Friday, August 29, 2014

Worn and Washed ~ A Finished Quilt

Worn and Washed Quilt - reclaimed shirt fabrics | Red Pepper Quilts

I've pushed ahead and finished my Worn and Washed Quilt. The fabrics used are reclaimed shirt fabrics with the addition of a several extras - new and unused fabrics - from stash, and the piecing/design was random; cutting and stitching in a freeform (albeit somewhat structured) way.
Worn and Washed Quilt - reclaimed shirt fabrics | Red Pepper Quilts
I wasn't feeling this project when working on the quilt top ~ this style of piecing just wasn't relaxing. I do like to challenge myself and work outside of my comfort zone, but I do think that it is important to also enjoy the process.

Worn and Washed Quilt - reclaimed shirt fabrics | Red Pepper Quilts
Worn and Washed Quilt - reclaimed shirt fabrics | Red Pepper Quilts
Worn and Washed Quilt - reclaimed shirt fabrics | Red Pepper Quilts

It is the quilting that finally made me fall in love with this piece. It has added so much texture! The shirt fabric wrinkled and crumpled with gusto - so much so that I wanted to see more texture. And so, I washed and then dried the quilt in the tumble dryer. What's more, I even resisted ironing it when it came out of the dryer (this is a quite an achievement for me as I iron and press obsessively).

Worn and Washed Quilt - reclaimed shirt fabrics | Red Pepper Quilts
Worn and Washed Quilt - reclaimed shirt fabrics | Red Pepper Quilts

For the back of the quilt I have used a single large scale text fabric - Script Britton Nummer Fabric for IKEA by Emma Jones - which is a nice contrast with the plain shirting fabrics and the subtle colors of this quilt.

Worn and Washed Quilt - reclaimed shirt fabrics | Red Pepper Quilts

Oh and then the binding ... which only confirmed that scrappy binding is like the icing on a cake with a cherry on top.

Worn and Washed Quilt - reclaimed shirt fabrics | Red Pepper Quilts
Worn and Washed Quilt - reclaimed shirt fabrics | Red Pepper Quilts

This quilt will go into my quilt trunk (for perhaps one day I'll do a trunk show but more so because with the number of small buttons on the quilt top it unfortunately isn't suitable for use by babies, toddlers or children).

Worn and Washed Quilt | Red Pepper Quilts
Thank you for stopping by,
Rita


RELEVANT LINKS:
Worn and Washed Quilt in Progress
More RPQ reclaimed fabric projects

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57 comments:

  1. Let me be the first to say how awesome this is! Perfect backing too

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  2. Thank you so much for sharing your quilt, angst and all. I really like it, it has a calm feel to it. It was so 'not you', until you did the quilting and then it looked like you!

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    1. So true! It didn't feel like "me" and I wasn't all that impressed with it until I had finished the quilting. And then, I loved it!

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  3. Oops, forgot to say the backing fabric made me jealous. Our IKEA has been out of that fabric for months and months with no date projected for being back in stock. I am going to be so bummed if it has been discontinued.

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  4. This is so me, love this quilt. Awesome job!!!!!! Any fabric left? 😀

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  5. I really, really like this quilt. Everything about it.

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  6. Really lovely. Don't children have buttons on their pyjamas?

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  7. Just love everything about this quilt and enjoyed reading about the process, so glad you pushed through and finished. I find often with quilting there are little things that would stop us, if we can just get over the hump we end up with an amazing finished quilt. Thank you for sharing.

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  8. I just love this quilt! Love the fabrics and like I said before the red check works so well in this. Your quilting is perfect for this piece as is the binding. I wonder why you didn't feel this project until you quilted it, I fell for it right from the beginning. If I read correctly you iron quilts after you wash and dried them?

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  9. I was waiting to see how it would look after the quilting. And yes, while it was "not you" before the quilting, after the quilting it was very much "you"!
    I think it turned out really nice actually. And very glad that you finished it despite not being very happy while piecing it.

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  10. I think quilting always makes you fall in love with a quilt that maybe you are not liking. It is my favourite part of the whole process followed by attaching binding. Does that make me weird? Love your quilt it gave me the idea to maybe use shirts with some denim fabric I have been collecting :)

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  11. I love it! I wish I had such fabric, where can I buy?

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    1. Oh dear, not doing very well with my typing! Worn and Washed is the name of the company that makes these bundles of recycled fabrics, a mixture of shirts and bed linens. If you Google the name Worn and Washed you can find all the info so you can track down a bundle for yourself.

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  12. Wow! What a fantastic way to use those old shirt fabrics! I don't think I'll ever be able to throw one of Mr Moog's old shirts out again.

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  13. The quilting does give it an extra dimension! It turned out great! Must be nice to use one the couch on a cold day...

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  14. Now that's inspiring Rita. I have lots of shirt pockets awaiting me and even a few wee blocks finished. Love how this has turned out.

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  15. Just lovely. How do you get such straight lines.

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  16. It is amazing - and if I may be so bold needs to live in a beach hut.

