Textile Art
Quilts
Cami's Quilt
Cami's Quilt (completed 2017)
88" x 79"
88" x 79"
One of my very first commissions, Cami's Quilt was also the largest and by far the most complex.
When Cami inquired about commissioning a t-shirt quilt, I had never made one before. I agreed to try it, but only if we could do something a little different. Cami came back to me with a picture from Modern Handcraft.
“Do you think you could do something like this, or is that crazy?”
“Yes, and yes.”
“Do you think you could do something like this, or is that crazy?”
“Yes, and yes.”
I studied the Modern Handcraft method and made some fundamental adjustments to adapt the concept to t-shirt jersey, as knits do not behave the same way as woven quilting cottons. The inherent give and stretch of knit jersey could cause complications with keeping the design lined up properly.
To avoid stretching, I chose a heavier interlock knit and stabilized the yardage with a lightweight fusible woven interfacing. This resulted in a luxurious base with a nice drape, and no stiffness.
I used a fusible adhesive to to keep the hexagons in place and perfectly spaced while handling and quilting.
Once the hexagons were secured in place, I quilted the layers together entirely on my domestic machine.
The result is a soft and heavy, super warm quilt packed with love and memories.
To avoid stretching, I chose a heavier interlock knit and stabilized the yardage with a lightweight fusible woven interfacing. This resulted in a luxurious base with a nice drape, and no stiffness.
I used a fusible adhesive to to keep the hexagons in place and perfectly spaced while handling and quilting.
Once the hexagons were secured in place, I quilted the layers together entirely on my domestic machine.
The result is a soft and heavy, super warm quilt packed with love and memories.
(above)
There is a lot of trust involved in having someone’s memories placed under your care. I saw Cami’s life in t-shirts: school sports, summer camp, college activities, concerts, and even shirts she herself had designed and screen printed. It was very difficult to cut into these treasures. But I knew they were to become something more than an old shirt in a drawer. I would honor them with a new life. In some cases I cut the hexagons in such a way as to preserve the key motif, and sometimes I intentionally cropped the image into abstract shapes.
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(bottom)
This is the "Family Corner." I grouped some hexagons that held the initials of Cami and her immediate family. |
I love creative commissions! Contact me about creating an original heirloom piece for someone you love.
All of my quilts are cotton, machine pieced, and machine quilted by me.
All of my quilts are cotton, machine pieced, and machine quilted by me.