After watching your last video, I immediately rushed out to my local thrift store and found several dress shirts. When I got home with my haul, my husband “rescued” one of the shirts for himself. I will have to be more careful to keep my hauls to myself from now on!
Hi from the Highlands of Scotland. We didn't have show and tell here in the UK but using mens shirts brought back a memory. Back in the 1980's I had 3 sons and 1 daughter so lots of boys clothes to pass down but no girls clothes. I was given a Women's Weekly magazine that had a free pattern in the centre for a set of mix and match little girls summer outfits but I had very little money for fabric. So off to the charity shops (as we call them here) and came home with armfuls of mens shirts in all manner of white and pale blues, solids and stripes. I had fun making them and she had fun wearing them them out all summer. I'm looking forward to watching your videos and hope to learn all I need to know using these fabrics to make a quilt.
Thank you, that was so informative, now we know exactly what we can expect to get from each size shirt. I love that you took the time to do all that and then offered it to all of us, it is really helpful !!!
Cathy, what a pleasure it is to watch your videos!! I am an Alabama girl also, so I love your accent and your “southernisms”! I am a quilter and 3L ( this means love, love, love) using men’s shirts for my quilts. I buy them at the thrift store and I have found $60 shirts for as low as $1 on special sale days! Oh what a happy girl I am when I get such great bargains AND beautiful fabric for my quilts. Keep producing your videos and please share your finished projects with us!!
Wow! Thank you for the comment. All kudos go to my husband for the video and production work…we intend on doing it as long as people are getting something out of it! ❤️ And thanks for watching…we southern girls gotta stick together!
Yay, for Alabama! My oldest daughter is a HUGE Bama fan. (I'm a fan of anywhere Nick is coaching.) Love that there are so many southern ladies in this group. Y'all make me feel like I'm "at home".
"better is the enemy of good" is a lesson I seem to refuse to remember. I have to relearn it over and over ... so glad to see others like me. Looks like a great way to piece together inexpensive backs. I shudder every time I add up the cost of backing.
Me too (shudder) but those beautiful one-piece gorgeous print backing fabrics have a pull like no other! And when they are soft it's even HARDER TO RESIST! Thanks for your comment and for watching!
Grandma would repurpose a dress she had made that had worn out in places. She would make an apron out of the skirt part because that part had not worn out because of always wearing an apron. You talk about recycling, they really knew how to do that. We have a thrift shop that has bundles of clothes boxed and as high as the ceiling that go to other places to be used. My Grandma Lee would not believe this. Thank you I love your enthusiasm and humor. I’ll be watching. 🤓💕
I have a quilt that my MawMaw and Big Mama made in the 50s. Feed sacks that has been made into clothes, that were then handed down through all the kids, and when finally worn out, they became quilts. It's a very special piece.
I will forever picture you & hear your sound effects when they cut fabric at the store. 😂❤️ I agree that it’s the best sound ever! Very good information. I’m all about getting more bang for my buck.
I started collecting secondhand men’s shirts last year to turn into clothes for myself and about 6 months ago I moved onto making a quilt that incorporates men’s shirt fabrics along with other upcycled fabrics. I love the range of patterns in men’s shirts, especially the florals. I’m so glad to have found your channel and excited to see what quilts you’ve made with secondhand shirts.
I'm an Alabama girl, quilter, thrift store shopper. This is amazing info. Thank u so much. Love your channel so far. So excited to go see what I can find.
Cathy that was brilliant. I really enjoyed watching your videos way this one. I grew up with a mother (in the 1950's ) who cut up dresses given to her from kind friends and make clothes for me and my 7 siblings.
I'm a new quilter and I've working almost entirely with men's shirts. Quality of the cotton is wonderful and I love the soft colors of a worn cotton shirt. I always get a thrill when I spot an XL or XXL. I stay away from smaller sizes unless the fabric is special, otherwise I end up with too many small pieces and scraps.
So true. But if you find a shirt in a pattern/color/texture you like, if you pay less than $3.25…it’s still worth it! (Well, cost wise. Maybe not for the time investment for breaking down the shirt!) 😉
I just adore your personality! If I can learn and giggle at the same time, it's a win for me! Thanks for sharing this information. I can't wait to see your future content!
I have been using shirts for fabrics for years. I preshrink all fabric because my stash is garment fabric I never got around to. I washed all of it. All of those off cuts you are setting aside are great for crumb and string blocks too. I keep anything over by 1.5 in square or 1” long strip. My Mother was a depression child, I guess she rubbed off on me.
Thank you so much for all your time and effort. I've been using men's Thrift Store shirts for re-fashioning my own tops for decades now and I never thought to share my experience. Well done by you. Here in Australia, 'designer' patch work materials can be $35/meter and much, MUCH more. Fat quarters are rarely cheaper than $10 - $15. way out of my financial reach. I just love using pre-loved fabrics
I hope you do share your experience either on TH-cam or Instagram or some other forum…people want the information and experience you have! And WHOA $10-$15 for a fat quarter?!? That seems crazy expensive! I follow a lot of Australian quilters on IG and now I’m wondering how they do it! Oh and thank you for watching and commenting!
