Ugly Polyester Quilt Tutorial | Ep. 1

[@darlene.michaud]

Hello peanut gallery! I don't usually call any quilt ugly, but this one has a very good chance at earning that title, so I'm going with it! Even if I end up liking it, I know many won't. And that's okay! I like to just experiment and since youtube is my full time job, I force you to watch this shit. I hope you enjoy! xoxo

[@halfleftdawn725]

Darlene Michaud Please don't take this in a "creepy" way, but you remind me so much of my best friend. She passed away several years ago, and watching your videos is like spending a few minutes with her again! It makes me happy. :)

[@jackiegarroutte8970]

HalfLeft Dawn really? same here with my friend connie....its kind of like visiting with her once again!! how weird.....both of us

[@kathysnowberger2384]

Looks good. Can't wait to see the finished product. Love how you turn your fabrics in to happy things.

[@sunshinesworld385]

I have several hand quilted polyester quilts I bought at an estate sale. Beautiful and so warm!

[@lalalafevers]

Utilitarian quilts can be made very fast and you can whip up a bunch and take to homeless shelters or animal shelters. They both absolutely appreciate them! I have a ton of commercial "mill ends" of flannel & light weight denim on rolls 10-12 inches wide. This winter that's what I aim to do with those. A cold ass doesn't care what the blanket looks like ;-)

[@carlawolf8260]

Love to watch you sew you put no pressure on sewing . I have used that material and never new that .I don't really know how to sew but I love to .. Thanks for sharing your wonky way .

[@charongraves5932]

Quilting is a style of sewing that can be applied to any type of fabric. The all cotton quilt convention is very modern. My favorite quilts as a kid were antiques and not cotton. One was a log cabin made with felted bits of wool tweed scraps left over from one of my multiple great grandmothers making suits for her husband and sons. She started with the wool tweed scraps and felted them to halt raveling then quilted them together. It was really fun because both the front and back were quilt blocks and since it was all wool there was no batting so it was very thin but extremely warm. My other favorite was old silk handkerchiefs folded into cathedral window blocks with the patch reveal insets done up in bits of old silk ties, that one was backed onto a silk sari that had been brought home by a many times great uncle who had had military service in India while it was a britidsh territory. That sari was used as wall art and table linen for years before one end became so damaged it had to be cut off, at which point the remaining piece was made into a quilt back in the late 1930s by my great grandmother. The hankerchiefs and ties used were all used and repurposed because they werent fit for normal use anylonger. Some of the mending on them was incredibly intricate. It weighed nothing but was also warm and cozy to curl up in. My grandmother was in the habit of folding it into a shawl to wear on cold nights. My third favorite was a victorizn crazy quilt set. They were made by one of my multiple great grandmothers and her sisters. Their mother saved a scrap from every piece of clithing they had, when the oldest was about 7 she saw a crazyquilt and wanted to make one, her mother let her have the scraps and was happy to use the enthusiasm to teach more needlework stitches. It didnt tske long for the younger girls to want to join in and the family story was that their mother was pleased they found a "feminine outlet for their energy" since none had taken well to standard embroidery. Every time one of them made a new dress, they added a scrap to their quilt, and gifted a scrap of the same fabric to their sisters. So these quilts had a piece of every dress they all wore up to their wedding gowns. Bits of lace, pearls, knitting, sequins and beads, velvets and satins, all sorts of fabric, plus all the fun stitching. Even though they were all mostly the same fabric, they were all utterly unique. The youngest was prone to stitching tiny figure scenes in the middle of larger scraps and by large i mean bits bigger than about 1x2inches. The eldest made a hidden image by stratigic use of the color red, at a glance it was a normal crazy quilt but unfolded, from a distance if you focused on just the red you could see a rose, which was her name. They were really cool and grest for stories because you could sit around while the olds told tales and touch the emerald satin of a particular ballgown one of the sisters wore when she first met her husband to be. Unfortunately those quilts were lost to a fire in the 90s. Modern quilting has some gorgeous effects that have been developed but it suffers from the limits imposed by the industry. "Rules" like just using 100% cotton, preferably new and prewashed do make it simpler to teach new techniques and blocks, but they also sap some of the life from the art, because we now have whole generations who dont realize quilts can be family historys, or that they can deviate into different fabrics. Thanks to some amazing quilts i know a lot about my family history i wouldnt have otherwise known since those who made them and lived the stories were all gone before i was born. So, yes, by all means quilt with funny fabrics. :)

[@sidmelucci3675]

I remember that blue floral on maroon background fabric (the one you're using as a foundation) from your Block Party series. That's when I first started watching you. Love your quilting videos and your carefree attitude. To quote Mark Lipinski: "We're making BLANKETS for gosh sake!"

