Since I was without the internet this past weekend, most likely thanks to incompetent road crews, I had plenty of time to work on a small challenge quilt.
An art quilt group I belong to will have a fall exhibit at a Cleveland bookstore. We plan to show challenge quilts made for this exhibit. Our theme is words. We thought this was apt, given our venue.
My literal mind devised exactly that – words. On Pinterest I found a poster that said “Make Do.” I loved the letters and asked Paul Garbett, the Australian designer if I could use his poster. He graciously said yes and I adapted his design to fit the challenge’s size limitations. And of course I used fabric.
![Make Do Poster [1x1.5M]2of10](https://snarkyquilter.files.wordpress.com/2015/05/naughtyfish_make_do_poster.jpg?w=200&h=300)
Once I drew out my letters, I decided to make do and use only re-purposed fabrics – my husband’s old dress shirts, a thrift store Hawaiian shirt, and a painted drop cloth. I made 1/4 inch bias tape from a striped shirt for the E and D. I used the 6 minute circle technique for the O.
I still like the poster better, but am proud that the only new components of this piece are the thread and batting. By the by, pinpoint oxford cloth is tough to sew through.
The Snarky Quilter 
LOVE!
Thank you.
What a fun and creative project, and a perfect use of re-purposed fabrics for the theme ‘Make Do.’ Though I do think maybe you should submit it to the show with a picture of your husband in a Hawaiian shirt, just for effect 😉
Asking my husband to don a Hawaiian shirt would cost me too many favors! He thought he was being daring to wear dress shirts in that broad navy stripe I used for the K.
I love this! So much fun, on so many levels–I love the clever details and thought behind the project. I hope you can show us pictures of other entries in the show, when it happens.
Thanks. I surely hope to have my camera ready when the show is hung. A friend is working on an entry that features Robert Frost’s poem about a wall, so there will be some serious entries.
Love this! Especially the detail of the button strip. Is that actually a button placket? And care instructions? Very well designed. Thanks for sharing.
Yes, it’s the button placket from a shirt, with the care instructions. Originally the extra buttons were sewn on near the care label, but they got in the way of the binding. I used the buttonhole placket on the back as my label. The design is thanks to the poster’s creator, Paul Garbett.
AND your interpretation of his design. That too.
I Love your art quilt and that you followed its directive! You are right that the poster has a lot more contrast, but I love that you used your husband’s old shirts!
Thanks. To save my marriage, I must point out that the Hawaiian shirt did not belong to my husband but came from a thrift store. My husband wouldn’t be caught dead in anything that gaudy and he’s not size XL. However, size XL shirts at thrift store are great value. My guess is there’s at least a yard of fabric in them, and I spent a measly dollar.
You are so funny! I thought that this was a tame example of an Hawaiian shirt! And XL!!! More to love. But I stand corrected. I love when my husband wears his XL Tommy Bahama shirts! 🙂 What a good idea about the thrift store. I know people who go there for sheets for quilt backings. I saved an entire garbage bag of flat top sheets when I cleaned out our lining closet to give to good will, for use either for practice quilts or as backing, but I found the fabric quite dense to sew with, though very soft and still in excellent shape. I think they purposely make the fitted sheet of poor quality so it will rip and one must buy a new set. Seriously, I must have 30 old top sheets. WTH????!!!! I don’t remember buying that many sets of sheets! I digress. Good thrift store find, SQ!
Yes, the thread count on sheets makes it difficult to sew through them, especially for hand sewing. Those old sheet tops make great dropcloths, though.
Good idea.