You’ve done one of the most generous things you can do as a quilter: you’ve crafted a quilt for gifting. Quilts require so much of our time, love, energy, and effort. If someone makes you a quilt as a gift, it’s because they really care about you. 

You may have completed all of the hard work of quilting, but there are still a few things you should do to ensure the recipient of your gift quilt knows how to handle this sign of your love and affection. After all, as we like to say, quilts are NOT blankets! They require special care that most non-quilters are likely completely oblivious to. You can ensure your handmade quilt is both beautiful and ready to be cherished for years to come by following our top tips for gifting quilts. 

1. Label Your Quilt

The story of your handmade quilt deserves preservation. Add a personal quilt label that includes essential details, such as your name, the date, and who the quilt is for. You can also add any special occasion information, like, "For Sophia's Wedding" or "Welcome to the World, Baby Liam." Consider including a fun note about why you chose certain fabrics or the quilt design.

Embroidered patch label by Anne Leuring

There are a few different ways to add a label. Consider which method works best for you and your quilt:

• Embroidered Labels: Use embroidery stitches, either by hand or with a sewing machine, to add a label to a corner of your quilt.
• Pre-Made Labels: Look for labels at your local quilt shop or online that you can write on with a permanent marker.
• Printed Fabric Labels: Print on fabric using an inkjet printer. Stabilize the fabric first with freezer paper or a printable fabric sheet for a polished look.
• Custom Woven Labels: Order personalized labels from sites like Etsy for a truly unique touch.

2. Wash and Dry Before Gifting

Most non-quilters don’t understand that washing a quilt requires a little extra care. Pre-washing your gift quilt is an extra step and, frankly, should be considered part of the gift. I washed this for you, so you don’t have to. 

Quilts that have never been washed look really different from quilts that have been washed. There’s a crinkly texture to quilted fabric that only arises after a trip through the wash. Washing will also expose any necessary mending that may only reveal itself after a wash, like loose threads (more on that in the next tip). You can also use a color catcher to ensure against potential color bleeding in future washes. 

3. Mend Any Issues After Washing

Once your quilt is washed and dried, inspect it thoroughly. Loose stitches or frayed edges can appear after the first wash, so this is your chance to make final touch-ups. Pay special attention to the binding, seams, and any embellishments.

Pro Tip: Use a bright light or even a magnifying glass to spot any areas that need repair, and stitch them up securely.

4. Include a Quilt Care Kit

Quilts aren’t as delicate as they seem, but they do require a little special care. Non-quilters are often fearful about caring for their handmade quilts as they don’t possess the years of hard-earned knowledge quilters do (we’ve all ruined a quilt—it’s part of the learning process!). Help your gift recipient feel confident by including a quilt care kit. A care kit also rounds out the whole effort so it feels like a real gift package. 

What to Include in Your Care Kit:

• Washing Instructions: Specify whether to use cold water, mild detergent, and whether to tumble dry on low. 
• Color Catchers: You should definitely use a color catcher during the pre-wash in the previous tip, but you can also include extra color catchers to allay your recipient’s fears about dye transfer.
• Spot Cleaning Tips: Explain how to handle small stains and suggest airing out the quilt if it’s stored for long periods.
• Folding and Storing Advice: Let them know how to fold their quilt to minimize creasing and prevent fabric stress. Check out our Tips for Folding + Storing Quilts!

We made a quilt care sheet you can download to include with your quilt (shown in the image above!). You can also make your own with all the essential details. 

6. Include a Repair Kit

Including a quilt repair kit really ups the ante on your quilt gift. Along with the care kit, it shows that you want your recipient to feel well prepared to care for the quilt. Like the story of The Velveteen Rabbit, the best-loved quilts often experience a little wear and tear. Including a small repair kit shows that you’re thinking ahead and want the quilt to be enjoyed for many years.

What to Include in Your Repair Kit:

• Fabric scraps from the quilt top, ideally cut into 2-3" squares.
• A piece of lightweight fusible interfacing for quick fixes.
• Extra embellishments, like buttons or ribbons, if your quilt features any.
• A small spool of the thread you used for quilting, perfect for any future mending.
• (If you’re willing to make future repairs) A card with your information on it, including a note that you’re willing to make any future repairs. 

Pack the repair kit in a small, resealable bag, and label each item so it’s easy to use. This thoughtful addition can make a world of difference when the quilt needs a bit of TLC down the road.

7. Let Go and Give with Joy

This might be the hardest tip for quilters! Once you gift a quilt, it’s out of your hands. We’ve all heard the horror stories: you spent a million hours on a quilt that has never left the closet; you put actual blood and tears into a quilt that wound up in a donation pile. Some recipients will cherish your quilt and drape it lovingly over a couch, while others might use it every day for outdoor picnics or, even more horrifying, never use it at all. If you’re gifting a handmade quilt, you have to make your peace with these realities.

Remember the aforementioned rules of The Velveteen Rabbit: A quilt that gets worn out means it was well-loved. If someone uses your quilt so much that it eventually needs replacement, you know your gift brought joy and comfort. If they don’t use it at all, or give it away, well, it’s truly their loss.

8. Bonus Touches: Packaging Ideas

Wrap your quilt beautifully to make the unboxing experience extra special. With both the care kit and the repair kit, your quilt has grown into a serious gift package, so think about how you might present it as a whole. Consider a gift box, tying everything together with a fabric ribbon, or placing everything in a quilted bag, or even a coordinating pillowcase (which they can store it in later!). 

We hope our tips for gifting quilts helps you this holiday season and for any upcoming special occasions that you honor with a quilt! Happy gifting, and as always, happy quilting!