I saw an interesting little story the other day. It was about feedbags. Back in the depression years, mothers would
take empty flour sacks and various other feedbags and turn them into dresses
and shirts for their kids. In return the
companies that produced the products began to make the bags in pretty designs. And so a simple plain white feedbag was
suddenly a red print with little black Scottie dogs or brown material with
horses and pastures. I thought to
myself, “What a wonderful thing for these folks to have done.” I’m sure the kids that got new flour sack
clothing were thrilled.
I have just finished the most recent quilt that I have
made. It is made entirely of old blue
jeans and material that I already had on hand.
I, as most of you already know, am the queen of miserdom. I squeeze my toothpaste tube completely dry
before I pitch it. I use my floss picks
twice or until they break, washing them in the dish washer between uses.
I have made two quilts for my girls’ college graduation made
entirely of used materials. I used their
old sheets, clothing, Grandma and Grandma’s old clothing and even old t-shirts
and p.j.s. After I made the quilt I
wrote a story about the materials in the quilt, where they came from and their
special meaning. I made two other quilts
using a lot of clothing I had gathered at my parent’s house after they passed
away. My mom was a material hoarder too.
One of these quilts was made of mostly my father’s
shirts. I think he was a shirt hoarder
as he had a whole closet full of button down shirts. I don’t think they every threw or gave
clothing away. (Oh, and I saved all the buttons.)
And just so you know, these quilts are not works of
art. I just piece materials
together. I’d really like to make a real
quilt like a log cabin or an applique quilt but I don’t think I have the
patience to do such. I’m just quilting
because I have the material and I do love to sew.
I had so much fun with this last quilt that I may try to
make another one. You cut the blue jean
material into rounds and put a pretty fabric square in the middle and sew the
outside round edges onto the square. I
think it is called a peek-a-boo quilt.
When it is washed the round edges fray and it is quite pretty.
However, I must let my fingers recover before I start
again. Sewing double thicknesses of
denim really take its toll on your fingers.
And I have broken all my fingernails pulling the needle through.
And, no, I still haven't figure out this new computer and my photos or the smart phone either. I snarfed the photo from the internet. But that is what my new quilt looks like. Isn't it pretty?
Peace be with you.
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