@@TheCatBirdQuilts because so much is now imported since the demise of a lot of our manufacturing industries, things can get pretty exy...we jokingly call it the "Australia Tax" for this reason, but it's not that funny. The prices in a lot of the op-shops have also gone through the roof in the recent years, with some of them charging almost new prices for stuff that has been donated or would otherwise end up at the tip... buying new fabric is becoming very very expensive. Sometimes one of the big two haberdashers might do a sale where they'll have a 3-for-$10 deal on their cheaper line of F.Qs for their loyalty program members, but it doesn't happen all that often... so raiding the ol' man's wardrobe or the linen cupboard is definitely a well used option... 😉🇦🇺🐨
@@grandy2875 I hate this so much for all my Aussie folks! I think we are all feeling the pinch (especially since the pandemic) but prices like that are egregious! 😩😑😡
Wow, that is so helpful. I have binged watched all your videos, what a great idea to use men's shirts for quilting. I used to buy them and re-shape them into pretty shirts for myself for many years. As an EPP-er, I think I would enjoy using men's shirts in future!
Oh my goodness yes!!! (To the EPP thing) you will use every scrap of fabric in a men’s shirt…that is exciting! And thank you for your comment! Helpful is my FAVORITE thing and one of my goals for the channel. ❤️☺️
I'm really enjoying your videos, thank you for taking the time to to do this. My husband only wears pure cotton dress shirts and I have kept one particularly lovely fine linen one to reuse. Now I'm regretting all the others we have sent to the Charity Shops ( that's what we call thrift stores in the UK). He had a beautiful red gingham one, that I wish I'd kept!
I cut through a lot of men’s shirts to make the Olsen masks at the beginning of Covid. I saved the bright plaids and prints for the inside on the mens large and extra large. The made beautiful, comfortable masks.
What the WHAT?!? That is AWESOME!! And what are the chances with Denim & Flower? Aren’t they cool? So glad you love the videos…and thanks for the comment and for watching!! Alabama girls rock!!
We are on the same wavelength! I've been collecting the dress shirts my husband no longer needs (show wear or a stubborn mark) to use in quilting. I also collect plaid flannel shirts for a snuggly winter raggedy quilt. Been considering using worn khaki slacks for quilt backing as well. It's so much fun to reuse clothing and other fabrics that have good memories attached. (Thank that trusty scrap bin!) Yard sales might give some good yardage too.
I just subscribed. Your videos are very professional looking and very informative. Thank you for sharing your quilting life and smiles. Keep up the great work!
If you want to see them right away, feel free to follow me on Instagram or FB where I post photos of what I'm working on and finished quilts! Videos that show some of my quilts are in the works! ☺️
@@TheCatBirdQuilts Me neither, which is why I was so appreciative of it. I also suffer (self diagnosed of course) with directional dyslexia. It really is a thing and it explains why maps and directions are a real challenge to me. I frequently get left and right mixed up, and you can imagine how that translates to FPP and setting certain types of blocks that are mirrored. And I have to be extra careful in joining rows together on quilts. (It's on my design board right, but between the time I get it to my sewing machine I've managed to do something goofy. I felt better after looking up to see if it was a "thing". I made so much in my life make sense!
I have been thinking of using thrift store suit jackets for bag-making fabric. I'm picturing a nice herringbone or checked pattern to make a tablet bag, or guy's backpack/sling bag. Harris tweed is insanely expensive as yardage, but a thrifted jacket would be a tiny fraction of the cost. You've inspired me! Also, you're a hoot, and so much fun to watch.
I'm so happy to find you! I thought I was the only one who shopped men's shirts at thrift stores for quilting fabric! I just cut apart my best find ever! It was a 6X/BIG. 55% cotton, 45% flax. Can't wait to watch more of your videos! :D
6X!!! 😳😳😳 What the WHAT?!? 🤣😂🤣 That is AMAZING! I want you to measure your fabric and report back how much you get out of it! 😍 Oh and I’m happy you found me too!!
I will have a video with a completed project coming soon. But if you want to see my works in progress, or completed quilts I've made, follow me on Instagram or FB! Thanks for watching and for commenting!👍🏻
Oh my goodness Cathy. I had to pause knowing nothing about quilting. I kept thinking 1/4 to 1/8 which made sense in my head but, I am going to have to follow you very closely. I see what you are doing with the different sized shirts but something isn't clicking...hmm. will finish watching and PRAY. So happy I found you!!!
It’ll click, I promise! Once you get your head around it, you’ll go OHHHHHH. Or go get a shirt, and then lay it out and see for yourself! Ultimately it doesn’t matter what you call it, just cut it up and use it! 👍🏻😊
Thanks for these wonderful videos that I have discovered and binge watched this morning. I have a love for blue and white quilts and have recently finished my first quilt top using epp. All the blue came from shirts, the white from sheeting. On to my second one now and have mixed in some floral at quarters I have on hand, aiming for 60% shirting.
Oh I bet that is just beautiful! I too, use a mix of quilting fabric and shirt fabric. To me using quilt fabrics sparingly makes them feel more special and precious...while also highlighting the uniqueness of the shirt fabrics. Maybe that's just me, but it really makes it feel one-of-a-kind and special. Binge-watching is one of the best compliments...so thank you for watching and commenting!
I love the fact that we can give old clothes new life... Do demo how to take a shirt apart , it will be a great help. And also a tutorial on making a quilt top start to finish.......from men shirts..
Just stumbled on your channel and immediately subscribed! I'm really looking forward to the rest of this series and all your upcoming videos! Thank you!
Thank you for doing this and visually showing the possible yardage for each size. It was really helpful! Can't wait to see what you make with each shirt.
Your videos and your presentation are so professional and entertaining! I just found you and I’m delighted! Looking forward to spending more time watching you! Take care!
I just made a quilt from my daughters dresses from when she was little. If it’s good quality cotton i guess dresses would be a good buy too - especially with gathering - they just needed a bit of pressing once deconstructed.
