Making an Heirloom
September 6, 2007|
If you're an Army famly who's been in for more than a few years, chances are your spouse's closet is filled to the brim with BDUs and DCUs. Now that our soldiers wear the ACU, our household was overflowing with useless green and desert camo. Besides keeping around a set or two for Halloween costumes, what are we to do with all these old uniforms?
I came up with one idea...
I'm a terrible quilter, so this project too me forever and a day. And I backed it with ACU material, which is a nightmare to sew with and which I will never sew on again! But once I got the idea stuck in my head, I wanted to have one so badly that it was worth all the hours of work. I think this project was like childbirth: despite the gnashing of teeth and pulling of hair, the minute it was finished, I completely forgot how miserable I was. I really love how it turned out.
One thing I wasn't sure of before I started this quilt was proper uniform etiquette. I didn't want to do anything to the uniform that would be disrespectful. I couldn't find much info on the internet about this topic, though I did find several websites selling Christmas stockings and purses made out of old uniforms. So I asked my husband if he thought this would be an appropriate way to preserve his old uniforms. I liked his answer: he said, "What could be more respectful than turning them into a family heirloom?" So now we have a lovely quilt to preserve those years of BDUs and DCUs, instead of wasted closet space.
What are your BDUs and DCUs doing?
That is a beautiful quilt, I bet the ACU material was impossible to sew with!
We have a ton of old uniforms just hanging around in the closet, but SOME DAY, I aspire to make a quilt like yours. Thanks for the idea.
Posted by: TripleE | 09/06/2007 at 13:13
That quilt is gorgeous! I can't sew my way out of a wet paper bag! You did a GREAT job!
Posted by: suzanne | 09/06/2007 at 13:41
I made a BBQ apron for my DH, to use when he was in the Sand, from his old BDUs.... he wanted a kilt, but my sorry sewing skills don't go THAT far.
LAW
Posted by: liberal army wife | 09/06/2007 at 14:02
That is AWESOME! I suppose I can't pay you to do one for me? LOL
We have done simliar things with t-shirts and other material, things, that we loved but didn't know what else to do with.
It's beautiful and thanks for sharing! As to the BDUs and DCUs, they are sitting in a closet, some are still hanging, clean from the dry cleaners and never worn again after cleaning, in a garment bag!
Posted by: Love My Tanker | 09/06/2007 at 14:03
Wow! with four sons and a husband in the service, we have a closet that could stock a surplus store. Thanks for a great idea!
Posted by: Raging Mom | 09/06/2007 at 14:13
My husband loves to hunt so anything he will never wear again goes into his hunting bag. Saves us a ton of money becuase hunting gear is not cheap. He has relatives that ask if he has any spares they can have.
Posted by: angela | 09/06/2007 at 14:41
Sweet! What a great idea! :D
My husband wants me to make shorts out of one of his pairs of pants that is torn in the knee (the one pair where the crotch hasn't split -- the first part to go in the ACUs). He also wanted me to make a dice bag out of an unwearable set of ACU pants, and a hackey sack for his first sergeant. That quilt is an awesome idea for the rest of the material. :) I might have to try that out! Great job!
Posted by: Deltasierra | 09/06/2007 at 15:33
The quilt is beautiful. I am so envious of your talent.
This makes me think of my grandmother. We lost her several years ago. She was incredibly talented. If she were here, she would have taken one look at your quilt, turned to me and said, "bring me his old BDUs," then in no time, she would have whipped up a quilt for my husband. Ah, I miss her....
Posted by: Andi | 09/06/2007 at 15:37
That's fantastic. What a great idea for all those useless uniforms. Not only do we have BDU's, but out of color Class A's and B's too...what a heck of a quilt THAT would make!
Posted by: Linda | 09/06/2007 at 16:37
Thanks to everyone for the accolades!
Angela -- The hunting recycling is a good idea. I actually only had to cut up the jackets; I sent all the pants to my uncle, who loves wearing BDU pants for carpentry and clearing brush.
Posted by: Sarah | 09/06/2007 at 17:30
Oh wow, that's such a beautiful quit! The idea is something I would never have thought of. Thanks for sharing it!
Posted by: Nikki | 09/06/2007 at 19:14
How awesome! What a great idea!! My husband's Navy, and our uniforms just aren't as cool!
Posted by: Ann M. | 09/06/2007 at 23:23
WOW, I wish the picture was bigger I was trying to see the details.
Posted by: phyllis | 09/08/2007 at 00:45
Never mind I figured it out. It looks better close up. I wonder if my husband would go crazy with me cutting up his uniforms.
Posted by: phyllis | 09/08/2007 at 00:46
Sarah...that quilt turned out so wonderfully! What a great heirloom! I'm very impressed and inspired!
Posted by: Heather S. | 09/08/2007 at 22:19