Hobby & Craft Forums

I have been saving the O/h's old shirts as they get retired as I thought it would be good to reuse the material for either a quilt or some decorative wall hanging..

As he is a creature of habit thankfully they are mostly shades of blue and purple, with the odd greeny brown one for good measure..

Only probelm now is taking the plunge! - I am fine at sewing (machine) but a bit worried about how accurate I have to be?? I dont want to get to the 9th panel and find suddenly it's all off kilter! anyone got any handy tips for a beginner like me??

I dont want anything too detailed or overly complicated - the idea was to use the fabrics as a background and embellish them after..

Do you mind the style of the quilt? are you looking for a 'tidy' finish or would something more rustic suit?

Rag quilts are easy to make, look here http://www.quilting101.com/styles/rag-quilts.html

The secret is the cutting and squaring up, I use the June Tailor cut ruler, you just have to line up the salvage edge, even up top and bottom, then cut through the ruler at the size you want. Good Luck and let us see the finished item.

Forgot to add, i cheat and use the sizzix big shot!! Cuts perfect shapes every time, and it is extremely easy too! lol!

Stampin Up! Girl wrote:Do you mind the style of the quilt? are you looking for a 'tidy' finish or would something more rustic suit?

Rag quilts are easy to make, look here http://www.quilting101.com/styles/rag-quilts.html

No, style is not "important".. having looked at that website, I see what I am doing is a memory quilt! (golly, it even has a name!).. I think I would like it to look a little amateur - if it was meticulously precise nobody would believe I had made it, and probably presume it was factory made and bought from a shopping channel!

That's not to say I dont care what it looks like.. it would be nice if it was presentable!!

The rag quilts can look a little untidy, but thats what makes them so easy and if you like the rustic look, all the better!

I am going to make my little girl one for her bedroom, and i want to include some iron on transfers and such to get some photo's on the panels! Once they are on i will cut the squares out using the die cutter (i am using a scalloped square die) and its then as easy as stitch an X over the panel to attach the backing, batting and patterned material, when they are all done like that, you put 2 pieces together with the backing sides facing and stitch!

I am going to be ruthless too, i have ALL of her clothes from the past 3 years (she is 3 this week!) so i will sort through, and any that arent up to scratch will go into a quilt for her! I can even attach scraps together before die cutting to make 'patchwork' style squares, so no waste!!

Just got to figure out this darn machine, cant seem to get the tension right, but then i also have no clue about whether it should be turned up or down!!

Mine will definitely stay "hand" cut LOL nice as die cutters are, cant justify the expense!

How about a Rag Rag? You just have to cut them into strips (doesn't have to be tidy) and knot them through the rug base - have no clue what it's called but it looked a bit like an enormous needle point canvas....

Oh, his grnny used to make those.. but not very practrical with three muttleys.. it would end up in the washing machine evrry 2 days like their dog beds

Have you started the quilt project yet? Thought I would post the one I did for my Sis for Christmas, surprise, surprise she was really pleased with it, not normally happy with handmade but tuff!!!!