Made From Old Denim Shirts and Dresses

If you follow my blog, you have seen this quilt before. I made it from denim shirts and dresses and a pair of old plaid shorts.

I am doing a test posting today from my tablet, instead of my computer.  So far so good. Of course, it takes longer to type. I haven't figured out all the options yet.

I wanted to share about some of my "easy to make and sew" patterns before Christmas, if you are looking for handmade gifts.

  

And you probably have some old denim clothes you can cut up and turn into a gift.

This pattern is a PDF Downloadable Pattern available for only $1.00 on Craftsy.com.  Denim Quilt Block

You will find more than 20 PDF Downloadable patterns in my Pattern Store at Craftsy.com. Most of them are easy to sew patterns.

I used the scraps from my quilt to make this table topper. I use it as a large place mat! 

Enjoy your day!

Marcia

Just a note:   I had to go to my computer to add the tags and to tweek it a bit! But I think posting from my tablet will work! 

Featured on a New Blog --- "Denim Do Over"

Here is the direct link to the post that featured my Blue Up Cylced Patchwork Blue Quilt made from denim shirts and dresses and plaid shorts. 

It's a new blog called  Denim Do Over - Giving new life to old denim. 

Thanks Susan from Between Naps on the Porch Blog. 
Susan started the new blog Denim Do Over recently.  
Hop over and check it out.

Here are the blue plaid shorts I used!

Enjoy!
Marcia
Anytime you want to see more of my "Up Cyled Projects" -- click on the tab at the top of my blog. Or click here for a direct link.

Pets on Quilts!

Entry - Dogs on Quilts

I made this up cycled quilt for us, but Gabby and Toby think I made it for them!

All cuddled up!

I upcycled a pair of patchwork shorts, denim dresses, and denim shirts into a a cozy warm quilt.  I even used a washable wool batting to make it extra warm for our Wisconsin winters.

I am a long arm quilter and I work at home.  I keep the heat on low and my little sweethearts love to cuddle up in this quilt during the day, while I am working.

Click here for my post about how I "UpCycled" Blue Patchwork Shorts into a warm and cozy Quilt.

I cut the pieces from the shorts at an angle to give it more interest!

So hop on over to Pets on Quilts and see all the Pets on Quilts! 

I am sponsoring three quilting prizes - value of $30.00 each for the Pets on Quilts Blog Hop!

Enjoy the pet blog hopping!

Marcia

If you are looking for my Think Christmas post and Giveaway! Click here.

"The Denim Block" for The Block Party at Sew We Quilt --- from November 11th

Update:  This Quilt Block Pattern is now available in a downloadable pattern at Craftsy.com for only $1.00.

Here is the link to my Craftsy Store:
http://www.craftsy.com/user/3103603/pattern-store

This was my "guest posting" for SewWeQuilt Blog on November 11th.

It is a NEW and Improved Tutorial on the Denim Block!  

So if it is a duplicate for you - just skim through it or go onto the another post.

Madame Samm - Thanks for inviting me to join in the fun!

Hello! My name is Marcia from Crafty Sewing and Quilting. I am a free style long arm quilter. I quilt customer's quilts five days a week and mine on the weekends. 

I blog and share about a variety of quilting and sewing topics, free style quilting designs, tutorials, and "up cycling" quilt projects.  I also share ideas to step outside the "block" to create new twists on old patterns, including sewing construction techniques. I enjoy taking photos of quilts and quilting, colors in my world, my family, my dogs, and my container garden.

As a free style quilter, I manually move the long arm quilting machine to create unique quilting designs on each and every quilt.  It is all free hand - no patterns and no computers, thus resulting in special designs on each individual quilt.  

In the sidebar of my blog, I share photos of free style quilting designs to inspire other quilters with hundreds of quilting ideas.  The free style designs make each quilt unique.

One of my most selected quilting designs is the ribbon quilting with a twist. I quilted my "Up Cycled" Denim Quilt using two blue thread colors to create the ribbon quilting with a twist.

