Memory Quilts - Help to Support My Addiction

As a quilter, sewist, or any crafter we are often thrown requests to use our skills for others.  I have found the most requested from me is putting together t shirt quilts.  While I am happy to make these memory quilts, it is a struggle at times to work on them.

T Shirt Memory Quilt

There is always a deadline with commissioned work and that keeps me pushing through.  This is for a college graduation in December.  It is for a man, so we chose grey fabric to outline the shirt patches.  Once the t shirts are all backed with interfacing and put together as a quilt top, I am excited.   Let the fun begin... Quilting.

Quilting Around T Shirt Designs

Quilting t shirt quilts with free motion is great practice.  Most of the quilting is outlining the emblems on the shirts.  You don't want to poke a hole in the rubberized (or whatever that stuff is) designs or you may cause them to start peeling away.

 

I always like to put the recipients name on the quilt somewhere.  It makes the quilt even more personal.  This one is 54" x 72" and will be a nice, manly throw.

 

 

All that is left to do is deliver this quilt and receive my commission to...BUY MORE FABRIC! 

 

The fabric in this quilt is Moda Marble in Charcoal.  It came from the Fat Quarter Shop, my preferred way to buy fabric.  Fast and friendly service is just one of the reasons it's my first stop for fabric and notions. 

 

Happy Shopping,

 

 

 



Thankful

Over the weekend DH and I took part in an event we have been a part of for the last 4 years.  Our community comes together once a year to package meals to send to those less fortunate.  25,000 people die a day from hunger.  I find that number staggering.

See those boxes, that was our job.  Who knew cardboard could be so much work?  My hands are rough as sandpaper, but it was so worth it.

  My MIL heads up this event and this year we packaged 220,000 meals.  30,000 of those meals will stay in our community.  It was exhausting yet so rewarding.  I'm so thankful for my life.  I can't imagine the hunger occurring in the world and in my own community.  Our local drive is called "Share the Bounty" and there are events happening all over.  If you want to learn more about what you can do, Numana has a lot of information.

I did manage a little sewing over the weekend and am in the quilting phase of this t-shirt quilt.

I've been commissioned to make this quilt for a college graduate.  He graduates next month and I'm happy to say I will have this done. The recipient also served in the Air Force and I have enjoyed working on this in honor of him.  I've been enjoying every one's blog posts about the Veterans in their lives.

It's a great day to be thankful,

A Lovely Year of Finishes, March Finish, T - Shirt Quilt

I am participating in A Lovely Year of Finishes over at Fiber of All Sorts and Sew BitterSweet Designs and this is my March goal, complete. It's the last day and of course I just finished.

It's been a weekend of basketball and binding. How about them Shockers? With the KU Jayhawks loss and the Wichita State win, all the basketball fans in Kansas have become Shocker fans. WU WU! Fear the Wheat..

picture borrowed from http://www.wibwnewsnow.com/shocking-the-world-wichita-state-makes-ncaa-final-four/

If you haven't been watching, Wichita State beat Ohio State to make it to the final 4 in the NCAA Basketball Tournament.  Everyone, except the Wichita State Fans like us, are "Shocked" about the win. lol The finals will be in Atlanta next weekend.  :^)

SO, while I watched a little basketball, I finished hand sewing the binding on this March finish.

This t-shirt quilt is for a client whose daughter is graduating in May. I'm so happy to have it finished in plenty of time.  It's a full size quilt at 72" x 88".

Free Mothion Stipple Quilting

 

If you look closely, I stitched her name in the tye dye block

SHORTS!  I hope my legs aren't blinding you...

 

Happy Easter,

 



QuiltCon from my Sewing Loft

Wow, what a great day.  I actually feel accomplished and I learned so much this afternoon by attending some lectures from QuiltCon.

You think I'm crazy.  QuiltCon is over and there is no way I could be at a lecture.  WRONG.  Craftsy is offering a FREE class with a few lot of lectures from QuiltCon.  It's fantastic.  The link to the QuiltCon Lecture Series 2013 at Craftsy is Here.  Last week I couldn't have watched from my sewing room.  The Internet signal wasn't strong enough, but my awesome hubby put some sort of thingy (lol) out there and now it's all systems GO!

The March goal of finishing this T shirt quilt is well on it's way too!  The top is all put together and I feel like I may finish if I keep up this pace.  I even cleaned my sewing room a little. 

Here's to a fantastic day and an even better evening!

Linking up with:

A Lovely Year of Finishes March Goal

I am participating in A Lovely Year of Finishes over at Fiber of All Sorts.  Every month is started with a goal and by the end of the month, hopefully I will post the finish.

t shirt blocks

lattice and corner stones

I am going to be ambitious this month and finish the t-shirt quilt I've been commissioned to make.  I have everything cut and pieced and ready to put together.  This quilt is for graduation and I would like to have it finished in time to start another one before the big event in May.  (I was asked yesterday if I would make another one.)

This means it will be quilted and the binding done.  Wish me luck.....



The snow is melting nicely today :^)

Linking up with:

T-shirt quilt

This is a project that I put off for 2 years.  I had made my daughter a quilt when she graduated high school so, of course, my son expected to have his very own quilt when he graduated. To make up for the long wait, I made it a king size and really made it very personal by adding some new band t-shirts that I knew he would love.  A lot of family and friends helped find shirts I didn't have, which makes the quilt even more special.  Thank you Daryl, Trista, Sonja, Jon, Sheri, Bill, and Joe.  I couldn't have finished this without you!  I was able to present it to him at Christmas.

I backed each t-shirt front with fusible, feather weight interfacing and cut 14" squares.  The middle row of the quilt is 14" x 22" squares.  I had some shirts I just couldn't cut into 14 inches.  Some of the squares were pieced together when I wanted to include the front and back or had little pieces of shirts to include.  Here's an example:

I made more work for myself by sewing 1/2" seams and then cutting the seams allowances down to 1/4" to reduce bulk, but I found it helped keep the squares from sliding around on my ancient sewing machine.  The squares were window paned with 2" strips of grey cotton fabric.

I machine quilted by stitching in the ditch around each square.  Here, you can see some of the shirts.  My favorites are the ones he had painted or drew on himself.  Some of the shirts I bought as fillers (like the Chuckie Cheese shirt).  I wish I would have saved more t-shirts from his childhood, but you make do.  All of the squares are special in some way.  I loved making it!




My son, Randy with his t-shirt quilt

One over due project, DONE (with love),