I have bought few children’s clothes if I liked the pattern but it’s just not worth the work to break it down to me. But as you say, any good quality cotton will work! Women’s clothes often have dart seaming that is a real pain tho. 😉
Thank you for taking the time to provide such a high quality video😊. Your sense of humor is a refreshing change 😊. Off topic- May I ask what the picture is that is hanging on the wall behind you in the video? It’s very interesting
Just found your Channel & I am HOOKED! Thank you so much for demonstrating just how versatile, Men's Shirts can be.I had never considered using them as a "Fabric Resource for Quilting" & after watching several of your Videos, I am DEFINITELY SOLD on the Idea! Thank You so much for being so Inspirational. I live in Australia & I've only recently discovered my Love of Quilting & your Content is really Educational. I have Subscribed to your Channel & I'm looking forward to any future Videos to learn as much as I can about "Quilting in an Economical Way & it's also a great way to keep Unwanted Clothing from ending up in Landfill" 🙂
Really enjoyed your video! I just cut apart more than 20 of my late Father's shirts, all 2x! Most are plaids. Am going to make quilt tops for my 2 sons and 2 of my nephews.
Love your videos and as I volunteer in a charity shop I have been going through rhe mens shirts very carefully inspired by your ideas. I've found some lovely 100% cotton flowered shirts - for some reason these don''t seem popular with men here! I bought one for £3 yesterday and spent the evening cuttng it down. I didn't get as much fabric as you as it was a 15.5" neck and slimfitting but it was WELL worth the effort. I got some bonus toning fabric from the shoulder and cuff linings too. And buttons for my button box. I felt guilty at first cutting up such a beautiful almost unworn shirt but I will put it to very good use. Thanks for the encouragement. Jan x
Thank you so much!🥰 Sometimes those slim-fitting ones don't provide as much fabric, but when they are beautiful it is WORTH IT. And yes, I've noticed that florals and paisleys and such often don't fly off the racks the way others do...their loss is our gain, right?! ❤️
I do! If you watch my “how to get the most fabric…” video I talk about shirt prep and what I do before I cut them apart! Thanks for watching and for your comment!😊
Thank you for making this video! I'm making a scrap quilt and instead of buying more fabric for the sashing (my house looks like a JoAnn store), I was thinking about getting a couple of thrift store shirts. But I've never done that before so wasn't sure how much I could get out of a shirt.
Wonderful information. The Humane Society thrift store here in Florida has 99cent sales for clothing about once a month or so. I can get a lot of denim and men’s shirts for very little money then.
Just in case you are interested, Marshalls Dry Goods in Arkansas has amazing prices for fat quarters. They sell in bundles of 100 random selection but I plan to order a couple of bundles just to fill out my stash. The end up costing .59 each so even if I don't like them all, it will still be cost effective. Their batting is also really reasonably priced. l watch your thrift haul videos and am a convert, you bring such joy to your shopping adventures.
I may eventually do a video on that! In the meantime, quick answer: I cut long straight strips 2.5” from the back and front panels and stitch them together at right angles and then trim the corners off to leave a 1/4” seam where they join. To do it on the bias, I’d just do the same except the strips would be diagonal across the back panel…I’ve only made bias binding once from a shirt and it was pretty tricky; I had to use a lot of pieces (as you might imagine.)
😂 I’ve also had friends and coworkers suggest merch that says “I do not endorse gangsterism” (from my first video!) I can’t imagine anyone wanting quilting/thrift store channel merch…but maybe I’m wrong! 🤷🏻♀️🤣
Thanks! I can't wait to get some shirts soon for quilting! I'll also really curious about the photo on the wall...what city is that? I'm from New York.
At what price would it be cost effective? You answered my question at the end. $12 is a lot! The thrift stores near me don’t have a set day for sales. It’s always changing. But i never thought about using men’s shirt since it didn’t seem like a lot of fabric and I would feel guilty about destroying a perfectly good shirt 😢 but thanks for the idea!
Very good visuals! Do you keep your shirts in shirt form until you are ready to use them or do you harvest your quarters, half quarters etc to store them until you’re ready to use them?
GREAT question! I keep them in shirt form until I'm ready to use them because I never know how I'm going to use them! Sometimes I can get long strips out of those front and back panels that would have been shorted if I cut fat quarters or eighths out of them first. Thanks for your comment!❤️
Our grandmother’s would think nothing of piecing a piece. As I look at older guilts and my Grandma Lee would do this often to get the most out of her probably repurposed fabric.
Actually, the 42-44 inches is the width of fabric (WOF) from selvedge to selvedge. The length is the measurement parallel to the selvedge, even if it’s less than the WOF. So if you buy a quarter yard of fabric, it will be 42-44” wide and 9” long.
Also, have you checked out local big and tall shops clearance racks? Granted the prices will not be as amazing as half price day at thrift stores, but it might be a great deal still given the fabric real estate of a 6x shirt 🙃
And the shirts are still surprisingly malleable when they’re wet so maybe they just “give” along with the quilting cottons. 🤷🏻♀️ Great question though!
Merriam-Webster dictionary defines it this way: to propose (ideas, suggestions, etc.) for consideration in an informal, preliminary way I don’t know where it originated. 🤷🏻♀️
Your prices are USD. In Canada $5 for a fat quarter is a good price and you can expect to pay $20 a meter which is close to a yard. Today my favorite thrift store is having a sale where unmarked clothes are $1. I am on my way.
You go girl!! Hope you find the most beautiful, biggest men’s shirts in the world to use for fabric! Good luck! (And thanks for watching and commenting!) 😘
you "can" get fat 8ths both ways, manufacturers who sell bundles cut them uniformly, but shops can cut them either way and technically be correct. (You can even get fat 16ths, but that is rare with normal quilting cotton - I've purchased one scrappy bundle of fat 16ths. Its more common to get that cut with Liberty Lawn.)
