T-shirt Quilt for Daughter #2

 Daughter #2 with her t-shirt quilt for graduation.

 Some close-ups of the quilting.

 Backing chevron flannel and binding.

 Little sisters are so helpful!

 This is probably her favorite tee.

 I had Lynn quilt her graduation year onto the quilt because she didn't have any with her year on it.

Details:

• For this quilt I used about 25 shirts, including 2 sweatshirts.  A couple had both a back and a front that we used. 
• 5 columns of t-shirts
• 6 yds. of Grey Chevron Flannel for backing that I bought at JoAnn's.
• Quilted by Lynn Peterson
• Finished Dimensions 76 inches by 88 inches

Graduation Quilt Top

Our second child will be graduating from high school in a couple of weeks.

I completed her t-shirt quilt top this week and got it sent off to the quilter today.

 Hers looks a little more crazy than what I've done in the past.

However, that is probably because she has attended 2 different high school during her time.

 This is also the first time I've made a t-shirt quilt without any sashing or borders.

It is definitely a bit more random than others I've done.

This is the backing: gray chevron flannel.

So happy that I got the pattern lined up perfectly!

Linked up to CrazyMomQuilts

Alexander's T-shirt Quilt

Alexander is the son of my good friend Cindy.  I've known him since he was born. 

This Spring he graduated from high school.  I told him that if they wanted to pay for the materials I would put the time in and make him a t-shirt quilt for his graduation gift. 

Alexander was all over that. 

He is a funny kid.  He has Asperger's and is very OCD about some things.  It was difficult for him at first to go thru all his shirts and "give" them away, even though the majority of them didn't even fit him anymore. However, having them in a quilt will make both him and his mom happy (i.e. less shirts in his dresser drawers sitting there doing nothing).

I had him go thru his t-shirt stash with me and he showed me the ones that for SURE had to go in the quilt and then depending on how the size and design ended up we had another pile of shirts to add to as needed.  I didn't use up all the shirts he gave me, but we did use 24 of them.  Not everyone will have that many shirts but Alexander NEVER wears a solid t-shirt....NEVER.  It has to have some logo or something on it.

This is the first time I have put together a t-shirt quilt that didn't involve the majority to be school or sports themed shirts.  In fact, he only had one shirt that represents his school.  Instead, Alexander likes video games, goofy sayings, Star Wars, Pokémon, etc.  So I had to pull that all together in this quilt.

Here is the top all put together before sending it off for quilting.

He picked out his sashing/border fabric as well as the backing fabric.  He wanted to choose and not have me pick out something for him.  Fine with me.

I just heard back that the quilting is done and I should get it back next week.  I asked Lynn to quilt his name and graduation year on a blank block that I included in the quilt since he didn't have any shirts with his name.  I guess I need to go find some binding fabric to go with now that I know the quilt is coming back.

Details:

• Zelda and Gang fabric from JoAnn's.  Needed 6 yds. for the backing and it couldn't be matched perfectly.  I tried.  From a distance it will hardly be noticeable.

• Mario border fabric also from JoAnn's. Used about 1 1/2 yd. 
• 24 t-shirt fronts pieced together.
• T-shirt quilt ideas from Pinterest.

The other t-shirt quilts that we've put together.

Daughter #1 grad quilt

Harley Twins

Bria's grad quilt

Samuel's grad quilt

Madisson's grad quilt

Samuel's T-shirt Quilt Top

Our nephew Samuel, in Nebraska, just graduated from Hastings High School this past May

(as well as received his Eagle Scout Award). 

Post graduation he gathered up the t-shirts he felt he could part with and sent them to me so I could put together this t-shirt quilt.

He is a tall guy (goes without saying for our family)--about 6'3"

and so I had to make sure this quilt was long enough to cover his frame.

That was a trick as he didn't have as many shirts as his sister did.

His older sister is the blondie middle one of this trio of cousins. 

I had to be a bit more creative in how I put his quilt all together.

The finished top.

I am really loving the gray/black keyboard look.

A little close-up of some of the t-shirt piecing I did for the borders.

