"Be the kind of woman that when your feet hit the floor each morning, the devil says...."Oh crap! She's up!" Unknown

Monday, August 11, 2014

Recycling...

At the beginning of the year I made
this Baby quilt from recycled men's shirts
and a little yardage.


A while back I made another trip to one of my local
Thrift shops and bought some more men's shirts....
All for $3.00 or less.

100% Cotton...
They looked like new....
Great plaids and colors...

I brought them home,
washed them twice on the hot water cycle,
and "deboned" them.

Then I found this blog post for making a quilt from
Recycled shirts.

I began cutting the shirt pieces...
Ironing and starching them...


Planning the blocks...


 And after a few hours work,
this is what I had.



I have half of the rows sewn together
and LOVE how it is turning out!
(This would make two cute baby quilts!)

The only yardage I might add is for a small red border
between the body and the piano key border.
Plus, there are enough shirt pieces to make the backing.

So, once this top is finished
I will have spent less than $20 on fabric for this quilt
that will measure approximately 52"x64".

(I would suggest NOT telling the clerk in the Thrift Shop
what you are planning on doing with the men's shirts...
The poor man almost cried.
"But these are good shirts and you are going to
CUT THEM UP??")

:)

Visit Patchwork Times to see what others are quilting.

Happy Monday!

17 comments:

Podunk Pretties said...

I love your quilts, so homey and comfy looking, I could curl up with them with a cup of coffee and a good book. I use non quilt fabric all the time. Often whats popular in the quilting world can also be found in clothing and linens. And its much cheaper! One of my first quilts was from jeans and flannel shirts, this was long before the taboos you here in the quilt world today. If i can stitch it, its going in a quilt eventually!

Judy D in WA said...

I love them both. Using shirts means you don't have to wait for the fabrics to get soft and cozy. Perfect for little babies and for big babies. :)

Darla H said...

I really like those plaid shirt blocks! The overall layout design is more complex than I thought at first glance.

I just finished a quilt using plaids...had a hard time finding a good variety at the fabric store...next time I will check the thrift stores!

Susan said...

Hmmmmmmmmmmm Looks like another diversion ahead....... I know that I have a tote of shirts upstairs in the store.....

Glen QuiltSwissy said...

I love my local thrift shop, the purple cow. I have gotten many "quilts" from their 99 cent rack. They love that I am repurposing their clothing. Sometimes they will see me in the store and start marking down " good" shirts!!!!

The Colorful Fabriholic said...

Love your new repurposed shirts quilt! Very handsome. Nice use of color and value placement in the layout. Simple blocks but very effective!

Alycia~Quiltygirl said...

it is beautiful. That's funny about the clerk... we need *good* shirts too!!

Churn Dash said...

I bought some shirts at the start of the summer. One shirt has never been worn and was at the Goodwill Clearance. I figure it's better to use it as fabric. I'm still mulling over what to do with the shirts. I wasn't able to find a light so I might have to buy some yardage for that part.
Helen

Ruth said...

They look really good and fun too recycling and upcycling!

swooze said...

Love it and love red! Great quilts.

Mary said...

I have a stack of shirts to De-bone. I let my DH wear them a while and take the ones with worn collars to de-bone. I'm recycling his workshirt wardrobe.

Anonymous said...

Love this quilt! I like to use old shirts for quilts also.

Mary Huey said...

Love this quilt -- has an old feel!!

Sharon said...

What a good use of the shirts! (Even if it did make the guy at the thrift store cry.) Do you happen to wash the other fabrics (new?) first that you will be adding to the quilt?

Gari in AL said...

Great quilts. And a great bargain for a baby quilt you know will be well used. These would also make nice picnic quilts.

Connie Kresin Campbell said...

What a neat quilt and I think it is a great way to use the shirts!

Micki @ 2 Dogs Studio said...

Turning out fabulous. Really like the fabrics/shirts you are using. I have been gathering shirts that I get from Goodwill. Haven't decided what to do with them but your design gives me some inspiration.