After watching your last video, I immediately rushed out to my local thrift store and found several dress shirts. When I got home with my haul, my husband “rescued” one of the shirts for himself. I will have to be more careful to keep my hauls to myself from now on!
Ok I LOL’d at this! Love it!
I always give my husband first dibs if he actually can wear something I find. Keep thrifting - you will end up with plenty to use and share.
@@beckypetersen2680 😆😁😄
Wait a few years and the collar or cuffs will wear out and you can reclaim it for your stash.
Also, I would have "rescued" a few for myself.
I support “you just be you”. Pick threads, feel and enjoy that fabric. It clearly brings you joy. 😁
It does. I literally can’t stop myself…and I don’t want to! 😁
Hi from the Highlands of Scotland. We didn't have show and tell here in the UK but using mens shirts brought back a memory. Back in the 1980's I had 3 sons and 1 daughter so lots of boys clothes to pass down but no girls clothes. I was given a Women's Weekly magazine that had a free pattern in the centre for a set of mix and match little girls summer outfits but I had very little money for fabric. So off to the charity shops (as we call them here) and came home with armfuls of mens shirts in all manner of white and pale blues, solids and stripes. I had fun making them and she had fun wearing them them out all summer. I'm looking forward to watching your videos and hope to learn all I need to know using these fabrics to make a quilt.
Hi back to you in Scotland! I love this story and can totally see it in my mind's eye. Thank you for your comment and for watching!🥰
I also use dress shirts for fabric! Thank you for this series. The southern girl does come out, and it is charming.
I’m from England and love the southern girl coming out.
Oh my goodness…thank you! Thanks to you both for watching!
Thank you, that was so informative, now we know exactly what we can expect to get from each size shirt. I love that you took the time to do all that and then offered it to all of us, it is really helpful !!!
Oh yay! Helpful is THE BEST.
Cathy, what a pleasure it is to watch your videos!! I am an Alabama girl also, so I love your accent and your “southernisms”! I am a quilter and 3L ( this means love, love, love) using men’s shirts for my quilts. I buy them at the thrift store and I have found $60 shirts for as low as $1 on special sale days! Oh what a happy girl I am when I get such great bargains AND beautiful fabric for my quilts. Keep producing your videos and please share your finished projects with us!!
Wow! Thank you for the comment. All kudos go to my husband for the video and production work…we intend on doing it as long as people are getting something out of it! ❤️ And thanks for watching…we southern girls gotta stick together!
Yay, for Alabama! My oldest daughter is a HUGE Bama fan. (I'm a fan of anywhere Nick is coaching.) Love that there are so many southern ladies in this group. Y'all make me feel like I'm "at home".
"better is the enemy of good" is a lesson I seem to refuse to remember. I have to relearn it over and over ... so glad to see others like me. Looks like a great way to piece together inexpensive backs. I shudder every time I add up the cost of backing.
Me too (shudder) but those beautiful one-piece gorgeous print backing fabrics have a pull like no other! And when they are soft it's even HARDER TO RESIST! Thanks for your comment and for watching!
Grandma would repurpose a dress she had made that had worn out in places. She would make an apron out of the skirt part because that part had not worn out because of always wearing an apron. You talk about recycling, they really knew how to do that. We have a thrift shop that has bundles of clothes boxed and as high as the ceiling that go to other places to be used. My Grandma Lee would not believe this. Thank you I love your enthusiasm and humor. I’ll be watching. 🤓💕
I have a quilt that my MawMaw and Big Mama made in the 50s. Feed sacks that has been made into clothes, that were then handed down through all the kids, and when finally worn out, they became quilts. It's a very special piece.
💕I'm from south Louisiana. I thought everybody said "might could" and "fixing to". I love your videos. They make me feel like talking to a neighbor.
Aww! 🥰 Thank you so much! (And no, they don’t! Lol!)
Thank you for watching and commenting!❤️
I will forever picture you & hear your sound effects when they cut fabric at the store. 😂❤️ I agree that it’s the best sound ever! Very good information. I’m all about getting more bang for my buck.
Lol! Flop flop flop…rrruanh! 🤣🤦🏻♀️🤪
I started collecting secondhand men’s shirts last year to turn into clothes for myself and about 6 months ago I moved onto making a quilt that incorporates men’s shirt fabrics along with other upcycled fabrics. I love the range of patterns in men’s shirts, especially the florals. I’m so glad to have found your channel and excited to see what quilts you’ve made with secondhand shirts.
I'm an Alabama girl, quilter, thrift store shopper. This is amazing info. Thank u so much. Love your channel so far. So excited to go see what I can find.
Hey there Alabama girl! Glad you enjoyed the video...thank you for watching and commenting!
Cathy that was brilliant. I really enjoyed watching your videos way this one. I grew up with a mother (in the 1950's ) who cut up dresses given to her from kind friends and make clothes for me and my 7 siblings.
Thank you! So glad you watched and commented!
I look forward to seeing your creations 🧵🪡✂️🤗
Thank you! Those videos are coming soon!
I'm a new quilter and I've working almost entirely with men's shirts. Quality of the cotton is wonderful and I love the soft colors of a worn cotton shirt. I always get a thrill when I spot an XL or XXL. I stay away from smaller sizes unless the fabric is special, otherwise I end up with too many small pieces and scraps.
So true. But if you find a shirt in a pattern/color/texture you like, if you pay less than $3.25…it’s still worth it! (Well, cost wise. Maybe not for the time investment for breaking down the shirt!) 😉
I just adore your personality! If I can learn and giggle at the same time, it's a win for me! Thanks for sharing this information. I can't wait to see your future content!
