Last Quilt of 2011

I love to sew, and with quilting I only began that about  2-2 1/2 years ago. There is always a reason as to why I make things, whether it is a gift, or a special outfit for the kids. But every now and then, there is a special reason to make something, and this was what the last quilt of 2011 was for me.

Just over 2 years ago, my father-in-law passed away after a long battle with cancer. My brother in law, brought over some of my father in laws shirts to make a quilt (we both ended up having the same idea without talking to one another) I had these shirts for over a year. They sat in a box and I pondered how I was going to make this special keepsake for mother-in-law.  Finally, I thought I would make a rag quilt. I was short on time with deciding to have it ready for Christmas. So, one night when the kids were in bed I cut up all the shirts. This step I had to do while the kids were sleeping as all 3 of my kids LOVE scissors and cutting, so I did not want them to get the idea to cut up their own cloths. Once all the squares were cut up, the kids and I sat there and sewed them together. Each passing be squares, but they were careful in not giving me two of the same square in a row. Eventually, all squares were sewn together, and wow were there 3 happy kids!!

Then came the snipping...I can honestly say that definitely took much longer than I thought it would...lol

This is what it looked like once it was all snipped. Not too bad for making a rag quilt with really having no idea.  But I can say I really learned a lot making this one :)

I finished this quilt 1 hour before I had to leave to give this quilt to mother-in-law.  She fell in love with the quilt when she first saw it, but when we told her to actually look at the fabric that was used, she realized that those were the shirts of my father-in-law. She cried and hugged the quilt, and all she could say was thank you. This quilt, really meant a lot and I am so happy that I was able to make this memory quilt for her!