So how many shirts can you get from a sheet? Surprisingly only two!
This is my old favourite pattern, KwikSew 3422, made from a new flannelette sheet that was surplus to requirements. I must say that I chose the sheet colour knowing that I was going to turn the top sheet into shirts, but I had planned to dye them. Mark liked the rather bland colour, so I added some red flannelette to this one to give it a smidge more interest.
I made these shirts for Mark to wear gardening or just cruising round the shops, so imagine my surprise when he put it on and headed off for work. Luckily it was a non-meeting day!
Having made the one with the red trim, I had a dig in my flannel scraps stash and decided that I liked the tartan contrast with brown buttons and brownish top stitching. I think I prefer this one.
When I was fossicking through the flannel scraps I decided that I had enough to make Tom and Bridgette a flannel scrap quilt. This was my very first attempt at a quilt!
I loaded a massive box of scraps into the car and took them camping for the weekend. Tom and Bridgette came too and Bridgette helped me go through all the scraps and we cut a large number of 15cm squares for the rug. Scraps from the sheet were also incorporated, as well as some new flannelette material that Bridgette and I found in the Nannup op-shop. Here I am sewing up the squares on a very chilly morning!
In spite of my careful calculations, I think the quilt is a little small, so I’m going to make a few more rows and add them on.
In case you’ve never seen one of these quilts, they are easy, they have no batting, and the raw edges get snipped with scissors. There is a nice tutorial on Sew So Easy. I looked everywhere for the ragging shears needed for the edges. None in the local shops, I deemed the online ones too expensive, and then I found a pair in a quilting shop in Bridgetown, which is a lovely town about 270kms from Perth. They were $13, which was a bargain. I am constantly astonished at the things I find in country towns that I can’t find in the city.
I decided that I didn’t have enough squares the same to create a pattern, so took the random approach. This worked out ok mostly, but I do have a few identical squares next to each other. Not that Tom notices! He and Heidi clearly enjoy it!
So, my one queen size top sheet made two shirts and a bunch of squares for the quilt. I think I might even have a few more scraps left…
Some of these photographs might arguably be the subject of a Frederick McCubbin painting had he lived in Western Australia circa 2015. I am particularly fond of the “Outdoor Seamstress”. Great work!!!
Haha. You are right!
Intrepid camper! I’m impressed that you did it outdoors, no sweeping up required. Lovely snugly quilt, it’s a great technique.
Your shirts for the boys are always amazing – pity Mark didn’t role up his sleeves so we could see the trim. By the way I love the picture of you in the bush sewing – you hill billy you! Have to say your sewing space is so neat!
I love the photo of you sewing outdoors! Camping looks appealing to me for the first time!!
Camping is fabulous and even better with a sewing machine 😃
I’ve heard of people travelling and camping with sewing machines and wondered how… now I know! Great idea 🙂
It is mandatory for me!
I love the shirt with the contrasting buttons. The quilt looks amazing! That really sounds like my kind of camping trip – with the sewing machine 🙂
Great work, Sue, as always! The colour details on these shirts make all the difference. Got to steal the idea. And I must confess: I’m in love with Heidi. While I love our old cocker, our next dog will be a German shepherd for sure.
Haha. Yes Heidi is special. Thanks Helene (sorry can’t accent your name on my phone – I’m camping 😀)
I only discovered your website in the last month, but I already love it. I am trying to go back and read all of your blogs.
I sewed all of my clothes when I was in my early twenties, but had to stop when I started working full time and had my twin girls. Thanks for sharing your sewing experiences. You have inspired me to start sewing again.
What a lovely comment, thank you Kathy. May your sewing bring you as much joy as mine does me.
What a great picture of you sewing! Looks like such a happy place and I bet the flannel has come in handy this week.
Sooo handy! It’s freezing.
Aww. You are using a nice little Elna lotus. I’ve got one of those stuffed in a cupboard in the hope that one day I’ll have a holiday where I can take it away and use it. It used to be my only machine, and I loved it to bits. Great quilt, I might have to steal that idea 😀.
Fabulous shirts as always and your flannel quilt is gorgeous and looks like it was a fun project.
Love your outdoor sewing setup! Wish I could do that here. Sadly, it’s too rainy…
Love the shirts and good job on your first quilt! Can’t figure out how you can sew while camping though. How you you keep the dirt off your machine and fabric? Where we camp, there is no electricity and so much dirt and dust that I dare take only crochet projects.
We have a generator for when we are travelling, but we own 13 acres of native bush which has power. I put a mat under my feet and stay out of the wind. I do have a sewing tent (!) but prefer to be outside if I can.
Nice touch of the red and tartan on the sheet-shirts, really glammed the shirts up!
Thanks Roma!
You can’t stop a man from wearing what he likes! Great idea to use the flannel and I really like the tartan.
On our sewing weekend last month, one of the ladies had a cutter that cut the squares to size and then she used another die to fringe all the edges. It was amazing to watch.
Ooh, if I make more then I might have to investigate this. As though I don’t have enough gadgets!