Readers Respond: Can you help fix these "ugly" quilts?

Responses: 48

By Janet Wickell, About.com Guide

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If your quilts aren't being used, or are unfinished, please finish them. If you really can't stand them, I'm sure a cold, homeless person would love them! Came across this site yesterday. Gave me some ideas! I'd be warmed to my heart, though, if someone I loved, tried so hard for me!
—Guest ermother

I think you are being to hard on yourself, I thought it was charming, If I did change it all I would do would br to add black sashing.
—olneyjuju

Pamela, finish the quilt for a young or old male, because they love the bold designs! Change the name to Steps In A Garden -- guys will love it! Try it and see -- it's a purty quilt.
—Guest libbyshelby

Gail, your quilt is real -- it's what the pioneer women made. Purposeful and strong! You are the same as your beautiful quilt! Be proud of its warmth and put it on top of a bed.
—Guest libbyshelby

The blocks are wonderful. I would make the background one color-maybe black or all white.
—Guest Sue

Bahama Mama - need to lose the red/black background and substitute plain black for the background...That should tone it down a bit.
—Guest Sue

All quilts have value. Give them to charity. People are cold and need love. Quilts are love. Pride of possession for someone who has very little is very important. Give!
—Guest Sandra Chiles

I love the quilt with the little kid in the center of each block. Made me smile the second I saw it. No such thing as "ugly" I've always said,"it's just another level of beauty.
—Sewlovequilts

I don't know... maybe I am really getting senile but some of those "ugly" quilts, I thought, were very nice. I have actually thought about making a couple of them myself. Maybe different colors. Beauty truly IS in the eye of the beholder. I'll bet that people in shelters or Haiti, Chile or lots of other places would think they were the most beautiful things they have ever seen.
—Guest sandra

Many quilts were made for warmth and to use up scraps. Quilters from the Depression era used every scrap they could. I have a few scrap quilts that my mother made. I like the fact I can tell where the material came from - Dad's pajamas, basement curtains, my doll's dress etc. They are Ugly quilts, but they are filled with a lot of love. They fill me with more warmth than a quilt made from store bought coordinated fabrics.
—Guest Guest Alaska

After looking at the pictures of the "ugly quilts" people have sent in, I would be proud to say I had made that.
—Guest Kstitchin'

I gotta tell you, with a large smile on my face (thank you for making me laugh today) and in a very loving tone.......YOU WIN! I'm not sure that quilt is closet worthy.
—Guest Sandy

The choice of colors and patterns is important to the "beautiful" quilt. It is also in the eye of the beholder. As I looked through these quilts my thoughts were about busy against busy and color choices. As a quilt is being built it gains a voice and that must be listened to to get the unique beauty to show it's self. Sometimes it is rejecting a color or pattern or begging for another color to be added. Listen to the quiet voices. I have found that when I fall in "love" with a pattern or color I have to limit myself to one love at a time and choose to compliment and contrast to bring my love to it's fulfillment.
—Guest juicyloone

Of all 22 so-called 'ugly' quilts it seems only one is languishing in a closet - all the others are in use. There's a lesson here for all of us. And what a wonderful excuse to make another quilt. Jillko, Auckland, NZ,
—Guest jillko

Janet Wickell
Quilting Guide