Now to pick out the back, binding and send it off to the quilter.


Details:

• Front and back (where possible) of about 7 t-shirts plus a sleeve logo.  He had an EXACT duplicate of the white shirt front and back so I only cut the paw print off the second shirt and placed it in the quilt.
• For this quilt I pieced much more of the solid color portion of the t-shirts to add to it, including the sashing. I might have even pulled some solids from other t-shirt quilt extras I had.
• Post about his sister's t-shirt quilt. You can see how different they ended up being even though they attended the same high school and both ran cross country.
• Finished quilt top dimensions: 69 x 89 inches

Dolman Sleeve T-shirt

As you can tell by my lack of postings, I have been "distracted" by other things.
It is called "trying to sell your house."
I so hope I never have to do it again or at least anytime soon.
Our house still hasn't sold even with lots of showings.
Oh well, I feel like we've done just about everything we can, including paying for a new furnace and A/C which was NOT on the list of things to do in order to sell the house.

I have the new house picked out STILL and it is waiting....and waiting....and waiting.
Those owners want to get rid of their house and know we want it.
Happily they are trying to work with us.
We just need to sell this one!!!!!!!
I'm tired of dealing with selling.
I even ran away with the kids for a week right before school started and went to NE. to visit my parents because I just couldn't deal with showings and keeping the house clean A.L.L. the time and then nothing happening.

School started this week and I am THRILLED!!  Sorry kids, I do love you all, but you need to go away for a time period and then come back.  We'll probably all like each other better then.

I got back into my sewing game here over the last week or two.
Sewing is so helpful for me.
Gets the creative juices going and I can actually see something to completion that doesn't need to be "done" again later: i.e.laundry or dishes, or cleaning the house top to bottom because we have a showing later.

Everyone needed new shirts for school, well at least the girls did.
The boys told me they were fine, but I may have to do some for them too.
In the meantime, we found this easy dolman sleeve pattern and we like it.

Dolman sleeves are where the sleeve and front or back of the shirt are all one continuous piece.







It has a little bit of a high/low hemline.


Close-up of the neckline with a single topstitch.

Details:

• Simplicity 1463--View A  (my girls are eyeballing view C with the contrasting sleeves and back yoke)
• Recycled navy knit sheet from the thrift store
• Lengthened 3 inches
• Also lengthened the sleeves a good 4 inches.

Here is my version.

Short sleeves with no sleeve band.

T-shirt with almost absolutely no stretch whatever, hence the no sleeve band choice.

Also lengthened about 3 inches.

Graduation T-shirt Quilt--for daughter #1

This is the first t-shirt quilt of 5 (4 more over the next 11 years) that I will make for each of my children as they graduate from high school.

I'm so so happy that I got L.'s graduation quilt back in time from our quilter, Lynn.
It arrived on Monday.
I put the binding on it on Tuesday and graduation was Thursday night.


Although she knew which shirts I had used, I didn't really let her see it until it was completely put together. And once it showed up she didn't want to see it until actual graduation day.  The next 2 kids down were my picture helpers and they were quite envious.  Once again they wanted confirmation that they too would be getting a quilt when they graduate.

Here are some close-ups of the quilting and a couple of the t-shirt blocks.





Since there were a number of swimming related shirts Lynn did a meander that appears somewhat like water or waves.  She then did the borders in a different little motif.  I really love how it all turned out.





I just think this will be a fun quilt for her to have for college and beyond.



Details:

• Finished dimensions:  74 1/2 inches wide by 81 inches long.
• We used about 8 adult t-shirts including both the front and back.  Then added a couple solos here and there as needed. If you are using on the fronts of shirts you'd need about 16 for this size/style quilt.
• Started with 16 inch squares on most shirts.
• Apply lightweight interfacing to the wrong side of each shirt piece you are using to stabilize them.  I just went to Jo-Ann's and bought a bolt of their least expensive interfacing and used my coupon.  For sure I used at least 10 yds. of interfacing putting this together.
• Kona charcoal sashing and borders.  Cut 2 1/2 strips for between the columns and 4 1/2 strips for the outer borders.
• Orange and white chevron flannel from Jo-Ann's for backing.  $3.49/yd on sale.  Bought 6 yards to make sure I had enough room to match the print.
• Found a fun navy polka-dot print for the binding.

