wildyard

I have a bag full of old woven (muslin type) calendar dishtowels from years past. They have all kinds of graphics on them. Hopefully you all know what I mean.
I am looking for ideas of how to use these in my quilting. I have thought of a tablecloth but there are more than enough for that. Many of the designs are floral so they are not all totally kitcheny.
Most likely I would cut the calendar parts off and use the numbers in I Spy quilts.

Pennyhal

Maybe do an Attic Windows with the designs and use the numbers for the borders.

Just Jan

I have seen patterns somewhere for using the whole towels, but have no idea when or where. Just know they are out there and I recall liking the quilt. In fact at one point I started saving the towels, but after I got a few I lost interest and didn't follow through!
I just Googled "Vintage Tea Towel Quilts" and found several on Pintrest.

Just Jan

Other options are use them to make unique quilted placemats, table runners, table cloth, and covers for the backs of kitchen chairs. I would not cut off the calendar part or you will be ruining the whole vintage look. You can also use one or two (or more) as the medallion of a table cloth and piece blocks like Dresden Plates or Nine Patch blocks around them. You could also add jumbo rick rack to your projects. Lots of possibilities

quiltsRfun

I saw a tote bag made from calendar towels on Pinterest.

quiltingcandy

Alex Anderson did a show about them on Simply Quilts many years ago. They just sashed them together then quilted them. Must admit I didn't pay too close attention to what they did because I thought it wouldn't be very soft. But then after my mom passed away my sister and I found a bunch of them in a drawer.

toverly

Thanks for the memory! I remember mom putting glue and glitter in a circle around the special dates in our family. I didn't always know the event, but I knew something special was coming up.

ntransue

You could use them like you would for a T-shirt quilt.

wildyard

Some interesting ideas so far. I do need to do some searching for images when I get time. I went to feel of them and they really are kind of stiff and scratchy. I think the first thing I am going to do is put them thru several washes to soften them up.
I also like the idea of using the numbers for sashing. Very clever!