My friend Lynn and I were chatting about how many quilts we have (and use) in our home. It prompted me to actually stop and count.
I have given away a lot of quilts, but I also own a lot of quilts that I have made. I get pretty attached to the quilts I’ve made, and even though we have a lot of them around, we do actually use most of them at various times throughout the year.
For example, we have several large quilts that I’ve made that we rotate — during the winter we usually have 2 on our bed. I recently pulled them off to wash them, and instead of putting back the 2 that had been there, we put 2 new ones on.
The boys have never slept with a sheet — they have the baby quilts their Grandma E. made them when they were 4 months old, and then each has 2 lap size quilts that I’ve made — actually, they helped me make them, and each of them has a quilt on their bed that they actually machine quilted. They also both have a twin size quilt that I made when they moved to a big bed, but they’ve never liked (or used) those, so they are folded up in a drawer.
We also hang a lot of quilts. Right now, StarStruck for Christmas is still hanging on my wall, where it has been since Christmas time. It looks so wonderful with our yellow walls, it seems like it belongs there all the time, even if it is a little Christmas-y.
So, the count: currently we have approximately 37 finished quilts (that I’ve personally made) in our house. 25 of those are lap size or larger. 13 quilts are hanging on our walls.
I’m not going to admit to how many unfinished quilts are in my studio in various stages. Actually, I did admit to it back at the end of January. I haven’t looked at that list in awhile. I don’t think I want to be reminded right now.
Some day I’ll try to figure out how many quilts I’ve given away.
For now, my question for all of my quilting readers: how many finished quilts do you have in your home that are yours to keep? Tell me in the comments, or post it to your blog (and be sure to let me know you’ve answered the question so I can find out what your count is).
Sorry for no pictures tonight. The binding is done on the wedding quilt, and it is still waiting for a label and to be washed. I should have pictures of it to share tomorrow.
TTFN-
Suzanne
That was an interesting exercise! I have less than 20 in my house – I think I’m still in the “give away” stage. I have a deep need for my quilts to be adopted and loved. I feel like I am neglecting friends if I leave them in a cabinet.
My guess would be about 35 that we regularly use between the house and the camper. I know that I also have made 5 that we use at the cabin. I probably have upwards of another 20-25 that are antiques and ones that I don’t use. As for the give away count, that may take some very hard thinking to come up with all I have made and gave away or donated to various fundraisers. I did just give my secret pal a turning 20 that I made for MQS and didn’t have done in time for registration. She was in shock and totally loved it.
Thanks for giving me something to think about while I quilt another customer quilt this afternoon. That count would mean getting out old tax records and I am not going there!
Diane
Umm…3 that are mine (although my daughter disagrees about one of them). 5 that are my daughter’s (plus she has a couple of others that were gifts from the other quilters in the family) and 1 that is my husband’s. So, only 8 — then again, I’ve only been quilting since 2001. But the number given away is equal to or greater than the number in the house. Hmmnn…maybe I need to make more quilts!
Hi Suzanne,
I will count how many quilts I have here at home that we use and I’ll post the number this weekend as a comment.
I just sent you an order for More Meandering Magic, and I didn’t see a place on the order page to leave a comment – so I’m leaving it here. Would you mind signing my book for me? I’d really appreciate it! Thanks!
Have a good trip!
Hi Suzanne,
Good question! Currently I have 14 queen-size, 37 lap size and 15 wall quilts in my personal collection. I have a tote tub for each month, and rotate them all in and out. The queen-size ones were created over several years’ time as my ‘dowry set.’ We actively use and machine wash/dry all the quilts I’ve made — no heirlooms being hidden away in the closet and never enjoyed!
In all, I’ve made 243 quilts. Many donated, some gifted, some sold …
Jeanne (who makes lists)