#: 43
Title: “Gone to Pieces”
Exhibitor: Carolyn Weight

Description: Everyone likes to snuggle under a quilt. Learn how to utilize those old clothes and blankets to make comforting quilts for your family and friends. You can turn those old denim jeans/dresses, flannel/cotton shirts and dresses into beautiful patchwork and rag quilts. The no-longer used blankets make wonderful batting for these projects.

Getting Started:

1. Saving: All clothing in good condition should still be donated to charitable organizations. Torn, stained and well-worn items are great for quilts. Items need to be laundered and stored until you have an adequate supply. Blankets and quilts that are no longer in use need to be laundered and stored too.
2. Sorting: Separate different fabric types according to material content (i.e. denims, flannels, light cottons and heavy cottons). Store in easily accessible containers.
3. Supplies Needed: Rotary cutter, ruler and mat board; scissors, long quilt pins and a sewing machine. Rotary cutting is a lifesaver. Scissors can be used, but they take more time in cutting.

Making a Quilt:

1. Cutting: For pant material: cut out zipper and cut all the way around crotch seam (this will give you two separate legs). Cut each leg down the inside seam. Lay material flat on cutting mat and using your rotary ruler, cut 6 ½ inch squares as close to being on grain of fabric as possible. A 6-½ inch square is the recommended size of a block (final size after sewing will be a 6 inch square). Pockets and seams give the quilt individual character and can be included in the 6-½ inch.

For shirts and dresses: Cut out sleeves and open up shoulder seams. If thedress has gathers, cut off and press flat. Follow same procedure in cutting blocks as stated above for pant material. Button up fronts can be sewn shut and also used for a 6-½ inch square. Pockets look great too!

Smaller or larger blocks can also be cut from the material, depending on your tastes.

For rag quilts: Cut backing in the same manner as the top. Cut old blankets for the batting 2 inches smaller than your block. Example: You have 6 ½ inch blocks, so your blanket batting will be cut 4-½ inch square.

2. Lay Out: After cutting your blocks determine the size of quilt you want to make. Below is listed the typical sizes of various quilts. You will be using ¼ inch seams, so make sure that you figure that into your quilt size. (Rag quilts use 1-inch seams).

Divide the width of your quilt by the finished size of your block. This will determine how many blocks will go across your quilt. Divide the length of your quilt by the finished size of your block also, to determine how many blocks will be needed to form the length. Lay these blocks on the floor and rearrange them until you are pleased with the pattern.

Recommended Quilt sizes:

Baby – 45” x 45” to 45” x 60” Twin – 72” x 90” Double – 81” x 96” Queen – 90” x 108” King – 120” x 120”

3. Sewing and Pressing: Using ¼ inch seams, stitch all of top row together. Press all top row seams one direction. Sew second row together and press seams opposite direction as first row. Continue sewing rest of rows, alternating the direction seams are pressed (press all one row the same direction). Stitch rows together using ¼ inch seams and press well (do not press seams open).

For rag quilts: Rag quilts are sewn one square at a time. Place batting in center of wrong side of quilt back block. Place top block on batting and pin corners. Sew from one corner to opposite corner, repeat with other corner forming an “X”. Repeat same procedure with all blocks. Sew in rows with 1-inch seams on top, press as stated above (alternating direction of row seams). Sew rows together and sew 1-inch seam around entire outside edge of quilt. Clip seams 1 inch apart down to within 1/8 inch of stitching. Wash and dry quilt to create the “rag” effect. Your rag quilt is now finished!

4. Quilting: Using old sheets (or purchased backing), set up quilt back on frames. Place old blanket on backing and cut to size. Place pieced top on frames and pin. You can either hand quilt, machine quilt, or tie using yarn or crochet thread.

5. Finished Edges: After quilt has been quilted or tied, remove from frames and turn edges into each other 1-inch. Machine stitch the edges or blanket stitch around edge with yarn or crochet thread. You now have a finished quilt!

Finished Product Photos:

Old Shirt and Dress Patchwork quilt

Old Denim Jeans Patchwork quilt

Flannel Rag Quilt