. . . . . . Enjoying the journey of quilting

Sunday, December 8, 2013

Great Progress This Weekend on a New Quilt

Twenty Blocks Stabilized!
It was so much easier the second time around. What was different?

I purchased a 15 1/2 " x 15 1/2" ruler. This simple ruler assisted me in making more exacting square blocks. It also helped me center the numbers and names. Before stabilizing I centered the ruler to the front or back of the shirt. With the rotary cutter I sliced slits about 1/2 inch away from the top and sides.  Next I was able to place the non-woven sheer weight fusible interfacing so the the top matched the top slit and the interfacing edges fit equally within the side slits. I pressed the fusible interfacing with a dry iron. The fusible interfacing was initially cut 17" x 17." Now with the fusible interfacing fused to the shirt I was able to center the 15 1/2" x 15 1/2" ruler and rotary cut around the square.



On my design board are the blocks for the first row. I am so happy how they came out! Each block has 3 frames, the first is Kona Cotton Ash, the second frame is Kona Cotton Red and the third row is the frame creating the shadow using both Kona Cotton Ash and Black. Each block is 21" x 21."

This baseball t-shirt quilt is for my oldest grandson, Tyler. When he saw the one I made for Caleb he asked his dad, Do you think she would make one for me?" Well you know I was sucker for that even though I had already intended to make him one. Funny the boys call me "Granny J." Sounds old doesn't it? But it is a title of endearment to me.

Tyler is in his second year of college and doing quite well being on the Dean's List. Baseball didn't work out for him in college for various reasons. He played ball all through elementary, middle and high school. He was a darn good player where scouts were paying attention to him. He played on college showcase baseball teams.

My son Ty created and established the non-profit organization "Rebels" as you can see across one of the blocks above.  By word of mouth the organization grew because parents heard how the coaches were interested in perfecting each team members area of talent. No screaming was permitted! I have several t-shirts in my own wardrobe with "Rebels" adorned across it. I am proud to wear them!

This quilt is going to size out to 84" x 105", a nice size quilt wouldn't you say?

I had planned on adding sashing but with the large blocks this would make it humongous!  This was one time I was grateful for my design board where I noticed that the shadows would show well with the adjacent blocks being Ash and would help show off the shadowing.

I am contemplating quilting it in segments, possibly by rows. Caleb's quilt was such a back breaker free motion quilting it on my domestic machine because of the weight and size. I can't fathom the idea of doing it again. Ditch stitching in the frames and free motion quilting the centers and outlining the numbers and letters should be a sufficient amount of quilting.





My lamp makes a perfect place to hold all the strips for the frames.














My weekend was completed with more happiness when by surprise opening up my client's mail finding a gift for me from a short-term missionary. She had traveled to Italy to immerse herself in Italian language school. It is the most beautiful oriental silk scarf with variegated shades of red. I had to wear it to church this morning. It was perfect as it was quite chilly this morning.

Linking up with:



Sew Cute Tuesday sew many ways   Fresh Poppy Design IMG_6373WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced My Quilt Infatuation The Weekly Creative 

Thanks for visiting! I hope you have been inspired!







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21 comments:

  1. T shirt quilts are so appreciated, so I guess it's worth the extra trouble, huh? Yours looks neat. I like that red scarf, too, how sweet of your friend to bring it back to you!
    :-}pokey

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  2. Thanks for sharing your process on the T shirt quilt.

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  3. I loved your last Tshirt quilt and this one is going to also be wonderful! My son has already asked for one (after seeing one at a show) and I am saving his shirts. I will need your advice when the time comes. Hope to see you Thursday.

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  4. Always inspired when I visit! This week I LOVE the three frames and especially the third shadow frame! LOOKS GOOD!!!! Wishing ya a great week!

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  5. Making a t-shirt quilt is made so much easier with that ruler!!!! I got one to use when I made my first one, also. Love your triple borders......and they really take the place of any sashing you may have thought about. This type of quilt (along with all-flannel quilts) are truly "back (and shoulder) breakers"!!!!! It's going to be awesome!!!!!!! Hugs..... (love that scarf, also!!!)

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  6. Nice trick! Thanks for sharing. My husband was just telling me all his favorite t-shirts that my daughter gives him as gifts are wearing out. I told him I could save the fronts and make a quilt some day. I will keep this in mind when that day comes!

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  7. I am happy to follow you on Bloglovin. Merry Christmas. crystalbluern at onlineok dot com

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  8. What a precious quilt Joanie, love the design! Your new scarf is really beautiful! Thanks for sharing.
    Freemotion by the River Linky Party Tuesday

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  9. Looking fab Joanie and thanks for sharing the tip about the larger size block template, that's well worth remembering :D

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  10. That's so cool that he wants one, too. My daughter has asked about doing a Tshirt quilt from her highschool band and sports collection. Do you mind if I pin your post for future reference?

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  11. Love the T-shirt quilts. Very inspiring.

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  12. Your grandson is going to have very stylish quilt. I'm sure he'll love it.

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  13. Hi, Joanie! I love the borders - especially the depth provided by the outer border. I'm still fussing with the t-shirt quilt I've been making (for years) with the shirts from the library's summer reading club. I'm thinking that my border plan was too simple. You're inspiring me. Miss you! Ellen

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    1. Ellen, so nice to see you again! I miss you too - bunches! Happy to know that I have inspired you. Hope enough to get your t-shirt quilt completed.

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  14. He is sure to love it! The frames look great around the blocks. This is really something he will love forever!

    Thank you so much for sharing this at Needle and Thread Thursday!

    :) Kelly @ My Quilt Infatuation

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  15. This is gonna be great! What a great way to remember his sports at this point in his life!

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  16. This is sure to be well loved. I have been collecting Hard Rock Cafe t shirts for what seems like forever! I need to stop collecting and start turning them into a quilt!

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  17. Great t-shirt quilt and fabulous scarf - lucky you.

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  18. What a nice gift and that tee shirt quilt is looking really great! I like the off set "shadow" effect. Really cool and also a nice gift.

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  19. Haha, I use my lamp for storing strips too! I love the shadow effect :)

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