What if the recipients aren't used to quilts?

Louise: Even if they do not have 'history' of quilts, I am sure they will enjoy the quilts featuring their special interests. The 10 year old will be thrilled to have the sports theme quilt, though he will probably call it a blanket. Will his mom? IMO that is not the issue, since the quilt will be for the boy! The little guy will probably love a quilt about 50" by 60" ... big enough for a few years. Is he too old for a snuggle quilt? Well, *I* am not too old for one!! I've never met anyone who is! ;)

Try these free patterns, which have been popular with other RCTQ inhabitants: Warm Wishes, original kiddy pattern;

Louise wrote:

Not necessarily. Last year I made a quick quilt for the 4-year old daughter of one of my coworkers. She had fallen and broken her arm and I thought she needed a "hug". For weeks, she never let go of that thing and when her parents called it a blanket, she always replied, "It's NOT a blanket. It's MY quilt."

Rita L.

Thanks for the reminder. You're right.

Oh, yes, that would be a great pattern! I've just bookmarked both versions. Thank you!

Louise, in eastern Ontario

Our church quilt group makes quilts to be given to babies when they are dedicated, I didn't know this before we got our baby dedicated (we were new to the area and I hadn't yet joined the quilting group) and had a very lovely surprise, a friend used a phrase I can't recall, that implied, I shouldn't use it, and should keep it safe. A few months later I met the ladies in the quilt group and found out who had made it and mentioned that we were using it on her cot, expecting them to be shocked, but they were pleased and said that was the point, it was for using, when I conveyed the sentiments of my friend, they were saddened and said the quilts were for using and the thing that made them most happy was a child who loved it and used it. So I think you have to make it clear when given, that it is to be used and provide washing instructions.

Anne

Just my opinion: don't worry too much about what they might like, just go ahead and make what YOU like. Your first impulse is often the best one. If you make a generous twin-size in his favorite theme and call it a bedspread, it will probably be used and loved. (Attic windows is simple and effective with large prints.) 40 X 60" is a good snuggle size. I'm not too old for a snuggle quilt, and I'm way older than 2!

I've given quilts to people who had no idea. One was my boss, years ago, when his first child was born. A few months later he happened to be showing off his most recent photos. There was a sweet one of the baby girl sound asleep in her crib, with the quilt firmly clasped and snuggled up next to her cheek. Roberta in D

"Louise" schrieb im Newsbeitrag news: snipped-for-privacy@4ax.com...

This is a good time to let all of you know that I saw Little Mike and his wife last weekend. They are the ones I made the hug quilt for -- with the help of a lot of you -- after they had lost their baby girl and then lost everything else to Katrina. Anyway, they both said to tell everyone know that they use the quilt daily -- it's kept on their bed. So many thanks to all of you from Little Mike, his wife and myself :-). The quilt I made for the SMDGD when she was born was used but not a lot. When the kiddo was about a year old DD washed it and put it away in her Keepsake Box. Of course by the time the first b-day rolled around, The GrandMother (that's me) had made 2 more quickie panel quilts for the child. I have made her a quilt for each birthday so she now has quite a collection. The all hang on a large rod hung on the wall in her bedroom and she *really* uses those quilts! She quite often drags all of her "blankies" off the rod and gets her "babies" and wraps them all in the quilts. Then they all get sit on the floor in a circle and she proceeds to read to them or sing, etc. Raechel (that's the SMDGD) ALWAYS talks about her quilts and makes sure she tells her Mommy & Daddy that GrandMother made them. Talk about bringing joy to my heart :-)! CiaoMeow >^;;^<

PAX, Tia Mary >^;;^< (RCTQ Queen of Kitties) Angels can't show their wings on earth but nothing was ever said about their whiskers! Visit my Photo albums at

You have alot of good replies already, but I haven't seen anyone address the flannel issue for you. Yes, it works to use flannel on the back of a non flannel top. My boys and my DNephew each have an I Spy quilt made by my mom that has a flannel back and regular quilting cottons on the top. They love the feel of the flannel back and it has held up just fine. Nothing different was done to make it extra washable and durable. She pieced the top as usual and had them quilted by a longarmer just as she does her other quilts. The oldest ones quilt is about 3-4 years old and has held up just as good as any other quilt we have and it has had many, many washings.

HTH.

Yes

A free bed covering--what's not to like?

The team colors are blue and white. You could frame each of the pictures in a white border and a blue border. If that won't make the quilt big enough try to locate a print of maple leaves to border the same way and use as an alternate block.

Or make blue and white pieced maple leaf blocks to use as alternate blocks with the printed pictures, and join them with blue sashing and white corner squares.

Debra in VA See my quilts at

My family did not grow up with quilts. Even though my grandmother did make them, at least a few. My mother didn't even realize that. However, they all love the ones that I make and give them. Of course my family, even the in-laws parts, appreciate the effort that goes into making things. (I know that I am very, very lucky in that.) So, I think that your nephew will love a quilt made to "match" his room. And no one is "too old" for a snuggle quilt. Make it whatever size you think is appropriate. (Personally I would err a bit on the bigger size, so that it is usable longer. ) For a small child making a quilt that is wide enough to use a single width of fabric on the back, and a proportional length is good. It makes a nice "nap" quilt, and isn't as cumbersome as something way bigger.

There are lots and lots of fairly simple patterns that make use of squares/rectangles that are "about the size of my hand". One that I am sure many will/have already suggest(ed) is called "Warm Wishes" on the Quiltmaker site. It is basically squares alternating with squares made of 3 rails or bars. You can make it with any size squares. Figure out the size of the square, then divide that square into 3 parts, equal or not. Add seam allowances to the "3 parts" so that when you sew strips together they equal the size of the squares you cut. Easy, and looks good. If you look at examples of this quilt made up, you can see that it looks like squares that have "frames" around them, with other squares sort of set "on" the intersections. You could easily use one print for the "framed" squares, the other for the "on the intersections" squares. (Okay, that might not make sense, but look at a picture of a finished quilt and you will see.... it would also basically be using one print in even numbered rows, the other in odd numbered rows. I think. )

Big nine patches would also work. As would some of the star patterns that have squares in the center of the star. Or nine patches alternating with snowball blocks. (One traditional name for that combo is 'cobblestones'.) Lots of possibilities.

Have fun. D> Sandy asked yesterday if we knew where our Christmas quilts are. >

My DD will be 13 in September and I made her a quilt (appliqued kitties and birds) when she was about 4 ... she STILL sleeps with it.

And when her friends or her pesky brother calls it a "woobie" she adamantly (and rather indignantly) corrects them - it's a QUILT.