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  17. I understand the "falling in and out of love" issue with quilting projects. I regularly work in and out of this feeling. Why is that? We love what we're doing, but not always. I'm glad you did this quilt and shared it with us. You're so talented!

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  18. Beautiful, very fresh looking.

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  19. Absolutely wonderful. I love all the little details that you left on like buttons, tags, etc. What a great quilt. Congratulations!!

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  20. I too bought a bundle of this fabric at the Birmingham quilt show! Your posts have inspired me to use it soon. I don't think I am quite brave enough to improvise the pattern completely - but I will go for something strippy and fairly simple - love the quilting. I can see how it makes the quilt. Thanks for the inspiration.

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  21. This is such an amazing quilt! The quilting and bindings are the perfect finish!

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  22. Good for you finishing a quilt you weren't quite in love with. An inspiration for those of is with wips in the same category! I love the scrappy binding!

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  23. Nice job--love it!

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  24. Great choice of fabrics. You always amaze me.

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  25. LOVE this quilt! I have long thought about making a quilt such as this and couldn't get my head around it. Now I am looking forward to it! Beautiful!

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  26. Lovely. And I think it is good for us to hear that not everyone enjoys working without a plan. So many different types of quilters.

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  27. This quilt has a wonderfully soft and soothing vintage feel to it. The improv piecing is so inspiring! Love the backing, intense straight line quilting and that scrappy binding you went with, Rita. Those final touches have brought this beauty to life!

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  28. I really love that you try new things and that you assess honestly how you feel through the process and share that with us. I enjoyed seeing the plackets, buttons, and pocket pieces go into this project and the finished project is fabulous with your choice of backing, scrappy binding, and of course your quilting.

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  29. i love every single thing about this quilt! i love of unexpected red gingham and the florals and the buttons and the tags and puckering and the back is bloody brilliant!
    can you tell I LOVE THIS QUILT!

    30 yrs ago i had i had a lovely neighbor friend in indianapolis who owned a men's custom suit shop downtown. i was gifted bags and bags of the samples for suits, shirts, ties. i was just starting to quilt back then.
    i made simple little quilt tops out of those samples so i know how soft and fabulous that quilt is!
    just fantastic!

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  30. It's a great quilt, Rita! My grandparents just passed away in June, and I asked my sister to send me a few pieces of clothing from them. I'm planning to make a quilt for myself to remember them. I love how you made yours with the different sizes and shapes of fabrics.

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  31. It's such a gorgeous quilt. I love absolutely everything about it. You did an amazing job.

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  32. I really like this. It has a good feel about it.

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  33. It's marvelous! You have once again inspired me!

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  34. The shirt label in this quilt just makes me smile. So charming!

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  35. That turned out beautifully! What a cool fabric bundle to come across, lucky you! I must say I have never ironed a quilt after washing it - is this a usual practice that I have not been aware of?

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  36. I am completely in love with this quilt! I have a small stash of dress shirts from my son and father. I wasn't sure what to do with them but now I know. So thanks!

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  37. Whoa! This is the coolest quilt! Love the shirt fabrics with that added pop of red here and there. The backing fabric is awesome and your quilting is perfect!

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  38. what a great quilt! I love the mix of stripes and checks with the linear quilting ..

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  39. Kim Porter will be most proud of your quilt. I love her stand at the shows and she is as adorable as her fabrics. Yummy quilt. Well done to you.

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  40. My first shirt quilt was for my dad, so I kept it simple and 'manly'. This has convinced me to do what I had been longing to do - add a splash of red and maybe something floral to my next shirt quilt.

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  41. The quilts, which I at the beginning of sewing "I do not feel" are most frequently the most beautiful ..... :) Your quilt is very interesting and not ironed looks really great .. I I collect for about a year at a family event and friends no longer used for shirts various designs of fabrics and worn no longer ties .. Greetings from Poland :)

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  42. I love the soft feel of the colors in this quilt. You encouraged me to keep on collecting old shirts....I have a few bags full now. Becky

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  43. I love this quilt-especially that one patch with the label. Nice touch! It may have been out of your comfort zone but once again you scored a hit!

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  44. It's beautiful - really beautiful. I love the texture when washed - all crinkly and just like a proper old-fashioned patchwork quilt. I'm glad you're keeping it - do you find some of them hard to let go?

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  45. I love it so much!!!! That texture - beautiful! It's definitely a keeper - lots of memories.

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  46. I love all the quilts that you make....but....this is my FAVOURITE !

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  47. If I came within touching distance of this quilt I would grab it and run as fast as II could. I love it!

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  48. This is truly beautiful. Reminds me of summer on the cliffy beaches in Norway for some reason. Congratulations!

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  49. A beautiful quilt my hubby has just throw a heap of shirts into the recycling bag I think I will have to retrieve them now quilty hugs

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  50. I love your quilt! I have my husband's old dress shirts that are made out of beautiful fabrics that I can't just throw out. I have though about making a quilt with them but was afraid that the material wouldn't work well (because I listened to a sales person at a quilt shop). I will give it a go now, you have inspired me. ;-)

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  51. What a neat quilt. Love that binding.

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