Notes:
Preview post here.
For more ideas here is my friend Ann's posts on her kids' t-shirt quilts.
And Emily's favorite babysitter's graduation t-shirt quilt.
I found these layout ideas helpful in planning what I was going to do: here, here, and here.

T-shirt Quilt Preview

In the midst of this

ongoing loading of the POD

and this

gutting and redo of the master bathroom

I am also making an effort to "clean out" my sewing room.
I decided to work on my daughter's t-shirt quilt in order to get some things out of my room.

A month or so ago we went thru her pile of t-shirts and weaned them down and divided them up in categories.  This quilt will be school themed--swim team shirts, choir, orchestra, honor roll.  That way there is a color theme to them without having to think too much.  She has more shirts and she may get another t-shirt quilt down the road, but for now we are sticking with the school spirit.



I started with 16 inch squares and then adjusted here and there.



Backing will be this orange and white chevron flannel from Jo-Ann's.

L. knows that I am doing this and she knows which shirts are in it, but I haven't shown her how it is all put together.  I sort of want her to be surprised.  My next 2 kids down the line both love the quilt and wanted to make sure that I was planning on making each of them one down the road.  Yes, yes, I will do that.

The quilt will be shipped off to Lynn today for quilting so that I can get it back in time for L.'s graduation and party that first full weekend of June.  I'm excited for her to have it.  New chapter in all of our lives.  Kinda weird!

Bring on the Ombre

Two of my three daughters are ALL about comfort first when it comes to their clothing.  If it doesn't feel right then forget how cute it is because it won't be happening.

My youngest always wants to "see" the fabric, which actually means she wants to touch and feel it first before she decides if she will wear it.



Recently I made her a fun ombre t-shirt dress for Spring and Summer.  She is getting taller and a good portion of the clothes we held onto from last year for this year will be heading to the giveaway pile because they are too short.

She informed me exactly how she wanted this dress.
White on top
Light blue in the middle
Dark blue on the bottom

Luckily I had all those pieces of knit in my stash.



Used pattern McCall's M6276--which is crazily already out of print.  I swear I just bought this pattern last year. I cut and determined the widths of each section.  You can do this with any good t-shirt pattern and adjust accordingly.

I am in the process of making a color blocked t-shirt dress for me.  Got sidelined a little in that process by house stuff over the weekend.

Dressing for Spring---10 yr. old style

We aren't quite technically to Spring, but we're having a few Spring-like days here and there.  Last Sunday was one of those with almost 50 degree weather and barely a need for a coat even with the huge piles of snow everywhere.

What to wear, what to wear...

If you're 10 yrs. old this is what you wear.

A fun Spring tiered peasant skirt and short sleeve shirt, with your fuzzy boots.



It's all good.

Skirt pattern--Simplicity 4650 (old Lizzie McGuire pattern)
Shirt pattern--Simplicity 4565
Thrifted sheet.

We're ready for Spring to arrive permanently.

Tall Girl T-shirts

In case you who read this blog haven't figured out by now, we grow 'em tall around here.  I'm 6' 2", daughter #1 is pushing 6' 1" and daughter #2 is 5' 9" at almost 14 yrs. old.  Son #1 is 12 and 5' 6"....anyway, the point is we expect to have tall kids.

We happened to come across these tall girl problems on Pinterest.  We laughed and laughed as we read them as most of them we have experienced first hand.  Or at least thought.  I have always worn heels and always will, much to the chagrin of many people.  Sorry, don't care.  When hubby and I were dating one of his roommates was seriously bugged that I wore heels.  He told me straight up, "You don't need to wear heels."  My response to him, "What do you care?  I'm not dating you."

Some of these funny sayings have been made into t-shirts.  We decided to make our own using some of the quotes that we found.

