Treva’s quilts - learning experience!
08-29-2020, 08:13 PM
#1
Super Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: East TN
Posts: 2,723
Treva’s quilts - learning experience!
Last fall a recently widowed lady at church asked me if we would make some bed runners for her children and grandchildren out of her husband’s shirts. I told her that we didn’t have time to get our own projects done and that I didn’t think we wanted to add another project to our plate. She asked what would be involved and then asked again several times for us to do them. In a moment of weakness I said yes. Lesson learned! The answer is always NO!
I told her that they needed to be dress style cotton shirts. The next week she brought me a bag full of knit polo-type shirts. I told her that we had things in line that needed to be finished and I would have to put her in line. She must think I have forgotten her by now, but I just finished binding the last one at a few minutes before midnight. I will be so glad to get these to her tomorrow! I have not enjoyed this project at all. Everything had to be stabilized, which made it bulky, tension on DSM and quilter had to be adjusted, ran out of fabric for the alternate blocks and had to piece some of them, and on and on.
I hope the kids love these. I would hate to think I labored through all this just so they could put it in the dog bed or stuff it in a closet.
It’s too late now, but what do you consider bed runner size? I thought it should have some overhang on the sides so I made the queen size ones 84 by 24 and the kings 96 by 24.
Thanks for looking.
I told her that they needed to be dress style cotton shirts. The next week she brought me a bag full of knit polo-type shirts. I told her that we had things in line that needed to be finished and I would have to put her in line. She must think I have forgotten her by now, but I just finished binding the last one at a few minutes before midnight. I will be so glad to get these to her tomorrow! I have not enjoyed this project at all. Everything had to be stabilized, which made it bulky, tension on DSM and quilter had to be adjusted, ran out of fabric for the alternate blocks and had to piece some of them, and on and on.
I hope the kids love these. I would hate to think I labored through all this just so they could put it in the dog bed or stuff it in a closet.
It’s too late now, but what do you consider bed runner size? I thought it should have some overhang on the sides so I made the queen size ones 84 by 24 and the kings 96 by 24.
Thanks for looking.
08-29-2020, 08:23 PM
#2
Super Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Chula Vista CA
Posts: 7,336
You are a very good person. I would have handed them back the minute I saw the polo shirts. I think your sizes are perfect. Don't ever ask what happened to them if she doesn't tell you. You may not want to know.
08-30-2020, 07:31 AM
#6
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Flagstaff, Arizona
Posts: 9,475
You did a great job on them and you are a great and wonderful person to do this. I guess she was quite persistent that you do these runners. I sure hope the recipients appreciate all the hard work you did to get them done. Polo shirts are hard to deal with I am sure.
08-30-2020, 07:51 AM
#7
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Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Reno, Nv
Posts: 16,518
I did a quilt for a charity with t shirts that had logos of past events on them. I hated every step and vowed "never again". They loved it of course. It hangs in the waiting/reception room for all to see. I will never do it again, but, like you I am glad I said yes.
08-30-2020, 12:56 PM
#8
Super Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Waterford Michigan
Posts: 7,241
It is so hard to get involved with a new project like this when you schedule is already full to the top I started saying no sometime ago and I don't regret it a bit. The last one felt like and imposition on my very limited time even for my own sewing. The woman was very pushy. Now she wants other thing, like can you find me a new doctor or what should I have you do to find new health insurance. The biggie was Could I make a quilt for a friend of a friend for her. Of course all of these things I would supply everything .Arrggg! So now I tell everyone no! I love to quilt it is my passion but I don't like feeling used.
I am sure your bed runners will be appreciated but this is one of those times were don't ask so no one can tell.
I am sure your bed runners will be appreciated but this is one of those times were don't ask so no one can tell.
08-30-2020, 05:25 PM
#9
Power Poster
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Outside St. Louis
Posts: 38,181
You are a good and kind soul. Think look very nice. I have no experience with any fabrics but cotton and some with poly/cotton, as in the wash and wear from the 70s.
I did make a king size quilt for a quilt loving Grandson and his wife. Had to quilt it in sections and wash and dry it in sections. No way would it fit in my washer and dryer. It was 110 x 115". He is a tall drink of water and I wanted to make sure it covered him. He loved it and profusely thanked me. She like it too and talked about it being huge.
Her Grandma made them one and had a friend quilt it on a LA. She loved that it had different designs on it. I just do FMQ on DSM.
I vowed it would me my last one and it will.
I did make a king size quilt for a quilt loving Grandson and his wife. Had to quilt it in sections and wash and dry it in sections. No way would it fit in my washer and dryer. It was 110 x 115". He is a tall drink of water and I wanted to make sure it covered him. He loved it and profusely thanked me. She like it too and talked about it being huge.
Her Grandma made them one and had a friend quilt it on a LA. She loved that it had different designs on it. I just do FMQ on DSM.
I vowed it would me my last one and it will.
