Quilt Reveal: Blue Shirts Quilt

 

I put the last stitches on the shirts quilt this week. It is strange to give you a quilt reveal without showing it all to you, but it is a very large quilt and  I will need help to show the whole thing to you. For good lighting, the photo has to be taken outside, and I don't want to get it dirty by laying it on the ground.

Maybe we will take the quilt for a walk so you can get a complete picture.

The quilt is made out of shirts that my brother-in-law wore until they were declared unsuitable for wear. We both like the idea of extending their life by turning them into a quilt. He isn't a lounge under a lap quilt guy, so I had to make a bed quilt. It has a 8 x 8 block layout, so it is approximately 80 x 80 inches.

Did you notice the row of one inch squares on the bottom left?

I made the quilt by cutting different size squares that would become ten inch blocks. There are a few rectangles in there too. I quilted it with an all over simple pattern meant to disguise the blocks.

I even used a shirt to make the label. I used shirts that had stains on them and I was looking for something to explain why. Mostly, I just wanted to tell the history of the shirts and show how well-loved they were.  This was the best I could find:

 

We leave a stain. 

We leave a trail. 

We leave an imprint.

 

2021:  Weeks 17 of 15 Minutes to Stitch

 

This week, using only 15 minutes at a day, I stitched the rest of the binding and label of the shirts quilt.

15 minute days this week --7 out of 7

15 minute days this year -- 115 out of 115 days

Success rate  = 100%

 

I was at 95% at this time last year, because I slipped this week last year. I haven't made a small quilt this month, but am trying to think of a quick one I can finish before the end of the month.

Linked with:

15 Minutes to Stitch

 

Continued Progress on Two Quilts

 

Work has been gearing up for our peak season, and my time is going to be very limited soon.  My lawn mower has a burning smell so I decided to give it a rest, which gave me some more quilting time. I received my second vaccine, and I tolerated it better than the first one.

2021:  Weeks 16 of 15 Minutes to Stitch

 

The photo shows the books I bought during the AQS clearance sale. Buying them in a big batch like this makes it difficult to savor each one individually, but I am going to try.

I finished sewing down the binding of the shirts quilt and made great progress with the hand stitching part. That part usually takes me a while. The photo at the top shows the four fabrics used in the backing and the binding.

I also cut more sashing for the Amalfi Coast quilt.

15 minute days this week --7 out of 7

15 minute days this year -- 108 out of 108 days

Success rate  = 100%

 

I was at 100% at this time last year too.

Linked with:

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Off the Wall Friday

 

Progress on Two Quilts

 

This week, for the Amalfi Coast quilt, I added sashing pieces to two sides of the rooftops blocks. The sewing machine speeds them all through, and now I need to cut more sashing pieces.

I also made the binding for the blue shirts quilt. I couldn't find a blue fabric I liked, and I didn't like the way a dark binding cut off the calmness of the blue front, so I chose this grayish piece. It really closes off the quilt while keeping the mood. I made the binding extra wide since this is a big quilt. I've sewn the binding on two of the sides and will be able to finish the machine sewing today.

2021:  Weeks 15 of 15 Minutes to Stitch

 

My allergy medicine is trying to keep my allergies at bay. Work is gearing up, and the yard work has resumed for the year so stitching time is harder to come by, but I am eager to make progress on my quilts and managed to find the time.

15 minute days this week --7 out of 7

15 minute days this year -- 101 out of 101 days

Success rate  = 100%

 

I was at 100% at this time last year too.

Linked with:

15 Minutes to Stitch

 

 I'm not sure what this sign is trying to say, but it sounds like a good motto overall.

Happy Easter

 

 

This is a quilt I made in April 2019. 

2021:  Weeks 14 of 15 Minutes to Stitch

 

This week has found me with a rotary cutter firmly in hand, trimming the shirts quilt and cutting the sashing for the Amalfi (formerly known as sea glass rooftops) quilt. I have doubled up on quality control and safety checks so the process is slower than usual.

The diamonds in the sashing fabric are not the same size, so there is fussy cutting involved, which has slowed down that process tremendously. I don't like the way it looks without the fussy cutting and I bought a lot of that fabric just for that reason, so I will take the time to fussy cut. The first column cut is the way I want, the second is a smidgen off, and I will use it that way, and then the third column winds up being an inch away. I can use the extra inch in a strip quilt so I am not worried.

15 minute days this week --7 out of 7

15 minute days this year -- 94 out of 94 days

Success rate  = 100%

 

I was at 100% at this time last year too.

Linked with:

15 Minutes to Stitch

 

15 Minutes to Stitch Recap

Debbi at Piecing the Past Quilts is hosting another quiltalong. This time it is for the redwork baskets quilt. Each weekly pattern is free for the week. Hurry if you want to join, it is starting! She is very generous and has hosted these quiltalongs for a while now.

