Baby Clothes Quilt Progress

[Luckylove]

I wanted to update you guys on my quilt progress. I'm so excited on how it's turning out. It's only my 2nd quilt ever and I really did a poor job on the first. Here is the progress so far!

About half of the clothes I kept since she was a baby. I used newborn to 2T's.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kirchens/4377592353/" title="Ava Quilt 1.jpg by Luckylove29, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4056/4377592353_3ba4bc0da1.jpg" width="500" height="357" alt="Ava Quilt 1.jpg" /></a>

Man, it was REALLY hard to cut up those cute little clothes. Especially the Gymboree ones! I couldn't bear to cut some of them up so I kept them.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kirchens/4377591955/" title="Ava Quilt 2.jpg by Luckylove29, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4016/4377591955_65b29f1052.jpg" width="357" height="500" alt="Ava Quilt 2.jpg" /></a>

Squares are all cut up and ready to go. It took me 3 hours to sort them the way I wanted them!

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kirchens/4377592027/" title="Ava Quilt 3.jpg by Luckylove29, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4045/4377592027_7aba304db3.jpg" width="357" height="500" alt="Ava Quilt 3.jpg" /></a>

I tried to use as many pockets, buttons, embellishments that I could

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kirchens/4377592261/" title="Ava Quilt 4.jpg by Luckylove29, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4048/4377592261_645e9ac271.jpg" width="332" height="500" alt="Ava Quilt 4.jpg" /></a>

Square rows are sewn

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kirchens/4377591777/" title="Ava Quilt 5.jpg by Luckylove29, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4041/4377591777_5dd512da72.jpg" width="500" height="357" alt="Ava Quilt 5.jpg" /></a>

And labeled. I lined most of them with a white fleece (thank god for spray glue!) since they were either thin or stretchy. I didn't do the fleece pj's but I wish I had.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kirchens/4377591679/" title="Ava Quilt 6.jpg by Luckylove29, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4029/4377591679_b19951100b.jpg" width="332" height="500" alt="Ava Quilt 6.jpg" /></a>

Now on to the connector rows! All the colored squares and white rectangles are cut. Wish me luck in lining them up!

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kirchens/4378342098/" title="Ava Quilt 7.jpg by Luckylove29, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4067/4378342098_9e056d4ca9.jpg" width="500" height="357" alt="Ava Quilt 7.jpg" /></a>

Stay tuned...

[Brookepanda]

super COOL!!!!!
My Dad had pillows made for him and his two sisters of some of my Grandmas favorite clothing items after she passed away...
I never thought to do what you're doing Kathleen....

you crafty lady you!!!

[becky]

that is so neat. I can't wait to see the finished project!

[stephaniemsw]

LOVE it! i am so jealous of you creative types! I"m sure that will be a treasured keepsake. Did I mention that I LOVE it?

[Luckylove]

Thanks! I am super excited and so is Ava. I told her what I was doing when I started and she replied "So when I am sleeping in the blanket it will be like I'm wearing my baby clothes again!"

Brooke: I was thinking of getting a white or pink solid sheet set and adding some ribbon on the top of the top sheet to match and centering 6 or 8 of the leftover squares on the pillowcase and trimming it up with the same ribbon I used on the top sheet. :)

I can't take all the credit, I got the quilt idea when I was pregnant looking around online. I knew what I was going to do so I saved clothes that meant a lot and worked well with what I was going to do.

Thanks again ladies! I hope I inspire someone else!

[KaisaG]

I've totally heard of this, but never seen one in the flesh. It's adorable!! Runners also do this with their collection of t-shirts (which I am totally thinking of doing because they pile up fast!) I'd love to do this after I know that I am done with baby clothes -- so CUTE!

[Stacey]

That is adorable!!!!! Hmm..... I wonder if I have it in me to do that with Inara's clothes? Jackson's baby stuff is long gone except for 2 or 3 favorite items that I put in his baby box.

