I adore vintage quilts. I have many, and love especially the ones that were sewn by my late grandmother and aunt. I have a few cutter quilts as well and I have no idea where I picked up this sweet old depression-era quilt remnant with colorful 2″ floursack squares, but it’s been hanging around my life for years and it’s time I finally did something with it.
It’s a bit grungy and pretty fragile, so I scanned it in sections, pieced it back together digitally to create what looks like an old postage stamp quilt and had some fun with it!
I printed out the quilt image onto plain paper and with my sewing machine stitched along the squares.
With one 8.5″ x 11″ sheet and my pinking shears I was able to wrap these two altar candles (about $1 at the grocery store) and tie up with string and buttons. Please be sure you use extra caution with paper and string around lit candles!
I also printed the image onto an inkjet T-shirt transfer for dark shirts and pressed that onto a piece of leather.
Leather for crafting is so fun to work with and much easier to find than you might think. Just one thrift-store leather jacket (good condition, out of style) will be enough leather for many, many projects.
I stitched along the squares and cut out sections to sew together creating pockets for business cards. Once stitched, I trimmed off the excess and rounded the corners.
This card holder project is very easy and quick. Click to enlarge.
Grab this free quilt image, and another that I gave a border to and make something for yourself! Please note that the little quilt squares do not line up perfectly either on the real thing or as a digital image. I just wanted to point that out before you got cranky with me when trying to sew perfectly straight seams.
Other stuff you can do with the quilt images:
Print to paper, run through your sewing machine if you like, and make:
- Scrapbooking backgrounds
- Covered gift boxes
- Small book covers
- Greeting cards
Reduce and print onto inkjet fabric sheets or transfer sheets for ironing on to fabric and make:
- Tiny bed quilts for dolls. Even tinier for doll houses
- Coffee cup cozies
- Coasters
- Zippered cosmetic bag
- Change purse
Or, keep it digital, and use it for something like a new blog header!
Must you always have all the best ideas?? Dang, you perfect woman, you. Now I have to make these for Brilynn the quilt/country fanatic.
Thanks as always for sharing your craft genius.
Wow! Thanks for sharing! You have amazing ideas. =)
You're a genius! That's so incredibly clever! Thanks again for sharing your great ideas and tutorials. -me@salihan.com
I love everything about this post! Thanks so much for the fun ideas!
So awesome. Thank you for bringing a smile to my day and lots of creative ideas to my mind 🙂
Another incredible idea from the Amazing Cathe!
Thanks!
http://christiecottage.blogspot.com
I love this idea!
Great idea Cathe! Thanks for sharing. Sally
That's fantastic Cathe!
Thank you for the fun ideas and great image! I think I've found a Christmas present to make 🙂
I love it!!!! Thank you so much for sharing!
What a great blog and a fun post. I definitely following your blog from now on.
XOXO Empress Jade Vintage
http://empressjadevintage.blogspot.com/
Cathy, every day you amaze me even more, I can't tell you how much I love your blog and your great ideas. The fact that you share all your ideas with everyone is such a great thing. Thanks again 🙂
Oops, sorry I spelled your name wrong!
O.K., O.K. So I'll look for leather jackets next time I'm at the dollar a bag sale. I always avoid them because I hate the thought of cutting them up but you're making such nifty things with leather – I've just got to hop on that wagon!
This project just blew me away! (Do people still say that or am I showing my age?) I ask you….do ever sleep or are your wheels churning 24/7? Thanks for sharing this one…I'm definitely going to use it!
~Joyce
first of all, i love that patchwork fabric you scanned! but i am mostly amazed with the things you did with the scanned image. it really dressed up the candle very nicely, especially with the added stitching and the buttons! so cute! and using it as an iron-on onto leather was pure genius! very unique ideas! thanks for sharing! 😉
Love this! Thanks for the ideas and the scan. Such a great idea for how to still work with an old quilt.
I have told you before, you are GREAT!! Thank you for this idea. My daughter has her grandmothers quilt and I will have to sneak it out and take pictures of it so that I can make her something special with the pattern….thank you soooo much! Sharon
thank you. i love it!
Oh my gosh! This is so awesome ~ thank you SO much for sharing it with us!!
Love it! Love it! Love it!
Thank you so much for this and all of the wonderful projects and freebies you share with us… I always find the best ideas here!
