Roots

As a gal who can't resist a bargain, I picked up some beautiful fabrics-in the form of pants and tops-at a thrift store sale. After cutting the clothes into 6" squares, I assembled them into lap sized quilts.

I love making quilts out of old clothes. Finding a good mix of colors is a challenge. And recycling is always good!

This is the only way my great grandmother and grandmother knew how to make quilts-out of old clothes.




How to:

• Wash first.
  


• Cut as many 6" squares as possible, piece a few 6" squares together with the scraps.


• Use 7+ different fabrics; Try to find a stripe, a plaid, a dot, and a floral.
  


• Randomly sew together pairs, then build 4 square blocks. Sew the 4 square blocks into rows.
  


• To make a cozy lap sized quilt, use four 4 square blocks by six 4 square blocks.
  


• Use an old flannel sheet for the batting.

Summer Sewing Club

This summer we invited friends over for a sewing club. Five girls arrived with baskets of fabric, ranging from woodsy cabins to sophisticated pink and blacks.

We started with 'old school' methods: tracing a simple 4" square onto cardboard-cereal boxes-to make a template. Next they traced the square onto their fabric, and cut it out, using scissors, adding a rough 1/4" seam allowance. I helped them thread needles, and learn to sew with a running stitch. My goal was to give them skills to sew anywhere, anytime.

Surprisingly, these 10 year olds didn't get to iron at home. The girls were very pleased to learn how to iron. (And, as one of these overprotective parents myself, I wonder what else I am keeping my children from experiencing.)

As the weeks went on, the girls graduated to the sewing machine. They loved the speed!

How to: Once a week, one hour of sewing, one hour of playing. One person at the sewing machine at a time. No rotary cutters in sight. Ten years is a very good age to start sewing. Learning from someone who is not your mom makes it easier.

A Bonus: I got to pass on one of my favorite things!

Has anyone else tried this? Send me your thoughts by Sept.15, and I will draw one name to receive some charm squares!