2021:  Weeks 13 of 15 Minutes to Stitch

Now that the Project Quilting challenges are over, I can spend my time spring cleaning and replenishing my frozen meal supply.

I got my first COVID vaccine this week and spent the bulk of my free time with my genealogy addiction. On the quilting front, I did manage to finish quilting the shirts quilt. That's the shirt I gifted unfinished a year and a half ago. Now that winter is over, and the recipient won't need the warmth of a big quilt, I figure I should get it done and re-gifted so it is ready for next winter. 

It was like one of those chores you keep putting off and putting off because you think it will be difficult or inconvenient, but when you got it done, you thought you should have done it already because it was much easier than expected. There were three rows of quilting and I did sew only in one direction with the bulk of the quilt outside the throat, but it didn't cause any problems.

I plan to add some sashing on the rooftops blocks today, and today's stitching time will count on this week's numbers.

15 minute days this week --7 out of 7

15 minute days this year -- 87 out of 87 days

Success rate  = 100%

 

I was at 100% at this time last year too.

Linked with:

15 Minutes to Stitch

Quilt Reveal: Wild and Free

 

 Wild and Free, Just Like the Sea

 I wasn't going to participate in the Project Quilting challenge, but since it is the last one for the season, I wanted to help them finish out the year with a large turnout.

At the beginning, when I was making blocks for my Seaglass rooftops quilt, which will probably be officially called Amalfi Coast, I was only cutting the pieces for the blocks as I went along.  I didn't want to cut strings if I didn't need them. But then this week, I realized I could use leftover strings to make a string project. Sew some strings and see what you want to do with them, improv style. Use up more scraps.

I then decided I could use the strings to make a quick Project Quilting challenge so that is what I did instead. I have plenty of other leftover fabric for a string project.

Instead of straight strings, which I thought might be boring for a small project, I made a log cabin. The colors aren't true on my screen in these pictures.

It is about 10" x 11 1/2".

 

 

This week's Project Quilting Challenge 12.6 theme was Ab Intra, a Latin phrase that means “from within". This quilt fits the theme in many ways. First of all, there is a center, and there are layers around it. I use an onion analogy a lot in my life. In order to do anything - manage your finances, get healthier, learn to quilt, it is good to tackle one layer at a time, and build on your skills.

Second, the colors remind me of oceans and bodies of water. I don't live near water, but if I could live anywhere, it would be near water.

 

The quilt has an hourglass figure like mine.

Thirdly, to make it even more literal, I inserted a heart in the quilt.

 

You can see it in proper lighting conditions. It is something I had read about when I started quilting, and there may even be a quilt I did that in but I haven't done it since until I thought about the challenge rules.

 

Never give up 

for that is just the place and time

that the tide will

 turn.

 

2021:  Weeks 12 of 15 Minutes to Stitch

I spent my week making more of the teal and aqua rooftops blocks. I decided to make more blocks instead of making more rounds. I have the planned 30 blocks made now, and will start sashing them this week.  I also made the Wild and Free mini quilt for the Project Quilting challenge.

15 minute days this week --7 out of 7

15 minute days this year -- 80 out of 80 days

Success rate  = 100%

 

Linked with:

15 Minutes to Stitch

Peacock Party 

Patchwork and Quilts

Sea Glass Rooftops

 

 

There is no Project Quilting challenge this week, which is good because I was eyeing the blue green fabrics I used for the Oak Leaf and Reel challenge quilt. Making a rooftop quilt has been on my to-make list for a long time and those aqua and teal fabrics asked if they could help.  The name rooftop is a Gee's Bend quilter's term for a courthouse square variation that goes around and around a center square. 

 

 

Since I am using yardage, I have decided not to make it improv, but instead make a more traditional block in these brighter fabrics. Each block starts with a 2 " finished square of the floral fabric in the center and 1" finished rounds. I did add some rogue strips for some extra interest. Each block has a different combination of fabric. The bright light is muting the colors a little bit.

I got more aqua and teal fabrics from upstairs -- I am stealing from a box of fabrics I am saving for a triangle quilt, but I think there is enough fabric in there to spare. If not, I might have to go shopping. Probably from my stash because the triangle quilt has a plan with a wider range of colors. I know I will cut off the outisde points of the diamonds in the sashing, but I would have to waste a lot of fabric to save them. The inside points will be suffice.

I am thinking of a baby quilt and am still deciding on the size. I might add another round to these blocks.

2021:  Weeks 11 of 15 Minutes to Stitch

 

 

I spent my week making the teal and aqua rooftops. I forgot to show you this book with a fabric cover that  I received from Ronda Winstead. She runs the Stitching Fabrics, Papers & More Facebook group and has a YouTube channel as well. Thank you again, Ronda! It is so beautiful!

15 minute days this week --7 out of 7

15 minute days this year -- 73 out of 73 days

Success rate  = 100%

 

Linked with:

15 Minutes to Stitch

 Link Party Patchwork and Quilts