[@paulettekemper8492]

I'm so happy I subscribed. This one came up a few minutes ago and I've already watched it. I have a bunch of poly fabric I inherited from my late MIL. ( it's all " ugly"). I didn't realize I could use it in this manner. I will be making a poly quilt for my neighborhood/ best friend who wants a very heavy quilt. Thanks so much Darlene. I love watching your videos.

[@JessicaSmith-gd1fu]

Darlene, this brought back memories of my first quilt. Think back to 1971. Double knit, polyester suede cloth, velour, corduroy. I was pregnant and decided to make a Noah's ark quilt from a magazine article. I used scraps I had from sewing clothes for myself, my sister and my husband. I still love that quilt! Eric dragged it around everywhere until Star Wars came along. I used embroidery floss and very large stitches when I hand quilted it. The things I did not know about quilting!

[@EverCassandra]

I see that turning out really cool looking. Another on I hope to try.

[@margaret-mary499]

Oh Darlene that was so funny when you were sewing it reminded me of the slip and slides when we were kids you just glided right through. How cool. I love the flowered material. Not sure if the background is gray or brown. I'm in love with that print. Another great series🌺

[@JessicaSmith-gd1fu]

Darlene, I am enjoying your improvisational techniques. This would be a great quilt for keeping in the car. You never know how cold it will be a the next soccer match or baseball game.

[@mabushhiilove6035]

I used to be homeless and had been thinking about making quilts to give out because I remember that was one thing that was actually hard to come by, a nice thin warm blanket to put in my bag. Thanks for the wonderful idea!

[@donnarichey144]

You could get a job as a comedian, you make me laugh.

[@pattispencer8503]

I was at Walmart today-thought of you! But no Halloween masks😪. But did check out their fabrics-there were some great things for hoarders!!! I refrained as I went to Joanne's Fabrics yesterday!!! Another fun video Thank you!!!

[@Piper_Mahan]

I can't wait to see how this turns out!

[@karensmith3338]

I have been watching you, I just love you. I am gonna have to try and do one of your projects. You are on my level. I am not a great sewer, but like to sew. Go Figure. Keep going

[@fayeroberson8247]

Where and how did you learn to sew, you are very good and it is a dying art. I love to sew and watching you... you are the pro !!

[@MyChilepepper]

Hey thanks for the tips. I could use some of my poly mixed cotton prints as foundation.

[@shellcshells2902]

Totally use polyester up camping in your camper/ tent! Warm and washes up perfectly!

[@SariShares]

😊 Enjoyed!

[@paulawalker9583]

I'm fixing to make a polyester quilt on Monday!!! I've had my fabric forever and my niece texted me a couple of weeks ago and told me she wanted to make one so we are going to get together and make ours. I have a king size one already that my husband's grandma made us years ago for Christmas. It's great to throw on our bed in the winter. They are great, they don't wear out, you could drop an atomic bomb on them and they will still be the same lol!

[@rsislandcrafts]

I love cotton quilts on my bed but there is a place for poly quilts. I would never use one of my "good" cotton quilts on the ground but a polyester picnic quilt would be perfect. Who cares if it gets stained or ripped. People need to let go of some of their preconceived ideas. If polyster fabric is good for pants or dresses than why not utilitarian quilts? Maybe not for a child's bed quilt because of the dangers of poly melting in a fire but I know my dog would love any quilt no matter the "ugly" fabric I use. Great idea for your new series.

[@halfleftdawn725]

Hi Darlene! I'm new to sewing. I've been making half-circle skirts, gathered skirts, and dresses for my daughter, as well as simple handbags. I did make a few patchwork handbags, but haven't tried to make a quilt yet. I like the sewing videos... I know you're busy, but have you considered another channel for sewing instruction? I would watch, for sure.

[@halfleftdawn725]

Also... I love your use of the word "wonky." I just wish I could laugh at my wonkies as much as you do! Love your videos!!!

[@ruthdavenport4133]

I have ugly fabric I just can't bring myself to use but I will force myself to if my ocd don't stop me lol poly quilts are great for kiddie lap quilts I love poly

[@beverleysimmons3778]

Bet it be the nicest quilt of all

[@jacquelinemoffatcraftyjacq4442]

Hi i hate the heat, so ive just ordered a desk top fan that plugs into your usb on your computer portable Jacqui

[@EvaVilla-pm5mv]

Here