Blankets, blankets, everywhere!

[justmeandmybrood]

Too funny - I was going to post about blankets and sheets/towels, but another wonderful poster already posted about the sheets/towels and the responses have been great to read! Now our issue is blankets.

We have kid fleece blankets, family "heirloom" quilts (a couple baby and a couple bigger up to twin), functional blankets (those we use for company), blankets we use for guests, extra comforters (one for each kiddo - their older ones, which have come in handy for kiddo company)...

We do not live near family, so we have to have enough for up to 3-4 people (2 adults, 2 children), the most # of people we ever have at once.

How to just let go? I am SO overwhelmed right now and nesting to boot...and know we will be moving ourselves (and 3 kiddos) in 10 more months. I need to downsize, but still have enough for our needs.

Heeeeeelp!

[ollyoxenfree]

Can you use some of the heirloom quilts as wall hangings?

We have 5 quilted wool blankets that serve as duvets on the beds during the winter and 2 extra wool blankets. I hang the quilted ones in hall closet during the summer, and fold the others in a cupboard. That's pretty manageable.

We also have 2 old blankets that I've been thinking I should donate. My mother likes to quilt, and she's made quilts for the kids, but they've outgrown them (they're kiddie decorations). They are in a blanket box that we use as a coffee table.

Do you also have sleeping bags? Could you consider getting rid of some of your blankets, and then if you have guests, the kids could use their sleeping bags and the guests could use the blankets that are normally used by the kids (aired out or cleaned first)?

[justmeandmybrood]

The sleeping bag idea is very good - thanks! My DD has 2 and DD has 1...that might just work perfectly!

As for the family quilts, we do not have the wall space, nor would I want them hung (they derive from DH's mother's side, and they were never very nice to DH or provide warm and fuzzy memories, if that makes sense. I am considering asking DH if he actually even wants them any more, especially since we do not use them...I am trying to enter a new phase when keeping things:
#1 do I want to pay to have it moved?
#2 will I really miss it; is it that impt to us?
#3 is it something our children would LOVE to inherit when we die?

Crazy, I know...especially to my packrat friends I have to bust out of being a sentimental packrat somehow, lol!

I also love the blanket box you use as a coffee table! Would you mind telling me about it? We are without a coffee table, but I love furniture that has dual purposes!

[laurabfig]

I just cleaned out all our sheets, towels, and blankets and have several bags to go to donate.
I think if you haven't used them in the past year, get rid of them. We rarely have guests come, but I kept 2 sheets of extra sheets to cover the futon and a blowup mattress. We only have 2 extra full size blanket/quilts besides the ones on our beds. Kids have a comforter and fleece blanket each, and we have a comforter on our bed. Other than that, just 2-3 small blankets for the couch and living room.
Sheets were our problem...I think I am donating about 5 sets....

[justmeandmybrood]

Wow, Laura - good for you!! 5 sets sounds terrific and will free up lots of space!

I think I will go through our blankets today and try to do the same!

[Cativari]

For all my extra bedding I use those space bags. And then store them (in a tub or under a bed or something) until needed. It saves space and I always have nice clean bedding in a hurry.