We know we are not alone in our hoarding tendencies;
we all have a stack of clothes that we can’t bear to part with, but know we will
never wear again; for me it is a bunch of fun logo t-shirts I used to wear when
I worked in my local pub. I had a uniform of black combats, turquoise hair
extensions and cute t-shirts, don’t judge me it was like 2002! I didn't keep
all of them but I have kept a hold of my favourites, the ones that carry the best
memories. They have been in a box in the loft for ages so when we were
approached by the lovely people at Recycle Devon about an
up-cycling post I knew exactly what I wanted to do. This
t-shirt quilt gives you the opportunity to make use of those old clothes whilst
keeping a hold of the memories, which is a winning combination for me!
You will need:
At least nine old t-shirts, an old throw or
fabric to use as backing, fabric scissors, needle and thread, pins, embroidery
thread and a sewing machine (optional)
Step 1. Use the t-shirt with the largest
logo and cut a square around it.
Step 2. Use that as a template to cut the
other t-shirts to the same size.
Step 3. Once you have cut all the t-shirts
to size lay them out on the floor and arrange them in a display that you like,
balancing the colours and logos until you are happy with it.
Step 4. Take a photo on your phone to
remind you how you laid it out then place the top left and top center t-shirts
right sides together.
Step 5. Pin down the edge of the two
squares.
Step 6. Sew with a slight zig zag stitch along
the edge you have pinned about 1cm in from the raw edge.
Step 7. Open out the pieces
Step 8. Then iron the seam flat then join
the next square to the two you have already sewn together.
Step 9. Move on to the next row joining the
first two squares then the third square in to strips. Once you have all your
strips ready you can place them right sides together matching up the seams.
Step 10. Pin the strips together and sew
all the way along the edge. Then unfold and pin the next strip in place and
sew.
Step 11. Unfold and you should have the
front of your quilt.
Step 12. With right sides facing pin the
front of your quilt to the throw or your backing fabric of choice then pin and
sew around all four edges, leaving a small gap in one edge so you can turn it
through.
Step 13. Trim away any excess seams and the
corners to make the edges less bulky then turn it right side out by pulling it
through the gap you left open in the edge.
Step 14. Hand stitch the gap close with
some neat hand sewing.
Step 15. To stop the layers sliding around
take a length of embroidery thread and at the corners of the squares stitch the
thread through the fabric.
Step 16. Tie the length of thread in a
double knot and trim the ends to about a centimeter long.
And there you have it, the perfect memento
to snuggle under and read a good book. I am actually going to keep mine in my
husband’s car to snuggle under on our road trips. We want to know what you have
in your home that you can’t bear to part with. Give a thought as to how you
could re-purpose it and make it in to something you can love all over again.
Sammy and H xxx
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