After making this quilt, I still had several uniforms left and just added them to my stash with the intention of making more Army quilts. I have all of them in a nice purple tub. Now the problem is with these "new" uniforms, I don't have room in the tub and I don't have room for another tub! So I'm deconstructing them to get rid of the bulk and parts I don't need. Hopefully, this will make enough room in the tub. Here's how much room I have left in the tub:
More uniforms to deconstruct: (I hope they all will fit in the tub!)
In addition to these, I have another tub of his desert uniforms! I have great plans (and fabric!) for maybe someday!
On a different subject, I've been seeing several bloggers doing the Farmer's Wife quilt-alongs. The pictures I've seen are so pretty that I decided to buy the book. (Can you say sale at JoAnn's?!) I won't be officially joining the quilt alongs, but will do what I can when I can. (I know it's silly, but I can't really handle any more stress right now and the pressure of having to make blocks when I have so much to do for our move would just be too much!) But I'm really looking forward to using my stash to make these blocks! Since my closet has spilled its guts for me to get to the Army tub, I've been looking at my fabric and getting excited about shopping it for these blocks! I think it will be a fun thing to do with Diana, maybe our own little quilt along for later!
And, best of all, today I got my favorite sewing machine back from the repairman! I feel so much better!
LaDonna
the uniform quilts are such a special idea...just saw one at a Day of Sharing recently that a wife made from her husband's...she also free motioned the names of the countries he was stationed in..the label on the back had his picture too..
ReplyDeletegood luck with your next one......
What an absolutely amazing piece of family history you've made! Really awesome! You are very creative and I'm looking forward to seeing what you do next!
ReplyDeletewhat a fantastic idea to use the uniforms in a quilt, not only your husband's but also your father's very special quilt indeed. can't wait to see what else you come up with.
ReplyDeleteClever girl! I am slowly but surely doing the same with old school uniform pieces, old work shirts, company logos and tags, especially from my children. The pile is growing, and as my #1 son and #1 daughter near the end of school I think I will have to begin playing with ideas for how to put it all together. While your collection seem mainly greens and neutrals, mine is blues, whites, maroons and golds. Fortunately the childrens' primary and secondary uniforms were similar colors:)
ReplyDelete(I think here in Australia, old armed forces uniforms have to be returned no matter what condition they are in)
Happy cutting
I love that idea! So cool you have one made from your dad's uniform, now your husbands. What a neat gift to pass on to future generations.
ReplyDeleteYour quilt looks great - a wonderful piece of family history. Good for you for getting the uniforms cut down and ready to use. It will certainly make it a lot easier on you when you are ready to make your new quilt.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful quilt. Deconstructing is not of my favorite activities, but it does decrease the bulk for storage. I understand what you mean about the stress of move preparation. Preparing for my own move, I find that my mind just can't handle anything else right now...just finishing up some actual quilting and working on some mindless sock knitting. Good luck on your move.
ReplyDeleteThis is such a fabulous idea and what a wonderful tribute to the military men in your life. I can't wait to see what you do with them when the time comes!
ReplyDeleteOh, that's gorgeous! I've been saving Scott's BDU's, too for "some day."
ReplyDeleteLove the army quilt! I have the same storage problem with blue jeans.
ReplyDeleteI've recently thought about starting the famers wife too, but thought I should finish my other sampler first.
The quilt is beautiful! What a memory keeper!
ReplyDeleteI think it would be so much fun to make a quilt from old uniforms. It would be a challenge.
I think I would do several dye baths in different colors to give them some variety! Then do maybe a scrappy quilt from them.
Love your first uniform quilt. It is stunning. Glad you got your machine back. You are going to have fun doing the Farmer's Wife quilt. I started working on it last month. I try to get a few blocks done each week. I look forward to seeing your blocks and see what you do with the new uniforms. Hugs.
ReplyDeletehello !!!
ReplyDeleteho bonne et belle idée !!!!!!! félicitations c'est joli
bisous de Régina
Wow....that army quilt is wonderful! And I love that you had fabric from your dad's uniforms in it, too! How special! All that uniform fabric will be so wonderful in future quilts!
ReplyDeleteReally love the army quilt. What a great way to preserve memories. I understand about bulging tubs, I have a few myself!!
ReplyDeleteSandra
Hi LaDonna
ReplyDeleteLove your quilt. Have you seen that there's going to be a new book out in July called "Deploy that fabric". All about using military fabric in projects. You can check it out here:
http://reannalilydesigns.com/category/shop/patterns/
Thanks for you kind comments on my blog
Cheers
Linda
an New Zealand
Thanks, Linda! No, I haven't seen that book! Dang, I could have written a book!
ReplyDeleteLaDonna
I love your Army quilt. What a wonderful idea. You just gave me an idea for my niece.
ReplyDeleteHugs
donna
Your uniform quilt is outstanding, a real treasure. Went to Joann today and they are out of the book, so ordered from Amazon. I will be behind many blocks by the time it gets here. Look forward to the challenge of 6" blocks. Hope to use some of my Thimbleberries stash, but when I see the pictures in the book I will have a better understanding of the quilt.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea, I will have to start thinking about that for my son whose in the Air Force. Thanks for the read and the idea
ReplyDeleteRegards
Pam
Now THAT's creative upcycling, LaDonna! For a few years I've been trying to come up with an idea for a quilt for my hubby (too bad we donated his uniforms long ago) ~ you've inspired me to think on this some more.
ReplyDelete~Cindy
What a beautiful quilt you made out of old army uniforms. I too feel the same about the farmer's wife quilt along.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea to use the uniforms to make a lovely quilt! I wish that I had thought of that, but my husband has been retired from the AF for a while now, and I'm not sure that we still have any.
ReplyDeleteI hope that your move goes well. You're right about moving stress-it takes a while to get settled in a new place.
Congrats on getting your machine back!!!
I love this quilt. I am a green quilter too. I got the bug after seeing Bonnie Hunter speak, and now I collect and take apart shirts and whatever works to make quilts. I really love your blog.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your great ideas! I am thinking of starting a quilt using BDU's and ACU's we have collected over the years along with our travel shirts from units and trips :) Wish me luck :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Lili! I have so many uniforms! I still have some of the old BDU's, plus the DCU's from his time in Iraq, and the ones they have now! Now that he is retired (as of a few months ago!), no more uniforms!
DeleteI tried to reply to you as an email, but you are a "no-reply" blogger.
Good luck with your project!
LaDonna
Hi there - I'm making a quilt for a military widow and I wonder if you could tell me how you chose the colors for this quilt. I'm finding picking out fabric hard. I want to make the quilt more feminine for the widow and her daughter. I'd love any advice you can give. Many thanks
ReplyDelete