Monday, August 13, 2012

T-shirt comforter

This is the T-shirt quilt I just finished (my first completed project on my new machine!)  I really gave the Viking a workout, too!  Not only is this T-shirt material, it is also pieced and backed with flannel.  It slipped a lot even though I basted it in place, and I had some trouble binding it as a result.  I also made some mistakes with this first T-shirt effort that became a learning experience!  But, overall, I think it turned out pretty good.  It not only covers most of the T's and sweatshirts my daughter wore (a couple of them made by her grandmother) but I quilted it with remembrances from her childhood, like a viola, a pair of pointe shoes, her cat and dog, etc.  There was no way I could try to free motion quilt these difficult designs because I was quilting the comforter with a stretchy stitch, so I did a LOT of turning! :-)  But it was worth it.  It's cozy and soft and warm....and really fun.  Here are a few pictures:
The range of shirts goes from military campaigns (her Dad was in the Air Force) to ballet and school shirts, to a couple sent to her by her aunt who was modeling then.  I realized too late I should have tried to cut them all at least two basic sizes....the puzzle effect of all the different sizes was hard to deal with.

A close up of a few...an exercise bear her grandmother did with fabric paints was one.  Her summer program with Joffrey was another.

I added the heart to a blank square.  Her grandmother made the snowman.  She was first chair viola at her school.

A view of some of the quilting...this is the viola.

And this is a pair of pointe shoes.  Our daughter danced for 14 years.

8 comments:

  1. You have put a lot of time and effort into this special memory quilt. I've not tried to quilt anything but woven cotton, both you and your new machine have done a marvellous job.

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  2. Marie, I love how you incorperated every thing special into this beautiful quilt! Just lovely!

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  3. Totally amazing... such memories for Yvonne to keep and how special that her Mom made it. Good job.

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  4. I think it turned out great! Free motion quilting and stretchy t-shirts are probably a very hard mix to work with. I've never tried a t-shit quilt and don't think I want to. Do you baste them to non-stretching fabric first?

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  5. I bet you are proud and glad to have this one done...and bet it was a lot of work. But at least you had a new machine to do it on and it turned out great.

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  6. What a treat to find your blog. I deserted my "Buttons for Baga" blog with my sewing and quilting a year or so ago for my photography blog. I just was not able to do two blogs at the same time. I have made two Tshirt quilts, but your is far more creative than mine. I love the randomness of it and the different stitching patterns. You did a wonderful job. Lucky girl you to have a Viking. I am still on some very old but strand Singers and a Brother. Maybe one day. Happy to find you. genie

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