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How to Make a Super-Simple Recycled Quilt
comments (38) October 4th, 2013
I love pretty vintage sheets, and this project is a great way to show them off. It's also a good, basic introduction to quilting - if you've never made a quilt before, I guarantee you can make this one.
What you'll need:
- Two sheets (see notes below)
- One blanket (see notes below)
- Scissors
- Large safety pins
- Sewing machine
- Coordinating thread
- Hand-sewing needle
- Tapestry needle with sharp point
- Thimble (optional)
- Sport- or worsted-weight yarn
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See more quilting projects: • An Out-of-the-Ordinary T-Shirt Quilt • Make an Eco-Friendly Quilted Tote Bag • How to Sew a Patchwork Cat Mat • Make a Patchwork Christmas Tree |
Let's talk materials: When you're at the thrift store looking for supplies for this project, keep a few things in mind. First, your two sheets and blanket should all be roughly the same size-I used two twin sheets and a twin blanket. And be sure to check over all three pieces carefully for stains and rips. The blanket will be completely hidden, so it can be a little beat up, but the sheets should be in good shape.
In addition, the blanket you select for this project should be fairly thin. A cotton or wool blanket would work best, but you can also work with a fleece blanket, as I have here. The blanket can have a print on it, since it will be hidden. Just check your sheets to make sure the blanket won't show through them.
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Lay the two sheets out, right sides together. |
To get started, wash all three pieces and press the sheets. Then, clear a large floor space and lay the sheets out flat, right sides together. Line them up along one edge-I usually use the bottom edge. (The other edges may or may not match-twin sheets come in a variety of sizes. But don't worry about this for now.)
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Lay the blanket on top of the stacked sheets. Line up the edge 2 inches from the edges of the sheets. |
Now, place the blanket on top of the sheets. Line up one edge of the blanket about 2 inches away from the lined-up edge of the sheets.
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Place safety pins all over the blanket, pinning all three layers together. |
This next step is the key to your success with this project: safety pins! One of the reasons a quilt project can seem challenging is its size-it's not easy wrangling all those large pieces of fabric. That's where safety pins come in-and lots of them.
Large safety pins are easiest to work with, but you can use smaller ones. Pin them through all three layers at roughly 3-inch intervals. Cover the entire surface of the blanket with safety pins, making sure that the blanket is lying flat as you pin.
Once the three layers are securely pinned together, you can move them around for cutting and sewing.
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Trim the sheets and blanket to the same size. |
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Comments (38)
Posted: 8:58 am on March 26th
Posted: 10:31 pm on November 3rd
Posted: 2:17 pm on October 31st
Choose a sew across or plain zigzag stitch. Set stitch length and width to near zero.
Lower the presser foot and do about 10 zigzags. It practically makes a knot.
Raise the presser foot without cutting the threads, move to the next tack spot, keeping connecting threads eased. Lower the foot and stitch the tack.
Repeat across a row. Now take the quilt out and cut the threads close to each knot.
Posted: 7:19 pm on October 6th
Posted: 4:15 am on October 5th
Thanks for the idea for the quilt, Diane.
Posted: 5:51 pm on October 4th
Sorry to be pedantic but I come from a country that has Autumn, where only the leaves "fall" from the trees, the country does not "fall">
Posted: 12:05 pm on October 4th
Posted: 11:37 am on May 30th
Posted: 2:50 pm on August 9th
@kelegirl6 @sammiesgizmos
http://sammiesgizmos.etsy.com/
Posted: 1:29 am on July 31st
I have a blanket to try this out with, now I just need to get some old sheets
Posted: 4:39 am on July 30th
The pictures show the safety pin heads, I guess you could call it, resting on the fleece, but when you turn it inside out how do you take out all those bobby pins??
I apologize in advance if this question doesn't make any sense. I'm a newbie sewer and am attempting a tshirt quilt as my first sewing project!!!
Posted: 4:10 am on July 30th
Posted: 2:59 pm on July 29th
just 2 hours of work and a supply of butons later...
it worked out perfect
thank you for the inspiration!
Posted: 6:22 pm on March 14th
Posted: 12:24 pm on January 17th
Posted: 9:05 pm on December 8th
Posted: 9:09 am on June 4th
Posted: 9:17 pm on May 21st
Posted: 7:12 pm on May 16th
Fantastic idea!!....
Hopefuly I will be able to use all of the
wool blankets my dd insists on buying
for me but I'm unable to use due to
alergy to wool.
Posted: 8:44 pm on May 15th
Posted: 1:35 am on April 1st
Posted: 9:37 pm on March 14th
Posted: 10:00 am on March 2nd
Posted: 10:25 pm on February 1st
Posted: 7:56 pm on January 29th
Posted: 10:47 am on January 29th
I can't wait to get started!
Thanks Again
Amy
http://vintagechicken.blogspot.com/
Posted: 1:38 pm on January 26th
Posted: 3:25 pm on January 25th
Posted: 9:46 am on January 24th
This is a very versatile quilt and you can vary the look depending on what you tie with and the fabric you choose
Posted: 4:32 am on January 24th
Posted: 8:18 pm on January 23rd
Posted: 7:59 pm on January 23rd
Last night,while beginning my first "practice" quilt, I wondered to myself if I could replace batting with a perfectly good fleece quilt that I have (one that is also perfectly UGLY). Now I know it's worth trying. Thanks much for the inspiration!
Posted: 5:53 pm on January 23rd
Posted: 5:00 pm on January 23rd
Posted: 4:56 pm on January 23rd
Posted: 4:20 pm on January 23rd
Posted: 2:45 pm on January 23rd
One tip for next time you tie a quilt-- you can also thread the yarn through the entire width of the quilt (like a big, spaced out running stitch, inserting your needle wherever you want a tied place to be) and then cut the yarn halfway between each needle insertion and do the tying all at once. That will make it a little easier to see the "grid" while you are making your running stitch, and there will be less stopping, starting, wondering where the scissors went, etc.
Posted: 12:25 pm on January 23rd