Sewing
As I alluded to in my earlier post about the steeks, I've recently borrowed a sewing machine from my knitting buddy Erin. This sewing machine is going to help me achieve a dream - something that I've been talking about for years!
I'm making a T-shirt quilt.
As you may have deduced from the music I sometimes put at the bottom of my posts, I'm a fan of the metal / hard rock genres. I have a *lot* of T-shirts. Some of them date back to 15 years ago or more - I started buying them towards the end of middle school. And, frankly, their condition is getting a little worse for wear. (I found several holes in shirts which I was still wearing up to their rather timely demise.)
A lot of strategy has gone into planning this quilt. My sewing skills are limited, and the sewing machine, while perfectly serviceable, is not one meant to sew knit fabrics. With the knowledge of my quilting friends and the internet, I decided to put interfacing on the backs of the shirt squares - to give them stability and make them easier to cut out. When I mentioned this to a much more accomplished sewing member of my knitting group, she suggested that I come over and use her rotary cutter, then put the interfacing on afterward.
Who am I to decline such a generous offer? I went over on Saturday and spent about 3 hours cutting out all the T-shirt designs. My sewing mentor also made me little scrap samples with some of her interfacing as well as the one I'd purchased - I severely underestimated how much I needed... I got enough for about 3/20 squares. Of course, hers was a much better choice, so I might be better off buying a different one.
I'm so excited to finally make this project a reality... but I think I'm going to need a lot more help. I've never sewn a binding or tied a quilt or done any of this before... but I can learn.
Listening to: Falling Snow ~ Agalloch, The Promise of Deceit ~ Katatonia
I'm making a T-shirt quilt.
As you may have deduced from the music I sometimes put at the bottom of my posts, I'm a fan of the metal / hard rock genres. I have a *lot* of T-shirts. Some of them date back to 15 years ago or more - I started buying them towards the end of middle school. And, frankly, their condition is getting a little worse for wear. (I found several holes in shirts which I was still wearing up to their rather timely demise.)
A lot of strategy has gone into planning this quilt. My sewing skills are limited, and the sewing machine, while perfectly serviceable, is not one meant to sew knit fabrics. With the knowledge of my quilting friends and the internet, I decided to put interfacing on the backs of the shirt squares - to give them stability and make them easier to cut out. When I mentioned this to a much more accomplished sewing member of my knitting group, she suggested that I come over and use her rotary cutter, then put the interfacing on afterward.
Who am I to decline such a generous offer? I went over on Saturday and spent about 3 hours cutting out all the T-shirt designs. My sewing mentor also made me little scrap samples with some of her interfacing as well as the one I'd purchased - I severely underestimated how much I needed... I got enough for about 3/20 squares. Of course, hers was a much better choice, so I might be better off buying a different one.
I'm so excited to finally make this project a reality... but I think I'm going to need a lot more help. I've never sewn a binding or tied a quilt or done any of this before... but I can learn.
Listening to: Falling Snow ~ Agalloch, The Promise of Deceit ~ Katatonia
posted by Unknown at
8:03 PM
3 Comments:
My husband has a collection of t-shirts with really sarcastic sayings. One of these days, I am going to turn them into a quilt (and then he will have nothing to wear)!
Woo hoo! Awesome! I am never sure about sewing jersey material. It's probably been mentioned to you but I believe they sell a ball needle (the end isn't pointy, it's a little ball) that is better for sewing jersey like material. Can't wait to see the progress!
I have been saving out t-shirts for quite a few years now too, just for this purpose. I was told about it by a guy who taught archery to my kids. He did all these walks or something and had hundreds of t-shirts, so was going to do the same thing. :)
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