Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Grandma’s Sweater…

Last month a good friend’s mother passed away.    Her mother was old, almost 90, but that doesn’t matter, a mother is a mother and I don’t think any of us take the loss of a mother very well.

The other day my friend brought me this old Christmas sweater that her mom use to wear EVERY Christmas.  It’s wool she said.  You make things from wool…could I possibly turn this into some Christmas ornaments for her and her two children…to remember Grandma by.  I looked at it…it’s a sweater…not wool fabric…stretchy and sparkly…but I didn’t say this…one look on her grieving face and I knew I had to try something.

P1200847-001

Then from the same bag she pulled out this…a silky gawd awful purple and pink short set…the kind that a Grandma’s would wear in the summer…could I possibly turn this into a pillow for her daughter?

YIKES!!

P1200850

How could I say NO?  (This from the person who kept an old flannel nightie of her mother’s…a nightie that after 34 years of missing her mom is now all tattered and worn!)  No, I knew exactly where she was coming from!

So Sunday was the day for (hopefully) transformations to occur!…I started on the short set…sheesh where to start?  Did I mention that it is made from that silky, slippery fabric?

First before I did anything, I needed to stabilize the fabric…so like any good quilter I layered it with cotton backing and sandwiched Warm and Natural batting in the middle and treated it like a quilt~   

P1200866

I quilted it together with a wavy line of quilting….

P1200867

It was much easier to handle when I had finished quilting it…

  P1200869

Tah-dah!  Well it’s still purple and pink but at least it’s now a pillow!  P1200870 A pillow that her daughter can hug now and then and think of grandma!P1200872  Now…back to the sweater…I hand washed it in hot water but because of the sequins, I couldn’t felt it in the dryer…so although it shrunk, it was still VERY stretchy!  Heat N Bond Lite to the rescue! 

P1200848

Presto!  Three heart shaped ornaments (I kept the shape simple because of the stretchiness)…and considering what I had to work with, I think they turned out pretty darn cute!

P1200877

And with the remaining sequined motifs I made a wool penny! 

P1200880

Not my usual penny for sure…I am hoping my friend has a framed picture of her mom in her Christmas sweater that she can place on the penny and give it a place of honour… P1200889

Pretty darn cute…

P1200892

…and a special way to remember a wonderful mom and grandma! 

Hope you have a terrific Tuesday and Happy Quilting~P

49 comments:

  1. Paulette, you are a true friend, you took the time to make beautiful items for someone who was grieving. Everything turned out lovely.
    Betty

    ReplyDelete
  2. OMG--Paulette, you are so clever. What a wonderful job you did and they will certainly be loved by the people recieving them.

    ReplyDelete
  3. You are so sweet to do this for your friend. My Mom passed away almost a year ago. She lived in a different state and the time we spent there was short and hectic. After I got home I thought about her clothing and making a quilt from the shirts she always wore but by then it was too late because they had been given away. What a wonderful memory your friend and her family will have with the things you have made.

    ReplyDelete
  4. What a wonderful and caring person you are. Both projects turned out beautiful, you have such great ideas.
    I'm sure that they will be treasured forever.

    ReplyDelete
  5. So very creative you are. How lucky your friend is. She will treasure all the wonderful items you made for her. "Mom" will always be remembered. Bless your heart, Paulette.

    ReplyDelete
  6. What wonderful treasures you made, so thoughtful. Your friend will be so happy to have these!!

    ReplyDelete
  7. You are my make-do and make-beutiful hero!! Imagine how much they will be appreciated and cherished.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I think you made two fabulous projects that will mean so much to the recipients.
    Sharon in Victoria

    ReplyDelete
  9. Awww...you are such a great friend! Those items are beautiful and will be treasured keepsakes!

    Cheery wave!
    Bev

    ReplyDelete
  10. That was so nice of you and they all turned out great!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Oh very nicely done all the way around. What a special remembrance!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Nicely done Paulette,

    I think you did a lovely job and your friend and her daughter will enjoy them for many years to come.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Wow, they are absolutely wonderful...considering what you started with. You are very, very sweet to take this on. You will have gorgeous angel wings someday my friend.

    ReplyDelete
  14. WOW everything is fabulous, how clever, I wouldn't have known where to start. Linda

    ReplyDelete
  15. What a dear friend you are.,the precious momentos from her mom's sweater are wonderful. I lost my son unexpectedly 2 weeks ago, none of us can believe he is gone. It was a sudden, fast illness..If I did not have the promise of knowing I will be with him again, I could not breathe. We were so close, his sister and me. I made him a beautiful quilt for his 4oth birthday, 4 years ago. His wife brought it back to me on the day of his funeral. I will give it to his sister for Christmas. He had bought me something and it is in the quilt, I have not looked, it's too hard to go there yet..This is a walk no mother should have to take. We are not supposed to outlive our precious children.I hope all of you in the quilt family will take a moment to look around your table this Thanksgiving, and be thankful for each loved one there. Last Thanksgiving, I would have never thought one so loved would be gone..

