It's About Time or Thankfully, It's Done!

Well, ladies, it took me two years to make this quilt...not that I worked on it full-time. Quilting has evolved from a "passion" with me to "handwork to pick up now and then".

I pieced this quilt on my trusty Singer 403, circa 1960, about a year and a half ago. In the closet, high on a shelf, sat several batts (we quilters all buy in quantity, right?). One of those was a Hobbs wool batt that I had been yearning for years to try. I'd heard so many comments that for hand quilting it "quilts like butter". I'd previously used Hobb's Heirloom 80/20 as well as Dream Cotton's "Request", both of which hand quilt very nicely. But I had a yen to try the wool. So I purchased the wool batt...about ten years ago and there it sat. On the shelf. Unused for ten years. (call me a procrastinator)

Well over a year ago I layered my latest shirt quilt using the wool batt. For a backing I used a name brand cotton sheet that I found at the department store for 75 percent off. Ralph Lauren brand??? Can't remember. And I began hand quilting using a saucer, a cereal bowl and a cup from my dinnerware for the "templates".

This poor quilt has had numerous hiccups along the way. Last January I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, had debulking surgery followed by six sessions of chemo and numerous neupogen shots to boost my lowered white blood cell count. Talk about a roller coast of an adventure...not as exciting, of course, but certainly a lot of ups and downs. Needless to say, I had no motivation to quilt. Hah! My preferred activity was lying on the sofa, staring at the ceiling, thinking I really should get up and do SomeThing! Then rolling over to the other end of the sofa, and staring some more. It's easy to look back on it now and think, "It wasn't so bad!" But it was. Not as bad as some have it, but bad. And before I (and you) get maudlin, I want to add that all went well, I finished chemo in July, and I feel better now than I did a year ago before my diagnosis. God grant me that this continues.

Another hiccup was that, forgetting that my dishes were my templates, I gave away that particular set of dishes and put my old set back in the cupboard. The next day I went to mark another block to handquilt, and remembered that my templates now resided next door! Do you think I went next door and asked for a plate, a soup bowl and a cup? No, I couldn't bear to confess and instead dug around in the cupboard until I found dishes that were "close" in size. Betcha can't tell by looking at the quilt. (big smile)

Aw, got to wandering there. I started to say that during those months of chemo I picked up this quilt a couple times and forced myself to quilt a block or two. But progress was slow. Then in August, after treatment was done, I began quilting in earnest again and I finished the binding just yesterday! It's a largish sofa size nap quilt.

I told a friend yesterday I have no inclination to make another quilt. Instead of quilt pox I now have quilt lethargy (even though I myself am not lethargic). But that's not quite true. I'd love to recreate my Y2K quilt in smaller form. My DD loves that quilt and would like to hang it in her home. But the thing is huge! About 80x90 inches! And she doesn't have a wall large enough for an appropriate display. So I'd like to recreate it using 2-inch squares instead of 2.5 inch pieces. I have a rubbermaid box full of 2.5 inch fabs, cut from my stash long ago. I'd have to trim them down and I'd like to sew them on my treadle which was fondly named Elizabeth Redeye by its previous owner.

And...ladies...did you know that when you type a post you can add a "label" at the bottom (you'll see the space do do that at the bottom of the "create a post" page. You will notice that I've added labels of "shirting quilts, shirt quilt, shirt fabric for quilts". Click on "show all" and it will bring up all the labels previously used by those of us who post here. Use only "your" labels and not someone else's. That way, if you click on any of my labels, for instance, the WWQP will bring up a view of all my posts that include that particular label. Click on one of my labels and check it out.

I've had my coffee this morning, but not yet my oatmeal. Coffee makes me jabber. Whether in your ear or on this blog. The oatmeal is in the microwave...time to eat. And if you want to check out my WhiteStone blog (separate from the WWQP-BB, click here. Love to see you there.

Still Hand Quilting My Latest Shirt Quilt

My hand-quilting project (the shirt quilt) is coming along nicely. We seldom watch TV but when we do, I pick up this project and work another block. Here are a couple photos.

