the rest are with other people as gifts. I love to give them away. That is the joy of making them for me.

I crocheted afghans for people before and found that most of them use them which made me happy. Cathy? Really? Your friend has the quilt you made thrown in the floor?? Omg I would have flipped. Obviously she doesn't realize the sweat and tears and costs of making quilts. She would not only would be off my quilt list, she would be off my store buying list. Make her some homemade soap wrapped in a ribbon cause that's all she deserves. Sorry I'm sensitive about this.
I made my DH an afghan of the American flag, he placed it in a silk bag and put it away. He said since I don't crochet anymore he's not taking a chance on anything happening to it. I made him promise to use the quilt I'm making him tho. I do make baby quilts for friends. I hope they use them or put them away for the child's memory box. I did that with a lot of my dds' things.
I have not made myself a quilt yet but i have everything to make it. Im just too busy making for others. Right now im making my bff quilt.

Lorie......the best places I can direct you to are: littledressesforafrica.com or dressagirlaroundtheworld.com. Although I didn't send my dresses to these agencies ( I sent mine with friends and family who went on short term mission trips) they are full of good info on how to make the dresses. Although I've used pillowcases from thrift shops I realized that I could send cuter dresses if I used pretty (and cheap -- think walmart) fabric. I'm excited that this is of interest to you! These precious little girls have so little and are often the victims of sexual predators and slave traders. Yuck!

Gee, I've made quilts for friends babies, my grand kids, none for my DD Kat as she changes her decor too often lol. The rest have been given to Project Linus or have been made with Quilts for Kids kits and now to foster children of a member's daughter. Finishing a girl quilt for a foster as we speak. The next two quilts is going to Marilyn's NICU project.

I have two tops done for Q4Ks that need to be finished in August month as well. I'm suppose to make Home Decor stuff for an Etsy store for additional income to Don's retirement. However Don's been getting more CADD work from the contractors and we've decided together that as long as God is blessing us with that work...I'll keep making quilts to donate through Forum Friends Causes. :)

I have made all of my sisters and my mom quilts. They were indeed appreciated. Have made quilts for all 3 of my grand children, and step grandson's daughter. Getting ready to make another one for their soon to be son. I have also given quilts to friends for their grand babies. I have made over 2 dozen in the past 6 months for the hospital that cared for my grand son, and foster kids of a forum members daughter. Made one recently for the owner of the RV park where our RV is, for her soon to be great grandson. Also just finished one for a deployed soldier. I can honestly say I don't think I have ever given a quilt to any one that has not appreciated and loved it. I have sold quilts in the past, and may again in the future, but for now doing the Cardinal Glennon quilts is my mission. I was 'told' to do it, and that is where my focus is. I feel that all quilters that are blessed with that talent, are remiss in their duties as quilters, if you do not donate at least one quilt in your life to a worthy recipient or cause. You will never get a more satisfied feeling than to give one to someone in need. Ok not preaching, just saying.

I am just getting started on quilting...but, I have made some that I've donated and given away...they have all been lap quilts or smaller quilts...
I am starting to make one for each of my 10 grandchildren now...lots of work ahead and I love it...
I only have one friend who is interested in quilting, but I think my children and other friends realize how much time and love I put into the things that I sew...
I would be very upset if I realized they weren't appreciated...

I keep some of my quilts (I have to absolutely adore them) or they are given away...have sold a couple on commission and have sold table runners and pillowcases at a craft show but that is about it.....what the person does with it once I give it away is up to them....I will inquire if it is still holding up to the wear and tear of kids and washing machines...so far so good....my grandkids all have theirs yet and some are ten years old now!

Whenever I think of a quilt I want to do I always think who it's for. I do have to admit that I wish someone would make one for me...I love snuggling under them.

Thanks Carolyn I'll ckeck those out!

Lorie

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Originally Posted by nurrsey

Whenever I think of a quilt I want to do I always think who it's for. I do have to admit that I wish someone would make one for me...I love snuggling under them.

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i'm patiently waiting for mine too. DIL is making me one- she said you're always making quilts for others and no one makes any for you. so she and DS are working on one for me. She's so sweet-my 5th DD!

I think we have to remember that everyone has different tastes. Some people think quilts are tacky. I would take a good look at how the person's home is decorated. If they have antiques and well-loved cozy objects in their home then I would be more inclined to think that they might love and appreciate a quilt. If however, their home is decorated with a more modern sparse look, then maybe they would think of a quilt as clutter. Everyone has a different "eye" for what they think is beautiful and what they find value in. It's hard not to take it personally when you pour love into making something for someone. Let's face it, even amongst us quilters I'm sure that there are projects we've seen that others have made that we didn't particularly care for. That doesn't mean it's not beautiful, it's just not for you.

Oh my Cathy...I don't think I could have kept my mouth shut! You are a better woman than I!

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Originally Posted by Cathy F

I love giving handmade gifts to my family and friends however, I have learned the hard way to make sure my gifts go to friends, who will appreciate the time and love that went into them. I hope that doesn't sound selfish of me but I made an ocean waves quilt for a friend's birthday that took alot of time not to mention all the piecing that went in to it. While visitng her one day I found the quilt tossed in the corner on the floor with her dog using it as a bed. Lesson learned the hard way. I realize once a gift is given it's theirs to do with as they want but I must tell you i was very upset. I managed not to speak up and make an issue of it, but she is now on my store bought list only.

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Originally Posted by bakermom

can't really tell you why, just sometimes I am moved to make one for a particular person.

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This sounds like me...wonder what it is that moves us...hmmm. But I do know exactly how you feel!

It is such a blessing every time I receive a quilt to add to my ever growing stack for the hospital. Most of the people on this forum are of such a generous nature it overwhelms me. I can't wait to deliver them. Thank you to all who have given so freely of themselves for my personal cause.

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Originally Posted by HandsOffItsMine

Gee, I've made quilts for friends babies, my grand kids, none for my DD Kat as she changes her decor too often lol. The rest have been given to Project Linus or have been made with Quilts for Kids kits and now to foster children of a member's daughter. Finishing a girl quilt for a foster as we speak. The next two quilts is going to Marilyn's NICU project.

I have two tops done for Q4Ks that need to be finished in August month as well. I'm suppose to make Home Decor stuff for an Etsy store for additional income to Don's retirement. However Don's been getting more CADD work from the contractors and we've decided together that as long as God is blessing us with that work...I'll keep making quilts to donate through Forum Friends Causes. :)

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I have given away every quilt I've made. There was one I made out of vintage pillowcases and I had totally planned on keeping it but it spoke to me. I gave it to my BFF, she LOVES it and so do her daughters! It's in a very loving home now. Apparently there is a list out there somewhere, although I've never seen it, of people who want quilts from me. I know it exists because my son told me my daughter in law wants me to "add her to the list". Hers is nearly done. I remember long ago, before I entered this world of quilting, having a GREAT love for quilts. I longed for one for any of my babies, but never got one. My Mom crocheted afghans for my babies, and they are put away for safe keeping now, being used for them and theirs. But no quilts. I bought quilts for my Grandchildren because I was in a better position financially. I actually found a seller on Ebay who made them for the NICU at her local hospital and also sold on Ebay, and she made me a custom quilt.

I said all that to say this: I know how much I would have LOVED a quilt way back then, I want to meet that "want" for any who are interested. If they don't ask, they don't get. But get your name on "the list".....it's in the works!