    ReplyDelete
  16. What a wonderful thing for you to do. How clever to use the sweater to make a penny rug! A perfect use for those sequined designs! I'm sure your friend will treasure these.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Beautiful keepsakes! Great job, Paulette!

    ReplyDelete
  18. What beautiful, treasured gifts you have made. I am sure they will be cherished for many years to come.

    ReplyDelete
  19. You did a great job! Wow! I am sure they are thrilled.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Wow! Those turned out great! Wonderful heirlooms.

    ReplyDelete
  21. You really outdid yourself, not only did you take impossible and slightly ugly fabrics but you turned them into something so beautiful. She is going to be thrilled with the items you made, you really put a lot of thought and love into them.

    Debbie

    ReplyDelete
  22. Fabulous! Love the pillow, but that penny mat is even better. I am going to watch for Christmas sweaters at the local good will and see if I can find one too. You did an outstanding job!

    ReplyDelete
  23. You've done PERFECTION on both garments

    So imaginative
    I love 'em ALL

    hugs

    ReplyDelete
  24. Oh my what wonderful things you have made! I am so glad I am following your blog. You found hope when not many would be able to. If only we could all do that for each other, the world would be a better place. Thank you

    ReplyDelete
  25. you are amazing! give a quilter a challenge and from that gifts of the heart. I love what you created from the sweater...as for the pillow...truly a challenge well met!

    ReplyDelete
  26. Terrific job, Paulette! You are a champ!!!

    ReplyDelete
  27. This made me cry. How sweet you are!
    Stewy

    ReplyDelete
  28. What a wonderful gift to give your friend. I think they all look lovely.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Ah Paulette, It looks like I'm not alone that this post about brought me to tears. You did awesome with what you had to work with! More then awesome even!!!

    ReplyDelete
  30. What a wonderful treasure you have made for your friend.

    ReplyDelete
  31. What a doll you are to do this for your friend! And you wowed me with the projects...they will love them!

    ReplyDelete
  32. Oh my word!! I love the penny rug and the ornaments....what a great idea!!! The pillow is precious,too.

    ReplyDelete
  33. You did a great job on the pillow, and the ornaments and penny rug are wonderful!

    ReplyDelete
  34. Wow!! I love what you did!! She's gonna cry for sure!!

    ReplyDelete
  35. Such a wonderful thing you did P and all crafted into such perfect way to remember a loved one. My heart is very happy after this story.

    ReplyDelete
  36. You are a wonderful friend.....my heart broke for her...what a wonderful thing to do....plus it all turned out so darling...the pillow is beautiful and the penny rug....WOW....I also love the 3 ornaments....way to go...

    ReplyDelete
  37. You are so kind, smart, and creative! What a wonderful gift for your friend.

    ReplyDelete
  38. WoW! What lovely finishes! The way you took lemons and lemonade is just wonderful. That penny mat is oh so special and I think they will be thrilled with all of the results. How generous of you to do this for your friend. I am sure that she will never forget it.
    Blessings, Patti

    ReplyDelete
  39. You turned treasured memories into beautiful treasures that will last a life time.

    ReplyDelete
  40. oh you did such a wonderful thing for your friend and everything turned out so beautifully.

    ReplyDelete
  41. Ohhh that is ever such a sweet sweet thing to do for your friend and to share the story with us! thank you! have a wonderful holiday
    Godspeed,
    mary

    ReplyDelete
  42. What wonderful pieces! You've earned your wings this Christmas season! ;-) That penny rug makes me smile!

    ReplyDelete
  43. Wow, Paulette--I can agree with the person who said, "you've earned your wings this Christmas season!"

    ReplyDelete
  44. You are amazing and do beautiful work! I wish you were my friend. She is very lucky indeed!

    ReplyDelete
  45. Your a very good friend. What a lovely way to remember a loved one, especially when they were not a quilter.

    ReplyDelete
  46. Paulette, you've done a beautiful job of making that sweater into some wonderful keepsakes :)

    ReplyDelete
  47. You should take part in a contest for one of the best blogs on the web. I will recommend this site!


    [url=http://cheapjordans2013.web1337.net/]cheap jordans[/url]


    [url=http://jerseys2015.0fees.net/]NFL Authentic Jerseys[/url]

    ReplyDelete