A request for a hole in a quilt
 

I am making a memory T- Shirt quilt for a friend and she wants a hole in the corner. It is in memory of a child who passed away while at college.

In the corner she wants it to reflect the hole that was in his baby blanket. She thought the hole would remind her of the little cute boy and how he loved his baby blanket.
Any ideas how I can make this happen?

She sent a picture of his blanket, which is in too bad of shape to be used in the quilt. He made the hole between the edge and the blanket so his thumb would poke through. The edge was repaired so many times it looks like a nest of thread where his thumb was.
I am open to any and all ideas on how to put a hole in the quilt that looks like it belongs especially since the t shirts are in almost new condition.
Thanks in advance.

Woah, that is a tough one, I am sure someone will pop in with a good idea!!!

How about doing something like the Indians do when they buttonhole stitch around holes. (Usually seen this also done with mirror sequins). Don't know what's it is called, but maybe someone on here can better describe it.

Personally, I would attached freezer paper to the back of the fabric. Then I'd cut a hole or use a paper punch (the ones they use for scrapbooking), then buttonhole stitch around it to keep it from fraying.

So sad about her son. You are wonderful to do this for her. Can you possibly include even a tiny piece of the blanket? Even a teeny piece may bring her some comfort.

I wonder if the baby blanket could be part of the batting?

Or attached to a piece of interfacing to line a single block then use a round buttonhole for the hole in the blanket going through the piece that is strengthened by the interfacing .

Maybe you could cut out the piece of the blanket and include the "hole"?
Though, I am thinking the mother probably does not want to have it cut apart,
wanting to keep it as another memory of her son.

Or perhaps, show us a photo of what you are trying to emulate?

I would remove the batting in the area that you want the hole when sandwiching the quilt. Then quilt the rest of the quilt before making a buttonhole through the top and backing.

My mother did gorgeous cutwork embroidery. I would either satin stitch a circle or oval by machine and then cut out the center or cut out a circle (oval) and buttonhole stitch the edge by hand. I'm thinking an oval shape would fit a little hand better.

Some good ideas. My initial thought was a 'faced hole.' Depending on how large of a hole, one might be able to work it into a label. Have you read how or made a bound buttonhole? I'm thinking something like that might work. I thought you could make the quilt and perhaps even quilted it, keeping in mind where you were going to put the "hole." Once the quilt is finished, lay the 'facing square or rectangle' right side to the quilt top and stitch the circle or oval through all layers. Cut out the center and turn the 'facing' to the wrong side of the quilt through the hole and the facing will be right side out. You would want to turn under the raw edges of the 'facing' once it has been turned. Perhaps some hand stitching around the edge of the hole to mimic the original.

Janey - Neat people never make the exciting discoveries I do.

There are the wall hangings that it looks like one block has jumped out and is hanging there. Can you use that idea to leave a hole? Or when putting the binding on, leave a space with maybe an extra couple inches of the binding hanging loose, creating a "hole".

Depending on the size, could you add it to a label that you put on the back of the quilt?

I would put it on the back as part of the label.

Use several layers of dissolvable embroidery stabilizer instead of interfacing and it will wash away. Create the hole the size you want and zigzag around it at moderate width and very closely like you would for appliqué, letting needle be just off edge of fabric.

What about constructing the quilt with the quilt as you go method? Then one of the blocks will contain the hole. I'm thinking a block would be easier to manage to do a facing method, buttonhole, or whatever. Its also a way of developing the idea without wrecking a whole quilt, just try making another block until you get the one that works.

If you can get the actual thumb hole area and attach it to a similarly-colored background piece (or even a piece of another similar-looking fabric, loosely woven), then you might be able to overlay it with a piece of white/neutral-color tulle and carefully stitch all of it in place with clear thread.

Of course, you might want to try this a time or two with other-than-precious fabric, cut away a bit of a small hole and work at fraying the hole edges before putting it between a foundation piece and tulle.

The tulle and clear thread will practically disappear when done, but it will hold everything in place, especially if the piece ever gets carefully washed.

Just a thought. Keep us all posted on how this precious project ends up.

You've got some good ideas for the hold. I'm thinking you might want to put a little pocket on the front of the quilt and then put a little piece of the baby blanket in the pocket. (Depending on the size of the baby blanket....maybe put the whole thing in there).......or on the back?