[Michelle28]

That is really cute!! What a great idea!!! I think you have inspired me...I've been keeping clothes, but not sure what to do with them. I've made t-shirt quilts - one from SRHS and the other from SRJC which were really fun, but yours looks much more sophisticated than mine have ever been. Can't wait to see the finished project!!! How many squares did you use for the quilt?

[momtoM&D]

Sooo cute, what a keepsake! Tim had about 8 billion college marching band T-shirts and his mom made them into a quilt for him, it's really cool. :)

[Brookepanda]

did you cut up the outfit she wore home from the hospital?
I'm really bummed I didn't think of something so neat-o and now have all but 2 or 3 outfits of the girls from when she was a teeny little baby.

[ladybish]

can you explain how you attached the fleece liner on? did you cut it in little tiny squares, too? how big are your squares?

totally cool!!!

[Maritza]

That is just beautiful! Great job Kathleen! I love it!

[TaivensMama]

cute :) i will be staying tuned...cant wait to see the final product

[khanson]

That is going to look so awesome! I'd have a hard time cutting them also, but it will really be worth it!

[Theresa]

OMG! That is amazing!

[Luckylove]

I used a quilting square and a rotary cutter. The quilting square is 4.5" and you can get most any size at a fabric store. I cut the clothing squares first and then used a spray adhesive ($15 a can and also at fabric store in quilting section) to attach the flannel. The spray adhesive washes out when you wash the quilt at the end. Then I put the quilting square over the glued together pieces and cut the flannel to fit. That's just the way I did it, there is probably an easier way. You can also skip the spray adhesive and just pin/tack them on but it would be more work.

Brooke: Who says it has to be baby clothes? Start saving clothes now to do it later. They will be just as special and she might actually remember some of the outfits when she is older! :) Oh and I didn't cut up the outfit she wore home from the hospital. I also kept other favorites like the first Christmas dress, my favorite footed sleeper, etc. I still have a small bag of stuff :D

[Luckylove]

Thanks ladies! You really are making me feel good with all of your comments :)

[Brookepanda]

one more question Kathleen...did you use all stretchy cotton fabric? Or are some of the squares just cotton....but not the stretchy tshirt kind.....sorry I don't know the term :bag

[Luckylove]

one more question Kathleen...did you use all stretchy cotton fabric? Or are some of the squares just cotton....but not the stretchy tshirt kind.....sorry I don't know the term :bag

I used all kinds of fabric. There is fleece, linen, t-shirt cotton and regular cotton. It really helped to line them all with the flannel. The flannel doesn't stretch like the cotton t-shirt ones do so it keeps them the size they are supposed to be when you sew them. I also had some white linen shirts that were pretty thin, the flannel helped prevent those from being see through. I didn't line the fleece PJ's but I wish I would have. They stretched when I was sewing them and now I am having problems lining things up. If you look in the picture above where I have two rows laying on the sewing machine you will see a blue fleece square that is clearly stretching from the weight of the row hanging.

Feel free to ask anything else! I'm learning by trial and error so any tricks I have learned I would be happy to share!

[brookiesmom]

Wow that is an amazing idea. Wish I was creative and talented like you. Cant wait to see the finished product.

[jellybeanmichelle]

Awesome! You sure got me inspired to do this when we are done.

[TaivensMama]

yah that was a great idea to add the flannel to the back for those pesky stretchy fabrics!

[howardvm]

What a great idea! I cannot wait to see the finished product! I have abosolutely no, zero, nil, talent in that arena!

[Sara]

Aww, that is adorable! I too am sad I didn't save my kids clothes for a project like this :(

[hlebakos]

That looks soooooo amazing!!!!!!!!!

[lovesthebaby]

That's beautiful Kathleen! I'm going to try and make one with the boys' clothes once Joshy is done with them.

[erin anne]

Freaking so adorable and so special! awesome work. I bet you cringed cutting up some of those clothes. I think it's great that you are making it for Ava at a time she understands what is is, KWIM?

[stephscrazy05]

I cant wait to see the finished product! looks so cute... wish i was crafty :)

[Brookepanda]

i'm dying to see more :D
have you worked on it anymore Kathleen?

