Thread: Quilting using old clothes

With the price of fabric and everything else rising it is getting harder and harder to afford fabric for quilts. Although there are lots of beautiful fabrics out there, I would rather put food on the table for my kids.

I am wondering if anyone makes quilts using old clothes and if you have pictures of these quilts to show. Is there anything in particular you look for when purchasing used clothing for quilting? What do you use for batting?

I don't have a 'stash' so working from that is not feasible.

Hi,
I do a lot of quilts from used clothing. It started long ago when my girlfriend lost her Daughter in an accident. I helped her husband clear out the baby cloths which he said to throw away. I used them to make a quilt for my girlfriend. It was about 3 years before I gave it to her. She sat down and cried. It hangs on the wall in the den with a picture of Linda. She to this day says thank you for the memory quilt.
I have at this time done about 80 of the memory quilts for loved one both young and old.
The back of shirts are great for quilts as they get very little use.
I have made a memory quilt out of their clothing for each of my children that was presented to them at the birth of their first child.
I have one that is on my bed that is made from my fathers shirts. I am always happy under that quilt because it feels save and wram in my fathers arms.
I could go on.
Yes clothing makes great fabric for quilts.

"De-boning a shirt' video on You-tube is a great way to learn how to cut up shirts and blouses to use for making quilts.

Of course, I found it after I cut up about 8 kids shirts. Dang! i wasn't that far off, though.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zS-09AYE0fM

I too have used clothes for quilting fabric-especially the flannels.

The best fabric finds at thrift stores are homemade wrap around skirts that someone wore once or twice. If you do decide to use clothing, just look and feel to see that it is not really worn otherwise, you are reducing the life of your quilt by a few years
I have bought many pieces of clothing specifically for quilting. Really the last thing I should do considering the size of my stash.

Carole

[QUOTE=MaryMo;5421713]My favorite quilt of all times was the one my great grandmother made using sewing scraps and pieces from my worn out and outgrown dresses and skirts I wore as a child. I treasure that quilt still. I've been thinking about sewing a label on it about all the pieces in it - my great grandmother did not add labels to her quilts.[/Q

Definitely add a label with all the pertinent information on it. I'd use a label with your handwriting on it since the quilt was made for you with fabrics from your childhood.