Saturday, August 09, 2008

more plaids



The complex beauty of plaids makes them ideal for simple patterns. I adapted a Moda pattern I saw on the net to make this top. The large blocks are cut 6 1/2 by 4 1/2, the red plaids are cut 2 1/2 inch square, the little neutrals 1 1/2" by 2 1/2".

When shopping the thrifts, I get most of my shirts in the men's aisles because of the large amount of usable fabric. But, I do a quick trip down the women's and children's areas to get the most unusual plaids that are well worth the small yield of fabric.

I photographed it in front of the only place in my garden without weeds. Ok, I had to pull about 6 before taking the picture.

14 comments:

Ann J said...

I've just found your Blog, and just love all the Cowboy Quilts!! There is a drawer full of plaids here just waiting for me to decide which one I would like to 'copy' !
Thanks for all the ideas !!!

Vicki W said...

I really like this quilt a lot. Plaids are so effective in quilts. I may have to do one of these for myself!

Jeanne said...

It looks terrific! I love plaids! One of these days.....

SueR said...

I like this quilt very much too! I've recently started collecting plaid shirts in flannels to make up a quilt like a friend of mine made, and here's another pattern plaids work nicely for.

sophie said...

It's fantastic. (And pulling those six weeds was worth the effort, too, because your garden looks fabulous!)

Gypsy Quilter said...

Now THAT is a great pattern. Simple and wonderful! Thanks for sharing.

Anonymous said...

I love how the pinks pop in this quilt. It seems to me I have some plaids around here somewhere...
Sharon

Lily Mulholland said...

Wow this pattern is so effective with these plaids!

Anonymous said...

You make such pretty quilts! I have been enjoying myself today with going back looking at all your old posts. Now I am inspired! Will probably run over to our second hand shop(the Red Cross) to look for some shirts...I need more!!!!
Quilty greetings from Louise in Sweden

comicbooklady said...

I love this pattern! Question, are the shirts you buy all cotton? or are them some blends? Do you have any shrinkage problems?

Lynn Dykstra said...

I buy 100% cotton shirts--I don't buy any with spandex or polyester or any other fiber.
I check the collars and cuffs for excessive wear, don't buy those I think have been washed too often.
Because they have been washed before and because I wash them when I get them home, shrinkage has never been an issue.
Lynn

Anonymous said...

Lynn, I truly love your quilts. They are beautiful and charming and an inspiration. I found your work by googling for Bernina 1530 guides. I just bought a used one and am still trying to figure out the electronic options. I find the manual rather vague, which I think was on purpose by Bernina. They wanted new owners to attend classes to learn the features. Of course not much help to a person who buys a used machine. My prior machine is a 1950s Singer 401. Big difference. Thank you for sharing your lovely quilts. If you have any tips on useful books for 1530 users, I would love to know them.

Bonnie K. Hunter said...

Ooooh!!!! I love this! you know I am always overflowing with plaids!! :cD

Bonnie

Hedgehog said...

I just love what you do with plaids! I have one more plaid quilt in the pipeline. Hope to get to it this fall!