I love
making quilts. I have to make them - it's part of who I am.
All of the blankets
I've made have included clothes. There is nothing new about that, before people had plenty,
cloth was at a premium and had a predictable life span. It got used for their "Sunday-best" maybe,
then handed down to their siblings, then used for everyday wear, then the parts that still looked good were used in a
quilt. It was often the last stop in the life of the cloth, where it gave the user much comfort.
These days families are
smaller so hand-me-downs are not as necessary. Now, what to do with all those clothes that still look
great? I've used clothes that have gone out of style (sure - styles
come around again but never quite the same, right?). Yard sales and second-hand shops are good sources to find "vintage"
cloth - so unique.
I just cut out the unwanted parts, save the buttons, zippers
and other "found materials" and use the fabric to maximum effect. Cloth recycled
from (gently) used clothes is usually of better quality and has more interesting texture than "quilt
fabric", for the price. And having a finite amount of fabric
to work with lends a challenging element to my artistic process.
If the cloth means something, the quilt will be priceless.
You'll need about a
dozen articles of clothing or collected cloth. Have you saved your kids stuff? Do you have
clothes from your honeymoon or other special times in your life? This is a special idea that is truly ONE-OF-A-KIND.
You'll probably never wear your old clothes again so why
leave them hanging there, all sad and alone in your closet? This is a great way to enjoy them again!!
You bought them because you liked them, right? You may want to include an item or two from
someone dear to you who has passed. Any fabric you love will be perfect for your blanket.
Even if something is stained or torn, there is probably lots left to work with.
If a group
of people want to be part of something very special, each person has to give up something worn (not worn out) by
them, from their own closets, any vintage. Agree on a colour scheme and think TEXTURE. Thin, filmy cloth will not stand the test of time so it should be used sparingly. Quilts,
if cared for correctly, can last for well over one hundred years so pick the cloth wisely - it will represent
you long after you're gone; it should be sturdy - use denim, wool, tapestry, brocade, corduroy, - almost anything
- they all work beautifully together in any one quilt. Some blends can be allowed too. Fabric
with metallic threads give the blanket a bit of bling-bling - fancy without being dangerous to pets and/or young people.
So... How Much?
A LOT. For a double bed size I'd need about 10 items of cloth(ing) and charge
about $50.00 per item. Depending on the size of the clothes used, you'd have enough left over for pillow
shams or a wall hanging of some sort. About half of that for cuddle quilts or trundle bed blankets. We
can talk about patterns that appeal to YOU. If you are ready to get started, e-mail me for the next step. I can
deliver a beautiful product that you're going to LOVE!!!
