Patchwork Quilt Instructions?

SL Edens
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January 26, 20070 found this helpful

Hi Lindsie :)
I, too, love the baby clothes idea and I'm not a quilter either. I found a site that says it's for beginners. Out of the 5 ideas, I love the rag quilt the best....I saw one a few years ago given to my son and his bride for a wedding gift (in denim) and I fell in love with it. At any rate, here is that site: quilting.about.com/.../easy_quilts.htm I hope this helps.

That was my tip for the clothes quilt. It really isn't at all hard, BUT, it takes common sense and some time to cut a little beyond the seams so one has the excess to fold under and stitch down....OR, you can cut right up to a double edge and just machine stitch it down to the quilt base, not the backing which comes last. Or, do not cut a thing, and make it warm enough with the whole garment, stuffing a little quilting within each garment.

When piecing things together, even cute matching baby socks can fill in the odd places and be stitched down. I've wondered about washable cotton hats, caps, too.

Take your time, save only the better garments that aren't stained, and are of similar cloth, such as all cotton, or cotton/poly blends for the whole quilt. Use
velveteens or corduroy fabric clothes for their own separate quilt. Smocked dresses look good but seem to have too much cotton threading/gathering
to trust to last in tact. I'd fear they'd come loose and present a real problem after several washings or
with age.

Denim garment quilts are especially heavy and should be made of the lightest weight denims, or should be mixed in with other "textured" fabrics sparsely.

All the same age/size is o.k., but if not too wide a spread, it will all work together fine. Don't get too frustrated unless the clothing design has lots of ruffles, or pleats, or excess fabric, which is more work. Keep it crisp and simple, laying it all out first, of course, once enough clothing has been saved.

Little jackets/vests/aprons/spring coats are really cute sewn right with the companion piece.
Sunbonnets are a focal piece, as are cute appliqued garments placed well, say in each corner?

I believe one important point, too, is to place mostly pastel colors on one quilt, mixed only with a few light to medium colors; then all medium darker colors together.

Avoid obvious newly unwashed rich colors like the primary colors, red/green/blue/gold, because of the fading possiblities. Wash all colors to see what they might do, if they are new or unworn. Not to do this would also not keep with the theme of what/why one is trying to make a quilt.

For the added interest, you could use colorfast embroidery thread and make wide blanket
stiches around a few or even all of the garments, using different colors, but be careful to make it tasteful and not too mismatched to the garment.

If a girl, the edges could be made scalloped with
all dresses, hem-side out toward the edges of the
quilt. If a boy, the pant legs could be used in the same way, creating a shallow square edging pattern
if the legs are not out too far.

Remember to button and zip, snap and tie, hook and close anything that is loose, even stitching it down if there is ANY chance of it coming loose and ruining the overall pattern you have designed.

Poly/cotton blend soutache, braid, rickrack, or biased hemming tape could be used for a garment edging that is contrary or too plain, but wash the trim first to see how it will hold up should you need to ever wash the quilt.

Avoid knit items since they might stretch and warp when used this way, UNLESS you are so good that you could quilt across them several times, and

Flannel isn't a good item to use, either, since it pills
so badly. Fleece does also. But ruffle pullups, sassy unusual items can sometimes be layed out in the center and worked away from, if using enough to form a center. However, always try to use the same thickness of garment, and it's respective stuffing material, so the quilt is reasonably level to the feel and the eye.

Logically, if one is going to use the quilt rather than hang or store it, it needs to be of practical fabrics. If
of fancy things, it really should be just hung/stored
and dusted several times a year. I'd even shadow-box frame an especially nice quilt, signing and dating
it, for posterity.

The best thing I can think of is that if one garment doesn't work out as well, take it off and replace it with another. It's a very forgiving craft and lots of interesting fun that everyone and anyone will greatly appreciate if done well.

God bless you. : )