a 16 patch of 16 patches, top completed

16 patch of 16 patches
top completed 2022
64 inches square

Block finishes 8 inches
64 blocks set 8 by 8
32 all scrap blocks, 32 checkerboard blocks

When going through my 2 1/2 inch light squares I found a large pile from reclaimed fabric of shirts. Several years ago I made quite a few quilts from reclaimed fabrics. I loved working with them then and since scattered them into my other quilts. But, having found a good number of squares, I decided to feature the shirt fabrics once again into their own quilt.

These fabrics are a bit limp/flimsy compared to regular quilting fabrics. I control this by using starch and by constructing the quilt into segments/large blocks instead of by rows or columns. The orange fabric helps stabilize everything as I go.

The mix is of lights to light mediums to mediums.
I added Kona Tangerine as my solid.
I laid it out into a giant 16 patch.

Cutting
Solid: 256 2 1/2 inch squares
Scraps: 768 2 1/2 inch squares

Sewing
Make pairs, then four squares units
Press unit to one side. When pressing the units with solids, I always pressed away from the edge that ends with a solid.


Make half-blocks and full blocks: (do not press these yet 
TIP: when sewing the half-blocks I nest the seams with the bottom seams north and the top seams south.
This is because when putting just two units together you are in most control of the seams. Having done this at this stage, all sewing for blocks and in joining blocks will have the nesting with the bottom seams down and the top seams up, locking the nest.

Make large blocks then giant blocks:
Sew blocks into pairs. Press block pairs with all seams going in one direction.


Sew into large blocks, flipping one side so the seams nest. Press to alternating sides.

Lay out the four giant blocks, paying attention to orientation to keep the seams ready to nest. Sometimes I do this by having the blocks all with the backs showing to keep me organized.

Sew the top together.
All seams nest.
Staystitch along the edges.

My design using a traditional pattern.
Use at your pleasure.

letter box, quilt completed

My adaptation of the pattern Letter Box from the June 2009 McCalls Quilting magazine.

I worked with plaids a lot back then. I remember wanting to make a summer feeling quilt. The best source of these light plaids is in the women and the children sections of the thrift stores. The fabric yield is not as good as in a man's shirt, as they are smaller and a woman's shirt has darts that take up lots of fabric. But, the variety of plaids from these sections is really worth it.

 After more than 10 years as a top it is finally quilted and bound and in the mail from Tante Lynn to my great-niece Sybil. Sweet dreams my sunny child!

sunday morning blues

40 1/2 by 49 inches
Made from reclaimed shirts
Pieced back

blue plaids

Made with reclaimed plaid shirts using the unmatched nine-patch technique I used to teach.
A shirt was given to me this morning by a friend so, shall I make another?

I made this top at least 12 years ago. I had it quilted at least 5 years ago. St Pauls is sending a work crew to Puerto Rico and is having a fundraising auction, just the impetus I needed. The binding is a leftover piece of another quilt binding. Now, some precious handwork time to finish it up!

and another

Lots of handwork to be done.

vintage block--quilt completed

Bonnie/Yankee Quilter over at Scraps and Threadtales posted a wonderful vintage block in 2009.
http://scrapsandthreadtales.blogspot.com/2009/02/playing-vintage.html

I immediately drafted it and made a top out of reclaimed plaid fabrics.
http://kleinmeisjequilts.blogspot.com/2009/03/vintage-block.html
The block is huge, 17 1/2 inches finished.

Then I lost the top.
For 7 years.
If you saw my sewing room you would understand.

