Quilts within quilts Image:sxc.hu

Why not use it for the filling of another quilt?  It wouldn’t be a quilt you sell, but one for your own or family use.  The older quilt, even though it isn’t seen, would still have more years doing “undercover work.”

Lisa at her Lisa’s Sew Fun blog, tells about doing this in her post, Behold Old Things Become New. 

How have you used old quilts so that they don’t entirely disappear?

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Using Old Quilts for Filling

Image: sxc.hu

Nowadays, in our stressed economy,  recycling garments has become popular once again.  Not because fabric is scarce, but because people can’t afford to purchase new.

I used fabric from old garments for quilts and for my daughter’s clothing many years ago.  It was fun to pour over the quilts and find scraps from sewing projects and family garments.

Nowadays, women are rediscovering this art of making quilts and clothing from old garments.  In addition to fabric shops being popuplar places to shop, quilters and dressmakers are pulling out the old fabrics and garments from their stashes.  They are finding these items also at thrift shops and rummage sales.

Have you utilized old garments for your sewing?

Related Posts:

Aprons in Art, Business & Memories mentions recycling clothing as aprons.

Penny Halgren’s Cutting Up Garments for Fabric gives a tutorial.

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Making Quilts from Old Garments

Here are a few resources for crafting inspiration:

Image: sxc.hu

Books and magazines – There are any number of ideas on the printed page.  They can act as a springboard for generating your own.

Classes – You’ll find workshops in many crafts at senior centers, continuing education departments, town recreation centers, public libraries, and guilds to name a few.

The world around you - Crafters find inspiration from daily life and the environment around them.  Often they take photos of nature, people, animals, objects and textures that inspire their work.

Family activities – Incorporate family activities, sports, and recreation into craft designs.

Special occasions – Birthdays, holidays, anniversaries often give you ideas for your crafts.

Trips/traveling – Ventures near home and far away can inspire you and give you ideas for your work.

Shows, craft fairs, museum and gallery displays – As you marvel at others’ work , you may come home with ideas of your own.  These won’t be designs you’ve copied but simply those inspired by the fellow quilters’ work.

Family memories – As you research your family tree, you may find ancestors did quilting, knitting and other crafts.

Inspiration for your craftwork, whether needlework, woodworking, painting, nature craft and more  is all around you.  As you become involved in your arts and crafts, you’ll find yourself jotting down ideas wherever you go.

Where do you find inspiration for your work?

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Inspiration for Crafters

I’m holding a giveaway/random drawing, here at Quilting and Patchwork, for the mini book by Patricia Mainardi, QUILTS The Great American Art.  This book explores the women’s role in the decorative art of quiltmaking.

To enter, leave a comment below and share something about quilts, quiltmaking or quilters in your life or family. 

(This giveaway will run from  today, Saturday, December 20 through midnight of Sunday, December 28.  Duplicate entries will be disqualified.

Unfortunately I can open the giveaway only for residents of the US and Canada or those who have a US or Canadian mailing address.  I plan to have something soon that everyone can enjoy.  Stay tuned!)

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Giveaway of Mini Quilt Book at Quilting & Patchwork

FRUGAL  or  “GREEN” QUILTING TIPS

Since “green,” recycling and frugality are buzz words these days, I’m collecting tips from quilters and fabric artists that reflect these.  I think quilters have always been frugal and used and re-used their supplies. 

However, it’s fun to see how others are using up and re-using.

Jean Murray, quilter and b5 blogger at Small Business Boomers,  gave a tip when she commented on my post, Great Tutorial on Binding a Quilt.  (I give you this link so Jean’s tip is in context!)

This is a great tutorial. It also answers my question about bias vs straight binding, and the method she’s using doesn’t take as much fabric.

I always buy extra fabric, and I never want to use it all – for SOMEDAY I might want to use it again. How about a post on how frugal quilters are – we save scraps!

Yes, I agree.  Quilters save scraps.  And bits and pieces of embellishments.  And bits and pieces of “stuff” that might possibly be used somhow, some way.

For an idea on how to store those scraps and bits and pieces, check out Patti’s suggestions in A Reader Shares Her Sewing/Quilting Room Organization.

Also check out Karen Weideman’s guest post, 10 Ways to Save Money Quilting.

Share your frugal or “green” tips with us.

(c)2008 Mary Emma Allen

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Frugal or “Green” Quilting Tips

Finding space for your quilting and sewing is a challenge for many of us.  For instance, in our multi-generational household, my daughter has one side of the living room for sewing machine, cabinets and bookcases, along with cutting table.  When she does her dyeing, it’s at the kitchen sink and counter, or in the bathtub.

Some quilters have ample space…an entire room, or even a small building on the premises.  Others may have an attic or basement space converted for their own use.  Then there are those who make effective use of whatever space is available. 

Quilters will find ways to quilt no matter what!

I’ve written two posts on this topic:

How Do You Organize Your  Quilting/Sewing Room?

In response to this post, Patti shared with us, via YouTube, her frugal organization of her sewing/quilting room. She wants to be an encouragement to my readers in letting them know they can organize a sewing room rather frugally.

Here she tells us about her favorite storage system  for putting her sewing tools and threads in.

Organizing Your Quilting Work Space .  My daughter shares some of her organization here.

