Okay, so now that more people outside my immediate circle are learning that I quilt, I'm starting to get asked a lot of quilting questions and just crafting questions in general.
I decided that it would be a good idea to answer some of these questions on my blog. So I've dedicated every Monday to being "Ask Joi". Every week I will address a quilting question/dilemma. You can leave a question in the comments or send one to me via Twitter.
Recently a friend came to me with this dilemma:
I love making handmade items for friends and family. But I usually only make items for people that I know will appreciate them. One of my friends I was talking to pointed out the fact that I have never made a quilt for her, like I have for some of my other friends. She has now requested a quilt for Christmas. I know for a fact she is not the type of person who would take care of a quilt. I've seen what she's done with handmade and even expensive gifts in the past. She just places very little value on items. I really don't want to make her a quilt because I know all my time and energy will go to waste. So, I don't know what to do.
Well, this is one can be hard. I myself have a niece who places very little value on gifts given to her. The leather bound bible I bought her for her high school graduation? It's now holding up the wobbly leg of her coffee table. The quilt I made her as a child? It is permanently stained with hair color because once when she was dying her hair she realized all her towels were dirty so she used the only clean thing she had in her linen closet. So, I know exactly where you're coming from on this one. It can be devastating to put all your thought, time, money and effort into something only to see the recipient treat your gift like an unloved step-child.
There is a reason why we have gift cards- for those people who we know won't appreciate a handmade gift. But when someone specifically asks for something handmade this can make you feel trapped with no choice but to make them something.
You could move out of the country which would make the cost of shipping a quilt complete unreasonable. Or you could just keep brushing off your friend's request until both of you grow so old and get dementia that you can't remember being friends. But if those two options won't work here are two other ideas:
Make her a quilt using her stuff. Yup, ask her for her old shirts, blankets, sheets, even her kid's old clothes. Use these items to create a wonderfully personal quilt. If she has a wool or flannel blanket you can use those for either the backing or the batting for the quilt. This way the only thing you are really investing in the quilt is some thread and a little bit of your time. The fabric is all hers, so who cares what she does with it. And she will think it is the most thoughtful gift ever.
My second idea would be to shop your local thrift store for a quilt. There are some nice looking quilts that end up in the Goodwill. Sometimes it's just a quilt top, other times it's a finished quilt. Either way, look for one that would fit your friend's style. Finish the quilt (if its a quilt top only), and give it to her, claiming it as handmade from you. You'll feel less bad for a quilt you only paid $5 for when you come to her house a month later and discover her cat had kitten on it.
So my dear readers, have you ever been in this situation? What did you do? Do you have any other suggestions on how you would handle this? Feel free to chime in on the comment section below.
Also, don't forget to send in your own question. Peace out!
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