Ack!!!!! This is the coolest idea I think I've ever ever seen. I'm so excited to play 🙂
I'm Chrystal, btw, nice to meet you!!
What a gorgeous image, and you have so many great ideas. Thank you for sharing this with us out in blog land.
YOU, girl, amaze me every single time ♥♥
I forget – was it Scooby Doo who would snap his head right and left, in rapid repetition and then say, "Huh???" (in his weird dog voice)?
Why don't you have a shop where you sell things like this?
You should DEFINITELY donate your brain to science!
you are brilliant! Quilts are my favorite thing in the world and now you have shared yours with us! You are so kind and creative! I can think of so many ways I can use this!!! Why didn't I think of it sooner?????
thank you for sharing your ideas with us …I can't wait to get to work with this!
I was marking one of my many old quilts to sell (decided it was time to part with some) and one of them I just couldn't –now here is this wonderful idea from you. I'm scanning my quilt! (Or just use yours!) Thank-you.
Thank You for all the fun ideas and images. They just make me smile. I can't wait, but must…these are going to be so fun.
Elaine
Cathe, you're 58 kinds of awesome.
Wow I LOVE this idea! Thank you so much for sharing your image!
-Gia
Hawt dang! This is so amazing. Thank you for sharing this with us, and for sharing a part of your herstory too.
very creatice- thanks for sharing your awesome ideas!
Ohmagosh!!! What a fantastic idea!! I have an old quilt that my grandma made — she and my grandpa ran a general store in the little town they lived in. I've seen many flour sack quilts and love them. I have one of hers that I really should put up, because it's so threadbare it rips almost when I touch it, but I can't bear not to look at it. I even love the smell of it! My granny was born in 1895, so that gives you an idea how old that quilt is!
Thanks for this tremendous idea!
Your blog has steadily been rising among my favorites. Your ideas and aesthetic are so spot on and brilliant. Thanks for being so generous with your talent!
Your blog has steadily been rising among my favorites. Your ideas and aesthetic are so spot on and brilliant. Thanks for being so generous with your talent!
Your card case is sooooo cute! I'd love the dimensions so I could try it.
Being a total vintage quilt addict, I REALLY REALLY love this idea. Thank you!
You always have the most fantastic ideas! Quilts are so beautiful and this gives me so many more ways to show them off. Warm wishe, Esther
Found this on Craft: and am now addicted to your blog. Don't bother with a 12 step program, it never works. LOL
Can't wait to get started on this project using an old family quilt!
Love this! Home run!
OMG – enough already! I can't keep up! There are so many things that I want to do & now I have another to add to the list! well done you – another great idea!
i love the vintage quilts and the little leather wallet is darling! i'd never think to buy an old jacket and cut it up!
Fantastic idea! Thank you for sharing…yet again!
sweetjeanette.blogspot.com
What a wonderful idea! I do a post on Mondays on my blog that links to tutorials on the web. Can I link to you?
Thanks!
Creative is too small a word. You are amazing!
Great ideas!!!
i just adore this so much.
the possiblities are endless.
thanks so much for sharing this.
{just to clarify…is the leather you used from a jacket or something you purchased from a fabric store?}
thanks again! LOVE this idea!
Hi Melissa,
The piece of leather in this tutorial was from a furniture store swatch. I found several that had been donated to the thrift store. I also use leather from jackets and purses for crafting. I mention jacket in the post as the swatches can be a bit harder to find.
What a wonderful idea! Just found you via Whip Up. I think I'll be back for a visit.
Cathe….you know your amazing, right??? I just love this and will have to share it with my sweet readers, it's just too wonderful! hugs and love, Dawn
I have just found you blog through my dear friend Dawn At the feathered nest. And I am soooo glad that she posted details of this lovely idea of yours. What a fantascit idea. I love the effect and the wallet you have made. I'll try to give it a go myself with some greetings cards. Look forward to seeing some more of your creations when I pop back to your blog to look through your other goodies.
Many thanks again for such a fab idea.
Warmest best wishes,
for a happy weekend.
I came for a visit from the Feathered Nest. Your site is like sitting with a good friend and chatting about all the great stuff she's discovered and created! How fabulous are you to share your creative know-how freely. It's a loving gesture that you do not charge for your wisdom (although you certainly could!). I just opened your page and already have projects to keep me busy until Christmas. YAY! & thank you!