What a great compliment! Thank you!
I have been using shirts for fabrics for years. I preshrink all fabric because my stash is garment fabric I never got around to. I washed all of it. All of those off cuts you are setting aside are great for crumb and string blocks too. I keep anything over by 1.5 in square or 1” long strip. My Mother was a depression child, I guess she rubbed off on me.
I keep it all too!! You never know how you might use it!
Thank you so much for all your time and effort. I've been using men's Thrift Store shirts for re-fashioning my own tops for decades now and I never thought to share my experience. Well done by you. Here in Australia, 'designer' patch work materials can be $35/meter and much, MUCH more. Fat quarters are rarely cheaper than $10 - $15. way out of my financial reach. I just love using pre-loved fabrics
I hope you do share your experience either on TH-cam or Instagram or some other forum…people want the information and experience you have!
And WHOA $10-$15 for a fat quarter?!? That seems crazy expensive! I follow a lot of Australian quilters on IG and now I’m wondering how they do it!
Oh and thank you for watching and commenting!
@@TheCatBirdQuilts because so much is now imported since the demise of a lot of our manufacturing industries, things can get pretty exy...we jokingly call it the "Australia Tax" for this reason, but it's not that funny. The prices in a lot of the op-shops have also gone through the roof in the recent years, with some of them charging almost new prices for stuff that has been donated or would otherwise end up at the tip... buying new fabric is becoming very very expensive. Sometimes one of the big two haberdashers might do a sale where they'll have a 3-for-$10 deal on their cheaper line of F.Qs for their loyalty program members, but it doesn't happen all that often... so raiding the ol' man's wardrobe or the linen cupboard is definitely a well used option... 😉🇦🇺🐨
@@grandy2875 I hate this so much for all my Aussie folks! I think we are all feeling the pinch (especially since the pandemic) but prices like that are egregious! 😩😑😡
Wow, that is so helpful. I have binged watched all your videos, what a great idea to use men's shirts for quilting. I used to buy them and re-shape them into pretty shirts for myself for many years. As an EPP-er, I think I would enjoy using men's shirts in future!
Oh my goodness yes!!! (To the EPP thing) you will use every scrap of fabric in a men’s shirt…that is exciting! And thank you for your comment! Helpful is my FAVORITE thing and one of my goals for the channel. ❤️☺️
Can’t wait to see some of your quilts you have made with the shirt fabric! Thanks for the informative video!
Thank you…I hope to do some videos that show some of the quilts I made. I don’t have a lot because I give them away as soon as I make them!
This was very helpful. I love the idea of turning shirts into quilting fabric. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you for your comment and for watching! And “helpful” may be the best compliment EVER. ❤️
I'm really enjoying your videos, thank you for taking the time to to do this. My husband only wears pure cotton dress shirts and I have kept one particularly lovely fine linen one to reuse. Now I'm regretting all the others we have sent to the Charity Shops ( that's what we call thrift stores in the UK). He had a beautiful red gingham one, that I wish I'd kept!
Oh that hurts my heart a little.🥺 But yay for the linen one and I’m so glad you’re enjoying my videos!
Thanks for watching!🥰
I love your impressions of cutting they made me laugh out loud.
I laugh when I see it too! But then I crack myself up on the reg! And thanks! 🥰😊😂
I cut through a lot of men’s shirts to make the Olsen masks at the beginning of Covid. I saved the bright plaids and prints for the inside on the mens large and extra large. The made beautiful, comfortable masks.
O my goodness sister! I grew up in Pelham, AL! I love your videos! I even found a Denim & Flowers shirt today at my local thrift store.
What the WHAT?!? That is AWESOME!! And what are the chances with Denim & Flower? Aren’t they cool? So glad you love the videos…and thanks for the comment and for watching!! Alabama girls rock!!
We are on the same wavelength! I've been collecting the dress shirts my husband no longer needs (show wear or a stubborn mark) to use in quilting. I also collect plaid flannel shirts for a snuggly winter raggedy quilt. Been considering using worn khaki slacks for quilt backing as well. It's so much fun to reuse clothing and other fabrics that have good memories attached. (Thank that trusty scrap bin!) Yard sales might give some good yardage too.
So many of us think like this and I love it! Hadn’t thought of yard sales…a great idea!
Thanks for watching and for commenting!
I just subscribed. Your videos are very professional looking and very informative. Thank you for sharing your quilting life and smiles. Keep up the great work!
Thank you!!! And thanks for watching, commenting and subscribing!
I’d love to see some of your quilts!
If you want to see them right away, feel free to follow me on Instagram or FB where I post photos of what I'm working on and finished quilts! Videos that show some of my quilts are in the works! ☺️
I’m loving this series on using men’s dress shirts for quilts! I’ll definitely be making a trip to my local thrift shop.
My work here is done. 😉
The relationship among your pieces was very effectively demonstrated against the yard.
Oh thank you! Seriously, I have no skill at spatial relations, so that’s a real compliment to me!
@@TheCatBirdQuilts Me neither, which is why I was so appreciative of it. I also suffer (self diagnosed of course) with directional dyslexia. It really is a thing and it explains why maps and directions are a real challenge to me. I frequently get left and right mixed up, and you can imagine how that translates to FPP and setting certain types of blocks that are mirrored. And I have to be extra careful in joining rows together on quilts. (It's on my design board right, but between the time I get it to my sewing machine I've managed to do something goofy. I felt better after looking up to see if it was a "thing". I made so much in my life make sense!
Fantastic! I love the idea of using regular quilting cotton with recycled thrift store shirts
Obviously I do too! ❤️ Thanks for watching!