Daughter #1's top favs:

• Tall boys like midgets.
• People tell me I'm tall like I am unaware.
• The weather is exactly the same up here.

We ended up making this shirt.

And for her BFF

She's a good sport.

Love this Knit Pattern

In December I picked up the book, "I Have Nothing to Wear" by Jill Martin & Dana Ravich at my library.  I've been mostly hating my wardrobe, or at least the body that has been going in it, and so I've been slowly revamping my closet.  Although I don't have a friend nearby that I can trust to give me good fashion opinions/advice (as suggested in the book) I feel like I pretty much know what works for me and what doesn't.  And definitely I know what style is me--and it's not bohemian surfer girl.

One of the suggestions in the book is to get rid of all clothes that don't make you look and feel like a "10".  That means anything stained, really worn, or just plain unflattering and not your personal style.  So some things have left my closet--especially items that I rarely wear, because I don't just LOVE them.

And then,of course, I needed some new pieces to replace some of those throw-aways.

Last pattern sale at Jo-Ann's I bought a couple new patterns.
Love, love, love view ABC on this pattern: Simplicity 1716.



And for $.99/ea. it was a bargain to not have to figure out on my own how they did that funky twisty neckline.  And I have another shirt that someone gave us that is VERY similar to this pattern that we were going to try and duplicate.

I had a cream knit piece I had bought at my thrift store for about $1.50 and decided to use that as my "sample" to make sure I didn't need to make any adjustments on the pattern: i.e. raise the neckline some.  It does have a seam down the entire back, which I don't love, but I did it for this first shirt.  I know that they put it in to give the shirt a little more shape and fit to your body, but I find a seam down the back of a t-shirt a bit annoying.  Not sure I'll do it on the next one.

Really however, I just love this shirt.


Then I used it to make myself a new LBD--little black dress.  Oh yeah!!
I have to say that the fabric probably makes this dress more than anything.



Details:

• Fabric--4 yds. of "fashion" knit at my fabric store for $1.59/yd. on sale with a coupon = $6.36 dress. Actually it would be less because there is enough to make another shirt and a tank top from this piece of fabric.  I actually made View B out of this black for me and then didn't like the flutter sleeves on me.  So daughter #1 has it--I just need to take it in a little for her.
• This is another one of those awesome pieces of fabric that you can throw on the floor and leave it there for days and when you come back to it there are no wrinkles in sight.  LOVE it!

And here's daughter #2 with her version of this top--View C, with the ruched sleeves.

Skirt pattern: Simplicity 2258.

We'll be making this one again.  Super easy and super comfy--elastic waist, pockets.  I'm thinking chambray for me and we have a fun orange piece that will be great for her for Spring/Summer.

World's Fastest T-Shirt-to-Scarf Recycle

As I'm posting today, I'm kind of laughing at how easy and ridiculous this project is.  But instead of telling you that I'll just pass it off as a stroke of genius on my part (...she said with a heavy dose of tongue and cheek).

This cute scarf was made in 2 minutes.  Literally.

Here's how it went down...
I kept seeing all these easy/cute t-shirt scarf tutorials on Pinterest in the fall and thought "maybe I should try one of those ideas."  ...I never did.  Recently when I was cleaning up my sewing room I came across a t-shirt dress of my daughter's that was headed for the donation bag. 

 I decided to chop off the skirt and see if I could make a something out of it.

So I literally hacked off the bottom of the dress...

   and voila!

I didn't even hem the cut edge, just tucked it in, 'cuz I'm lazy that way.

See, I told you it was stupidly easy.
So go check your closets and see if you can find an awesomely patterned knit you can chop up, too.

Have Fun!
;)
Emily

Details:

The A-line style lends itself well to a good drape when worn.

Here's how it breaks down:

Scarf is 17" long (from cut edge to hemmed edge)

Top (skinny) edge is 15" wide, bottom edge is 22" wide.

NOTE: These measurements are finished measurements, so you will need to double-fold your fabric and adjust measurements accordingly if you are making this from scratch.