The Class Quilts (AKA Leave Your Ego in the Cubby)
Sometimes I make things for clients. Sometimes I make them for myself, my family or dear friends. Every now and then I make things for people I don’t know very well but who have been an important part of our daughter’s life, like a teacher of some kind. This last category is the hardest because I only know the recipient in a limited context and know nothing about their home or their aesthetic sensibilities.
Such was my frame of mind when I volunteered to make the class gift for our daughter’s preschool teachers this year and when I volunteered to make a farewell gift for my daughter’s gymnastics instructor of the past two years.
The designs needed to fulfill the following criteria: they had to include the children in some way, had to be designed in such a way that they could be used in the teacher’s house (a classic design that could work in either a traditional or contemporary home), had to be washable and dryable, had to be very simple in design, had to not require me to buy any new fabric and had to be nice but not be too ambitious. Perhaps more importantly, I thought, it needed to be a class quilt. Not a FunQuilts quilt, not a Weeks quilt. It was a gift from the families to the teachers. It was about the kids and the teacher not about my design ego.
In each case I asked another teacher the color of each of the teachers’ living rooms. Then we found a simple white fabric upon which the children could write their names or draw pictures of themselves with a Sakura Identipen in an analogous color. These pens are permanent and will make the quilt able to be machine washed and dried and best of all they have a thick point that kids can’t bend or break.
No big design statement. Just a simple, sweet reminder of the class and the implied statement that I took my time and talent to say thank you for being a positive presence in my child’s life for a bit. And if the recipient gets that when they open the quilt up, then what colors I chose and how I quilted it doesn’t much matter.
Explore posts in the same categories: sewing+quilting+fabric
June 8th, 2006 at 9:18 pm
lovely idea. :)
June 8th, 2006 at 9:40 pm
What a wonderful thoughtful gift! You’re right…it’s the message of the quilt is the most important thing.
June 8th, 2006 at 9:55 pm
What a lovely personal gift! (and fabulous of you to incorporate all the teachers’ living rooms!)
June 8th, 2006 at 10:45 pm
That’s what it’s all about: giving the personal touch to the things you give away as presents. That’s how it all started for us. We wanted to personalize our presents to friends and the whole thing about using the kids’ drawings in the things I make began. Quilts are in my to-do list. Love this blog, thanks.
June 8th, 2006 at 11:31 pm
I love the quilt’s you’ve made and how you put them together. I really love the flower like quilting used on the green quilt. So cool. Will have to try quilting using that design. I’ve allready tried it using a pen and papge….so easy to do.
June 9th, 2006 at 12:38 am
that is such a good idea - I love the idea that all the children contribute to it. Thank you for sharing the idea.
June 9th, 2006 at 1:46 am
Your quilts are just perfect! I think they’re wonderful. I’d like to find some instruction for shirret on the web but haven’t been very successful just yet. I agree with Lizette; I love your blog!
June 9th, 2006 at 2:38 am
That’s a precious gift, and anyone who made it their career to teach children will surely treasure it. The meaning behind the design makes it even more special.
June 9th, 2006 at 2:52 am
what a wonderful idea. i could see such a quilt being made for grandparents from their grandchildren too.
June 9th, 2006 at 6:21 am
Simply gorgeous. Kids drawings are always so wonderful. I love the eay you used them.
June 9th, 2006 at 9:59 am
Yes, it is simple, but oh my gosh those quilts are priceless. I wouldn’t doubt it if these quilts brought tears to the eyes of the recipients. What a lovely idea.
June 9th, 2006 at 12:01 pm
Wow, what a wonderful idea! Thanks for writing about it. These quilts must mean a great deal to those teachers.
June 9th, 2006 at 9:16 pm
You are right that the sentiment is the most important aspect of these quilts. That said, the colors and design you have chosen are just lovely.
June 9th, 2006 at 10:30 pm
Thank you for your thoughts on quilting and egos. I can relate because I make a quilt every month for our local Linus chapter and am often torn between what I want to do and what is right for the potential recipient! It is the audience that matters, isn’t it. That being said, everyone can see the beauty of the quilt especially when they hear the story behind it.
June 9th, 2006 at 11:00 pm
I have made many quilts for school auctions and special teachers that have taught my daughters. Thank You for explaning your theory on deciding the fabric choices. I look forward to trying the marking pens you recommend on the next class quilt I make.
June 10th, 2006 at 2:08 am
What a wonderful, thoughtful gift!
June 21st, 2006 at 9:22 am
Hi Weeks~
So neat to see that you posted Reilly’s square. This was such a sentimental gift, I am sure all the children felt special for having their work showcased. Weren’t they just the best teachers ever? Thank you so much!
February 11th, 2008 at 5:28 am
[...] Ringle put together a fabulous thank you quilt for her child’s [...]