I have been thinking of using thrift store suit jackets for bag-making fabric. I'm picturing a nice herringbone or checked pattern to make a tablet bag, or guy's backpack/sling bag. Harris tweed is insanely expensive as yardage, but a thrifted jacket would be a tiny fraction of the cost. You've inspired me! Also, you're a hoot, and so much fun to watch.
Oh thank you!! And I love these ideas for a bag from suit jackets! Genius! Thank you for for watching and commenting!
Just found your channel. I really like your style, love the visual instruction, very thorough. Can we see some of your quilts made from shirts?
Coming soon! (Maybe next week 😉)
I'm so happy to find you! I thought I was the only one who shopped men's shirts at thrift stores for quilting fabric! I just cut apart my best find ever! It was a 6X/BIG. 55% cotton, 45% flax. Can't wait to watch more of your videos! :D
What a find!!!!!!!!
6X!!! 😳😳😳 What the WHAT?!? 🤣😂🤣 That is AMAZING! I want you to measure your fabric and report back how much you get out of it! 😍
Oh and I’m happy you found me too!!
@@TheCatBirdQuilts Let's just say, the back piece was 27" X 39"! :D
@@RobinHarris61 WHOA!!! Lol. That’s incredible! 🤩
@@RobinHarris61 ps I’m so glad you commented…this is giving me LIFE! (I wish you could see my face! 😂🥰)
Interesting. I’d love to see some of your finished projects made from dress shirts
I will have a video with a completed project coming soon. But if you want to see my works in progress, or completed quilts I've made, follow me on Instagram or FB! Thanks for watching and for commenting!👍🏻
Cathy, Great and informative video! This weekend, I am going to look for XXL men’s shirts at the thrift store. There are so many possibilities!😊
So. Many. Possibilities!! I love it!
Thank you so much for your informative use of men’s dress shirts for quilts. I just found your channel and have subscribed to it.
Thanks for watching and subscribing! So happy to have you along with me!
oh my goodness we have same Harlem 1958 picture seen above your sofa! I love to sew and my husband loves to listen to jazz!!
That is so crazy! It seems to be a common combo: music-lovers, book-readers, and quilters/knitters/crocheters!
Oh my goodness Cathy. I had to pause knowing nothing about quilting. I kept thinking 1/4 to 1/8 which made sense in my head but, I am going to have to follow you very closely. I see what you are doing with the different sized shirts but something isn't clicking...hmm. will finish watching and PRAY. So happy I found you!!!
It’ll click, I promise! Once you get your head around it, you’ll go OHHHHHH. Or go get a shirt, and then lay it out and see for yourself! Ultimately it doesn’t matter what you call it, just cut it up and use it! 👍🏻😊
Thanks for these wonderful videos that I have discovered and binge watched this morning.
I have a love for blue and white quilts and have recently finished my first quilt top using epp. All the blue came from shirts, the white from sheeting.
On to my second one now and have mixed in some floral at quarters I have on hand, aiming for 60% shirting.
Oh I bet that is just beautiful! I too, use a mix of quilting fabric and shirt fabric. To me using quilt fabrics sparingly makes them feel more special and precious...while also highlighting the uniqueness of the shirt fabrics. Maybe that's just me, but it really makes it feel one-of-a-kind and special.
Binge-watching is one of the best compliments...so thank you for watching and commenting!
When you consider the bolted fabrics have selvage, you end up with the same amount of usable fabric as store bought pre-cuts. Great video!
Thank you so much! ☺️
Thank you for sharing a wonderful idea.I am a thrift store shopper too.I love quilting and crocheting.Still a beginner though
You’re welcome! And thank you for watching and commenting! (For the record, I haven’t been quilting very long either!)
Thanks for showing this breakdown.
You’re welcome! Thanks for watching! 🥰
I love the fact that we can give old clothes new life...
Do demo how to take a shirt apart , it will be a great help. And also a tutorial on making a quilt top start to finish.......from men shirts..
I already have part 1 of how to break down men’s shirts on my channel…stay tuned for parts 2-5 which will air every Tuesday for the next few weeks!
Just stumbled on your channel and immediately subscribed! I'm really looking forward to the rest of this series and all your upcoming videos! Thank you!
Oh so glad you liked it! Thanks for watching and commenting and subscribing! 🥰
Ditto!!!
@@judithcordell1139 yay! Glad you’re here!
Thank you for doing this and visually showing the possible yardage for each size. It was really helpful! Can't wait to see what you make with each shirt.
You’re welcome! Thanks for watching and commenting!🥰
Aw thanks! 🥰 I figure if I wonder about it, surely someone else does too! Thanks for watching!
Your videos and your presentation are so professional and entertaining! I just found you and I’m delighted! Looking forward to spending more time watching you! Take care!
Thank you for watching and commenting! I’m glad to have you along with me!
Thank you. I will be using some shirts to make memory items from a dear loved one. Your videos are inspiring.
I just made a quilt from my daughters dresses from when she was little. If it’s good quality cotton i guess dresses would be a good buy too - especially with gathering - they just needed a bit of pressing once deconstructed.
I have bought few children’s clothes if I liked the pattern but it’s just not worth the work to break it down to me. But as you say, any good quality cotton will work! Women’s clothes often have dart seaming that is a real pain tho. 😉
Kathy, thanks so very much for another great day with you! I can’t wait to see the next video.
Thank you!! Sorry I missed this comment when you made it! ❤️
This video is golden. Thank you for providing these details.
You are WELCOME. My whole goal is to give people the information that I myself have wanted or needed. 😘
Thanks for the breakdown on shirts. I really enjoyed listening to your presentation!
Thank you!!
