This quilt is to be a gift. A former client returned to request that I make another. I guess I couldn't resist that compliment because I happily took the job.
I can't seem to just do the easy thing. I have to try something different every time I make a quilt. With this one, I decided to give color blocking a run. Some of the tees had designs on both sides, so those were easy to match up. Luckily, there were a few different shirts that looked good together and could make a large color block.
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| six gold blocks, note that I placed the two heavy designs side-by-side |
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| four purple blocks from three quilts; not all blocks are the same size |
Of course, I didn't made this color block decision until after I'd already sewed columns together, so I had to rip a few seams out to make things match up.
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| one block from many small designs |
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| one block from four designs, two pockets, and some filler area |
Some of the tees had small designs that I could sew into one block. On the left block two pieces are actually pockets, which I left intact and open. Since I got two blocks this way, I was able to get 30 blocks to sew into five blocks by six blocks, making the quilt 70" x 84".
As I generally do with memory quilts, I chose to quilt each shirt or section with a different quilting motif. In the collage above you can see that the gray has an allover meander of loops within loops; the white Spring Greening Day has a tight flower motif; the purple (though it looks blue) has one of my favorites, scrolls; and the white Tabasco shirt has bamboo stalks.
Each one either mimics a design on the shirt itself or picks up the theme of the shirt. For example, Avery Island, where Tabasco is made and bottled, has a grove of huge bamboo stalks and a large Buddha statue. Anyone who has toured the island would remember seeing the bamboo grove. Many brides have their bridals taken in the gardens, and there's a place in the grove where photo subjects can easily step into the bamboo for shots. I'm not sure that it's encouraged, however.
| Quilt Stats | ||
| Name: | LSU Memories | |
| Size: | 70 x 84 | |
| Fabrics: | Tee shirts from client | |
| Backing: | Natural muslin | |
| Binding: | Tiger-skin fabric from stash | |
| Batting: | 100% Cotton | |
| Pattern: | Puzzle design | |
| Quilting: | custom design based on tee-shirts | |
| Completed: | 2018 August |
Here's another LSU quilt from 2012. It seems that I've made two LSU quilts already, but I can't seem to find the other. I suppose that I've lost track of all these memory quilts. A bit ironic, don't you think?
Link Ups
(It is a quilt finish, after all!)
3 comments:
I admire you taking on these quilts. They are such a big challenge.
Great result.
Beautiful memory quilt, your blocks by color is a great choice!
I’ve never made a T-shirt quilt, probably because they look like so much work! Your work is brilliant! I am very impressed!
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