Warm Memories

Now that my mystery project has been received by the recipient, my grandma, I can share it's story!
When my Gpa died several years ago, I asked my grandma to give me some of his shirts so that I could make a quilt for her.  She sent me some of Gpa's (her second husband) shirts and a couple of shirts from Grandpa Horton (her first husband).  I cut the shirts up and made up a plan/design for the quilt, then I got pregnant.  Time past and I didn't get back to it until this fall. 
I really worked hard on the quilt as I wanted to get it to my grandma so she would get the chance to use it!  The plan changed several times.  A couple of times just for the sake of time and a couple times because the quilt didn't like what I had planned for it!

Here is the quilt top and back folded up together.

The back laid out on the floor.  The gold fabric is from a sheet, and had a beautiful drape and felt like satin.  It was beautiful to work with!

The basted quilt!

All finished with a label!  I had originally intended to sew a lot of pockets from the shirts all over the back of the quilt and to name the quilt pocket full of memories.  But as I laid the pockets out on the back, it just looked awful!  I asked Adrian's his opinion.  He usually just goes with whatever I say, but he agreed that the pockets all over didn't work.  I chose one pocket that was light in color and matched the back and used just the one pocket for my quilt label.  I sewed it on so that it can still be used as a pocket!

Folded haphazardly, showing the blue binding.   The blue was used for a second border on the back of the quilt.

The quilt top!  I used a large fence rail pattern.  I had never worked with clothing like this, and I learned a lot of what not to do.  I still think this quilt turned out lovely.
I had originally planned to make this a lap quilt.  When all the blocks were finished and I was laying it out, I realized that I just needed two (I think) extra blocks to make a twin, so I scrounged together two more and went with a twin size.  I usually like to make oversized twins, but I didn't have enough for that.  I was happy to get a standard twin so that my grandma can use it on her bed or the bed in the spare room.

As is fairly common, I really LOVE the back of this quilt!  (I almost always like the back as much, if not more than the front of my quilts.  You think I would learn to make the backs first!)  Thought you can't see it in this picture, there is a small inner border of green, between the shirts and the blue border. 

I packaged the quilt in the only box that I could find that was big enough, a diaper box.  When my grandma opened the package, she got a good laugh thinking that I had sent her diapers!  Then she immediately started crying when she saw the quilt!
I really enjoyed working on this quilt.  I thought about the people who wore the clothes, I thanked God for them in my life and in the life of my grandma.  I prayed for my grandma.  I prayed that this quilt would bring her good memories and that it would keep her warm and happy!

I am linking up to Crazy Mom Quilts Finish It Up Friday post on Monday Dec 28.