I came for a visit from the Feathered Nest. Your site is like sitting with a good friend and chatting about all the great stuff she's discovered and created! How fabulous are you to share your creative know-how freely. It's a loving gesture that you do not charge for your wisdom (although you certainly could!). I just opened your page and already have projects to keep me busy until Christmas. YAY! & thank you!
Oh, I must try this. I never ever thought of scanning the quilt and using that. Looks like my weekend project is planned!!!!
Love, love, love it! I've scanned favorite fabrics before, but not quilt squares. Thank you for the great inspiration and the generous sharing of your quilt images!
Thank you sooo much for the free image! You have created some awesome pieces and just made my day! 🙂
How fun and what a great idea! thanks for sharing this…your creative imagination is always so inspiring!
awesome!
Cathe, I love the creepy Halloween graphics! The quilt projects are also wonderful. I've been having fun color copying YoYo quilt pieces on cardstock and making tags. I've found it's really fun to color copy fabrics. Thanks for some great ideas, once again!
Mitzi
Hi Cathe, this is a fabulous project and great for other ideas too. Thanks for stopping over to my little blog and leaving such a kind comment. xo, suzy
I love your projects. They are crafts without the cheesy factor of some of the crafts out there. Thanks for sharing your ideas!
Sooo lovely and just brilliant !!!
OH MAN!!!! I just bumped into your blog tonight! I see I am going to have to come back here sometime when I have an extra day or two! IT IS LIKE CHRISTMAS!!! Thank you so much for your wonderful freebies! And so many ideas – it is wonderful! I have an excel spreadsheet that I keep track of neat things I would like to try, and just added a ton of yours! Now I do have one question – I tried to copy the image of the beautiful little quilt – and it looked kind of fuzzy, is there a better way to do this than right click and copy image to word? Just wondering…… Anyway – I will definitely be back – what treasures!
Thank you!!!
Hugs from Michigan – Diane
And I’ve just found it the last few days…having a blast looking and saving all this wonderful stuff. It is like Christmas.
Adorei esta ideia. Muitos Parabens. Como sempre, um excelente tutorial.
Bom fim de semana
This is a wonderful idea…you've just made me think of something to do with my own quilts! Thanks, pat
What a wonderful idea!!
Your work is so pretty! And I like the idea of finding raw materials at places like the thrift store. Thanks so much! Shauna
This very interesting subject!
As a fellow renter I am always looking for creative ideas – I like this one! I wrote a a few posts on my blog regarding tips for renters! "Faux Vintage Quilt Fun"
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I love to make such quilt from my grandma.
…….Alex
I love to make such quilt from my grandma.
…….Alex
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thanks for being so generous with you creativity. I’m very inspired to start crafting again.
Blessings.
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You are very clever!! I am going to try the card holders!
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE everything….. so creative…..
These are gorgeous, and wponderful uses for these vintage treasures. Thank you for sharing these lovely images.
When I was little there was a vintage quilt kept in the boot of the car for lining the boot if dirty things were being carried in it. Eventually it just fell to pieces and was discarded. I recall it was a fan design with hand embroidery on the seams. I could just cry thinking about how it was used and thrown away all those years ago – before anyone appreciated the value of these things. But then in itself was an example of repurposing – it was made of scraps of clothes – we just repurposed it again, in a final way. Thank you for saving something old and beautiful.
Just cannot that you enough.
Bonnie
This is so beautiful ! I love it, and your blog ! Thanks for sharing your talents…
I just re-happened on this post and have realized it was this very post that helped me launch my file, called FabCopy (there’s a post on my blog). So, here’s a very late but much heart-felt Thank You! As for using old leather jackets for projects- I’ve done that for decades. Some projects are suede, handpainted bookamrks, some tiny leather pouches, some larger patchwork bags that were sold in a gift shop on a Buffalo Ranch here in central NY state. They can be quite beautiful and always unique. So, thank you again. Your work is outstanding!
Me encantó tu blog, ¡Una pena que no se mucho inglés y el traductor de ggogle funciona regular! ¡pero las imágenes….! Maravillosas.
Te seguiré visitando!!!
Thanks so much. I am making wrapping paper with this.
YOU are the best. Love ya!
Thank you so much,i am going to use as you suggest,to make quilts for my doll house.
Keep well. Rosie