May’s UFO (#10 from my list) is done!
This was my very first quilt, made in 2001, and since I didn’t really know what I was doing, it contained a number of thin, fragile fabrics—like imagine sheer, almost tulle-like polyester stuff—mixed in and sewn to heavier fabrics, and while much of the quilt was still hanging in there, over the years of being on our bed off and on, the top had a number of places where the sheer fabrics had utterly given up the ghost and become shredded remnants. Not to mention the colors and their arrangement were… pretty much random and not my present aesthetic, and of course not my present skill level!
However, it is my very first quilt, and has a lot of sentimental value, so my goal was to repurpose it into a second life.
So, that’s what I did. I sliced it in half, and one half became a chair cover for my ragged office chair. It’s the perfect length, and I measured the chair and cut it to that size. I used some leftover binding to bind the newly raw edge. I have the back with my hand-stitched label facing up right now, but I can always flip it to the other side later.
With the other half, I made two crate pads specifically measured to size for my poodle’s odd-sized “long and narrow” crate in the van that he rides to dog shows in. These were both made by just folding a piece in half and then putting a binding all the way around. For one of them, I faced the front side out, and for the other one, I faced the back side out.
Anywhere one of the sheer-fabric holes was left on the outside, I ironed on a patch and sewed around it. Not very pretty, but it’ll make it last in its new utilitarian life until the quilt truly does wear out for good, having lived a happy and extensive life.
I thought I’d be sad to make that first slice into this 24 year old quilt, but I wasn’t at all; I was excited that it would get to be out of a closet and in use, where I can see it and use it.
I’m including a picture of the quilt from my physical album, and a picture of it in its new life.
Now I’m working on another Dutch Girl quilt for another sister, until we reach June and a new number from The List!