Thank you for taking the time to provide such a high quality video😊. Your sense of humor is a refreshing change 😊. Off topic- May I ask what the picture is that is hanging on the wall behind you in the video? It’s very interesting
Thank you! It is a picture of the Jazz great outside row houses in New York. My husband was a jazz major in college and we love jazz music. ❤️
@@TheCatBirdQuilts Wow! You’re fast!😊 That picture is priceless❤️ I too LOVE jazz and big band music .
@@lorricoulthard3812 I just happened to be on my lunch break when you commented, so I was free to respond! 🤣 thanks for the comment too!
@@TheCatBirdQuilts 😊
A perfect way to start my morning - full of ideas and information and inspiration. And giggles.
Also …… Gingham!
Gingham, my friend! GINGHAM.
Thank you for Sharing this wonderful information with us! It is very helpful and you Spent a great deal of time making this video. Thankyou!
You’re welcome! Thanks for being here with me!
Watched all you videos , great! Looking forward to seeing your quilts with the shirts!
Just found your Channel & I am HOOKED! Thank you so much for demonstrating just how versatile, Men's Shirts can be.I had never considered using them as a "Fabric Resource for Quilting" & after watching several of your Videos, I am DEFINITELY SOLD on the Idea! Thank You so much for being so Inspirational. I live in Australia & I've only recently discovered my Love of Quilting & your Content is really Educational. I have Subscribed to your Channel & I'm looking forward to any future Videos to learn as much as I can about "Quilting in an Economical Way & it's also a great way to keep Unwanted Clothing from ending up in Landfill" 🙂
Get ready because once you start shopping at your Op Shops you’ll be even more hooked! 🤩
Thanks for watching, commenting and subscribing!! 🥰😊
Really enjoyed your video! I just cut apart more than 20 of my late Father's shirts, all 2x! Most are plaids. Am going to make quilt tops for my 2 sons and 2 of my nephews.
That is so wonderful!! I'm sure they will love them! So glad you enjoyed the video...thank you for watching and commenting! ❤️
Thank you! I am so excited that I found your channel!
Thank you! I’m glad you found me too! ☺️
I scored a mens 4X shirt the other day at the Goodwill ! Nice dark blue plaid. 🥰
Love your videos and as I volunteer in a charity shop I have been going through rhe mens shirts very carefully inspired by your ideas. I've found some lovely 100% cotton flowered shirts - for some reason these don''t seem popular with men here! I bought one for £3 yesterday and spent the evening cuttng it down. I didn't get as much fabric as you as it was a 15.5" neck and slimfitting but it was WELL worth the effort. I got some bonus toning fabric from the shoulder and cuff linings too. And buttons for my button box. I felt guilty at first cutting up such a beautiful almost unworn shirt but I will put it to very good use. Thanks for the encouragement. Jan x
Thank you so much!🥰 Sometimes those slim-fitting ones don't provide as much fabric, but when they are beautiful it is WORTH IT. And yes, I've noticed that florals and paisleys and such often don't fly off the racks the way others do...their loss is our gain, right?! ❤️
Thank you for sharing, learning something new, plus saving money and recycle too xx
Thank you, Karon!
So funny… I love that flopping sound as well! 😊
Lol! Right?!?
Hello and a fun idea! I hope you have a peaceful week ahead! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you! Lord knows I could use a peaceful week! (and I wish the same for you!) Thanks for watching!
Hi Cathy, I just found you! I think this is a terrific idea. Do you wash all shirts before cutting into them? Thanks,
I do! If you watch my “how to get the most fabric…” video I talk about shirt prep and what I do before I cut them apart! Thanks for watching and for your comment!😊
Thank you for making this video! I'm making a scrap quilt and instead of buying more fabric for the sashing (my house looks like a JoAnn store), I was thinking about getting a couple of thrift store shirts. But I've never done that before so wasn't sure how much I could get out of a shirt.
You’re welcome!! Good luck with your scrap quilt! ❤️
I can't believe how fast your channel has grown in just a month.. ! U will hit 100k in a year or less
Me either! I hope so!! 🤩 Thanks for your support and for watching! 🥰
I just found ur show and love it. thank u
Yay! Thank you for watching (and commenting!)
Wonderful information. The Humane Society thrift store here in Florida has 99cent sales for clothing about once a month or so. I can get a lot of denim and men’s shirts for very little money then.
Thank you, Sharon! ❤️ There are SO many places to get upcycled fabric for low cost if you're just willing to look!
🥰 Your thriftyness is inspiring. Love your sense of humor.
Thank you!!
Just in case you are interested, Marshalls Dry Goods in Arkansas has amazing prices for fat quarters. They sell in bundles of 100 random selection but I plan to order a couple of bundles just to fill out my stash. The end up costing .59 each so even if I don't like them all, it will still be cost effective. Their batting is also really reasonably priced.
l watch your thrift haul videos and am a convert, you bring such joy to your shopping adventures.
Thank you, Deborah! ❤️
I love how you crack yourself up!
I know…it’s ridiculous! (Also Im laughing right now)😂
You are such fun to watch! Thank you for the information 😊
oh thank you! I always want to be both: funny AND helpful! ;)
Oh my word!! You’re 40 mins from me!! I had no idea you were in Pelham!!
We’ll have to meet up one day at zig zag sewing studio❤
Paige! I'm actually in Birmingham...and ZIgZag closed last week! 😱 I was gutted.😭
@@TheCatBirdQuilts OH NO!!
