Memory T-Shirt Quilts

I have been busy working on 4 memory t-shirt quilts.

  The first 2 are done...

If I can, I like to cut out all the shirts into 15 x 15 squares to begin with and then I trim as needed to make them fit into the quilt.

I had enough of these Hard Rock Cafe shirts to put 3 of them into each quilt.

Since there were other clothing fabrics to put into the quilt, I cut the Hard Rock blocks down and added a 2 inch border still making this a 15 x 15 block.

Then I started playing with them on the design wall....I just start putting up blocks and then stand back and rearrange, cut, add, measure twice and finally end up with an arrangement I like.

Here is the first quilt all done.

Quilted with a freehand funky flower, this is for a girl. 

When I saw this fun batik online, I knew it was the perfect backing for this quilt. 

Here is quilt #2

I needed a long narrow block so I cut down these 2 shirts.  I still had one more t-shirt with only a sleeve logo to use, so I pieced the green and gray together with a skinny piece of the sleeve that held the writing.

This is for a boy, quilted it with a large freehand spiral.

Number 3 is on the design wall right now.

Stay Tuned.....

WIP Vintage Blocks #2

Here is my progress on the appliqued blocks.

I put a 1 inch border around each one and then pieced them into my lighter fabric. 

I will do the same with the other 3.  This will be the top and bottom of the quilt.

The white fabric is a nice quality. The edges were torn, making me appreciate my rotary cutter. I starched, pressed and squared up these blocks before adding an assortment of different browns for the borders. 

...back when selvages were only 1/4 inch (and fabric was only 36 inches wide)

I will bet she made these blocks when she got her first zig-zag machine.

I didn't get a machine that did a zig-zag stitch until 1980.

I love this black and tan fabric!

WIP-Vintage Blocks

Here are a couple more little projects I have on the back burner right now.  I spent about an hour with my fabric calculator, scribbling on paper and pulling fabrics from my stash to be able to use these orphan blocks.

These were sewn by a lady that has passed away.  When her teenage grandchildren cleaned out her house, they found a lots of fabric yardage and lots of blocks.  I don't know these kids, but I am good friends with their aunt.

So......Auntie calls me to see if I would like to look through about 4 tubs of fabric, since she knew I make Quilts of Valor.  It seems that no one else in the family was remotely  interested in even looking at any of the fabric.  Are you kidding?  I never turn down fabric!  So, she and I sorted out everything but the cottons. There was also a bag full of blocks that I brought home because they were just going to get tossed.

There were 3 sets of  double wedding ring blocks cut in different sizes all from 30's fabric--along with about 300 matching pieces cut for more.  I pressed, sorted and auctioned them off 2 years ago and used the money to buy batting for my quilts of valor.  I got enough to pay for batting for 12 (60x80) QOVquilts!

Fabric auctioned off for QOV batting $$
 

...getting back to my story....

I have learned from my friend that the last 2 of these grandchildren are getting married this summer.

I am making them each a quilt with their grandmother's blocks.

For the girl i am using the blocks in the first photo:

These will be the front of the quilt...

I pulled a piece of blue from my stash I think I will go with for the sashing and plan to then pick up the yellow in the outer border.

These will go on the back.  I have several yards of the grandmother's fabric in a dark pink.  I will piece these into the pink for the backing.....with a multicolored little stripe for the binding.

Yeah, I can see it all now! 

Here are the other blocks.  This will be for the boy.

There are only 6 of these appliqued blocks, so I pulled some complimentary fabrics from my shelf and have my plan on paper.

This will be a 2 sided quilt-here is what will be on the back.

Gah, I know what you at thinking...how is that going to look?  Give me some time and I will let you know.

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Snowing here today in NW Ohio.  We had Happy Hour on the deck last night at 57 degrees and today, schools are closed, blizzard and 3-4 inches of new snow!

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T-shirt Quilts

Working on cutting and stabilizing about 60 t-shirts for several quilts.  Here is my pile after yesterday:

Love having this technical part done so I can get creative with their arrangement.

Quilts of Valor

QUILTS OF VALOR ARE NOT CHARITY QUILTS.

From the Quilts of Valor Website: 

"Just how much of an impact had the Quilts of Valor Foundation made?  As of January 2014, there have been over 95,000 quilts awarded to service members/veterans. So, the answer to "Why Quilts of Valor?" is this: It is a wonderful form of National Service and anyone can to it! National Service starts at home.  Make a Quilt of Valor!"

Here is a touching video about Quilts of Valor recipients:  Here.

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Some photos of 60+ Quilts of Valor I have had the honor to quilt over the past few years: