Thursday, January 23, 2014

Memorial Quilt: Bear Paw Shirt Quilt


When I was first given the materials for this quilt I was a little scared. I had no idea how to make this pile of shirts into a beautiful quilt for the family.




The lady who wore these shirts used to be the mayor of our town. With every Memorial Quilt I make - I feel so privileged that the families entrust me with their loved ones clothes.


Preparing for this quilt took a long time - in ladies shirts there are many more darts and seams that in a typical mans shirt. Some of the shirts were made of very sheer fabric and they all needed interfacing. I use the lightest interfacing I can find - I like ' '



I quilted this quilt on my new Fusion - Freddie using a design I call an 'octopus flower'. I loaded this quilt on day 5 of having this new machine which was either brave or foolish. Perhaps both. 


The family wanted to use the quilt in their house in Vermont - which is a traditional farmhouse. I wanted the quilt to be of a traditional origin - so we decided on the classic bear paw block. The Bear Paw is a very easy block to put together - and very easy to chain piece as well. I sewed my blocks together on point.



With every quilt I make I find it hard to stand back and be totally pleased with my finished project - I can always see where I could have improved something - but with every project I take on I learn so much. I can't wait to make more memorial quilts for families in 2014.

5 comments:

Thimbleanna said...

WOW. Oh Wow. Rachel, that quilt is stunning! Did you add fabrics to it? (Like some of the solids?) Or were they all shirts? I LOVE this quilt -- you did an AMAZING job!!!

Unknown said...

Thank you for such a lovely comment. Yes I did add the white fabric in the blocks and the brown diagonals. ;-)

Sue said...

Wow, that is beautiful. Where do you ever find the time with three little ones running around?

Wonky Girl said...

Oh gosh, that turned out so beautiful. You are a true artist in the quilting world.

Unknown said...

Wow - what a lovely thing to say. You have totally made my day (perhaps week!)