What’s a space blanket?

I also feel that a donation quilt should be as good as your regular quilts. Maybe I would take more care for a very important quilt for someone very special than to a donation quilt, but probably not. I use the same quality fabrics, thread, and time for all my quilts..

mr google says https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_blanket

Thank you, one & all for your input on this. Your comments warm my heart & make me glad I'm a quilter who tries to do my best with all I make.

Just a last minute thought about the difference between a "gifted" quilt and donation quilts that come from my sewing room. Some times it is simplicity. My donation quilts frequently will not have intricate quilting or piecing. I fall back on some of the traditional patterns that will use stash effectively and that can be finished relatively quickly between more detailed heavy quilts made for specific individuals.

yep...my requirements for a charity quilt are that it is made of fabric that will stand up to washing, that it is pieced so it lays flat, that it is securely stitched, quilted and bond so it stays together, and that I have washed after completing it before it is given away. I also use quality batting in it either a decent poly or 80/20. I don't use the bargin batting as that usually does not hold up very well. And I don't use "old" thread or cheap thread that does not have the strength to stay together. I will use older fabric that has been stored properly, not in plastic nor in the damp basement. I store all my fabric on shelves on the first floor or in the attic where it stays dry. I do keep my fabric out of the sun. I like doing turning 20's or nine patches, or yellow brick road, or rail fences for donation quilts and I will make then scrappy and also I will make string quilts...but that fabric that goes into them is the same quality as the quilts I give to my friends and family. The exception to this is the quilts I help make for the church group as we use what is given. Actually, out of my own stash, I don't make and give away that many quilts to folks I actually do not know as it seems I have an endless number of folks I know that are happy to get a quilt I have made. Same goes with masks at this point. I think I could give away hundreds. Now that we are under a masking order at anytime we are in a public place or common place even in apartment halls, folks are wanting more fabric masks ….just had a request from a friend for 5 more and I have already given her 3....which is the number I have given to most of family and friends....my stash is starting to go down! Maybe I will use it all up....

My only pet peeve on this issue is I prefer that they be called donation quilts.

Totally agree.

I have switched to using the term donation quilts as well.

I use the same fabrics in both charity and "keep for myself and others" quilts. Sometimes I have purchased panels or fabric that later I wonder who put those in my bag- LOL! If I no longer have a fancy for a particular color I may plunge into a charity quilt with it. I took a Pat Sloan workshop through our guild and Pat taught us how to "make fabric". With this improv block class, I learned so much. But I had chosen pink scraps and yardage as I wanted to see it gone. Turned out great and will go to charity at the end of this coming week. I make string blocks out of my leftovers every couple of months when mindless sewing is necessary. So far during pandemic, my string blocks in various colors is piling up. Next charity quilt up will have some of these (lingering pink strings as I have four GDs) in a baby quilt for charity- possibly on the back for a pop of color.