Book Review: Reclaimed Quilts – Sew Modern Clothing and Accessories from Vintage Textiles
I love to poke around in antique and “junque” shops – always on the hunt for treasures. It’s a major focus of our travels. As a quilter – I invariably find myself drawn to the old quilts that have found their way to these places – disposed of by someone charged with the responsibility of clearing stuff out when someone has passed.
As much as I love the thrill of the hunt – it also makes me sad to find these quilts discarded and unappreciated. I only have so much room – I can’t take them all home, and I’m busy making more of my own.
When CT Publishing reached out to me about reviewing a new book by authors Kathleen McVeigh and Dale Donaldson, of course, I said yes.
Then I discovered that the book was about using vintage quilts and textiles to create a whole wardrobe and several other projects – Yes Please!
The concept for Reclaimed Quilts began with Kathleen McVeigh’s passion for creating beautiful and functional clothing from vintage quilts and textiles.
A Whole Wardrobe of Unique Quilted Clothing and Accessories
We’re all familiar with the concept of upcycling items for a new use. As quilters – we’re also pretty familiar with turning a quilt into a jacket. Walk through any quilt show and you are bound to see a few of these beauties worn by show attendees.
If you are the proud owner of a beautiful quilt jacket and you wear it around other quilters – you know how often the rest of us notice you and your jacket – sometimes asking if we can take a picture of it. We all want one of our own.
McVeigh and Donaldson take this concept so much further. Imagine a whole wardrobe of quilted clothing – and some fun accessories too! Coats – of course, but also dresses, vests, pants, tank tops – even a balaclava! In addition to the clothing, McVeigh and Donaldson also include a fun tote bag, a snazzy quilted clutch bag, and a Christmas stocking.
They start with a discussion about sourcing vintage quilts and textiles – what to look for and how to evaluate them for these projects. It’s truly – the thrill of the hunt.
These vintage materials have had a life – they’ve seen some things and will need a little care – and cleaning before they are used to create something new. From removing stains and odor to evaluating the most effective layout for the pattern pieces – McVeigh and Donaldson walk us step by step through the process of creating an original piece of quilted clothing.
Quilted Project Gallery
Authors Kathleen McVeigh & Dale Donaldson make some great points about how using (reusing) textiles – including old quilts to create something new – is a step towards sustainability. Intuitively I understood this concept but had not given the sustainability aspect as much thought (or credit) as I probably should have.
Truthfully – I’ve been more focused on what to do with the stack of inherited quilts I have safely stashed away. A couple of them are in wonderful condition, others – not so much. Until now, it hadn’t occurred to me that I could do something with the quilts I will never restore to their former (utilitarian) glory.
Reclaimed Quilts has inspired me to take another look at them to see what the possibilities are. It seems a shame to keep them stored away, unused. The Holly Stocking pattern (pages 122 – 126) might be the perfect choice for one of these old quilts. And what an amazing way to remember (and honor) the woman who created the original quilt.
Do you have any vintage quilts that deserve a new lease on life? The projects included in Reclaimed Quilts just might be the way forward for that vintage quilt!
About the Authors
Vermont based McVeigh and Donaldson have built a creative slow fashion business around using vintage and sustainable materials. You can see more of their original designs at kittybadhands.com
Kitty Badhands, the sustainable fashion brand we created, makes sustainability a core part of its practice. We use vintage and sustainable materials– fabrics made using natural materials and produced in a manner that has a low impact on the environment – in our work. We create pieces that are designed to last. We also believe in transparency and ethical production practices, which means we know where our materials come from and how they were produced. By creating the projects in this book with vintage and upcycled materials, you’re doing the same – creating pieces designed to last with sustainable materials.
Kathleen McVeigh & Dale Donaldson