ElaineCovid

I think you should follow your heart to make a quilt. And as others have said, make what you would like and gift it. I really liked the suggestion to use a cuddle fabric for the backing as it may end up as a floor quilt, or a "to the car" cover (I see you live in PA).
If you are wondering about colours etc, maybe look around at what's in the stores for an idea of what's "in"....if you think you need to.
I honestly think any quilt for a baby would be welcome, there are so many ways it could be handy!

wesing

I definitely would make the quilt. Dad has been very kind to you and it sounds like you want to do something nice for the baby. His wife may have social anxiety, she may be very private, or maybe she really is unfriendly. But she is having a baby and hopefully will appreciate that someone else is excited for this new little person in the neighborhood. The quilt may be an icebreaker, or she may never acknowledge it, but Dad will definitely appreciate it.

copycat

If you have developed a friendship with the young man over the years, I would make a simple baby quilt.
If he shared the news of becoming a father with you, then I think He would appreciate your being so kind as to make a quilt.
<3

dpendleton

I love the advice on this thread. I agree that you should do it if you will get joy from knowing that you did it, without getting any acknowledgement at all from the recipient.

If I could express one opposing view. When my daughter had her first son, I was making a quilt for him for Christmas and my twin sister learned of it, saw photos of the top and made a nicer one (!) and gifted it to them 3 months on my grandson's birthday before I finished mine.

I know it brought her joy to make it and my daughter and her family expressed gratitude and posted pictures of it in their son's room.

My sister always felt competitive with me. I recognize that she really has nobody to sew for (we are orphans) and she has no children. So I just forgave her and gifted my quilt later with no hoopla.

When my daughter's twins were born a month ago her friend's husband's mother (?) gave them two appliqued adorable quilts. I was kinda shocked because she doesn't even know my daughter or her family and has never met them. But several of her friends crocheted blankets and such. And my daughter was gracious and appreciative of all their efforts.

Now I'm waffling on making quilts for my twin grandbabies because quite frankly they have a ton of bedding made by others in their closet.

I know I have to get over it and just realize that whether it's used at all, or inferior to a stranger's gift, it should still be meaningful to my daughter.

Life is short. I should do what makes me feel good and know that my daughter and grandchildren will love whatever I do because grandma made it. So "getting over it" is what I'm doing right now.

But I also know that when I run out of family and close friends to give quilts to, I will be careful to ask potential recipients if their mother/grandmother/other family member/ might be crafty and making them a quilt. I'd like to know that I'm not shortchanging another family member's gifting joy.

cjsews

You should go ahead and make the quilt. The father to be is friendly and would probably appreciate it. Remember that he is a parent to the new baby too. I made one for my neighbor and was quite fond of the husband. The wife never talked to me. He was truly grateful

Snooze2978

It might break the ice with the gal, you never know. Even if she doesn't acknowledge you or the baby quilt, you made it as a kind gift and that should at least make you feel good. Maybe the hubby doesn't know how she acts towards you and this would bring it to light also. Also, maybe she thought as a new neighbor, you should break the ice and if you didn't, then she decided not to also. There's all sorts of reasons why this occurs but maybe you need to take the 1st step and a baby quilt would surely do that.

Three Dog Night

I would make the quilt for them. Our neighbor who shares our long step driveway had a baby 5 years ago and I gave them a simple quilt made from my stash and the label included the name, date of birth, weight & length. I like you debated about it since my disabled husband has done all the militance work on driveway with no help from neighbor other than driving up & down too fast and creating holes & bumps in driveway not to mention rarely helping plow the drive in winter when snow makes it almost impassable. His wife barely even acknowledged us when we did see her (still doesn't) but I decided to make a quilt for them anyway. When I took it over and gave it to them they were overwhelmed and she made the comment after seeing the label that it was the only thing given to them that recorded the birth information she was almost in tears. It made me feel good to know I made them happy. Make the quilt, ask dad for birth information to put on the label and gift it to them. It will make you feel good and we all need these days.

tropit

I have to laugh at the title of this post. When I saw it on the main forum, it did not show up in its entirety. The only words that did show up were: "Should I make a baby" No wonder it's getting so many views.

In answer to your question...Yes! Make it! It's an act of love and gratitude.

dpendleton

One more thing, I would be careful about assuming that the wife is unfriendly or rude.

Many things could cause her to behave this way: she could be on the spectrum or just terribly introverted or have physical/mental wellness issues.

Our neighbor has confessed that she got a lung cancer diagnosis the same week we moved in next door and she was so ashamed that she she had been smoking on her back deck in full view of us that she couldn't bare to be confronted by us when she saw us!

retired2pa

Thanks everyone I asked him last week when he was plowing my driveway if he knew if the baby was a boy or girl and he said they will know on Feb. 9th and he will tell me. He's excited for this baby because he was married before and his ex had custody of their little girl, who was 4 years old. Unfortunately, she died during a botched medical procedure. My husband died in Oct., 2023 and she died in March, 2024. I took some food over to them when it happened and his wife (girlfriend at the time) never spoke to me or said thank you. She just glared at me and I felt very unwelcome. I will make the quilt and if she decides to use it for the baby or let their dogs lay on it, then that's their choice.