Memory Quilt

Center square, overall bib

The finished product

Outer border (on left in this photo), the legs from the overalls

The bright royal blue sashing between each square is from a jacket he wore



This quilt was made in memory of a brother who passed away at the young age of 22.  Of course, any age is too young when you have a close sibling pass away. I like the idea of a memorial quilt. It's something that can comfort you  physically and mentally. Just looking at each square can tug at your heart, drawing visions of your loved one wearing that shirt (or overalls), an activity or event when he wore that shirt. In this instance, he wore overalls as his "trade" uniform, construction.  He went fishing with his brother and the 2 plaid shirts on ether side of the overall bib are the 2 shirts they wore the  last time they went fishing together.  I used the legs of the overalls to make the outer border on the quilt. The backside is royal blue fleece to match the sashing on the front between the squares. My friend said her husband cried and said this quilt was the best gift he could've received. I truly hope he has fond memories every time he looks at the quilt.
Now, after 1 year of his passing, I am working on memorial quilts for my kids, made from their grandpa's shirts (in between orders from customers). I'd like to think of memorial quilts as snuggly scrapbooks. 

I've Got a Secret: Hidden Tabs, Hidden Rings

Hidden tab top curtains

Tabs pinned to the top hem of the panel.

The bottom of each tab is pinned up under the top hem and the top of the tab is pinned 1/4" from the top of the panel (which is in the bottom of the photo here).

All of the tabs pinned and ready to sew.

Floral pattern fabric

Close-up shows how they look on the rod.

The finished product!

This shows the back side, how the panel is hung on the rod. 

These hidden tab curtains have a long enough tab that you can open and close the panels without a pull rod or the type of rod that requires curtain hooks and a string to pull. I did some full-length pleated curtain panels with hidden rings.

Pleated panels with rings sewn behind the pleats

Another close-up of the top of the panels

Full-length panels in front of French doors

The full-length panels, closed

"What rings?" you ask. They were hand-sewn behind the pleats. She wanted the ease of opening and closing the panels, just sliding on a decorative wooden rod but she didn't want the rings to show. I didn't get a photo of the backside to show but, trust me, they are there. The hidden tabs give you the same basic ease of sliding the panels open but a "wave" effect at the top of the panel. The pleats in the black panels give them added fullness. The floral didn't need the pleats to add fullness. It depends on the fabric you use. The black panels are silk and the floral panels are cotton.