Depending on the UFO quilt blocks that you are going to use- your fabric book cover can be ‘themed’ like kids, holiday…whatever.  It might be a fun place to add some embroidery quilt blocks that you have hanging around.  They would love to be front and center of the whole book.

To give you an idea of size- with the tutorial I used, she started with a 12″ X 29 1/2″ pieced piece.  The sides will fold in around 6 1/2″ or so.

For the most part you will be putting together an outer fabric with your quilt blocks {shown below in the photo}  See all the little patchwork blocks?  This is a great example of how you can stick your random UFO Quilt Blocks into the outside of the fabric book cover.   I would suggest auditioning the fabric if you have specific blocks that you want in the front, or back or along the spine.  This might come in handy especially if you are useing an embroidered block.  I had to move a few things so they landed in the right place….. I don’t have a pic of the inside panels- there was a nine patch in there and some more of the little squares.  The quilt block I ended up using had the embroidery and reverse applique blocks already together- and it measured 12″ the perfect size. Lucky, I know!

If you’d like to add a few different things to your book cover- like a ruffle, some applique, button closure, chevron pattern with your fabric scraps –there are a few more tutorials rounded up just for you.  {The tutorial that I used for the book cover was from #4- Totally excellent instructions too}

1) Craft Passion 2) 4r3kids 3) Em’s Scrap Bag 4) Stitched in Color 5) Smashed Peas and Carrots

This is part of the 52 UFO Quilt Block Pick Up series……need more ideas on what to do with your UFO Quilt Blocks? previous weeks and UFO Quilt Block ideas

If you are sewing along with us and making up something with your UFO Quilt Blocks {even if you find your own way of sewing them together} we would all love a little peeksee!

Post them in the UFO Quilt Block Photo Gallery.  

If you’d like a little reminder in your email for the UFO Ideas and posts-  Sign up for my weekly updates {includes a couple of free patterns right off the bat + anything new that I add.  Lucky you!}   Remind me of the 52 UFO Quilt Block Pick Up and other Sew Alongs!

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They were there accompanied by other wonderful handmade projects by others and were happy to be surrounded by talented company.  I was a lucky gal to play along with Thesaurus printed by Andover Fabrics.  Let me just tell you that the colors on this were wonderful! The prints were totally fun and very geometric.  Loved the combination of the geometric shapes and the sweet flowers.

These two – the Robot Plushie and Gnome Doll were perfect to showcase the fabric line. 

This next little beauty is a sewing kit– a travel one to be more specific, with 2 wonderful pockets that have the measuring tape snap closure.  The inside also has additional pockets.   I don’t have the pattern out —-yet….because it will be showing up during the Summer Travel Sew Along.  There are a few bits inside the pockets to give you a hint as to what kind of things we will be sewing! eep.

Last week there was an extra little post over on Kids Activities Blog with Holly where I shared the tutorial on making a custom play mat.  She has a great series going on right now all about Lego’s if you are a lover of them as much as we are, you will love it!

The last few days I have been sewing up some quilt blocks using striped fabric {tutorial coming next week!}.  Usually this pattern gives me a headache when I try to come up with something to sew with it.  It’s hard to fit into the background- those darn stripes change direction on me all the time!  I think I have figured out that making a block all by themselves is a good way to get them to play nice.

and- this is what happens when you ignore the back half acre and it is over taken by beautiful yellow flowers.  Wait- those are weeds.

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Here are some quick hints to help you out when sewing t-shirts and clothes in your quilts:

• Interface everything that is not made with cotton.  Everything has a stretch to it and the interfacing keeps it all in check.  Keeping your blocks to the right size is important if you want to end up with a non-wavy quilt in the end.
• Cut the clothes apart before applying the interfacing.  Open the clothes at the seams – you will get better yardage and use from the fabric this way.
• Check your seams after you have sewn the block.  Make sure you are sewing through all the layers and not just the interfacing.  Skipped stitches also might sneak in there.  Do a quick once over and run another stitch over the seam if needed.  Better now than later!
• When choosing a quilt block to sew, keep it simple.  The less seams and especially points the better.  The easier quilt blocks I have found were the larger in size ones.  Log cabin, a simple star.  You can try co-ordinating the blocks but an over all scrappy look is the easiest when sewing with clothes.  You might find yourself short on one color at the very end {that is so frustrating, trust me!}

