Small Makes to Recharge

Last week, after finishing up the wedding quilt for Jen and Sue, I got started on three memory quilts. You see, my dear father-in-law passed away in May. He was admitted to the hospital for a fall on his bathroom floor and just when we thought we could take him home, his heart just stopped...

He was so close to his children, and they were all so very sad, I knew I had to make quilts with his clothes. So I collected all of his flannel shirts - the ones he wore all the time - and made a plan.

After cutting up all the shirts, I needed a break.  The whole process was extremely emotional for me and I felt drained.  But I felt like I needed to sew - this hobby recharges me, relaxes me and makes me feel productive and useful.

So I made a couple of small things...

First up, I made a Two in One Pouch by Sotak Patterns.  I wanted one that matches the Gathered Clutch I made for myself a little while ago so I grabbed some black and some yellow fat quarters for this project and got to work.



Pretty good match don't you think?


Next up, I decided to make a scrappy 1-Hour Basket for my sewing room.  Purple is my favourite colour and I have lots of purple scraps so went with that...



I made the two panels using a quilt-as-you-go method and I thought the batting would make the panels sturdy enough that I wouldn't need fusible fleece or interfacing, but it's a little more floppy than I'd like.  Oh well... live and learn!

I'll be linking up these small finishes at Crazy Mom Quilts for Finish It Up Friday and at The Carpenter's Daughter Who Quilts for TGIFF.

And with that, I felt a lot better and knew I'd be ok continuing with the memory quilts.  So I spent some time sewing up a quilt top with my dear father-in-law's shirts...



Comments

  1. Great little projects! What a great layout for the memory quilt using the plaid flannels! I know the family will cherish them.

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  2. I love your little double zippered pockets. They look so crisp and neat.

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  3. Good luck with your memory quilts. I have made three- one for a friend who's husband passed away, plus 2 for another very sad occasion. My grand-daughter's boyfriend drowned and I made a quilt for her and her boyfriend's Mum out of his clothing. Sad to make but I believe that these sort of memory quilts bring a lot of comfort to the people left behind.

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  4. Great little pouches and they look perfect together!
    So sorry for your loss!! I hope sewing the quilts brings you some comfort too...

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  5. So sorry for your loss. The memory quilt looks beautiful. Your little makes are fabulous too! Hugs xxx

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  6. I am so sorry for your loss, the memory quilt is very beautiful.

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  7. Ahh those flannel shirts definitely look happy in a quilt! :) It's a tough process, but it's good you can take a break when you need to.

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  8. I am so sorry for your loss. Hugs to you, Izzy. I lost my FIL in March. I love the flannel quilt. Dad wore lots of plaid shirts in cottons and plaids. MIL sent home a bag full of new shirts of his Dad's for my hubby to wear. It was so hard not to want to cut into them. My Mom embroidered on almost every shirt she owned and I have many to come up with use in a memory quilt. She passed 3 years ago. I love all of Sotak's patterns. They make great gifts. Small projects are a great way to recharge. Thanks for sharing and linking up with last week's TGIFF.

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  9. I really loved the quilt you made with Buster's shirt. It hopefully will get passed through the boys and a memory that will be shared and passed on and used for many years to come.

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  10. Your pouches and 1 hour basket are very nice. Also, very thoughtful of you to sew a memory quilt from your father-in-law's shirts.

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