DARLENE

Diem, Denver
Hi Darlene,
I just LOVE your enthusiasm and your spirit! Since you are an expert seamstress, what advice can you give for a beginner's quilt? I have many of my two-year-old daughter's dresses that I'd love to make a small patchwork quilt out of, but I have no clue as where or how to start.

Thank you so much and good luck to you!

Hi Diem, Thank you for your kind words of encouragement. I'm so glad you asked about a quilt using your daughter's dresses because I'm making one now using my son's outgrown t-shirts from throughout his childhood. Clothing quilts are a priceless gift giving back years of family memories.

There are a few simple ways you can do this. If the thought of cutting those precious dresses breaks your heart, you may want to appliqué them to the top of a quilt. For this technique:

1. Press and measure all the dresses for length and width. Add 1 1/2" to the largest number and cut squares (9 - 12 - 15) in multiples depending on the size you would like your quilt. Consider using a solid quilting cotton. This will allow the dresses to be the 'star' and not compete with busy fabric underneath. 2. Iron a fusible interfacing onto the wrong side of each square. This will give the quilting cotton more stability when you appliqué the dress onto the front. 3. Center a dress on each square front and pin in place. You may want to add a little polyester fiberfill under each dress before pinning to add dimension, puffiness and interest to the surface of your quilt. 4. Use a satin stitch (very close together zig-zag of 3-am wide) and sew around the outside edges of dress. Repeat for remaining dresses. 5. Now you can sew the squares together as they are or use a contrasting color or small print fabric cut in 2 1/2 -3" strips to join the squares. 6. Press seams and lay quilt face down on large surface. Get your kneepads out! Cover entire piece with a single layer of quilt bedding. 7. Cover the quilt bedding with an entire piece of cotton. Muslin comes in wider widths. Using safety pins or a quilt gun, connect all three layers. 8. Sew through all layers on outside in seam lines around squares. 9. Trim outside edge. 10. Sandwich outside edge with pre-folded satin blanket edging ribbon and pin in place. Topstitch with a multi-stitch zig-zag or your favorite decorative pattern. 11. Congratulations-- you've just completed a sewing legacy! Don't be surprised if this piece of artwork ends up on a wall.

Happy sewing,
Darlene