Since I am new to quilitng I don't have a huge amount a fabrics. After going mad and cleaning out the closet and chest of drawers I have a pile of old clothes (linen, cottons, natural fibre blends) that are not suitable for charity shops (ratty hems collars or cuffs) but have large amounts of good fabric. Also some old sheets/pillowcases. I am thinking of cutting these up (all buttons go in the buttonbox!) but should I leave the peices as large as possible or get out the rotary cutter and ruler and cut into squares or strips. Any suggestions as per size and any fabric you suggest not to bother with. Also, I though about clipping the manufacturers tag to the fabric so I know exactly what type it is and any special washing instructions.

I kinda like the way these shirts are cut up and used. I hope this link works.

http://thethriftyquilter.blogspot.co...e-thrifty.html

I don't precut my pillowcases and old sheets. I might need them big, so I keep them folded and waiting for the right project.

Great idea - that's what quilters did many, many years ago...they used old clothing or scraps from making new clothing. Fabric for quilting is a "new trend".

Check out Quiltville.com for lots of idea on quilting with scraps and old clothes. Bonnie says find a pattern/quilt you like, see what size the pieces are cut down to and cut your shirts to that size. That's what I'm doing with my shirt collection.

I've seen a quilt that incorporated the necklines/tags right into the quilt...it was cool. They included pockets (some with the flap and button still attached.

[quote=AllyJo]http://thethriftyquilter.blogspot.co...e-thrifty.html
quote]


Thanks for posting the link above. I read the entire article...like I've never seen it before...LOL
When I went to save it to favorites - I already had it saved. Duh!
:oops:
Guess, maybe, perhaps, that's where I seen the name tags incorporated into the quilt.

Her pattern only used a total of 7 shirts - YIKES :shock:
I probably have enough shirts to make 10 quilts! YIKES AGAIN!

Hetty:
Hi! Would love to see your shirt quilt when you are done. I have a shirt quilt started too. Welcome from Mn! :D

Great idea. I would keep them as big as possible

Nothing wrong with using what we have, and saving space in the landfills!
I started rug hooking last year and wool is waaaay expensive,so I hit the thrift shops!
Some were appalled that I was going to cut up these good clothes, but I got alot of very pretty 100% wool at very good prices!
I left everything in as large a piece as I could.
you never know what you may need later!
also as a side note: I asked what they did with clothing that couldn't be sold(frayed,holes etc) they said it was all baled and sent overseas for charity!
Well personally I think that is insulting(sending our garbage to another country) and alot of crafters(rug hookers,quilters,crochet) would take these off their hands and save the expense of shipping!

I always go to the "big mens" section at the Goodwill and look for wool pants, sweaters, and nice shirts. You get alot of fabric that way, and if you hit them on the sale days, half off a certain colored tag, or the second Tuesday of the month, 5 pieces of clothing for $5, you can get alot of fabric! I love recycling!I reuse everything from buttons, tags, and zippers! Have fun with it, and if you want to take it apart, only do it at the seams, or you might kick yourself later.

Welcome! I think that is a great way to start quilting. Save money, and recycle!

Hey there. You're welcome on the link. What I was thinking about doing was just using her cutting ideas or layout into usable pieces. Sometimes it's just nice to have a pattern.

What I usually do is save the back for a fat quarter and cut the rest into nickles, squares or strips, since that's mostly what I work with. I even use the collars and cuffs as smaller strip piecings.

My husband and son are big and tall. LOVE those extra large and extra long shirts on sale at the thrift store. :) They make my day.

I hate cutting up things prior to having a quilt in mind. If its scraps so be it, but otherwise I leave as big as possible. Never know what size I'll need so if I cut 2.5 I know darn well that I'll find a quilt that I need 3.5 for! :lol: :lol: Murphy's Law.

Thanks for this link. I love stripes and plaids. There are always nice stripy shirts at our local charity shops. I have just done a deal with a friend of ours who is a gentlemens' tailor... he is going to give me the fabric sample books when the manufacturers have changed their collections!

