Friday, April 22, 2011

Holy Sewing

Quite a while back my Dad gave me a box of religious vestments that were no longer being used thinking I could use them in my quilting.  I was very excited, looked them through all, photographed them, and then became humbled and intimidated so back in the box they went...until last week.


I selected one particular vestment and went about coming up with an idea of making a table runner to be used at Easter.  As you can see, both sides has gorgeous embroidered designs, and I wanted those to be the focal point.


Taking a pair of scissors and cutting around the embroidery would have been much simpler, but somehow disrespectful I believed, so I went about using a seam ripper instead and separating the two sides.  Even then my daughter was outraged that I was taking apart something sacred ;-)





I guess I didn't take as many pictures as I thought of the process.  I only used one embroidered section for this table runner.  The other sections will be used for a future project.  I added a thin purple border around the center and a wider border of white using solids I had in my stash.  The pieced purple and green border is silk fabric...the purple from the back side of the vestment and the green from my stash.  The backing and binding is a lavender linen.  


This wasn't the project to practice my FMQ so I kept the quilting simple with straight stitching using a lavender thread.  The border was stitched with the machine using a feather stitching design.
My Dad just received this table runner in the mail and thinks it is beautiful!  Of course, he would say that no matter what, but I'd like to believe it's true ;-)  I do know it will be surrounded by gorgeous, yummy food enjoyed by family and friends celebrating together!!!

Have an amazing weekend!  Hope you get to spend it among family and friends!!

11 comments:

  1. I think that it looks great and the fact that now it can still be used is priceless!

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  2. What a wonderful way to display a vestment. I love how you framed it. I can see why your dad was so pleased.

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  3. Oh, Rene' . . . that is just lovely. What a wonderful and beautiful way to use a special vestment. Happy Easter!

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  4. You did a beautiful job with this table runner. Having made my share of vestments in the past, I would be very pleased to know that they were made into something this beautiful for a new life.

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  5. I LOVE the table runner! I know Dad had to have been excited getting it! Happy Easter :)

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  6. That is way more respectful than sitting in a box!! Who wouldn't love it!!

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  7. Rene' did you realize that you posted this on Earth Day - so leading up to the Easter weekend and then showing the perfect Re-use and Re-cycle was pretty awesome timing! very cool project!

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  8. Totally beautiful and perfect for Easter season. I can't think of a more fitting way to repurpose something already so lovely.

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  9. That is just beautiful in so many ways!

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  10. Perfect! I know what its like when there's a piece so precious that it may have to sit a while....until the time is just right! Your inspiration came and it turned out marvellous.

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