A couple months ago I found it again, and had it quilted as a wedding gift for Andy's niece.
It really is a great block. Thanks, Bonnie, for sharing it--I hope you got your quilt made too!

red cross

57 inches by 70 inches
block measures 4 1/2 inches finished

I pieced this in 2010 in celebration of 30 years in nursing. And, finished it in 2015 in celebration of 35 years!
Crosses are made from deconstructed red plaid shirts

Crosses are cut from 2 inch strips to 2 inch squares and a 5 inch rectangle
Sashing is cut 3 1/2 inches, finishing 3 inches
Borders cut 4 inches, finishing 3 1/2 inches
Bound with red solid

And, faculty week is over, so I am back with students in the classroom, clinicals, and the lab.

visiting my quilts--Christmas village edition

We were to a caroling party hosted by our friends Craig and Lisa this weekend and I was delighted to find them using one of my quilts as a backdrop for their Christmas village.

bar quilt

I finally got the binding on this one. Andy wants it for his office.
Made with re-purposed shirts.
The pieced bars are made with the "serendipity snakes" method described earlier, from 2 inch cut strips. The red is Kona Rich Red. The larger plaid bars and borders are from 6 1/2 cut inch strips.

Quilted by Suzette Fisher.
The neighbor's growing tree is messing with my photography!

plaid cats

The cats were sample blocks for a class and the pinwheels were just playing with plaids. I kept adding parts till the top came together.
For my niece, Emilee.

60" by 82" Quilted by Suzette Fisher

urban planning--completed

A useful part of having this blog is I can look back to see when I worked on projects.
The top of this quilt was made in February 2009, was quilted at some point, and I finally finished the binding an hour ago.
Made with shirt plaids, alternating lights and darks rectangles cut 2 1/2 inches by 4 1/2 inches.
Sashing random lengths of lights cut 2 1/2 inches.
Borders random lengths of lights cut 6 1/2 inches.
It is bound with three different greens--leftover from earlier projects.
I love this humble quilt.
My design--use at your  pleasure.

I used up two different ladybug prints for the back!

Quilted by Suzette Fisher.

B is for Beth

My sister, Beth, is awarded her doctorate this spring from the University of Northern Iowa. Her dissertation is Designing Engineering Education from the Perspective of the Child.
This quilt is made for her. I followed along on the Quilts by Cheri tutorials last summer. I used about 10 of her letter directions--the remainder are my own.
The letters and sashing squares are made from shirt parts.
I used at least 7 different red solids in the quilt which give a dappled look to the piece.
The children represent my brother and sisters and me. They are made from scraps of clothing our mother made for us.
Wonderfully quilted by Suzette Fisher.

16 patch, finished

Inspired by the quilt pictured in the frontispiece of Elise Schebler Roberts' The Quilt: A History and Celebration of an American Art Form, 2007.

eventually, part two

A good reason to keep a blog is I can search back to just when I made something.
This top was put together in 2008 from blocks made long before that.
I finished the binding this morning.

zig-zag progress

I am enjoying these--plan to make it 9 by 8 blocks, to measure 81" by 72".

zig zag

I love streak of lightning quilts, and the zig-zag I've seen on several blogs has been on my list, but it was seeing Jan's on "What a load of Scrap" (a favorite blog name of mine), and the one she was motivated by, Sujata's on "the Root Connection" that made me sweep away all other projects and get started.

I made one each of the two blocks and stack my sewn half square triangles on top of these two sample blocks to keep myself in order.

The blocks sew up quickly and look fabulous.
Of course, made with thrifted plaid shirts.

hanging chads

Just back from my quilter, Suzette Fisher. The block is scaled down from one Judy Laquidara posted on her Patchwork Times blog.

Made from deconstructed shirt parts.
My blocks finish 4 inches square.
Darks, two 2 1/2 inch squares and two 1 1/2 by 2 1/2 inch rectangles.
Lights, two 1 1/2 inch by 2 1/2 inch rectangles. Named for the effect of the notorious ballots.

alphabet top completed

Many, many thanks to Quilts by Cheri for her delightful posts about her alphabet quilt.
I think about half of my letters were made by her descriptions; the other half I went my own way.
My sashings were cut 3 inches, finishing 2 1/2 inches. I cut 4 inch border fabrics.
I used about 5 different solid red fabrics in this quilt, giving it a dappled look.
The children depict my siblings and me, wearing clothing of scraps from my mother of outfits she sewed for us.
Measures about 56 by 62 inches.
Thank you, Cheri!
What a lovely summer diversion.