How to Gift a Quilt: My Top Tips

Do you do anything special to wrap or present your quilts when you gift them? Always looking for new ideas!

I made a baby quilt for a friend in our babysitting club. Yes, it got used but when she was done with it she decided to sell it in our group's rummage sale for 50 cents. I saw it, didn't say anything but I guess the look on my face gave away my disappointment. The person selling it was not present but a fellow quilter was. She grabbed the quilt, threw 2 quarters into the "till" and thrust out the quilt to me saying "Here! Give it to someone who will appreciate it" (which I did). I never said anything to the person who sold it. Years later that person tried sewing for the first time in her life. She found it quite difficult and then proceeded to apologize for not seeing the value of the quilt. I'm SO glad I didn't say anything or that moment of realization would never have happened for her.

Lots of good advice! Early in my quilting life someone told me that some people (wonderful they may be in other ways) are just not “quilt-worthy.” I’ve never forgotten it.

I've been blessed to be able to distribute quilts donated to the Linus Project to teens in residential care. Every single one of those quilts were received with love and appreciation! It's important to know that teens love to wrap themselves up in their quilts and some of those kids are like full size adults! Just an idea for anyone; Linus Project is nation wide and always grateful for donations.

I love seeing my quilts in the background of my family and friends pictures when they are photographing something entirely different different. It's just part of their life.

Great tips and ideas. I am making Christmas quilts for my extended family. It is a bit of love from me after I die and they can put it away 11 months of the year! 99% of my quilts are donated but I am going to start gifting them with a drawstring bag and care card. Thanks for the thoughts that went into this video.

I have a large extended family, and we have a family reunion every year. Last year I brought several quilts with me and did a drawing for each. No money, just everybody could enter to win whichever quilt they wanted. It was a huge hit, and is a win-win for me. I get to make whatever quilts I want, and then I know each quilt will go to someone who genuinely wants it.

I have given some quilts which have been appreciated and some that have not. I was at a lecture by Jenny Doan at the Missouri Star and she said when you give a quilt to someone, release it to the universe and don’t fret about what they do with it. It was made with love and intended to give comfort and warmth so just let it go.

Warning, this comment will be controversial! Gifting a quilt or other handmade item from a hobby can be seen as selfish by others who don’t create, like you are foisting off the stuff you made because it is what you do for fun rather than carefully choosing a gift they will love. Just because we like quilting doesn’t mean other people in our lives want us to give them quilts! We need to step outside of ourselves and realize that when we give a gift it is because we are giving something we think the recipient will value. There are many people who do not want a quilt or don’t want the kind of quilt you make. Only give a quilt if you have considered the person you want to gift to. Are they minimalists? They probably don’t want another “thing” to add to their inventory. Do they have a carefully designed decor that they spent a lot of time and money on? They will probably feel like you are putting them in an awkward position gifting them something they didn’t choose for their space. Do they overall think homemade gifts are”cheap” or just an excuse to not spend money on them? That is likely a culture they grew up with and you won’t change that. You are better off giving those people something that they will appreciate, be it tickets to a show, a gift card to their favorite restaurant, or something else consumable. Or just a card. There are lots of people who do love to receive quilts as gifts (including other quilters!) but remember that you don’t love/want every quilt you see, and you are a quilter. Step away from what you feel like you are investing in and consider who will appreciate the final object, because in the end, that is what it is. While some will love, use, or treasure it, some will donate it to Goodwill. Harsh but true.

Some years ago, I bought a large quilt from a charity shop for £4.00. Apart from needing a wash, it was in great condition. Because of the label information, I tracked the quilter down via a mutual connection. I always felt bad that her quilt had been donated, but was able to tell her it had a new home and was being used. It's very well made by an obviously accomplished quilter. Big tick for labels.

I made a quilt for a new - ish friend. She had just come home from cancer surgery and learned her fiance was moving out to be with his new gitlfriend. When I dropped the quilt off she was not home as she had unexpectedly gone to pick up her daughter. It took her 5 weeks to open the gift bag and send me a very brief text message. I was disappointed to say the least. Thank u for reminding me why i quilt. I did enjoy the creation of the quilt and am glad I kept pictures for my own pleasure and memories.

This needed to be said and we all need to be reminded of why we gift in the first place. Loved this video!

I think that was such sound advice about the best mind-set for giving quilts away. I've given away dozens of quilts, most of which I don't know what happened to. But I have had some very gratifying experiences -- like the quilts I gave to my neighbor's grandkids that became their favorite "blankies," and seeing that batik quilt on my sister's bed that was so soft and faded from years of use. That's the icing on the cake!

Yesterday I gave a quilt as a gift at a bridal shower. The bride to be was so moved because I know she values hand made items, the color of the quilt is her bridesmaid dresses color cause it is her favorite color. I investigated and by knowing her was able to make a quilt she will treasure forever. We need to do our homework and make sure someone will actually love a quilt. When she thanked me and told me how she loved it I told her that's why she got a quilt. Not everyone gets a quilt cause not everyone loves a quilt. I watched your video when I was hand sewing the binding on and for a moment I second guessed giving it to her. Thank you for this great video.

I like your way of approaching the topic. As children, we often gave away homemade items and I was sometimes very hurt by the reactions. As I got older and lived alone, I was regularly the recipient of homemade gifts, mostly made of pottery. The person giving the gift made a lot of effort to meet my taste, but tastes change and pottery decorations for every birthday, Easter, Christmas... I've been quilting for about six years now. I gave away exactly one quilt. I just don't want to force this on anyone who doesn't care about it at all, whereas for me it means a lot of passion, time and money. I love quilting. it makes me happy. that's enough for me. If visitors are enthusiastic about smaller pieces and ask about them, I'm happy to give them away. I live in Germany. Quilts are largely unknown here. maybe that plays a role too. What I wanted to say: receiving gifts is sometimes not easy 😉

I wrap my quilts in a matching pillowcase I’ve made from the scraps from making the quilt. I also place a certificate of ownership inside so they realize how important they are

I've had the experience of gifting a quilt only to have it given to the dog. Yes, I was hurt. But my solution was to never give them a quilt again. I got the hint, lol. How many quilts can one have...well, well over 100. Have I gifted any? Yes. Lots. What your video was about today is something that needed to be said. It's hard to hear, but necessary. Who wants to give a quilt away that isn't wanted anyway? So thanks for this. Our community needs to hear it.

Not that I am for or against the recipient of a quilt to give it to the dog, here is a thought I just had about it. I suppose if we think about it, most people consider their dogs family and want to give their dogs the best of things, so it could be seen as a compliment that the dog has got the quilt. The recipient is not "throwing the quilt away" or mistreating it, they are giving this amazing quilt to a family member who, in their mind deserves nice things too ;)

I’ve made so many quilt givings, mostly to family for Christmas. Some are loved, and some not. To me, I made it with much love in my heart, so that’s enough for me. I appreciate your prospective on gifting❣️

I, too, put a color grabber in with the gifted quilt. I make a pair of pillowcases to accompany the quilt and present the quilt in one of the pillow cases.