Modern Quilts and Reuse

I'm so excited that our community has finally grown to want to an actual real quilt guild. Our community really is spread out so far that its actually takes in 7 communities Fort Fraser, Fraser Lake, Burns Lake, Houston, Telkwa, Smithers, Moricetown and Hazelton.


Our fledgling start up guild is holding it second "Quit In" in Telkwa on March 31, centrally located, at the Telkwa Christian Reformed Church, across from the One Stop in Telkwa. We'll start at 9:30 and play with fabric until 4 pm. Its a brown  bag lunch, so we're not making extra potluck stuff that usually is too much for all of us and its takes more work.


 Reuse is a  big deal with us. We all were really focused to figure out how to hold a mini workshop for 3 hours at the upcoming Farmer's market on June 16th? Fortunately, we have received funding to hold such an event like this and we're moving ahead. This pink quilt is one such example of a baby quilt made from sweaters, its warm, soft and is very easy to make.

But what does reuse have to do with the modern quilts movement? Well, its got a lot to do with it and here's why.

Gee's Bend Quilters are world renowned now for their art in quilts. Humble beginnings of slaves with still spirit and passion to create useful quilts. I don't think it first understood that they were pieces of art.
This blog took up the challenge and inspiration to Downtown NY storefront windows with her creation of a denim American flag made from recycled jeans.


I had humble beginnings as many of us did, but its not where we start that counts, its what we do with our life that demonstrates who we are and what we are made of and Gee's Bend quilts have inspired me for years.

So what is our new guild doing to promote reuse?

We are sponsored by the Bulkley Valley Community Arts Council to produce our workshop at the June 16th BV Farmer's Market, where our members will have bags, pillows, quilts and all sorts of other things ready to inspect and see for yourself what can be done with more than denim. 

For my readers, what can you do?

Here's an example for you to consider.


This throw sized quilt is recycled from the get-go. I used a thermal velour chunk that needed only a little trimming to make this whole quilt. No batting was required as its so lofty and warm. Then I took a dinner plate template onto a a large part of jeans and drew the circle on the jeans. 
Then I cut up antique barkcloth curtains that I found at the thrift store and sewed the circles onto the 12.5 in. blocks. Then I sashed the blocks together with new cotton sashing. I laid the top onto the velour and quilted through the sashing two edges. The outside border was sewn directly onto the half finished quilt. Turned under the cotton edge of the border and machine sewed the outside edge.



Or if denim isn't your thing, make a traditional log cabin, its my favorite way to reuse. This quilt is 54 by 68 and is made up of reused cotton khaki pants, shirts and some cotton dress fabric. Its backed with one of those East Indian throws that were sold door to door years ago, remember those?


Or you can grow into your own style of refashioning clothing like Skylar did here! Her cute caps are just the ticket for a new and cheap fashion diva.

All the  best,
Carli



Comments

  1. I buy those thrifted fleece blankets to use as batting too. The really nubby ones get hidden inside the quilt and no one knows how ugly they are! It's a great reuse.

    ReplyDelete

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