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pollyjvan9 06-27-2012 04:45 AM

String quilts are a good way to use fabrics from clothing.

bearisgray 06-27-2012 04:50 AM

You can do a burn test on a tiny scrap (need only about 1/4 x 1 inch) to see if it's cotton or not.

Fabrics with polyester, nylon, or dacron burn with black smoke and leave either a hard or 'crunchy' ash.

Cotton leaves a powdery ash and does not put out black smoke.

Rayon is the 'iffy' one for me - I understand it's made of cellulose from wood - and that also leaves a soft ash.

Diannia 06-27-2012 07:17 AM

Since you don't have enough fabric for a quilt how about using them for applique. That's what I did for a lady who's hubby had passed away. He had several Hawaiian shirts and we used muslin blocks and made pineapple appliques on each block then sashed the blocks. It turned out very very pretty. You could make flowers instead of pineapples...

Diannia

BKrenning 06-27-2012 11:29 AM


Originally Posted by bearisgray (Post 5320001)
You can do a burn test on a tiny scrap (need only about 1/4 x 1 inch) to see if it's cotton or not.

Fabrics with polyester, nylon, or dacron burn with black smoke and leave either a hard or 'crunchy' ash.

Cotton leaves a powdery ash and does not put out black smoke.

Rayon is the 'iffy' one for me - I understand it's made of cellulose from wood - and that also leaves a soft ash.

Rayon is more flammable than cotton. Cotton burns slow like a candle wick. Rayon goes up in a flash.

Bill'sBonBon 06-27-2012 12:14 PM

I finished a keepsake quilt for a dear friend this past Sunday and mailed it to FL. Monday Daughter got it today Friend BD is tomorrow, using her husbands shirts and pants... I ask for no tees or shirts of that kind of material.. Didn't think about telling her no poly LOL!! So I got hiawaii shirts all poly several cotton and a pair of yellow poly pants that was a family joke.. I made a 54" by 64" Quilt. Enough left to make another same size for my friends daughter. I used the yellow pants in the middle square then the other shirts to make the 9 patch.. each square was 9 1/2" Each sash was 2 1/2" with a 2 1/2" connecting block going across.. I am going to start on the 2nd one for her daughter this week.. My friend is in a nursing home in Okeechobee,FL. I have a pict will post it but cant on this laptop as it dont like my printer,laptop being windows 7 printer windows 98..have to wait until I get on the other comptor in a couple hrs. I used his stripped shirts for the sashes and his pants fo the binding. Didn't fold under binding as in my opinion it would have been to bulky.. so I cut 2 1/2 inch strips spliced them together using one leg each side..2 pairs of dresspants and one was poly cords. The Cords I used going across at top for the reason they went over the other bindings as the cap and foot.I sewed binding with a straight stitch then zigzaged oveer the straight stitch. Didn't like the raw look aft. I washed it as it didn't fray much except for the cords..so I used pinking sheers and cut close to stitching turned out great. Actually I had more material than I thought when it was all ripped out.. Hoped I helped alittle it is a daunting job to do this for someone this is my 2nd person I made 4 small ones for another friend and all she had were Tees.. HARD!!! Good Luck.. BillsBonBon

burchquilts 06-27-2012 01:04 PM


Originally Posted by pollyjvan9 (Post 5319988)
String quilts are a good way to use fabrics from clothing.

That's what I was thinking, too. You could even use a single piece of fabric in each block as a "control". I'll be anxious to see what you come up with!

Bill'sBonBon 06-27-2012 01:15 PM

1 Attachment(s)
[ATTACH=CONFIG]345102[/ATTACH]

Originally Posted by Bill'sBonBon (Post 5321128)
I finished a keepsake quilt for a dear friend this past Sunday and mailed it to FL. Monday Daughter got it today Friend BD is tomorrow, using her husbands shirts and pants... I ask for no tees or shirts of that kind of material.. Didn't think about telling her no poly LOL!! So I got hiawaii shirts all poly several cotton and a pair of yellow poly pants that was a family joke.. I made a 54" by 64" Quilt. Enough left to make another same size for my friends daughter. I used the yellow pants in the middle square then the other shirts to make the 9 patch.. each square was 9 1/2" Each sash was 2 1/2" with a 2 1/2" connecting block going across.. I am going to start on the 2nd one for her daughter this week.. My friend is in a nursing home in Okeechobee,FL. I have a pict will post it but cant on this laptop as it dont like my printer,laptop being windows 7 printer windows 98..have to wait until I get on the other comptor in a couple hrs. I used his stripped shirts for the sashes and his pants fo the binding. Didn't fold under binding as in my opinion it would have been to bulky.. so I cut 2 1/2 inch strips spliced them together using one leg each side..2 pairs of dresspants and one was poly cords. The Cords I used going across at top for the reason they went over the other bindings as the cap and foot.I sewed binding with a straight stitch then zigzaged oveer the straight stitch. Didn't like the raw look aft. I washed it as it didn't fray much except for the cords..so I used pinking sheers and cut close to stitching turned out great. Actually I had more material than I thought when it was all ripped out.. Hoped I helped alittle it is a daunting job to do this for someone this is my 2nd person I made 4 small ones for another friend and all she had were Tees.. HARD!!! Good Luck.. BillsBonBon

Heres the picture.. Bonnie

zanyjany 06-27-2012 01:20 PM

1 Attachment(s)
[ATTACH=CONFIG]345103[/ATTACH]My very first quilt and the new iron bedstead to put it on!

zanyjany 06-27-2012 02:24 PM

I didn't make a mistake, where's my ripper( I'm in the wrong thread)

Originally Posted by zanyjany (Post 5321327)
[ATTACH=CONFIG]345103[/ATTACH]My very first quilt and the new iron bedstead to put it on!


Suze9395 06-27-2012 06:16 PM


Originally Posted by Neesie (Post 5319294)
As long as all of the clothes have been washed, it's okay to mix blends with cottons. Back when my grandmother was quilting, folks used whatever fabric was available. Just make sure they can all be washed/cleaned, the same way.

I agree.
And quilts are about love. What could be more wonderful than a beautiful tribute to a beloved lady.
Love knlsmith's example she posted.
I wish I had thought to do that for my grandmother.


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