I knew that I could count on all of you to give me some great ideas. I was completely stuck. I don't think she can part with the baby blanket which is too bad because a part of it could be better preserved with some of these ideas.
She really had no requests for the t - shirts, I had her number their order of importance.
But about this she was definite, Top left hand corner as you look at the quilt. So I know that this is very important to her and it kind of freaks me out. I hope I can do a good job. I have made a lot of quilts but they were always what I wanted. The only other quilt that I made for someone specifically upon request was for a 10 year cancer survivor. It was a Dresden plate quilt using her chemo scarves. It was a request from an employee who know I quilted. It was the most rewarding quilt I have ever made. Maybe I can do this.

glad you got some good ideas. please post a pic when you have it finished.

Well, since the little guy made the hole.... I would make and complete the quilt. Then take a dremel to the corner that you want it will drill a hole, a small one with ragged edges. If you used the warm and natural batting it won't fray and should hold up to many washings.

I like that idea, too.

I think I’d do a grommet, then blanket stitch overtop its rim edges with embroidery floss.

If I were making this quilt, I think, I would make it just like she wants it to look. It will please her so much. She will just love the quilt if it is a hole. She will take care of it with the hole. And she will probably sew around the hole herself just like she did the other one.

You might suggest that she take the actual tattered blanket and put it in a shadowbox.

I would still try to emulate the hole on the quilt you are making. Some good suggestions here to achieve that.

Your faced hole was my first thought also. Could you bind the edges of the hole with a narrow commercial bias tape or a narrow binding to match the outside edges?

I think you are wonderful to be making this for her.

FWIW, I like the idea of doing a lot of free motion circles very tightly together in the corner leaving the center completely stitch free and punching a proper hole through it where you finger fits. That is what her son did and what she wants to replicate I think. I think she wants the fraying so I don’t think a button hole will work.....although I really prefer the buttonhole.

I agree with Blondie, and to reinforce the hole, use iron on interfacing to a piece of netting or lace , then stitch it into the inside area where you are going to make the "Hole", the lace is very strong and will hold the grommet well.

Would she let you use the original baby blanket as the back? If you used a light-weight fabric for backing and then could put the original on it so it was healthy fabric actually making the back but attaching the one with the hole. Or maybe put a very lightweight interfacing fabric on the original and use it as the backing. I'm assuming this quilt will not be in actual use?? The original one may not be up to that?

I am guessing that "how" her son died has a lot of influence on her request - - - - ?

Anyway - does she want a "frayed" hole"?

I am thinking that - say she wanted an actual hole about 1/2 inch in diameter -

After the quilt is sandwiched, one could line up where one wanted the hole to be - and then cut a hole about 1 inch in fusible interfacing and put that in the area where the hole would be on the top and backing - and then remove the batting from about a two inch area so that it would be "flatter" there -

I am attaching a drawing that might help explain the idea -

Assuming one wants a "frayed" hole instead of a "finished" hole - I think I would do the actual puncturing of the fabric with something like a nail or an ice-pick instead of a punch and then maybe let the lady do her own "wearing away" of the fabric?

The interfacing would minimize fraying the indicated area - and perhaps even do something like Fray Check on the interfacing to be able to "stop" the fraying?

Or use fray check on the edge of the hole. I haven't read all the replies, so I don't know if this has been suggested.

I agree with Barney. Make the quilt exactly as the mother requests and I am sure she will be pleased. She obviously has a picture in her mind of what she would like.

Certainly agree, don't try and bother her with too many questions, just listen.

She said a hole, but I think she may really means frayed. Thank you to all of you! Some really get suggestions.
I think I can … I think I can... I think I can do the quilt.

Another way to "make a hole" - with "soft edges"

Hole the "area" over your finger and sand it down with a crystal nail file.

You might make one or two versions of "a hole" with scrap materials and submit it to the Mom for her consideration.

I was thinking of a grommet. Like Blondie~ said, then blanket stitch over it using embroidery thread.

Bearisgray. Thanks for the illustration. It has given me a wonderful idea, because that looks a lot like the hole, but I think I will put it right beside the binding and use some circle thread sewing and then I think it will look like she wants. Wonderful how pieces from so many ideas make something that will work. Thank You.

I think this is a challenging request -

What about making a "mini-quilt" about four inches square - and put a hole in it - and then attach the "mini-quilt" to the main quilt?

(QNN - thank you for editing out the white space - I have not figure out how to do that )