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Arts and crafts

Discover knitting, crochet, scrapbooking and art and craft ideas on this forum.

Original poster

Bit of a crafty AIBU/WWYD

59 replies

coldcomfortHeart · 20/03/2012 19:51

I'm posting in the craft forum because I am a wuss I know you lot understand the effort that goes into something handmade.

I make quilts, and hand piece and hand quilt them (I've tried machine quilting but just can't get on with it, and I like the look of hand quilting better). I made one for my nephew when he was born and BIL/SIL seemed to like it. I told them about washing/caring for it and warned that as it was hand sewn it wouldn't be as strong as a shop bought quilt. SIL used it as a play mat, which wasn't its intended use (most people have hung them up or used them on a bed) but tbh I was pleased it was getting used rather than sitting in a cupboard somewhere.

SIL keeps a very clean house and a couple of times I noticed the quilt in the washing machine. I tried to casually mention that ideally, hand washing was better, but a gentle machine wash and no spin, just a squeeze, would probably be ok.

It disappeared for a while and when we were staying last time I saw it shoved in the corner of a box room- and it was quite damaged, with several holes. I was upset, but it's not the end of the world.

But now SIL is pregnant again and I am in a quandary- do I spend hours and hours of painstaking work on a quilt when it will probably suffer the same fate? I just feel wrong making one for one baby and then not his sibling. Any thoughts?!

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BsshBossh · 21/03/2012 20:33

What a lovely quilt; such a shame it was neglected so. But I know many people who do not appreciate handcrafts so your SIL's attitude doesn't surprise me. For the new baby I would make a smaller quilt but frame it as a wall hanging.

Original poster
coldcomfortHeart · 21/03/2012 20:39

Thanks for the links hattifatner- that first one with its wiggly lines is lovely, and looks not too time consuming.

I certainly didn't mean to sound snidey about crochet, soupdragon, I think it's beautiful. I was just going with the possibility of it being faster. Although as I don't know how to do it it might not be terribly fast!

Going to seek out a simple knitted blanket pattern and check out the washable yarn suggestions, thanks all.

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BelleEnd · 21/03/2012 20:44

That bird quilt is amazing! Did you really make it? My goodness. I'd have hung it on a wall. It's stunning. I wish you were my SIL. :o

Original poster
coldcomfortHeart · 21/03/2012 20:48

bamboobutton the shale blanket is so beautiful and not too technically difficult, although i had to seriously concentrate at first on the sequencing and counting. Worth it though. His designs are gorgeous.

I like the idea of a mini quilt BsshBosh but would probably get too into the mini-ness it and end up making it overly detailed and complicated. There are some incredible Japanese small quilts out there, so intricate.

Right: quick, washable and knitted it is!

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DonkeyTeapot · 21/03/2012 20:52

Bah, can't stop thinking about my other post now, it does sound horrid and I really didn't mean it to - crochet blankets can be lovely, I have made lots and am working on one now, as it happens. I guess a bad night with DD coupled with an impending throat infection don't help me perform at my best.

Sorry again.

Original poster
coldcomfortHeart · 21/03/2012 20:52

Oh, how sweet BelleEnd thanks! it was only my first or second quilt so took me longer than it would now. I've not made another bird one, but think birds are nice and gender neutral, good for doing when you don't know the sex of the baby.

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Original poster
coldcomfortHeart · 21/03/2012 20:54
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therumoursaretrue · 22/03/2012 00:17

YANBU!

You should make me one for baby's nursery instead, and I will treat it like the lovely keepsake it is Grin Your SIL should be more grateful to have something so lovely handmade!

Agree about making something less time consuming this time!

CardiCorgi · 23/03/2012 10:53

Could you make one complete with hanging sleeve and rod, so that it is clear that it should go on the wall? The bird quilt is lovely.

I tend to do things a bit the other way round - my baby quilts are made on the machine and can be machine washed, there is no way that my hand sewing would stand up to a washing machine.

Stitchthis · 23/03/2012 21:11

Can I be a bit controversial? Baby quilts are meant to be loved and used and dribbled upon etc. I'd take it as a compliment that it got completely battered - its been used and formed part of the baby's early life. I get quite sentimental about quilts - my favourite ones are the mashed up ones I slaved over. All that work has been hugged! That said, I'd normally machine a baby quilt so it can stand machine washing, so why not try that and let the new baby have its own quilty moments?

Original poster
coldcomfortHeart · 24/03/2012 08:33

I agree stitchthis, and i was glad it was being used. It was just the repeated machine spinning (rather than just washing, as it could have stood a gentle machine wash) after I'd advised against it, that I found a bit... I don't know. As another poster said, it was THEIR belonging, no longer mine. Anyway, I've learned my lesson- in future I'll add easily removed hanging loops to quilts to make it clear they aren't for heavy use.

