Wednesday, December 03, 2014

Collecting Fabric for a Quilt, Gray and Pink


I'm thinking about a new quilt and for once in my life (as Daisy's friend David would say) I'm Planning Ahead on fabric! My key fabric is the not-too-in-focus larger gray strip with the pink end. It's an ancient but highly valued cotton skirt from the fifties, printed with cellos. To keep it company I've got some linens and wools from the thrift store, and a couple of men's shirts. 

And, in an excess of organization, I've got this little pinned together pile in my purse so that I can pull it out in any thrift store and scan the clothes racks for the perfect garment to join the pile.

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

If it is a highly valued skirt from the 50s why are you cutting it up and not preserving it ? Seems like something that someone who adores vintage clothing would want.

Lisa said...

The cello skirt has gone the way of all....skirts. Well, Clara got good use out of it.

Lisateresa

Rose said...

Gray and pink is a lovely combination. Neat idea with the fabric on a safety pin, I shall adopt this idea for my knitting projects!

Flepandco said...

let me guess...cellos...a quilt for Clara?

Julian said...

Love the harmony of the colors! What a great idea about the pin! Can't wait to see it! Christina

Anna said...

I'm cutting it up because Clara has worn it hard for the last seven years, and now the seams have given way, and it has lots of faded streaks along the folds. However, some of the fabric is strong enough to be made into a quilt.

Lilian, you're right, this will be for Clara.

Instagram.com/melissasnotes said...

What a great idea!

Polly said...

I remember that skirt back when it was discovered and mailed to Clara at camp! This will be the perfect way to memorialize it for her. The quilt will be a treasure.

Anonymous said...

I am so happy to hear that you use "recycled" fabric in your quilts. I grew up with quilts, made by my grandmothers that held precious pieces of old favorite clothing that reminded us all of the memories lived while wearing those clothes. Believe it or not, I have a quilt with my five-year-old embroidery included (fruit shapes from a simple coloring book that my grandmother traced onto a plain shirt fabric block for me!).

I was horrified when I found out that some people *buy* the fabric for their quilt-tops!

Jodes said...

Beautiful colours! And a fitting resting place for a much loved skirt!

Flepandco said...

A few quilting questions for you Anna. I noticed that your quilts are hand quilted. I've always machine quilted but find it laborious trying to wrestle the whole quilt through the machine and inevitably I end up with a degree of bunching no matter how meticulously I pin. Do you use a hoop? Do you pin the whole quilt sandwich with safety pins and then hand quilt? Do you use a thimble?

Anna said...

Lillian, no hoop. Safety pins about every twelve inches, then hand-quilting. No thimble for me, but sometimes a bandaid. Good luck!

Flepandco said...

Thank you Anna.

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