All my loved ones have one or more of my quilts and I had no problem giving them at all. But as for casual friends and acquaintances, that's another story. I have given only a few to friends and most of those were for Grand-babies. Sometimes I look at my quilts and think "maybe I should start finding homes" but then I think of all the time and money spent and I re-think that. A person really has to be worthy of one of them. LOL!! I know that sounds snobby but I don't care. I have occasionally made small things for charity but sorry, I'm not giving one of my premium quilts for people who most likely won't really appreciate it. I think that we who take such delight in our hobby sometimes forget that there are a lot of folks out there who just don't share our enthusiasm for anything handcrafted and don't think twice about anything like a home-made quilt. And to those I say "better I give it to someone who really cares." So if one of my friends came over and oohed and awed over one of my quilts I might give it to them if I thought they were being genuine about it.

This is not about quilts. Perhaps you can speak with a professional or a spiritual counselor to discover what it is quilts represent that you are hesitant to “give up”. Not an uncommon feeling but worth examining for your own wellbeing. Don’t worry, just a little introspection will shed some light. And it may turn out you are 100% justified in holding on to quilts. But don’t you want to know why for sure?

signed: arm chair analyst with zero credentials

Since you are a fairly new quilter, and making a quilt takes a lot of time and talent, I think your feelings are understandable! Wait till you have closets full of quilts and don't have room to store any more. It gets easier to give them away. :)

I still have my first quilt, too.

Donna

bkay, I know what you mean!

Even though I make lots of quilts for gifts and do give them away, I often wonder if the recipient really appreciates the gift and what effort you have put into making it for them. I made for a quilt for my son's best friend when they graduated from highs school and spent the better part of the year searching for ORANGE fabrics because it is his favorite color. Amazingly, they are 33 now and he still has the quilt and tells me about it when we see him! I do still have a closet full of finished quilts (and tops to be quilted) that I should give to charity or something, but often just like getting them out and looking at them!

Sue

I love making quilts and giving them to people that I care about. Some were made specifically for a certain person. Others, I made for myself, but then after keeping them for a while, I found the perfect homes for them. Sometimes it's hard to part with them, but I have always received such sincere gratitude from the recipients that it's very rewarding. I wouldn't give a quilt to someone who really didn't appreciate the effort that went into it. In the case of one quilt that I gifted, I loved it so much, I made another for myself just like it. Out of the 71 quilted projects I've made, I have about 12. The others were all gifted or will be soon.

This is an interesting thread!

To keep or not to keep! Hard decisions to make.

When I first started quilting 35 years ago, the intent was for all children and grandchildren to get a quilt. That got done and then I did about 5 or 6 for myself. And some of those first giftees have received seconds. And if someone asks, they will get another.

But... I am retired, unable to be really physically active, don't travel, so spend a lot of time at the machine. My sister told me about her group that makes lap sized quilts for chemo patients. So that has become my project as well. Now I don't make art quilts or show quilts but I try to make something that I think will be appreciated by someone in need of comfort., and not just done slapdash but with thought and care. I have personally given about 10 to people I know, have taken well over a dozen to the Cancer Clinic and many have gone to the Save the Children Bazaar to be taken by anyone who needs one.

I feel that I have been blessed with 'so much' that it is my privelege to be able to share.

I understand the desire to keep what we have put heart and soul into making. No disrespect intended for anyone who feels this way. But for me, I would rather try to give comfort to someone who needs a hug, than fill a shelf in a closet.

Off the soap box! And as Lois and I agree, quilting keeps us out of the bars.

Theresa

The only regret I have is selling a quilt in a gallery. It was an art quilt of the flowers on my deck. I miss it a lot (the money long gone.) But I have photos of every single quilt I've ever made, in my quilt album. I can see them whenever I want.

All my close friends and family have a quilt from me. It's my gift of love and creativity for their happiness.

All my walls, sofa and beds are covered with quilts. I have started changing them seasonally and also hanging my small, artsy landscape quilts on the doors!

My problem is that I have a hard time thinking that they are good enough to give away,even though people have seen some and are wanting me to make them to sell. I have been making them for a charity and they claim that they love them.

bkay, I don't have that problem, but if you don't want to give the quilts away that you have made, I don't have a problem with that either. I think if you start a quilt with a certain person in mind to give it to, or for a specific reason, that might make a difference. After my kids, their husbands, their kids and their kids and then some steps/half siblings and kids of girlfriends thrown in there, nieces/nephews and their kids, plus the friends who have been through desperate times and needed comforting, I'm just glad the kids liked them enough to ask if I'd make another one cause they grew taller Also, something to remember me by. From all of them I then went on to charity quilts of all kinds, QOV, wheelchair size for kids/adults, NICU, foster kids........whatever drew me in and touched my heart at the time. Go with your heart ..... it's your business what you do with your quilts, not anyone else. :-)

Amen, Sharon!

And here I was thinking you meant "I can't find anyone who wants these quilts I've made". I was going to volunteer :-D

I think Sharon spoke my sentiments as well, it touched my heart. I have quilts I made or in the process of making that were made for the shear fun of it & I'll keep them. But many I have given away to folks who were having a life challenge, one to my SIL sister, who I barely know, but she had breast cnpancer, another to a couple who tragically lost both of their children, another to my sisters friend who is very helpful in taking care of my sister, one to a biz partner who just retired and lost his wife, etc. I'm not sure if all were appreciated and I wonder if they held up or were tossed aside. I often wonder what am I going to do with all these quilts, but after I'm gone, who cares....:-)

i so get what you are saying Bkay, with all the energy and love that goes into making them, it's tough to say goodbye.