Contemporary Repurposed Hawaiiana Applique Quilt

This is one of my favorite crafts, because it repurposes old clothing and creates a beautiful Hawaiian heirloom quilt, to construct over the weekend, or over the years. The directions include the option of stitching via sewing machine, or by hand, to create a lightweight throw, or thickly-padded winter quilt. You will be able to wrap warm memories, along with cherished handiwork; around the ones you love the most.

Hawaiiana Motifs

To construct your Hawaiiana-patterned quilt, begin hunting down florals, palm trees, tropical birds, little grass shacks, ocean sunsets, and surfboard scenes, or motifs right off your family's old clothes. When old Hawaiian "silkies" or t-shirts become stained, ripped, or outgrown, do not toss them out!

Before discarding old Hawaii shirts, dresses, or bathing-suit cover-ups, simply cut generously around any and all large flowers, palm trees, and/or surfboard scenes that you would like to use on your quilt. In fact any large floral pattern or tropical jungle fauna patterns can be trimmed around, and used on your quilt.

Background Quilt Blocks

In the style of repurposing cut up old or worn-out, mix-matched sheet sets, instead of tossing them out, measure and cut them into 12" x 12" squares. Backing fabric can also be a floral or jungle print flat sheet, solid blanket, bedspread, or comforter, which will become your size guide. If you want to make a twin-size throw, use an old twin-size sheet or comforter; similarly if you're making a king-size quilt, then use a king-size sheet, comforter or bedspread.

Quilt Square Placement & Sewing Instructions

Position your pre-trimmed Hawaiiana motifs onto the precut 12" x 12" plain or patterned square fabric pieces to form quilt blocks. Using the widest zigzag or darning satin stitches, forming a very tight stitch giving a "satin" appearance, use your sewing machine to sew completely around the raw edges of each Hawaiiana scene or motif, directly onto the precut 12" x 12" fabric squares.

By using the satin stitch you will completely hide and reinforce all the raw edges, which will prevent any potential unraveling during laundering. However, if you would rather stitch by hand, simply turn the edges under 1/8" all the way around the Hawaiian scenes, and sew down by hand, using either a blind-stitch, or tight whip-stitch. You could also use embroidery floss and fancier stitches to create a crazy-quilt look, just make sure to secure the raw edges.

Quilt Blanket Backing Layout

Lay out your quilt backing (floral patterned sheet, bedspread, or comforter) on a bed, or other large, flat surface, and begin placement of the individually decorated quilt blocks, until there are enough to entirely cover up your backing sheet or comforter. Move quilt pieces around until they are all patterned in the same direction, and happy with the placement, then start pining.

Quilt Sewing Instructions

Either pin each quilt block in place, and sew together, one at a time; then attach to the backing sheet or comforter, and stitch with wrong sides together, creating a duvet cover. Or pin directly onto the sheet, or bedspread backing, making sure right sides are on the top and bottom, with wrong sides touching.

Then sew by machine using a satin zigzag stitch, up one side, then across; down the other side, and then back and forth. This one-step sewing will quilt your blanket, at the same time you are securing all the raw edges. Use wide bias-tape blanket edging, or create your own, using fabric-scrap strips to wrap around the entire perimeter of your quilt.

If you would prefer to hand stitch the entire quilt, plan on a long-term project, one in which your children may enjoy helping with their creative touches. My only recommendation for hand stitching would be to use embroidery floss and fancy stitches, to create a family heirloom.