I’m in Trussville. I use Robin’s sometimes. And hobby lobby :)
You have mention making binding from the shirts. Can you show how you would cut & make bias binding? Thank you
I may eventually do a video on that! In the meantime, quick answer: I cut long straight strips 2.5” from the back and front panels and stitch them together at right angles and then trim the corners off to leave a 1/4” seam where they join. To do it on the bias, I’d just do the same except the strips would be diagonal across the back panel…I’ve only made bias binding once from a shirt and it was pretty tricky; I had to use a lot of pieces (as you might imagine.)
I am definately going to hit my husband's closet and the local thrift store really soon. Thnks for a great video!! 🙂
Thank you! By chance do you these ratios written down in pdf ? I’d love to have them nearby when shooing. ❤
I'm so sorry, I don't! But that's a good idea! 🤓
This visual is so helpful!
Thank you! And thanks for watching!
If you eventually make merch, I think "I have a pathological inability to leave well enough alone" would make a great t-shirt or mug.
😂 I’ve also had friends and coworkers suggest merch that says “I do not endorse gangsterism” (from my first video!)
I can’t imagine anyone wanting quilting/thrift store channel merch…but maybe I’m wrong! 🤷🏻♀️🤣
I’ll take that “pathological inability” in size L please
I’m laughing out loud. Thanks for the comment! 😉
Thanks! I can't wait to get some shirts soon for quilting! I'll also really curious about the photo on the wall...what city is that? I'm from New York.
You’re welcome! And I hope you get some great finds! 😊
It is Jazz Greats in Harlem in 1958
@@TheCatBirdQuilts Thanks! Haha I thought the photo looked like some of the great NY brownstones...
@@pjstatenisland1575 I think New Yorkers could spot New York landmarks from a mile away! 🤣
But it is a great photo! ❤️
I have always wondered about this. Thank you so much.
You’re welcome! Thanks for watching!
I really enjoyed your video.
Thank you! And thanks for watching and commenting!
At what price would it be cost effective?
You answered my question at the end. $12 is a lot! The thrift stores near me don’t have a set day for sales. It’s always changing. But i never thought about using men’s shirt since it didn’t seem like a lot of fabric and I would feel guilty about destroying a perfectly good shirt 😢 but thanks for the idea!
really awesome content!
Aww thank you so much! 🥰
Very good visuals! Do you keep your shirts in shirt form until you are ready to use them or do you harvest your quarters, half quarters etc to store them until you’re ready to use them?
GREAT question! I keep them in shirt form until I'm ready to use them because I never know how I'm going to use them! Sometimes I can get long strips out of those front and back panels that would have been shorted if I cut fat quarters or eighths out of them first. Thanks for your comment!❤️
Love your tutorials thank you ,❤🌠🌎⭐
Oh yay! 🥰 You’re welcome…and thanks for watching!
I ran out to my thrift store and got some men's & women's shirts and shirt dresses.
I am maths challenged 😂 and this was so helpful 😊
Our grandmother’s would think nothing of piecing a piece. As I look at older guilts and my Grandma Lee would do this often to get the most out of her probably repurposed fabric.
It’s true….they used it all! I just don’t want a million seams in my pieces!😆 it’s a luxury I guess!
What kind of overhead camera are you using?!? 😮
You mentioned other Parts (e.g. see Part 5 for just sides and bottom) but I cannot find any part beyond part 1.
Coming soon! The next one is Tuesday. Thanks for watching!
Actually, the 42-44 inches is the width of fabric (WOF) from selvedge to selvedge. The length is the measurement parallel to the selvedge, even if it’s less than the WOF. So if you buy a quarter yard of fabric, it will be 42-44” wide and 9” long.
What? I never knew why they sell fat quarters. I thought it was just to get a variety of prints. Lol. I've learned a bunch
Oh yay!! Learning is my favorite! 🥰
Also, have you checked out local big and tall shops clearance racks? Granted the prices will not be as amazing as half price day at thrift stores, but it might be a great deal still given the fabric real estate of a 6x shirt 🙃
Look at you, smarty! It would be interesting to see how low the clearance rack might go…I’m pretttty thrifty! 😘
Do you buy only 100 percent cotton shirts?
Love your videos!
I do if I can help it! (Or linen or cotton/linen blend)
Thank you!! 🥰
Do you prewash all your purchased fabric so it will not shrink since the mens shirts are worn and washed?
I don’t. So far I haven’t really had any shrinkage from the purchased fabric. Well, not enough to be noticeable or impact the pattern in any way.
And the shirts are still surprisingly malleable when they’re wet so maybe they just “give” along with the quilting cottons. 🤷🏻♀️ Great question though!
"Spit Balling".? Where does this phase come from? What does it mean?
Merriam-Webster dictionary defines it this way: to propose (ideas, suggestions, etc.) for consideration in an informal, preliminary way
I don’t know where it originated. 🤷🏻♀️
Your prices are USD. In Canada $5 for a fat quarter is a good price and you can expect to pay $20 a meter which is close to a yard. Today my favorite thrift store is having a sale where unmarked clothes are $1. I am on my way.
You go girl!! Hope you find the most beautiful, biggest men’s shirts in the world to use for fabric! Good luck! (And thanks for watching and commenting!) 😘
you "can" get fat 8ths both ways, manufacturers who sell bundles cut them uniformly, but shops can cut them either way and technically be correct. (You can even get fat 16ths, but that is rare with normal quilting cotton - I've purchased one scrappy bundle of fat 16ths. Its more common to get that cut with Liberty Lawn.)
Do you know, I wondered about that but (so far) I’ve only seen it the 11x18 way. The more you know!🌈⭐️
Also, Liberty Lawn 😍🤩 (equal parts gorgeous AND expensive!)😱
Zig Zag is my store too!
Love them! (And I’ve gotten some beautiful fabric there. 😍)