"Label Equalizer"

When I was a kid, I believe it was, when we drove around and saw a very nice car, I remember my dad making a comment to the effect that, “Just think…some day that prize possession will be in the junkyard!”

It’s the other one I made - out of grays, blues, greens, purples, etc.

He and mom then went on to point out it’s not worth buying something you can’t afford to drive around in just for looks or to show off - as they lose value the moment you drive them off the lot (new). I suppose that kind of statement had an impact on me. I’ve always been one to want a reliable car or vehicle - and really haven’t cared that much whether or not it was flashy or fancy. More important to me was that it was paid for and ran well. They weren’t criticizing someone for having a nice car - but just a reminder to us kids that in the end…they all end up in the junkyard.

Unless you are taught otherwise, it is pretty easy to be impressed by the big names - not matter what sphere.

So that’s where I’m coming from with this quilt top. It’s the second one I’ve made - the other was given to a friend. For that one I used what I called “cool colors”. This one is more or less “warm colors” - at least as much as possible. I worked with the reds/yellows, oranges, browns and all variants thereof.

This one is probably for us….for my couch which is green and brown..

I originally used labels like this as a sort of satire - showing that big name brands like Tommy Hilfiger end up right beside the more modest brands. Now, granted, I don’t have any super expensive ones here like Burberry - but definitely some of the more expensive world wide name brands are here. Then I have some local ones and many which you’ve never heard of!

In the end, all the shirts ended up at the second hand shop. Yep. Just like those expensive cars end up in the junk yard - no longer someone’s pride and joy. I hope they served their owners well. I certainly do enjoy working with the fine fabrics of some of these shirts!

I have this wonderfully handy 3.5” ruler I used to help me cut the squares.

It’s destined to be quilted like the other one I made - mainly because I can’t do much else. The squares are small - only 3.5” cut, so I will quilt between blocks down the sashing. it looks cool and it’s close enough to hold everything. I can’t really FMQ on this because of the labels. I want to leave them sort of loose and free flowing as they come off the shirt. If I were to FMQ it, I’d have to go across the labels, and I simply don’t want to do that.

I need to do some more pressing on it before finishing it up. The labels cause a little bit of a problem, but the steam generator I have doesn’t actually get as hot as a regular iron (from what I can tell), but emits a lot of steam, so it works pretty well for these labels!

This little quilt hardly needs a pattern. It ends up being 51”x63” and uses 154 labels. The sashing is cut at 1.5” The outer border is cut 3.5”. All of the squares are just that - squares.

And it’s adorable! I can’t wait to finish it!

Have a great day wherever you are reading!

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Be sure to check out what my sis has for you in the store!

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