by Pamela Kay

Created on: November 08, 2011   Last Updated: November 22, 2011

You can easily learn how to turn summer memories into a quilt in just a few easy steps, using skills you already have or learning a few new ones. Use these quilts for snuggling-up on TV night, use them in a guest room or hang them on a wall for everyone to enjoy.

*Painted Memory Quilt

Yes, you can paint on fabric blocks and turn them into a unique quilt to remember a special summer! If you don’t see yourself as an artist, then use stamps and stencils. Have fun with it and encourage each family member to paint at least one block or section for the

painted quilt.

You can paint blocks to be set together for a quilt or use a whole cloth. You can quilt before or after painting; both have pros and cons. For example, it's easier quilting before painting but harder to heat set the paint after quilting, and it does have to be heat set. Just be sure you use a closely woven fabric (preferably 100% cotton) so your paint doesn’t fade away. Always test any technique you wish to use.

Be sure to wash and iron the fabric to remove any sizing and wrinkles before you paint it. There’s a wide variety of choices for painting such as fabric pens, acrylics (if you use a fabric paint medium) and textile paints. Painting on a damp fabric will give you a watercolor effect, which is lovely.

*Appliqued Memory Quilt

Another fun option to turn summer memories into a quilt; applique. Cut shapes that depict events of the summer out of boldly contrasting fabric and appliqué them to different blocks. Then use embroidery to highlight them. You can find fabric prints with beach scenes, mountain cabins, animals, trains, airplanes, foreign landmarks such as the Eiffel tower or the pyramids and cut these out for appliquéing. Make it simple or as elaborate as you wish.

*Photo Memory Quilt

Choose the photos of family and places you visited this summer that best depict how your family spent their summer. Scan these onto your computer and print them out using transfer paper, then iron the image onto your quilt blocks, which should be 6x6-inch or 8x8-inch. Cut a contrasting color of fabric into two-inch strips and use these to set the quilt blocks together. On one block, write the year or some other description of the summer fun.

Once the blocks are joined, place the quilt-top face down on the floor, add your batting, add the back of the quilt, which should be several inches larger than the front, and baste, pin or tailor-tack the three layers together securely. Quilt your desired pattern or just do stitch in the ditch to hide the quilting. Fold the extra fabric of the back over and stitch down to finish the quilt.

*Memorable Quilt Borders

Make it bold and make it big! Decorating a wide border really enhances a quilt. Use your imagination to think of ways to add flair to your quilt borders, such as painting small beach umbrellas, fishing tackle boxes and flies, or flip-flops. If you traveled, somewhere paint or applique airplanes, trains or road-signs. Trace your child’s feet and hands and appliqué them on the border of the quilt. If you planted a garden, use a shimmering fabric and applique butterflies, dragonflies or flowers on the border.

Have fun as you turn those summer memories into a quilt of lasting beauty. Once you learn how to turn summer memories into a quilt, you’ll want to do one every year.

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