Hints and Tips for Quilting your t-shirt quilt or clothes quilt

• Use a larger needle when quilting.  I quilted the quilts using a 100/16 needle size.  There is a lot of fabric and interfacing going on in that clothes quilt, and that needle needs to make it through all of those thick layers.
• Avoid seams and points at all costs!  This is a big spot for massive problems.  A ton of fabric is joining up along those seams and at the points.  They are definitly the spots you need to avoid when quilting.  Running over those points are the worst and your machine will be very angry if you hit them wrong.
• Quilt with a simple and easy design.  I recommend using an all over pattern so you can control where you quilt- missing those trouble spots for sure.

These two quilts are around 45″ square – baby sized.  They are for some little kiddos that will be arriving in the future and will know their grandma by the quilts made from her clothes.  These were sewn using the leftover bits from these other t-shirt quilts and sewn by Janna {my favorite aunt of course}.

Have you sewn quilts using t-shirt, clothes and leftover bits?  Have any other tips and hints when using them in quilts?  Leave a comment below-

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There are 16 in this list– I am sure I will be adding to it as I find more tutorials out there that will work for boys and dad quilts.  Keep in mind that the colors in the quilts are really interchangeable.  Go for more colors that are traditional, dark, dirty, or boyish.  When in doubt, ask the boys around you.

The patterns I found are kept to simple and great for beginners who are looking at making one of their first quilts for husbands or for dads.  Some of the patterns are great for layer cakes, jelly rolls or really whatever scrap you have on hand!  Don’t restrict yourself with the size of the quilt tutorials- you can always make more blocks to enlarge the quilt, for a more usable lap size quilt.

Part of the joy of quilting is sewing something with someone in mind– go with their favorite color, sport, interest or whatever.   This will personalize the quilt for father’s day even more.   I have even seen initials cut out and sewn to the top in the corner, or in a special block.  They can then never share it claiming their name is on it.

1)  On the Go   2) Bold and Fun   3) Bowties for Boys    4) Monkey Boy

5) Lego Quilt   6)  Ragged Squares  7)  Zig Zag  8)  Beach Bum

9)  Hugs & Kisses  10) Wheelies Quilt   11) Simple Blocks   12) Plus Quilt

13) Full Swing  14) Ladder Quilt  15)  Munkie Block   16)  Scrappy Triangles

Father’s Day is a great reason to sew up a new quilt and share a little bit of your talent with someone you love.

Have you given a quilt to your Dad?  What pattern did you use?

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The blocks you will use will just need to match up with the sizes mentioned in the tutorials.  You can add a few sashing pieces, or cut your block down if needed.  Just have some fun with this one- knowing that it will probably be drug on the ground, thrown across the creek and slammed in the car door a few times.

The beauty about useing a water bottle holder is – the water bottle can be changed!  When it runs out, gets all ucky inside or whatever, just switch them out.

Click on the photos below to be taken to their tutorials.

Creative Kismet

Pink Chalk Studio

Pretty Shabby UK

Curiositys

Betweeen the Lines 

This is part of the 52 UFO Quilt Block Pick Up series……need more ideas on what to do with your UFO Quilt Blocks? previous weeks and UFO Quilt Block ideas

If you are sewing along with us and making up something with your UFO Quilt Blocks {even if you find your own way of sewing them together} we would all love a little peeksee!

Post them in the UFO Quilt Block Photo Gallery.  

If you’d like a little reminder in your email for the UFO Ideas and posts-  Sign up for updates {includes a couple of free patterns right off the bat + anything new that I add.  Lucky you!}   Remind me of the 52 UFO Quilt Block Pick Up and other Sew Alongs!

The post Make a Water Bottle Holder {52 UFO Quilt Block Pick UP} appeared first on %%http://patchworkposse.com%%.