Today's block is the Denim Block. It is a free form block. The same sewing construction method is featured in my Texture Block Pattern. I chose a pair of plaid patchwork shorts as my focus fabric for the denim block.

I rotary cut my center blocks from the plaid at an angle.  Thus the centers are much more interesting. I used all reclaimed fabrics for the quilt top.  I chose a variety of denim shirts and denim dresses for the borders and lattice strips.

Step 1
Cut squares in a variety of sizes from the plaid shorts - 2" to 4 ".
I cut 42 squares.
Cut strips in a variety of sizes -2"wide to 3"wide from light blues and medium blues.


Step 2 
Sew one strip on one side of each block. Press and trim. You may want to starch as you press. I starch as it makes it easier to work with the denim. Denim tends to stretch a little.

Step 3

Sew a second strip on another side of the center square, but not the opposite side. In the photo the top strip is the second strip. Press and trim.

Step 4

Sew a third strip on another side of the center square, but not the opposite side. In the photo the left side of the block is the third strip. Press and trim.  Adding the strips is similar to a log cabin cabin construction, but it wouldn't matter if you mistakenly sewed the third strip to the other side on a few blocks.

Step 5

Sew a fourth strip on last side of the center square. In the photo, I am sewing the fourth strip onto the block. Press and trim.

Step 6 --- Square up and sew more strips

At this point you have 42 blocks that have four borders with one center square.  I group them into piles of similar sizes --- Large, Medium, and Small.

The large should be about 8".  Cut 8" squares from those blocks.  The medium will be between 7" and 7 1/2" .  Cut 7"  squares from those blocks.  The small blocks will need another strip or two, sewed onto them, to make them either 7" or 8" blocks.

On the photo below, the block on the right needed extra strips. The block on the bottom left is a large block (8" square).  The bottom right was a small block and needed another strip on two sides to make it a large block (8" square).  If any of the smaller blocks aren't large enough, sew another strip onto them.  You can sew extra strips to make them into 7" or 8" square blocks. 

Step 7 --- Count your blocks 

I started with 42 center squares.  There will be 6 blocks across by 7 blocks down.  Which means you need to have 3 rows of 7" blocks (total of 21 - 7" blocks) and 3 rows of 8" blocks (total of 21 - 8" blocks).  In order to get the correct numbers for the rows you may need to add strips or cut down an 8" block into a 7" block.

Step 8 --- Lattice strips (darker and dark medium blue fabric - cut 3" wide)

Sew a lattice strip to the top and the left side of every 7" and 8" block.  It will look like an "L" on each block. I chain piece using long strips, as I don't cut my strips to the exact length. They stretch and pull a little. Press, starch, and trim.

Step 9 --- Sew the rows

Do not line them up evenly.  I trim an inch or so off the top of one row to make them uneven that way the seams won't line up.

Step 10 --- Add more lattice and trim the ends

You will need to add a lattice strip to the bottom block on each row. Also add lattice strips to the right side of the last row on the right.  You can put them on each block or just sew strips together in random order and sew it on all in one strip. Trim the top and the bottom of the quilt.

Note about the seam allowances:  a generous 1/4".  Press to one side or open. Whatever will lay best, depending upon the intersections.

Step 11 --- Add Borders

I used more dark strips, but do whatever you think is eye pleasing. I randomly sewed the leftover dark denim strips together and sewed them onto the sides and onto the two ends. On two of the sides I sewed an extra border. Do whatever looks best.

Step 12 --- Quilting and Binding - as desired.

I quilted my quilt with a two color ribbon quilting with whimsical daisy flowers.  I used medium blue and light blue thread to create a shadow effect with the ribbon quilting. I used a washable wool batting to make it a warm and cuddly quilt for this winter. The backing fabric on my quilt is a blue dyed extra wide fabric. I used the same blue dyed fabric for the binding. 

The denim blocks are easy to construct. It really makes it simple to "up cycle" clothes into quilts. 

The denim block is a free form block that could be constructed using new fabrics also.

You could make a wonderful, one of a kind memory quilt using a loved one's clothes.

The possibilities are endless!

