MIL and her ideas

My MIL asked me to make a quilt for a girl baby for a baby shower gift. She said she didn't care what it was as long as it was in the pink color family.

So, I sat down and cut up pink blocks and some cutesy fabric left over from my owl applique quilt and started sewing them together in a D9P. She asked about it and I showed her a picture of it. Her response "oh, that's not what I wanted." So, I told her to find a photo of what it was she wants so I can see it. She came to my studio yesterday with a baby quilt from years ago that was basically a piece of fabric with hand stitching in the shape of a rabbit in the middle and lines radiating out from the rabbit like the sun and a ruffle. You couldn't see the quilting on the front because the fabric panel was so busy, but the back was solid pink and you could see it on the back. I explained to her that I don't hand quilt, and I don't plan on taking it up, but she's insistent that I make her a quilt like this. I personally thought it was ugly and cheap looking, and although I have told her no, she won't take no for an answer. I have appreciation for hand quilters, but I don't want to become one.

How do I make her understand this is not my style of quilting???? I thought about doing the same concept on some fabric with the machine and giving it to her, but I honestly don't want to waste the fabric since I know its not what she wants.

Wish I could help you but it's really touchy when it comes to MIL's. It sounds like you've tried to explain to her that you don't hand quilt and she's not listening. I wish you all the luck in the world dealing with this!

Have your hubby explain to his mom that you don't/can't make a quilt like the one she wants, since you already tried.

Hand her a needle and thread..........JUST KIDDING (sort of)

Don't let another person control you no matter who it is. Sorry, I just do that kind of work. Take it or leave it. Honestly people like that just suck the life out of you.

Arghhh!!! MILs!!!

Just because SHE'S stuck in the 70's!!! The new Mum will want something modern and sweet, hard wearing and easy care.

Smile nicely and tell her you only make machine pieced modern quilts, but you're sure she could find a hand quilter somewhere that can produce what she wants. And stand firm!!

Huggs, Pami

I guess putting castor oil in her breakfast oatmeal is out of the question?

tough one! would she accept a panel that you could machine stitch around? something like this:
Snuggle Time Brown Bunnies Scenic Quilt Panel SKU# 22830-A - Fat Quarter Shop
If ,of course, it's something you would even want to do at this point?

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Originally Posted by Sandy Navas

I guess putting castor oil in her breakfast oatmeal is out of the question?

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ROLLING! HAHAHAHAHA!

I would have said, "if that is what you want I will do the echo quilting by machine, if that isn't good enough than you are on your own." Some people have nerve!

That's a touchy problem, but I wouldn't do anything out of my comfort zone or something out of date. I agree with Pam that new moms want modern things and easy care. I'm often in awe of the creative baby quilts that our forum members come up with. Would it help to show the MIL some of the baby quilts here in the gallery? Maybe you could change her mind.

Guess I'm not much help. My family knows me pretty well. If I say no, they'll eventually see things in clearer vision ...(mine).:D

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Originally Posted by Sandy Navas

I guess putting castor oil in her breakfast oatmeal is out of the question?

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Is it?

Maybe MIL could sew two Hello Kitty sheets together and call it a quilt.

I would give her the name and phone number of the LQS and tell her they might be able to help her find someone who does hand quilting -- or possibly they have a hand quilting class that she could take so she could make the quilt. I don't make things that I'm not interested in or use fabric that I don't like -- it's just too much of a chore instead of fun. You've said no. If it was my MIL I'd gently but firmly tell her I don't do that type of quilting if she asked about the progress I was making. Good luck!

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Originally Posted by Mchelem

My MIL asked me to make a quilt for a girl baby for a baby shower gift. She said she didn't care what it was as long as it was in the pink color family.

So, I sat down and cut up pink blocks and some cutesy fabric left over from my owl applique quilt and started sewing them together in a D9P. She asked about it and I showed her a picture of it. Her response "oh, that's not what I wanted." So, I told her to find a photo of what it was she wants so I can see it. She came to my studio yesterday with a baby quilt from years ago that was basically a piece of fabric with hand stitching in the shape of a rabbit in the middle and lines radiating out from the rabbit like the sun and a ruffle. You couldn't see the quilting on the front because the fabric panel was so busy, but the back was solid pink and you could see it on the back. I explained to her that I don't hand quilt, and I don't plan on taking it up, but she's insistent that I make her a quilt like this. I personally thought it was ugly and cheap looking, and although I have told her no, she won't take no for an answer. I have appreciation for hand quilters, but I don't want to become one.

How do I make her understand this is not my style of quilting???? I thought about doing the same concept on some fabric with the machine and giving it to her, but I honestly don't want to waste the fabric since I know its not what she wants.

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Give her the card or the number of someone who does hand stuff, tell her if she really wants it to call them. You have to insist if she insists. Show her exactly what you are willing to do, and tell her she has to choose. If she just refuses to listen and doesn't compromise, ignore her. When she calls back to check, laugh (loudly) and say... "Honey, I told you I was not doing that, and I didn't. You better hurry on over to Babies R Us and get something for the shower!"

I made a beautiful blue and cream quilt and I gave it my mil at dh request once... It was finished, quilted and bound. I loved it. I was supposed to be for me. But, since I had made his dad one, he asked if I would give it to his mom, so I did. She called me back and wanted to know if I could take it apart and make it bigger. I just bluntly said. "No, and I won't even try"... "If you find someone who can, they can do it". Sheesh...

It seems that a Baby Blanket panel would work, one side quilt around the figure (rabbit) in the panel, and the shape comes out on the backing. Someone posted pics just today of doing that, it was adorable, Monkey's I think. Now that was cute!

This is one cute panel quilt. love the different stitches.
http://forum.missouriquiltco.com/sho...pic-heavy.html

Have her look at pics of baby quilts and show her the difference between now and then. Maybe between you and DH you can get through to her. Good luck.

Would it be a cop out / little lie if you said that you didn't know how ?

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Originally Posted by Sandy Navas

I guess putting castor oil in her breakfast oatmeal is out of the question?

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Lol!! Funny!!

You need to explain to her that it takes quite a LOT of practice to get quilt stitches small and uniform. Not to mention it would take a very long time. She's gotta wrap her head around that and take no for an answer. Perhaps she could find something similar online or find someone local to do it, but she's going to pay an arm and a leg for all that work.

Your MIL can be as insistent as she wants.........you have already told her no so......like others have suggested........just don't do it. Give her the number for the LQS and save yourself a lot of heartache and stress. Special request quilts seem to be very stressful when the other person doesn't or won't understand what is involved.

I would tell her that you can't make one like that. Show her some photos of quilts that you CAN make, and have her choose one of those. If she doesn't want one of those, she can buy one at the store. End of discussion.

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Originally Posted by PeggyM

Is it?

Maybe MIL could sew two Hello Kitty sheets together and call it a quilt.

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No, hello kitty won't work. I suggested that. I suggested stripes and dots and even some ducks.

It needs to have bunnies and rag dolls or something from the 70's on it.

I told DH to tell her if she wants a baby quilt that she needs to go to the fabric store and pick out 1 yard of front fabric and 1 yard of a backing fabric as well as a package of batting that's crib sized, 100% cotton, no polyester and then I will MACHINE quilt it in whatever design she wants, and that I am 3-4 weeks out on orders right now.

Balls in her court.

Good for you! How did hubby feel about passing the message?

I can just see her coming back "the store didn't have any of what I want - what kind of a store doesn't sell bunny and rag doll panels???"