A retirement gift usually goes one way. In an Iowa second-grade classroom, it went the other way.

Kim Rohlf, a second-grade teacher at Westwood Elementary School in Ankeny, Iowa, spent months making custom quilts for every student in her class before retiring after 35 years of teaching.

The quilts were handed out ahead of her final day in the classroom, giving each child a keepsake from their time together.

For Rohlf, the project brought together two things she loves most.

“I love teaching and I love quilting, so it gives a little to share my love with them as they leave and I end my chapter of teaching,” she said to KCCI.

Each quilt was different. Some included themes tied to holidays or birthdays. Others reflected a student’s interests, including dinosaurs or sports.

Second-grader Gabrielle said the quilts felt personal.

“Every quilt is made based on our personalities,” she said. “She would add special details about us and she would make sure that it is very nice.”

Rohlf also wrote personal notes to each student.

As retirement got closer, she said saying goodbye was harder than she expected.

“It’s very heartwarming, it makes this harder than I thought it was going to be, but I’m excited to start that new chapter in my life,” Rohlf said. “I thought it could just be at the end of the year and walk out the door. They’re making it a little bit harder than that.”