Old clothing quilt - help needed
06-28-2012, 03:08 AM
#21
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Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Massachusetts
Posts: 589
old clothing quilt
my friend's mom passed away, what we did was cut the clothing into strips, then sewed the strips together, then cut the strips into squares or whatever I wanted and made teddy bears. I made 4 and she gave them to her siblings. Let me see if I can post a photo
06-28-2012, 05:57 AM
#22
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Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Bay Area near San Francisco
Posts: 1,213
Take a small piece of each fabric (1"x1"), put it in something similar to an ashtray. Then burn it. If it's 100% cotton, silk or wool, there will only be ash left. If any portion is synthetic, there will be a small ball of hard residue.
06-28-2012, 05:57 AM
#23
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Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Bosque County, Texas
Posts: 2,709
If the clothes are all in pale colors, then a quilted item made with additional fabric in a bolder contrasting color might not be in keeping with the deceased person's personality or choice of colors and might not remind the person receiving the quilt of the loved one very much even if it does contain the used fabric. Maybe you should stick to the soft pale colors because that was the colors that were sent to you. That may very well be the colors that are associated with the loved one. Or perhaps you might want to ask about adding colors that are different than the color palette that you received. Just a suggestion.
06-28-2012, 06:24 AM
#25
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Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: S. W. Indiana
Posts: 7,484
I am at a quandary as to what to do with old clothes to make a quilt. My aunt passed away and my cousin gave me a some clothes to work with. I have a few problems...
1: My aunt ripped out all the labels. so I'm guessing here, as to what type of fabric I've got. (Some I'm sure are 100% cotton... others are a mystery as to the percentage of cotton in them.)
2: Most of them are all light colors... lots of white and pale colors.
3: I don't believe I have enough to make a decent size lap quilt, so I was thinking about doing a bed runner.
(any one have any suggestions on a pattern?)
4: Since I have a mess of mixed content fabrics... I was thinking I should be doing these on a foundation block. ???
5: I need a very simple pattern that will go together quickly.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
I know that you talented quilters here well point me in the right direction.
Thank you for your help with this project I've gotten myself into.
1: My aunt ripped out all the labels. so I'm guessing here, as to what type of fabric I've got. (Some I'm sure are 100% cotton... others are a mystery as to the percentage of cotton in them.)
2: Most of them are all light colors... lots of white and pale colors.
3: I don't believe I have enough to make a decent size lap quilt, so I was thinking about doing a bed runner.
(any one have any suggestions on a pattern?)
4: Since I have a mess of mixed content fabrics... I was thinking I should be doing these on a foundation block. ???
5: I need a very simple pattern that will go together quickly.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
I know that you talented quilters here well point me in the right direction.
Thank you for your help with this project I've gotten myself into.
Consider your seam ripper your new best bud. Take everything apart and iron. Don't worry about content as long as you've got some cotton in the fabric. You'll be surprised at how much fabric you do have.
I'd consider a log cabin using a three or four dark solids and then use your light colored strips.
Or, just make it easy on yourself and do all squares. D9P might be a good choice here, too.
06-28-2012, 07:08 AM
#27
Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 67
Doing a strip quilt using muslin foundation cut into 6 inch blocks might just do the trick. It will be forgiving of a mixture of fabric contents and remind everyone of stories about your aunt. My family has enjoyed doing this system.
06-28-2012, 07:40 AM
#28
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Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Phoenix AZ
Posts: 346
There is a simple way to determine if a fabric is cotton or synthetic.Take a small piece of it and burn the edge if when cool there is beading or stiffness at the edge it has synthetic fiber or poly if smooth it is cotton or silk.Over the years poly will tear the pure cotton that it is sewn next to but that is many years.
06-28-2012, 08:10 AM
#29
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Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 449
String piecing using whatever size block you are comfortable with. 6 1/2 and 8 1/2 blocks have always worked well for me. Since most of her things are pale or neutral, use a bright or dark fabric as sashing. They come out really well.
06-28-2012, 09:42 AM
#30
Super Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Centerville, WA
Posts: 1,254
I have made several memory quilts out of clothing using all types of fabric in each. I am working on one now that is a combo of jackets, flannel, T's, denim, sweat shirts, etc. They all will work together. You just have to use the fusible webbing on the backs of some of them. Some I use the heavier webbing on & others the thinner webbing. The only thing I don't use is wool. Everything else is a can do for me.
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