If I made something into which I put a lot of love or effort, seeing it given away by the recipient might, or might not, offend me. If the intention was to pass along something precious, how could I be offended? If it was to put it someplace where it would be more appreciated, ditto. If it was in a yard sale, on a vehicle in the garage, or outside lining a dog house, yes I would be offended. Better the recipient were honest right up front, but I know many people would be reluctant to be so upfront. But, it's a kindness actually. I always give a recipient to a quilt an escape route right when I give it. I tell them that they can have ...........and lay out an option of money, quilt, or other item. Then honestly tell them how much work making a quilt is, and that whatever they chose will not offend me.

I never backstitch when piecing - like most of the others have commented here I feel comfortable knowing that another seam will cross it at some point in the piecing and that's good enough. I have quilts that are 20 years old, get washed regularly and have never had a seam come apart so i guess it works. When quilting I use the locking stitch on my machine when ending a line of stitching. Or sometimes I just end it and clip the threads. It really depends on how much quilting I'm doing because I figure if there's lots of stitches going on they won't pull lose anyway. And I don't want the extra bulk of a locked stitch. Kate

I use plaids and stripes in my piecework. If it's a wonky design, I don't pay attention to how they lay, if it's not, then I do put some forethought into it, though I don't try to make them all match up, a piece may be on the exact diagonal or upside down, but I do try to make them be parallel to an edge in some respect. I have trouble with large prints, because my piecework my be small pieces. So, unless it's a crazy quilt block, I try to save them up for those where I can show them off in the larger sized pieces. Yes also to large grids. I've never been able to integrate them into a quilt yet. I don't know what I was thinking when I even bought them, as they're equally as difficult integrating into a piece of clothing, or anything other than perfectly square or rectangular curtains or tablecloths.

Love the light and having no obstruction to the view of the porch. I have a similar sight line in our river house and it is wonderful.