T-shirt Memory Quilts--Step by Step

This one's for Daniel

This past summer I learned a new trick in making t-shirt quilts which worked pretty well, and seemed a little easier--at least for kid-sized quilts.  I used pre-printed fusible bonding material which was printed  diagonally (on point).  You will also need a teflon ironing mat, or paper to iron through so you don't melt the t-shirt patters, and don't get the sticky fusing on your iron.

Before you begin, collect at least 9-15 T-shirts that have meaning to the child, and make sure the colors will work together.  Decide on a tentative pattern.  Often you can use the back as well as the front of the shirts.

Step 1.  Cut out T-shirts fronts (or backs)  to match the size of the fusible grid.  Usually 8" x 8" but can be bigger.  Cut out accompanying material to correct size, if you are alternating it with T-shirt fronts like I did.  Decide how you want them to be laid out.  (I usually do this on the floor.)  Place them on the fusible grid in the order you want them.  I use a large table to work on, once I start ironing.

Step 2.  Layout your shirts and fabric onto the sticky side of a fusible grid material.  Pin into place.  Then place an ironing I (teflon) mat or paper on the top of the shirts, press with high heat, so it fuses to the grid.  You don't want to get any of the sticky stuff on your iron, hense the paper. 

Step 3.  Trim off any overhang on the corners, or edges.


Step 4. Once all the blocks are in place like this, you are ready to add the sashing.





Next iron the sashing (narrow strips between blocks) into place.  Again you use the teflon ironing mat. Iron each sashing strip clear across each row.

You can use alternating colors if you wish like this. I added the long strips of black first, then the 8 " strips of red.  Once they are fused to the backing, you are ready to sew.

Step 5. Once everything is ironed into place, carefully fold along each line and stitch 1/4 " seams.   You are stitching through 4 layers -- 2 fabrics + 2 fusible grids. Do all the rows in one direction first, then carefully fold the opposite direction, and stitch these.  You will be stitching through 8 layers where the rows cross on this step.  Go slowly and evenly, so everything lines up straight.

Step 6.  When you finish press once more on the top, using the ironing mat.  Then add borders to enlarge the quilt, or enhance the design.  Add batting and a backing, or in this case I just added fleece.  With that you don't need additional batting. and then tie or quilt it.  This quilt is tied.

This is also a grid t-shirt quilt finished for Hailey in July.  For both quilts I used contrasting sashing, but now looking at them, I think it might have been more impactful, to use the darker color for both directions.

Final Quild Service Quilts of 2011

As President of our quilt guild I've had to be very involved with each of the quilts we've done to help others.  The last one we completed was in Memory of Kevin Orr, a police officer who died in the line of duty.  I taught Kevin in school and his parents live here in Blanding.  They used this quilt as a fund raiser to help COPS, a suport group which helps and counsels families of deceased officers. 



Accepting the quilt at the Oct. 2011 meeting were Gene, Damon Orr,  Claudia Orr, Jolyn Orr, and Julie Lucero



The other quilt the guild joined together to compete was this beautiful Sampler Quilt for the Blue Mountain Hospital.  Deb Bayles and Cathy Cosby spearheaded the effort.  I made one of the blocks, however.

 

2011--The Year of the Quilts

It's true that when given a challenge, we rise to the occassion.  I believe I've made and helped to make more quilts this year, than any previous year of my life.  Because of the nature of my role of Quilt Guild President, I felt more motivated to make quilts--even in the summer, which I normally don't do.  Here are some of the recent ones I've completed.

My nephew Matthew Keeler and his wife Karen were married last year on

Mattmwe Beach, Zanzibar, Tanzania Aug. 14.  I finally completed a quilt for them in September 2011.  I love the bright colors of the batik's and I picked ones that reminded me of fall.  I set it together a little differently, using browns and greens against the batiks, showing the change in seasons.  After it was completed I added appliqued leaves using the raw edge applique technique I recently learned. 

My niece Andrea and hubby Tyler had their first baby boy, after three girls.  They named him after my Dad, --her grandpa, Jess .  Here is his cowboy quilt. 

This summer our quilt guild made a Quilt of Valor which we donated in July to the National Guard here in Blanding.  We were so saddened when one of our own local boys was the next to give his life for our country.  Jason Workman was one of  38 soldiers including Team Six of the Navy Seals who were shot out of the sky Aug. 5 in Afghanistan.  I taught him, and his three brothers in high school, so knew them all well.  It was a tragic and sad time for the whole community.   He was buried in Arlington Cemetary.  We presented the Valor quilt to his parents, in September, and also gave a flag wall hanging to his wife and son. 

 The last of the Buffalo Gang, Autumn's high school friends was married in September.  Arin Shumway was an RN, and had served a mission to Argentina.  She is becoming a mom right off the bat, as her new hubby has two children.  Here is the quilt that Dantzelle, Marian, Lana, Amber and I tied for her.  I did all the piecing, and Autumn helped me pick out the fabric.  It is wild and crazy, just like Arin.



July Quilt Show 2011

2011 was a year of firsts for our quilt guild.  In May while Corey was still here, we moved everything out of our storage shed, and moved them upstairs in the new Wellness Center.  This will save us $350 a year, though it is requisite that we have agile knees hauling the stands up and down the stairs.  We also bought 8 new quilt display stands for the show, and borrowed 20 stands from the State guild.  (Transporting them back and forth was quite a trick!) 
We displayed over 100 quilts on the 4th of July.   Steve along with many of husbands helped us put up the stands, Saturday night.  Sunday we hung the rest of the quilts, and Monday AM early did the final touches.