How do you organize your sewing space?  Also, let Patti know how her videos helped you.

(Amazon image;click on cover for details)

(c)2008 Mary Emma Allen

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A Reader Shares Her Sewing/Quilting Room Organization

I mentioned in a previous post, Christmas in July as Quilters Get an Early Start on the Holidays, that Quilting and Patchwork, as well as All Holiday Cafe and several other Lifestyles bloggers are posting periodically on this topic throughout the month.

Here are a five ideas for early holiday preparations:

1. Many fabric stores run special sales and bring out their items with Christmas motifs.  These may be “brick-and-mortar” stores or those online.  I’ve noticed several advertising that their Christmas/holiday fabrics and patterns are in.

2. You’ll find patterns for gift ideas.  The stores and online sites will be bringing out patterns for holiday gift giving.  Also, there are many books with Christmas and other December holiday gift ideas and patterns.

3. Some shops may offer workshops for making gifts and decorations.  Check with your local fabric and quilting supply stores.  If they don’t have any of these classes, perhaps you can teach one.  Even if it runs over into August or the fall, quilters still will be looking for gift ideas.

4. Make lists and try to decide what to create for each person there.  As you browse offline and online stores/sites, you’ll discover ideas for those difficult gifts.

5. Fabric postcards may be the solution for some gifts.  These are fun to send to those who till treasure them.  You also can frame fabric postcards to make a nice gift.  My daughter has given fabric art cards both ways.

What suggestions do you have for a Quilters Christmas in July?

(Amazon image; click on book for details)

(c)2008 Mary Emma Allen

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5 Christmas in July Ideas for Quilters

 Dating fabrics, old and newer, can be a fascinating project.  Do you have fabric, either in your stash or in quilts, that you wonder how old it is and where it came from?  

 I’ve come across fabrics, quilt pieces and whole quilts in my mom’s accumulations and those of my husband’s grandmother.  Checking out those fabrics can provide family history and that of an era.

One of the books my daughter uses is Dating Fabrics, A Color Guide 1800-1960 by Eileen Jahnke Trestain.  In addition to color pictures of the fabrics, there is information about each era into which the book is divided.

Do you have a favorite fabric dating guide?

(Amazon image)

(c)2008 Mary Emma Allen

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Dating Old and Newer Fabrics – a Fascinating Project

 The recent announcement of Tasha Tudor’s death, at age 92, brought back memories of my meeting with her years ago.  Perhaps some of you have her enchantingly illustrated books, have read them yourself or to your children.

Apparently Tasha didn’t make many quilts, yet her lifestyle was condusive to it.  She was involved constantly in the crafts of days ago and lived her life midst them.  The cover of the book jacket on Tasha Tudor’s Heirloom Crafts, (at least the edition I have) consists of a photo of Tasha working on  a quilt in her rocking chair before the fireplace.

Within the book, there are more photos of Tasha with this quilt she called Yankee Pride.  It’s one she worked on for years and intended to finish “before I leave this earth.”  The photo reminds me of my grandmother sitting before the kitchen woodstove piecing quilts by hand.

Tea Party Memories

My memory consists, not of quilts, but of a tea party with Tasha, when I was an aspiring children’s author just out of college.  I studied her art and writing in a children’s literature class and was fascinated by her work.  When I had an opportunity to visit at her farmhouse in New Hampshire (the state where I’d moved after college graduation and marriage), I was thrilled.

We spent a quiet afternoon before her fireplace, where she made tea and toast and talked with me about writing.  I’d had nothing published yet, and she warned me it wasn’t easy, getting started as a children’s writer and illustrator. 

Over the years, I often thought of her and followed her career and move to Vermont.  She inspired me to continue as a children’s writer, although my career has branched in many directions.  I was pleased when a librarian remarked, upon seeing my illustrations in Tales of Adventure and Discovery, that their delicacy reminded her of Tasha Tudor. (I’d had my doubts that my drawing was very good.)

 I like to think that even though we hadn’t met in person again, Tasha Tudor continued inspiring me.  Now I see that she also was involved in quiltmaking midst her other crafts of yesteryear.

Tasha Tudor’s Heirloom Crafts was written by Tovah Martin with photographs by Richard W. Brown.

Additional information about Tasha Tudor:

http://www.tashatudorandfamily.com/news.html

(Amazon image; click on cover for details)

(c)2008 Mary Emma Allen

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Tasha Tudor & the Yankee Pride Quilt

*The quilt or hanging you just made

*The quilt you purchased at a yard sale or auction for a low price

*The quilt Grandma or Great Grandma made

*The old quilt in the attic that has holes, but still has good sections, too, with intricate hand quilting

*The quilt that a child in the family made

Some quilts have monetary value while others are nostalgic.  Then you have some that include both.

You may want to have your quilt(s) appraised by someone who’s an expert if you think they have monetary value.  For insurance purposes, too, this is a good idea.

Nostalgic Value

Some quilts have mainly nostalgic value, but to the owners, they are very valuable.  For instance, the quilt I made with my grandmother for my bed is well worn.  Even though it includes many memories. it doesn’t have monetary value.  However, it’s of value to me.

What about you?  Take a look at your quilted items.  What is the value of your quilt(s)?  

(Amazon image)

 (c)2008 Mary Emma Allen

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What Is the Value of Your Quilt?