I might try machine quilting for baby 2 or knitting, which I'm getting quite into. So many crafts, so little time!

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dizzyday07 · 24/03/2012 09:14

Coldcomfort - why don't you ask your SIL which she would prefer.

Either a small quilt/playmat or the blanket (either knitted or crocheted).

If she goes for the former then why not machine piece as much as you can and then hand quilt then it'll be pretty robust for all the washing it will get!

birdsofshoreandsea · 24/03/2012 09:28

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ragged · 24/03/2012 10:37

You are precious about your quilts & she is not.
Until I made my own quilt I didn't (couldn't) appreciate what went in to them either.
A nice wall hanging made after the child was born with his name on it, say embroidered, could be good. A4 size or smaller. Framed perhaps.
And get something durable for elder child to play with, toy tractor? They care more about gifts at this point anyway, and not fair that baby gets all the presses.

ragged · 24/03/2012 10:37

pressies

Stiefeliblue · 24/03/2012 10:51

the same thing happened to me twice.I quilted a quilt for both Sils and both washed an tumblered my handstiched quilt to bits,enen though i said to both of them they are not made for maschinewashing and tumblering.One Sil is now pregnat again and is hinting for a new quilt.

hattifattner · 24/03/2012 12:26

Frustrating isnt it. I saw some cheapie mass produced quilts in The Range last week, and Id be tempted to give them one of those instead, with a promise to make a single bed quilt for the child when they are older, and when it doesnt need to be washed over and over again. I think, when people ask for a quilt, and you know they wont take care of it, then a simplified machined quick quilt is the way to go - certainly don't spend 50-100 hours working on a gorgeous quilt that will be ruined because someone cant be arsed to follow instructions.

You could also print a label on the back with washing instructions....not that they will pay any mind.

I do most of my quilts by machine, and I think they stand up well to machine washing. I also tumble mine first time round, so it gets that rumpled look, but just because thats my preference!

tribpot · 24/03/2012 13:14

I can understand (just) how people can fail to realise that a hand-stitched quilt/thing of beauty can't be bunged in a washing machine but not how they can fail to realise it after having been told, that's very annoying.

I prefer the kind of awed response from my friends that my mum's amazing knitting gets - "how can this be made by human hands? I do not understand!" - but hopefully they do go ahead and use the items as they are perfectly sturdy. For the stuff I make, I just say explicitly it's intended to be used, thrown in the machine and if it breaks I'll make another.

Original poster
coldcomfortHeart · 24/03/2012 13:50

dizzy er, yes. I could ask, couldn't I. Blush

It's been fun asking you all though Grin

Stiefeliblue sorry to hear you had the same experience Sad

birdsofshoreandsea I had this thought the other night, about it basically being an artwork, and how tricky it is to buy art for other people. SIL's tastes are very different to mine... perhaps a small framed embroidery thing would be good... lots of great ideas from you all, thank you.

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Original poster
coldcomfortHeart · 24/03/2012 13:54

tribpot I like your description of your mum's knitted work! I have a friend whose MIL (a Shetlander) considers herself to be 'not very good' at knitting because she likes to use a pattern! A Shetland thing, I reckon: a whole other league...

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tribpot · 24/03/2012 17:51

Wow, coldcomfort - I don't think I'll be venturing to Shetland for any knitting competitions any time soon :)

In terms of seeing the quilt as an artwork, you could always design it together with your SIL (personally I wouldn't after last time but if you were a more charitable person than I am!) - spoils the surprise but at least then it would be to her tastes. I'd be getting Boots vouchers Grin

tyler80 · 24/03/2012 21:12

What about a cheater quilt if you don't want to spend too much time and effort?

So fabric made to look like piecework and quilted as normal. There are some lovely designs on spoonflower

Original poster
coldcomfortHeart · 25/03/2012 19:39

Thanks tyler80, I have spent many a happy hour on spoonflower... it's a bit of a pandoras box on there!

I think knitted is what I'm going for, something like this

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intravenouscoffee · 25/03/2012 19:56

Coldcomfort I read your blog often just to admire the quilts and be envious of your skill (I'm a beginner machine quilter). When my DS was born a family friend gave me a very small machine knitted blanket that she'd made herself. Aside from being really beautiful it was incredibly useful as a mat for him lying on/cover when in the car seat or pram. I used it almost every day so I would definitely second the idea of a small blanket.

Stitchthis · 25/03/2012 20:06

Nice pattern...I can feel my needed itching...