Everyone who came enjoyed the show.  We had a wide variety of styles and patterns.

Some of the Quilts I displayed

I finally got my Purple Posies quilt finished which I had started Oct. 2010.  I set it together without the black sashing first, and really didn't like it--too much purple!    On the left is "Before", on the right is "after."
 I took it all apart, added the black sashing, and then scatttered yo-yo flowers on it.  I like how it turned out.

I also displayed CJ's Eagle Scout quilt which took 2nd place, the Aztec Warrior, Christmas tree skirt, Navajo steps, Hailey's quilt and some small Christmas projects.

 

The quilt guild provided this kit for us several years ago, but I never got it made, until our 1st Christmas in the mission field in 2007. 

This Eagle Star Quilt was one of the favorites in the show.  Probably the hardest quilt I've ever made.  Thanks to Julie Hawkins and Shauna Hurst I finally finished it.  Now CJ, just needs to finish his requirements!

Hailey's birthday quilt made from her old T-shirts.  I used fusible stablizer with a grid which was set on point, so it was easier to do, than it appears.   I also made one for Danny's birthday and gave it to him in May.

 
 
 
 
 
 

I have a real cute pix of Danny with the quilt wrapped around him, but I can't find it right now!

Aztec Warrior, or Sr. Citizen?

I finally got a nesting place for My Aztec Sr. Citizen.  He was a warrior when I started 12 years ago, but has aged significantly.  I got the batik panel in a mercado in Mexico City, while spending my last pesos, prior to us getting pick-pocketed on the metro!  So glad I didn't have any money left!!
Anyway I've been collecting fabric I thought might work for all these years, while also looking for patterns.  Once I even lost him for a couple of years.  I think that is when he got all the warts and wrinkles!
   Anyway last fall, I ran onto a perfect pattern, and used it in a workshop I taught in September for our guild.  I got the first set of blocks done at that time, and then as Sr. Azteca was so tired, I had to let him rest for another 6 months...But Voila, he resurrected in April, and the quilt is now finished.  I love it.  Some times things just get better with age!

Jerri Montella quilted it for me.  I used a nice silky 600 count sheet for the backing. 














Baby quilts finished

Since Brig was having a new baby brother in May, I decided to make them both cowboy quilts. Jens Quentin was born May 9, 2011, and Brig Keeler was born June 18, 2009.  Here are their quilts:

Jerri did the quilting on both of them.  They have western symbols as well as their last nane "branded on the quilt!  I purchased the boots from E-bay.  There are 12 pieces in every boot !  I think they are darling and clever, but I knew I'd never get them done myself.

Quilt projects for 2011

Things have been busier than ever in the quilting department since the first of the year. Our guild helped tie baby quilts two different times, and I think we made about 24 quilts. We took some to Monticello and some to the Blanding hospital.

We also worked on two patriotic quilts.  One for the 4th of July Raffle, and one for the Quilt of Valor. 

We made the blocks at the weekend workshop, and finished the Valor quilt March 8 at a mini workshop at our home. 

In addition our guild paid for a quilt top and had it quilted for the ROTARACT club.  They made about $900 for the Breast Cancer Foundation.

New Quilting Experience

After 15 years of participating in our local quilt guild, Grayson Country Quilters, I finally decided I better "pay back" for all the help I've gotten from these wonderful quilters. So this year 2011, I agreed to be the new president. My fellow officers are Sidney Christensen, Gail Glover, and Bobbie Holt. They are wonderful! and I so appreciate their good ideas and help.
Sidney constructed a guild blog the first month we were in, and it has been a huge help to everyone, plus a place to showcase our quilts. http://graysoncountryquilters.blogspot.com/

At our first two meetings we had the ladies help tie baby quilts which we are giving to the local hospitals for new borns. We made about 24 quilts for this.

Our next service project was to put together a quilt to be used for cancer fund rising that the college rotaract club is doing. I found a beautiful pink quilt top on e-bay which the guild completed. Jeri did the machine quilting, and I did the binding.

Last Fall's projects--2010

One of the patterns we taught the sisters in Ganado, while we were on our mission was this variation on Courthouse steps.  Done with the right colors it replicates a Navajo pattern.  It works great with denim, or kakai weight pants.  All of these were cut from great finds at the flea markets.  I haven't finished it yet, but the top is all done.

This next quilt is the one I did a workshop on in Sept. I had this much done in August, and almost have the next set of blocks ready to add, but haven't had time...so much to do. I actually got the batik print over 10 years ago in Mexico..so it's been a long time finding a home.

Reddirt Retreat: When will the projects get done?

Last fall EveLyn Perkinds, Bobbie Holt, and myself drove up to LaSal, Ut to participate in an overnight quilting retreat.  It was so fun, and we learned a lot.

Here is one of the projects almost finished.  It was made from a stack of "griddle cakes"  Forty 10" x 10" squares.  I cut mine from my stash of purple fabric.

I've seen some of these "stack and whack" type quilts set together with narrow black sashing, which I think would have subdued this quilt a bit.  It seems a little busy to me.

This will be a baby quilt.  It's called "The Wave" and is also a good pattern to use up stash.  I need to add one or two more columns to it.