Arches National Park Shirt

It is no secret that I have loved the National Park Postcard blocks from Fiona Sandwich for several years.  I made our Camping Journal quilt based on them!  I am a member of the Fiona Sandwich National Park Travel Group on Facebook and have been ever since I discovered the patterns.  It is a space that members can share completed blocks, stories of their travels and other creative and inspiring photos and ideas.

In December I saw an ad for some shirts with several national parks stating that everyone should "rep your park."  Dave and I do often select a shirt as a souvenir from our visits.  One of the more recent purchases I can recall was from White Sands.  We looked at the NP giftshop, but the prices reflected the pride for the park.  The campground we were staying at had a gift shop and the prices for their shirts were more reasonable.  We both selected shirts and enjoy wearing them.  

But when I saw the ad, the idea of using a NP block to make my own shirts seemed brilliant!

Rachael liked the idea as well and asked me if I would be interested in creating a tutorial on the process.  So, here I am!

Dave and I have a spring trip planned to Utah to visit the Arches NP so my choice of the block is personally motivated. ;)

Step 1 - Make your block!

After making my block, I quilted the little block and trimmed the batting it so that it was slightly larger (about 1" all around) than the block itself.  

I used Hobbs Heirloom fusible batting that is 80% cotton and shrinks about 3% in size. After being laundered, it has a crinkly, well-loved, comfortable look.

If you don't want that well-loved look you can use a low-loft poly, or even pre-washed flannel would be suitable.

After quilting the block, I added a piece of white fabric to sandwich the batting and then marked the 1/4" seam allowance of the block and basted around the block - on the seam lines - the finished size of this block is 4-1/2".  This step not only sandwiched the batting, but it also showed me exactly where the stitching line was on the back of the piece. (This is an important step because you are working blind!)  Trim the piece so that it has 1/4" batting and backing beyond the unfinished block.

Locate the center front of your shirt and mark it on the inside.  I did this by pressing a crease with the iron.  Mark the center top and bottom of the block, noting the TOP of the block so that you sew it into place in the proper orientation. (Another important step.)

Making sure your block is straight, pin into place (all around the block) and sew.  I used a stretch stitch so there will be just a little "give", rather than having stitches pull and break.  It also gives a bit of a decorative look.  You can choose to use a thread that matches, or you can contrast.

I used a contrasting thread in the bobbin to stitch the block into place (about 3/8" from the sandwiched block edge).  

The second line of sewing can be sewn from the front, or the back, simply stay inside the first line of sewing.  (I sewed from the front, offering a contrasting thread without rethreading my machine.)

Tip:: If you sew from the back use the basted sewing line as your guide.  Just a thread's space from the sewing line is perfect!

This second line of stitching not only adds an accent, but it also traps/seals the block's raw edges and will help to prevent any fraying that may happen with wear and washing.

The next step can be a bit scary... Turn the shirt right-side out and CAREFULLY make a small snip with sharp scissors to be able cut an X to reveal the block.

As I noted above... be certain that you mark TOP of your block so that the block is in the correct position.

Carefully, trim away the fabric...  The t-shirt fabric doesn't require any sort of finishing... It will just roll out of the way and won't ravel.

In this case, you can see, I failed to pay attention to which edge of the block was the top.  

I prepared a piece of fusible interfacing and placed it over the block with the fusing AWAY from the block.  I pressed those shirt pieces back into place and picked out all of the stitching.

I turned the block into the proper orientation and repeated the entire process and... VOILA!  I have my Arches National Park shirt.

Mistake?  What mistake???

Here's one final picture after being washed and worn a few times.

Which National Park will YOU Rep?

Leave a comment... I'd love to hear from you!

Keep Piecing,

Melva

Linking with:

m