I would like to invite you to hop over to my blog and check it out!

Thanks!

Enjoy your day!  

Marcia

Thanks Samm for inviting me to share the Denim Block for the block party.

This Quilt Block Pattern is now available in a downloadable pattern at Craftsy.com for only $1.00.

Here is the link to my Craftsy Store:

http://www.craftsy.com/user/3103603/pattern-store

A Blue Quilt for the Christmas Quilt Show!

My "Up cycled" Denim Quilt is my quilt entry for the 2011 Christmas Quilt Show.  Blue is my favorite color. I have blue quilts everywhere in my house from my kitchen table... to the sofa... to the beds!  I guess I would have to say I decorate everything with blue quilts!

This quilt has a washable wool batting in it to keep us cuddly warm this winter in Wisconsin.  

The wool batting is fluffier than a cotton batting so the batting puffs a little more than it would, if it were a thinner batting.  I like it!

I attached the binding with an all machine embroidery stitched binding, thus giving it a wispy finish to the edge of the quilt!

I cut up and "Up Cycled" these blue patchwork shorts and some old denim dresses and shirts to created this quilt.

The next post is the tutorial on how this quilt was created using the old denim clothes.  Many of you have seen it before as I posted a similar post back in early October, but this is the new and improved tutorial post that was featured at "Sew We Quilt" on November 11th.

The backing of my quilt is an extra wide backing fabric that I hand dyed pale blue.  It is nice and soft.

The quilting is a Two Color Ribbon Quilting with a Twist of flowers!

I wanted to take some new "full view" photos with my new camera this morning.  I spread the quilt out on the sofa and before I knew it I was taking pictures Gabby and Toby as they wanted to be in the pictures. First Gabby jumped up and poised for a picture.

Then Toby jumped up too!  He wanted his picture taken too.

I decided to cover up Gabby with my favorite denim quilt and...

...soon Toby was cuddling up beside her.

 My full view photos ended up being full view with a couple of dogs!  I guess I will have to be happy with that! 

Well, if this quilt isn't keeping my husband and I warm this winter, at least it will keep Gabby and Toby warm! 

 It is so nice and warm they just doze off...

You too, can link up a post with a Christmas Quilt for the SewCalGal's 2011 Christmas Quilt Show. Or just click on the link and hop over and check out the beautiful Christmas Quilts.

Thanks for stopping by!
Enjoy your day!


Marcia

My Blue Denim Tablescape - Dec. 6, 2011 at Lunch Looks Like a Quilt to Me Blog






Linked with: 
SewCalGal's 2011 Christmas Quilt Show - Nov 28 to Dec. 4, 2011
Pieceful Life: Little Quilts Monday - Nov. 28, 2011
Quilting in my Pyjamas: Favourite Things Friday - Dec. 2, 2011
Sew Many Ways: Sew Darn Crafty - Dec. 5, 2011
Sew Chatty: Made with Love - Dec. 5, 2011
Sew Happy Geek: Manic Monday - Dec. 5, 2011
Chef in Training: Tuesday Talent Show - Dec. 6, 2011
Coastal Charms: Nifty Thrifty Tuesday - Dec. 6, 2011
Today's Creative Blog: Get Your Craft On - Dec. 6, 2011
Savy Southern Style: WOW Us Wednesday - Dec. 7, 2011
Somewhat Simple: Strut Your Stuff - Dec. 8, 2011
Faith, Grace, and Crafts: Pearls and Lace Thursday - Dec. 8, 2011
Happy Quilting: TNT Thursday - Dec. 8, 2011
The Thrifty Groove: Thrifty Things Friday - Dec. 9, 2011
Stuff and Nonsense: fridays unfolded - Dec. 9, 2011
Homemaker in Heels: Weekend Craft Soiree & Blog Hop - Dec. 10, 2011
Six Sisters' Stuff: Strut Your Stuff - Dec. 9, 2011
The Shady Porch: Rock 'N Share - Dec. 14, 2011
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia: Tuesday Treasures - Dec. 13, 2011
2805: Potpourri Party - Dec. 16, 2011