You lucky thing. I wouuld die to get my hands on one of those fabric sample books. Have fun with that.

Welcome! Saving and recycling clothes is great. I recycle all shirts and blue jeans. I do pre cut alot of it. Most of my shirts I cut in 3 inches depending on patterns. Jeans I cut legs off and back pockets. Cut open at seam and measure how many inches I can get out of it. Each pair is different. It depends on project and how big I want the square.

I remember my the quilt on my brother's bed growing up had pieces of a dress my mom wore when she was pregnant for him. I asked her why she cut up a dress and she said that's the way they quilted back then to use up any fabric available and not to waste something that couldn't be worn anymore. My brother is now 51 and still has his quilt!

I usually just cut the seams and bad parts out then fold up the fabric that's left. I never know what size piece I'm going to need until I use it. If you're a person that likes to use charm packs or jelly rolls then cut them like that while you're cutting.

I thought of something else I meant to tell you. Of course, this is personal choice.

On the front shirt piece with a pocket, I usually cut a square around the pocket, maybe with 1" space around the pocket for seam allowance. I am saving them for something. I figure they could make a cute wall hanging to stick stuff in or make a cute kids quilt where they could hide their toys. Kids love to hide things. :)

Hope that helps.

I have a ton of jeans, I have made 2 baby quilts and plan to make g-sons a rag quilt, also plan to make them an I Spy quilt. Have the fabric, just need to get them done. But I am the kind that does not like to make more than one quilt of the same time, so when I get ready to make them, I have to make three blocks at a time so they will be all done at the same time......lol

Great information.

Yes I agree that if it doesn't sell they send it overseas for charity. First they should give it away in the USA for charity. I'm all for helping out people overseas but take care of our own first. There are lots of people that could use the clothes that can't even afford to buy at the thrift stores. Just my opinion! LOL Also like you said there are alot of crafters & quilters that would love to re-cycle it,

I'm jealous. Bet there's some gorgeous fabric in these sample books.

This is how I started to learn to quilt with old clothes, ect. I have a stack of my hubbys old shirts I'm going to make a quilt of someday.
Have fun,
simple quilter

I love using old clothes. I usually wash and cut up when I get them. I cut them into the largest possible pieces before putting away in my stash.

There is a book you should get. It is called Scraps & Shirttails: Reuse, Re-pupose, Recycle! by bonnie k hunter. It's all about using old cloths. You can go to this web site and order it they also have free thrift patterns there.

what a great thing! I just got some old shirts th give away! great thing and the ties ? is there a link for that one?

I have Bonnie's 2 books and love them. Working on 2 texas braids now.

My work jeans are almost always purchased resale and lately I've had to get 'new' ones "that fit" - KWIM? :( :( :(
So my jeans (and everyone else in the house jeans) that don't fit or actually wear a bit are cut up into 6 1/2" squares. Jeans that are still in really great shape are donated back to a charitable resale shop.

MARY mentioned ties? Ahhhh....yes.....I have a huge collection of them too... :)

My Problem is I have to stop COLLECTIONS and start USING.

Forgot web address it is http://quiltville.com :oops:

I am doing a challenge quilt - I can't spend more than $25.00 AUD on it, so I am scouring op shops and friend and relatives wardrobes for scraps and bits to cut up. It will be a Celtic Squares when it is done. In about 2030!

I had planned on staying on here longer but I have to take a shower and go to the Goodwill. I don't have a husband and I have to find some men's shirts. bye for now.
doglover

[quote=quiltinghere]

A friend and I were just discussing this at lunch yesterday. When I was growing up my mom always had what was called rag bag. All of our old and out grown clothes went into this for making quilts. She never purchased fabric for the quilt tops. She only purchased the backing fabric. Grant you these were quilts for use and not the fancy ones you see these days.