Each and every fabric in this quilt, including the border strips, came from 'barely-used' shirts and blouses. If you want to try this yourself, try for an assortment in terms of stripes, plaids, paisleys, florals, etc. And stick to a particular colorway. This quilt would look really weird if I had included vivid green, for instance. On the other hand, there are some really nifty shirts out there...oranges, yellows, purples, etc.

You can read my blog for other quilty and non-quilty posts by clicking here. Once you get there you can view my more quilty posts by scrolling down on the right hand side to the column marked "Labels" and click on "quilts".

Don't forget...you can click on photos for a closer view.

Re-Negotiating My Quilting Efforts

I've been taking a Sabbatical from quilting. Somehow I hadn't done a lot of quilting for the past two years...too many other things in life along with lack of enthusiasm.

I've had a Hobbs wool batt in the closet for about ten years. (In the last ten years we've moved three times!) The first cold days in November I decided to get out that wool batt and use it on a twin-size shirt quilt. I've always machine-quilted my shirt quilts but somehow couldn't bring myself to remove the computer printer from atop the cabinet where my 'main quilting machine', a black Singer 15-91, is tucked away.

That is a strange sort of "lazy". Instead I'm hand-quilting this one. (I didn't say I had a good sense of reason!) I had heard that wool batts are very easy to needle and I must admit I believe that is true. For in spite of the high thread-count of all-cotton shirt fabrics, this hand quilting is going along very nicely. (Click on the photo for a closeup)

I thumbed through my quilt templates and decided, 'No, I don't want to do some tedious fancy quilting.' So instead, I'm using a salad plate, a bread plate and a cup to draw the circles (plus stitching again 1/4 inch from two of the circles. Nothing fancy, mind you, but I'm going to have a warm nap quilt when I am done. About July 2009 just when I need one.

Google has brought me this...

While googling for Roberta Horton's book on plaid quilts, I came across this site by Bonnie Hunter who has a new book called "Scraps and Shirttails" wherein she has put into print some of her experiences (and I presume patterns, etc) in quilting with shirt fabrics. I have not seen the book, but perhaps someone else here has done so and might share with us. Otherwise go to Bonnie's website listed below. It sounds as if she is selling the book direct from her website.
JudyPete

http://quiltville.blogspot.com/

Judy who makes shirting quilts??

I can't remember which Judy you are, but I have a question about shirting for quilts. Do you only use 100% cottons or do you use blends? Or do you mix them in the same quilt?

My dear step-father died last week and Mom gave me his pretty plaid sports shirts. I love the colors in them, but most are poly/cotton rather than 100%. I was just wondering about using them for quilts.

TIA
Judy in AR

Shirt Quilts

Hi, Laura, Welcome to the "Shirt Quilts" section of the quilting community. LOL. You asked about mixing shirt fabrics with fabrics from your stash. Here are my thoughts...

1) In my own experience, when considering shirts, I select only those made of 100 percent cotton and preferably from a nice grade of cotton, fabrics with a good (high) thread count. Some cotton shirts are made with rather flimsy thread count and the fabric is thin, especially those of lighter colors.

2) I never use poly/cotton blends. I find that poly/cottons get flimsier with each washing. They get limp with time. If you love a good quality cotton fabric, you will not like the poly/cottons. Unless, of course, the shirts hold sentimental value for you. In that case, disregard this statement. LOL.

3) Yes, by all means, feel free to mix your shirt cottons with fabrics from your quilt store. In the two photos above, one quilt is made entirely with shirt fabs. The quilt in the first photo is a mixture. Both have held up well to repeated washes and slight drying in the dryer.

I'm getting so bad about my addiction to shirt fabrics that I browse the men's shirt section in better department stores, pre-viewing next year's yard sale shirts. LOL.

Make up a few blocks and send us a pic here on the BB!

JudyPete

When Was the Last Time You....

I just cleaned my sewing room. Its my standard practice after finishing a project. Actually, I haven't quite finished my Log Cabin Q top for I still need to finish the border. However, I was past the part where I needed that huge pile of shirt scraps and shirts and more shirt scraps. The cutting table was piled high and my cutting area was reduced to a minimal space which meant every time I needed to cut another strip I had to shove aside this pile of rumpled fabs. A basket under the ironing board held more fabric! And the Floor!!! The floor was littered with lint, snippets, more lint.

