Brant Heritage Quilt Guild does a most unique program called 'Crafts of Yesterday'. The idea is to recycle old fabrics like their foremothers.
Patricia Ryckman-Fleming, chair of the Program Committee was most generous in sharing her information. Patricia is a quilt teacher and for several years taught fashion design at Mohawk College in Hamilton Ontario. Patricia made the cutest ladies aprons from a man's shirt.
Instructions:
1.
Obtain a shirt from the man in your life, shop when prices are marked down
significantly or take a trip to Value Village and look for new or next-to-new
shirts that are made from good quality fabrics. Shirts with a button down
collar and shirt tails in "large" sizes are best as they give you
more fabric to work with. The shirt size can be adjusted up or down depending
on the size of the recipient. Fabrics in plaids, checks, and stripes are
good-look for interesting colours. Name brand shirts are a nice bonus because you can detach the label and sew it on the pocket to give a bit of pizazz
to your apron. The shirt can be cut off
with a co-ordinating fabric added at the bottom perhaps 6" deep finished. Consider extra pockets here as well.
2.
Wash and iron the shirt. Button the front buttons and turn up the collar.
3.
To cut the shirt lay it out flat on a table. Start with the side
seams and cut away the seam allowances. Remove the
sleeves in the same manner. Cut the back off below the yoke.
4.
I like to leave about 5/8" of the back yoke below the collar soit will
sit easier on the neck. Measure and mark every inch or so across the
yoke, then mark
the
cutting line down to the underarm. This can be slightly curved at
the bottom but straighten it out at the edge for adding the seam binding.
5.
Pocket - Usually the 'men's' pocket is too large and/or misplaced for a ladies
apron so carefully remove the pocket and the label. Resize the pocket or
cut a new one from the sleeves. Be sure to match the pattern of the
fabric to the placement on the shirt. Stitch the label on the left side
of the pocket and stitch the pocket to the shirt. (Machine stitch length
2.3)
6.
For binding the apron top, sides and making the ties - cut diagonal
binding 2 1/2" wide from the back of the shirt. Cut 6 - 2 1/2"
strips from the upper left to the lower right on a 45 degree angle - three strips on
each side of the first cut.
7.
The longest two pieces are joined together on 45 degree angle folded in half
lengthwise and pressed then used for binding the upper part of the apron from
center back to the sides. The middle length pieces are used for the ties
and the shorter two pieces for the sides.
8.
As we are using bias binding always pin them in place before
stitching so they do not move. Stitch the upper binding to the apron with
a 1/4" seam allowance. Turn to the right side, pin in place and edge
stitch. This should leave a neat stitching line on both sides of the
binding. Trim the binding even with the side edges.
9.
Ties - Fold the ties in half inside out. Stitch down the side and
across one end using 1/4" seam allowance. Turn, press and edge stitch all
the way around. Lay the ties across the apron front ending at the sides,
pin and stitch to hold in place.
10. Side
Seams - Pin binding to the back and stitch using 1/4" seam allowance.
Turn the bottom of the binding inside out and stitch with 1/4" seam allowance.
Stitch the binding up the front extending into the loose binding about 1
1/2" at the top. Fold the tie outward and top stitch a rectangle on
the front to secure. Turn down excess binding on the back and
hand stitch in place. Press and you are finished.
There
aprons make nifty gifts for family or friends and make
especially nice hostess gifts.
Bonnie Kelley demonstrated how to make a Toothbrush Rug.
Patricia has written the instructions for us:
TOOTHBRUSH RUG INSTRUCTIONS
This is an easy, quick craft to
learn using new or used fabrics in the ways of our foremothers.
Cotton fabrics are the most economical to
use for these rugs as they can be washed, dried and will give
extended wear.
TOOL
You will need a "big needle". In
the past many people altered a toothbrush by cutting off the bristle end and
filing it to a point like the tip of a needle. The other end of the
toothbrush with the hole in it is used as the eye of the needle to thread
the strips of fabric through.
CUTTING YOUR STRIPS
The strips you use can be cut 1/2" to
1" wide and a yard or more long, then folded in half lengthwise as both
sides of the fabric will show. 1/2" strips will make the rug look
finer while the 1" strips will be a little more rustic looking.
Decide on the width of your strips and measure
your fabric cutting snips at that interval across the top of the fabric. Grab that little piece
of fabric and tear down until you have several strips. Fold these strips
in half lengthwise.
JOINING STRIPS
Cut a small slit in the end of each strip for
knotting together. Put the end of one strip through the slit at the
end of the other then feed the tail of the first strip through the slit on
it's own end. Pull gently and you will find they are connected. Pin the
knot temporarily to hold as you begin to work your rug. This procedure is
repeated as you join each strip.
CIRCLE RUG - FIRST ROUND
Hold two strips side by side. The strip on
the left is the filler strip and the one on the right is the knotting
strip. Make a half-hitch knot with the knotting strip around the
filler strip by crossing the knotting strip over the filler strip then under
and back through the loop. Slide the knot near where the strips are
joined and pull it snug but not tight. Repeat 3x resulting in four
knots. Join into a circle by pushing the needle down through the first
hole passing under the filler strip and back up through the loop - this forms a
half-hitch knot and links the strip into a circle.
CONTINUING THE RUG
Hold the filler strip beside the previous round
of knots. Continue making knots and working rounds until you reach the
desired size then weave the ends of the knots in to finish off.
FORMING CURVES
As you go, add extra knots to form the curves of
the circle. In the lst and 2nd rounds you will probably need to add an
extra knot for every two knots by pushing the needle through the space in
the previous round. Continue adding extra knots as needed to make your
rug lie flat. Spread your rug out frequently to make sure it is
lying flat. If it bubbles up you will need to add extra knots in the
next row. If the edge ruffles you may need to add fewer knots in the
next row.
Tie in any loose ends from the knots and you are
finished. Some gals say they can sit down and make a small one in
a day.
Patricia also taught the making of Penny Rugs using three colours of
felt.
Penny
rugs were quite popular in the late 1800's and early 1900's when women
made decorations for their furniture out of wool scraps using pennies for
patterns.
This
craft disappeared as textile factories opened up and produced a myriad of home
products. Over this past year many quilt shops have been carrying
beautiful felted wools,threads, and books with patterns and they have become
very popular.
There is no doubt about it, the Brant Heritage Quilt Guild has some very talented ladies!
Thanks for sharing Patricia and Bonnie!
