I was kind of freaking out about cutting up the shirts for this - see the thread here: http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-101105-2.htm

I did make progress today - four blocks, which is more than I managed in the last two weeks. It was still emotionally hard, though.

The pattern is "Flannel Trees and Stars" from allpeoplequilt.com
http://www.allpeoplequilt.com/images...-starslg_2.jpg

They are 6 1/2" squares. I am making a few changes - the bow ties they use are the "easy" kind with HST. I hate doing HTS and would rather set in the seams. They are still a pretty easy block. Also I think the proportions look better.

I'm also leaving in some of the structural elements of the shirts intact - the pockets and sleeve plackets. The plackets I'm sewing down with a slipstitch like applique, so that they don't open and expose the batting.

Oh, you have made a good start. Thanks for sharing. Look forward to seeing it finished. They will cherish it!

I really like what you've done so far. Keep up the good work. I'm looking forward to future updates. :thumbup:

wonderful and inspiring me to complete one. pab

Looking very good...love how you have used pockets/plackets. Look foward to seeing how this quilt evolves...it will be a beauty.

Looking good! I really like the pattern you chose.

I am trying to think of ways to use the shirt buttons to embellish the blocks - but not in a frilly way, since it is for a boy. Does anyone have any ideas for that?

Looking at the pics you posted, I was thinking that on one of the trees, you could do a small heart with buttons. Or on the multi top right hand square, either a heart or just a line of buttons at an angle. I like the heart idea best. Or perhaps more than one heart on other end of quilt. I do not think a heart would be too girly or frilly...just the outline of a heart in small buttons.

Hmmm. I didn't even think of a heart. All I'd come up with was putting buttons on the trees like christmas ornaments or berries or something, but I don't know that "Christmas" is the look I'm going for. Thanks for the idea, I'll have to think about it. There will also be star blocks with big open centers - I'd though of putting a button in the center of some of the stars, through all layers of the quilt, kind of like tying, but it wouldn't be the primary method of keeping the layers together, there will be machine quilting.

Wonderful - this is going to be one very special quilt.