I too use thrift store finds and "used-up" clothing. I leave the pieces as large as they come. I cute them apart at the sleeves, seams, and cut off the buttonhole parts and just leave the largest piece possible that way you're ready for anything. I find that if I cut them up I always need a piece that's larger than what I've cut.

I buy 100% cotton scrubs at thrift shops and cut them up for fabric. Every other week our Goodwills have a 50% off everything sale, so I can get scrubs for about $1.50 each. I get at least a half a yard or more of fabric and I find patterns that I don't see in the LQS. Also, because they are used, they have already been washed to death so no shrinking. I even made a nurse friend of mine a quilt made of scrubs. She loved it!! I say use what you've got--and think outside the box!

Go to yahoo groups and put in Quiltville - Bonnie Hunter is the mistress of old clothes for quilts. You will love her site. You can visit her web site at www.quiltville.com.

I love the ideal about the scrubs I am going to keep my eyes out the next time I go to the Goodwill. I have seen some cute scrubs. But I never though of them at the Goodwill. Maybe I need to come out of the box more often :lol:

I have a friend, whose wife's father was tragically killed in December, just a few days before Christmas. My friend, Matthew, wanted me to make his wife/family a quilt using the father's old ( and some new ) flannel shirts, and cotton hankerchiefs ( the bandana kind ).. They live in Virginia, and though Matthew and I have known each other for soem years, we have never met in person - just online .. But as Matt explained the circumstances behind Doug's death, I knew I needed to at least try to make something out of the 30 plus flannel shirts, and as many hankerchiefs.. This photo is what those flannel shirts were, when Doug wore them. Each one , different in their useage, represented a father, husband, father in law, and grandpa's heart.. His family now, esepcially Matthew and Jessica, Caleb and Claire, have a memory quilt to wrap up in when they miss their pappa.. I was the blessed one to create this shirt, though it was like cutting up a persons life, and stitching it back together with my tears.. because I literally cried buckets when cutting apart each shirt, ripping off each button ( which were also used for parts of the quilt..
The body of the quilt top, are the shirts. The binding is from some of the hankerchiefs I cut into strips. And the smaller quilt, hanging in the other photo was the little memory quilt for Matt and Jess's two small children using the hankies which I cut into rectangles..

a thought about where to get those fabric sample books, is to go to a window store, an upholstery type shop/store, and ask if they have outdated books to either sell you, or give away. I found about 20 of these awesome sample books here in our small mountain town.. And I paid nothing.. she wanted to clear them out, since her design shop stays only in what the trends are.. she said to me that she would die buried in books if she didn't pass them along, or throw them away - GASP... worth checking out in your area..

Hetty, my mother and her mother used to do a quilt about twice a year. When we would come home from school, mom would say that "Grandma and her were going to do another quilt, and to clean out our closet." Since our clothes were all cotton material, it was easy since all they had to do was to wash it, cut the seams off, zippers out and buttons off (When there were some), and then decide what top they wanted to do and then cut the material into pieces as they needed them. They did not have a lot of log cabin pieces cut out or dresden plate pieces, they just left the pieces as big as possible and cut as needed. Mom had a large drawer that she could stuff the material she had, so she could save the material in an out of the way place. Mom always said that the quilts should be made out of all cotton, or if you were going to use another type of material, then the quilt had to be all the same for that quilt. Good luck!

Go on-line and check out the Gee's Bend quilters. You'll see that they used only old clothing and their quilts are now in museums because of their beauty and creativity. There is an effort in the works now which encourages us to recycle many of the things we usually throw away.
I made a CrazyQuilt wall hanging out of old clothing and i cherish it. i included pieces from the dress I wore to my son's wedding; the blouse i wore to my Mother's funeral,etc.. It becomes very personal when you look at it.
Go for it!!

I made a bullseye quilt out of my daughters clothes. She loves finding things she had forgotten about. The back is some dress fabric I was going to make for her but never did.
I free motioned messages on the back and the front is so busy you can't tell til you turn it over.