Thursday 24 March 2022

Time spent quilting is never wasted

And just to prove it, while my house was in chaos I did at least manage to quilt my way to the first finish of the year.  This top was only made last year and in the normal course of things would be nowhere near the front of the queue.  However, just before the builders came I made a few backs as a precaution.  Of course making more than one was an act of pure optimism but I was on a roll.  Then I tucked them all ways in a drawer, rolled up with their respective tops, thinking they would be easy to grab as and when I needed them.  This was the first one my hand lit on, so it is the one that made it into the hoop.

What to say about it?  Well, it's the first quilt I've ever made entirely from shirts.  This wasn't a deliberate policy and I think there were pieces of quilting cotton in my initial pull, but none of them quite worked in the end, so it was shirts all the way.  

I haven't done it for a while, but I used quite a lot of button plackets 

just because it felt like this was a quilt that could take it without descending into tweeness.  I also used most of the fabrics used to line the yokes, which is often different from but complementary to the main body of the shirt.  
The picture bottom right shows a lovely shirt, with a slight sheen.  I used the front and the back of the fabric, pretty much without thinking about which way it landed in any given moment.

I had enough fabric to keep going (final size is about 67" square-ish) but it seemed to be done so I stopped.  Pleasingly, this meant I had enough left to do the back too.

This was started on 27th May 2021.  Piecing was finished on 1st July.  I put it in the hoop during the first week in January 2022 and it was finished on 15th March.  The wadding is organic cotton, the threads were what I had, but all perle cotton and mostly no.8.  The binding is this lovely wobbly stripe from very old stash.  I think maybe it's a Janet Clare fabric?

One of the nice things about shirt quilts is that people seem more comfortable with them - they already feel not-quite-new,  I suppose.  Either that, or my guys have become so used to piles of quilts that they just don't stand on ceremony any more.  Either way, within a day of finishing it, I came in to find it had already been put to use and then left, draped rather fetchingly, across a chair.  Hooray.





12 comments:

patty a. said...

The front and the back are equally fabulous! I love all the plaids and the dark tumbler patches. Congratulations on number one!

Janie said...

Yes, congratulations on your 'knock out' finish! Superb!
I agree with Patty, front back binding equally fabulous.
And your photos in the spring light with spring grass peaking out in back are so happy.
Happy spring!

audrey said...

That's so awesome that your family is already using it! When I first opened up this post I literally said 'Awwwww'. Such a great quilt. All the shirting fabrics, the buttons, the bold black bits--it just hits all the right notes. Fantastic first finish of the year! Love it!:)

Linda @ kokaquilts said...

Such a great quilt, I love the front... and the back! And those extra touches, like the buttons, yoke segments, etc. are delightful! And it's in use already, what better compliment!

Yvonne from Quilting Jetgirl said...

I really like that you used the same shirt fabric both right sides in and out, it makes such a nice variation. Having the front and back all be from shirts is really amazing. Congratulations on your first finish of the year! Are things at home feeling more settled now or are the builders still working?

Quiltdivajulie said...

I also love quilts made of all shirts - so soft and comfortable and, like you say, approachable. You did an EXCELLENT job on this one. And how awesome that your family has already adopted it!

Robin said...

Wonderful finish. Yes, I think shirts have that feel to them that makes anyone want to cuddle up inside. It turned out so nice and I love the backing. I agree. . . your binding is a Janet Clare - I think I still have some of that fabric. So glad it got an immediate hug from one of your family members,

Shelina (formerly known as Shasta) said...

It's two quilts in one and each one is gorgeous! Love all the wonderful touches of the buttons and yokes and piecing and the hand quilting. Congratulations on a great first finish of the year.

QuiltGranma said...

What a great use of the good parts of worn shirts! Love this!

Quilter Kathy said...

A wonderful quilt! So happy it is being used and enjoyed already! Congrats!

Ann said...

My sons and their friends are not shy about using quilts either. It's an attractive trait. So much better than storing it for future generations who probably won't want it... or letting the silverfish eat it up.
You are a master of shirts. The colors are ones we use. So many quilting fabrics are terribly bright. I guess that's why they frequently don't blend with our shirts.

Mystic Quilter said...

Oh this quilt is super!! I love the tumbler style blocks in the mix and you must have a great collection of shirts, the addition of the button plackets is a lovely surprise. Congratulations on a tremendous quilt finish.