[ktjo17]

That is such a cool idea! I can't wait to see how it turns out.

[Marni183]

That is AWESOME! I have hopes to do one one day! But I still haven't even begun to take a class!

[Luckylove]

Thanks again everyone! I have made a little progress and will update with pictures tonight :)

Oh and I missed your question Michelle, there are 14 rows of 10 squares so 140 squares.

[ladybish]

what is your seam allowance?

[Luckylove]

Here's where I am so far. I have five more rows to go and then on to the trim and quilting. I have to work on Thursday and Friday and have a shoot Saturday so I don't know when I will be able to work on it again after tomorrow.

The pink and orange fabric on the right side will be the trim and backing. I was trying to avoid baby colors so Ava will want to use it as a preteen/teen :fingerscrossed Is it too bright? The orange will just be a 1-2 inch strip with the pink being the primary color. I based the colors off of one of the polka dot patterns in the quilt.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kirchens/4383520187/" title="Ava Quilt 1.jpg by Luckylove29, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4022/4383520187_b162a911dd.jpg" width="500" height="357" alt="Ava Quilt 1.jpg" /></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kirchens/4383520271/" title="Ava Quilt 2.jpg by Luckylove29, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2715/4383520271_f38e6b2333.jpg" width="500" height="357" alt="Ava Quilt 2.jpg" /></a>

[Luckylove]

what is your seam allowance?

I used a 4 1/2 inch quilting square. When you use the squares they account for seams. So I have 4 inch squares with 1/4 in on each side for my seam allowance.

[Brookepanda]

i love it Kathleen!
Do you plan on doing the same for Ethan?

[becky]

wow that is so so awesome. I am really bummed now that I just gave away all Shelsea's baby clothes last week.

[Stacey]

That is beautiful!!!! You're totally inspiring me :)

[Michelle28]

Awesome!!! I love it!

[jellybeanmichelle]

Very pretty!

[erin anne]

I don't think it's too bright Kathleen, it's wonderful!

[Lorah]

WOW! AMAZING! THis is soooooo awesome!!!!
I wish I knew how to sew! I LOVE this idea!

[Hudsonsmom]

I have seen this idea in magazines and yours is the best one! It is GORGEOUS and so professional looking! What are the tiny colored squares???? Don't tell me that you cut those too???? This quilt is just too wonderful and I wish I had your patience for making a quilt. I sew clothes because they are much faster to do but dream of owning quilts that I've made.

If you haven't put the backing fabric on yet, then I have a suggestion for the piece that you wish you had put fleece on. You can still put the fleece on-just use the spray adhesive and then use tiny hand stitches and bury them.

I also love how you arranged the squares...you have a great eye. I can't wait to see the finished project!

[ladybish]

I have seen this idea in magazines and yours is the best one! It is GORGEOUS and so professional looking! What are the tiny colored squares???? Don't tell me that you cut those too???? This quilt is just too wonderful and I wish I had your patience for making a quilt. I sew clothes because they are much faster to do but dream of owning quilts that I've made.

If you haven't put the backing fabric on yet, then I have a suggestion for the piece that you wish you had put fleece on. You can still put the fleece on-just use the spray adhesive and then use tiny hand stitches and bury them.

I also love how you arranged the squares...you have a great eye. I can't wait to see the finished project!

:yeah

[Luckylove]

Thanks everyone! I really am proud of this quilt since my last one totally sucked. The little squares are tiny colored squares I cut out. I am basing the colors off of one of the polka dot squares. It has a light blue, dark pink, light pink and tangerine. I got the pattern from a blog tutorial (http://www.craftastical.com/2009/08/tutorial-baby-clothes-quilt-from-start.html) so I can't take much credit. I am changing some things to my liking.

Also, I had to add another row because when I measured it it wasn't long enough to be twin size with a border. So I have 150 squares (15 rows of 10). I am done with the squares and will be starting on the trim sometime this weekend. Also, from the blog tutorial I think I'm going to machine quilt in the ditch (around the squares) and not use a multi colored border.