Sunday, June 20, 2010

Hawaiian Shirt Quilts

Don't you love the Hawaiian shirts you find at the thrift store?
Just one will inspire a whole quilt!



I just finished this one. It's on its way to NYC to live with friends, Janet and Jen.






I made this one a few years ago. It's made of 100% thrift store shirts.






Here is my very first quilt. I bought a packet of pre-cut squares at Hasegawa General Store in Hana, Maui in 2005, sewed them all together, 10 rows, 13 squares each. Somehow, the quilt measured 4 inches wider on one side! Then I signed up for a quilting class.


12 comments:

Sujata Shah said...

Nifty,

Those Hawaiian shirts add quite a spark to your quilts! I love seeing the mix of old shirts with funk and personality in your quilts.

Victoria Findlay Wolfe said...

You have sewing friends in NYC that I don't know about?? Love the bright scrappy feel with the hawaiian prints!! Nice job!!

Tonya Ricucci said...

beautiful. are you sticking to 100% cotton or using rayons? I have to admit, I just keep getting the plaid and striped shirts - figure I've got too many patterned fabric in my regular stash. you're making me reconsider!

Nifty Quilts said...

Thanks for the comments! I use only 100% cotton. I know someone who used rayon Hawaiian shirts, and they were a pain to sew. Another friend used silk shirts. She ironed interfacing on before she cut her pieces, and that worked well.

I need to add plaids and stripes to my stash. Maybe we should trade!

shellysquilts said...

Cute stuff! Looks like lots of fun! Happy sewing!

beth said...

Love your hawaiian themed quilts!

Vivian said...

I think these quilts are stunning. The Hawaiian shirt fabrics add such a unique design when used with the other fabrics. Love em!

Unknown said...

!!!!!!!!!!!!

We love it!

Janet & Jen

Spangle said...

It's so fun to see all your quilts! Thanks for sharing!

Sharon said...

Very familiar with Hasegawa's! Love your style. Looking forward to to your future adventures.
Sharon M artwarelv@embarqmail.com

Laurie said...

Oh, My, I've never seen any other Hawaiian quilts like that...except in my own house I've made 5 for a friend whose husband is 50% Hawaiian. Here's a link to one of them, http://stone-belle.blogspot.com/2007/11/hawaiian-quilt.html if you're interested search Hawaiian in my blog. I don't have a picture of all of them , She still has 3 children that do not have one so as they graduate from High school I get to make another. :)

farmersdotter said...

Had to laugh out loud at your quilt being 4" bigger at one end!!! We all have to learn from our mistakes! You are quite the inspiration at recycling, I just love it...I've been enjoying all your posts! AND I love polka dots too....you have inspired me to do more brights with my stash! I got to your blog from Deb Rowden's blog and I'm so glad I found you!! I hope to see her the 1st of the week, so I'll mention you! Keep up the good work, WOW!!!
Brenda....the Farmer's Dotter
www.farmersdotter.com
brendathefarmersdotterblogspot.com