I am pleased to say the shirt stash (except for the border fabric) is now folded nicely and placed in a basket in the closet. Now doesn't that look nice and neat!

So I ask, when was the last time you cleaned Your Sewing Room? LOL

JudyPete

New photo of my Log Cabin Quilt

You may be tiring of my perpetual posts (this is number three??? or is it only two?) about my Log Cabin nap quilt made from shirt fabrics. (Don't forget, you can click on the photo for a closer view.)

One can never have too many fabrics for a scrappy quilt like this. Indeed, I had to really scrounge to come up with enough variety. One particularly nice shirt which sported a red print on white, a toile of early American history including a print of George Washington on his horse, was set aside except for a couple tiny scraps. I thought this rather lovely fabric would make a rather lovely apron and when I have finished constructing it, I'll post a photo.

In the meantime, here's a photo of the 40-block nap quilt. I've added the border to one side after I took this photo.

I'm a bit anxious that I now have three quilts that need to be basted and machine quilted. Hmmmmm! When am I going to find time for that? National Quilting Day arrives but once a year!

My Latest -- Log Cabin Quilt in the Making

This past year has been a non-quilt year for me. Somehow I lost my enthusiasm. However, I've recently begun sewing again and here are a dozen blocks for a new log cabin quilt. The individual strips are 1 inch after sewn in place. The blocks are six inches square. I love that first photograph for it helps you see more clearly how the end product will look. The fabrics here are gleaned from shirts. You can see that sometimes I place a fabric on the diagonal. To keep it from stretching during the stitching process, I first spray with starch, then press, then cut.

These blocks are not yet stitched to each other, but are simply arranged for the photo.

JudyPete

Three more Quilt Shirts

Not much quilty happening at my house although I did cut up three cotton shirts today for my next shirt quilt. Still have one to be quilted, but will probably piece another before that gets done. Over Christmas I knitted a little cap for myself just because I hadn't played with yarn in a long time. It was fun, but probably won't ever do another afghan (in my knitting/crocheting days I made a number of afghans). Simply takes too long (said by a quilter that seems kinda funny! LOL).
JudyPete

Finally Finished

Some of you have seen the first few blocks of this shirt quilt. Just finished the top today so am posting a photo. I have a gazillion leftover shirt fabrics and the natural bent of any quilter is to make yet another quilt. LOL. I'm done with this pattern, though ... tired of it.

This is a nap size quilt, just right for the sofa this winter. If I ever get it quilted, that is. I plan to use a thin cotton batt, baste it, and then will quilt it on my old Singer 15-91, one of those 1940s-50s black machines that is still going strong. I've used this machine to free-motion and stipple many, many quilts, including several that were queen size.

JudyPete

Today's Block

Those of you who remember reading my past posts know that I make "shirt quilts", using quality 100 percent cotton fabrics from men's shirts and women's blouses. Sometimes a child's shirt as well, when I find one I like. I find these at yard sales, the Goodwill, my hubby's closet (when he's not looking). If the collar and cuffs are clean and like new, I know the fabric is still strong and sturdy.
Some time back I found an X-large man's shirt with this wonderful patriotic red toile fabric. This fabric may be in quilt shops as well, but it's been so long since I've been inside one, that I don't know that for certain.
I liked its patriotic theme.
Today DH and I attended the funeral for one of our fallen, a young man who graduated from our local school. I know many members of his extended family and one of his aunts has been one of my closest friends.
This block is in memory of this fine young man. I fussy cut the toile to include faith, freedom, and the blessing of home.
May God bless him and his family. And may God bless us all.

WaHooooZie! I'm BACKKKKKK

Well, ladies, what better thing to happen to me on National Quilting Day than to have a good Quilting Buddy call me up and chew me out royally for being silly enough to forget my password to get onboard the BB. She, silly woman, uses the same password for most of her online sites while I, paranoid creature that I am, create a unique password for EVERY site which of course is a prescription for forgetfulness the next time one wants to log in online ANYWHERE! LOL. But here I am, Backkkkk at Last! heh-heh. THIS time I WROTE IT DOWN and I'll be posting more often. This is a shirt quilt that I made a couple years ago...you can see my gray hair, my messy computer desk and my much-beloved Singer 15-91. This machine is one of several vintage machines I use and is my main quilting machine.