Quilt from Men's Shirts
05-04-2019, 04:35 PM
#12
Super Member
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Pacific NW
Posts: 9,557
Condolences on your loss. I adored my father-in-law, and when he passed in 2012 I asked my MIL to send me some of his clothes so I could make a quilt. I should have asked my BIL or someone else - MIL sent 2 pairs of pants, 2 shirts, 2 pairs of socks, 2 undershirts, 2 pairs of briefs, and a jacket. 
It was like she was packing for him to go on a short trip, and has absolutely no recollection of my request or her actions. 
This is a quilt of shirts I've always wanted to make; it's simple and straight-forward.
http://wishesandweeds.com/seven-shirts-quilt/
It was like she was packing for him to go on a short trip, and has absolutely no recollection of my request or her actions. This is a quilt of shirts I've always wanted to make; it's simple and straight-forward.
http://wishesandweeds.com/seven-shirts-quilt/
05-04-2019, 04:43 PM
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 786
I am sorry for your loss. Hope this picture of an irish chain that I made with thrift store shirts will give you some ideas. Virtual Quilting Weekend--2/13-2/16/15
05-05-2019, 03:08 AM
#14
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Illinois
Posts: 1,820
I'm glad for you that you are planning to utilize these shirts rather than quickly taking them from the closet and sending them out, then later wishing you had them to put into something "comfort"ing. I have used several of my husband's shirts and still have shirts for consideration and it's been almost 5 yrs since my husband passed! You are going to be amazed how much fabric you can glean from one shirt. I have made one queen sized quilt, 3 large wall hangings and various other items and still have a goodly amount of fabric to work with from only 6 shirts. I am considering now to use some of it for a bow-tie quilt and can finally get the solid color shirts out to use as coordinating background for some of the plaids. I used Bonnie Hunter's youtube on how to debone a shirt. Also I have a box with dividers--the kind that holds the little cards for embroidery floss--and put the buttons into those so they are sorted. Lots of buttons! Interesting to see how many manufacturers use the same button. Give yourself some time and you will enjoy working with these shirts and creating new memories, treasuring previous ones.
You asked for pattern suggestions. Once you have the shirts deboned, you will see the size of pieces for consideration. In the meantime, watch for quilts that take your eye and look to be something you would enjoy. You do have some limitations on what will work with the fabric available but there are many, many designs. I mentioned the bow tie as my next endeavor with what is in the stack from my own husband's shirts but stars and other designs can be used. You may pick up ideas just from this forum as time goes along.
You asked for pattern suggestions. Once you have the shirts deboned, you will see the size of pieces for consideration. In the meantime, watch for quilts that take your eye and look to be something you would enjoy. You do have some limitations on what will work with the fabric available but there are many, many designs. I mentioned the bow tie as my next endeavor with what is in the stack from my own husband's shirts but stars and other designs can be used. You may pick up ideas just from this forum as time goes along.
Last edited by illinois; 05-05-2019 at 03:14 AM.
05-05-2019, 03:23 AM
#15
Power Poster
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Mableton, GA
Posts: 11,314
So sorry for your loss. My sons’ cousins asked me to make a quilt for their mother after their father passed. They sent me 18 cotton shirts. I sent them some pattern ideas and they picked something very simple. I made 4”x8” blocks and placed them like setting bricks or tiles - offset. For the back I used the backs of the shirts - large pieces done the same way. It was easy for them to pick out a shirt and say “I remember him wearing this at ...”. Simple to do and very well received.
05-05-2019, 05:25 AM
#20
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: Greater Peoria, IL -- just moved!
Posts: 6,165
We share in your loss. I wish I had words to convey my sorrow for you.
This past Quilter's Anonymous show in Monroe, WA had a quilt that was made from the quilter's husband's shirts. She had a note about how she was able to wrap it around her and give herself an extra hug... It happened to be a design I was working on at the time, I was using up a bunch of leftover Y2K 2.5" squares. She used his solid blue and basic work shirts as the background, with the squares being plaids and prints and stronger colors. You do have a partial seam in the block to deal with but other than that it is very straightforward in design, cutting, etc.
Block is old, traditional, "Flying Squares". Here's a picture of my project as I was putting on the my border. I wish I was sharing it under better circumstances
This past Quilter's Anonymous show in Monroe, WA had a quilt that was made from the quilter's husband's shirts. She had a note about how she was able to wrap it around her and give herself an extra hug... It happened to be a design I was working on at the time, I was using up a bunch of leftover Y2K 2.5" squares. She used his solid blue and basic work shirts as the background, with the squares being plaids and prints and stronger colors. You do have a partial seam in the block to deal with but other than that it is very straightforward in design, cutting, etc.
Block is old, traditional, "Flying Squares". Here's a picture of my project as I was putting on the my border. I wish I was sharing it under better circumstances
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