Tutorial: Oil your sewing machine to keep it happy

If you’ve seen some of the quilted jackets that are super trendy right now but don’t have a quilt that you want to cut up to make one, here’s a cute project for you.  Melissa at Polka Dot Chair shows how to create an upcycled patchwork sweatshirt.  It uses just a single patchwork block to make the design.  And instead of cutting into an existing quilt for that block, she shows how to create the patchwork design from scratch using a handful of fabric scraps.

You can use a new sweatshirt to make this project, but you can’t beat an old sweatshirt for comfort and that lived-in look.  If you don’t have a sweatshirt on hand to work with, a trip to your local thrift store should provide plenty of options.  I was recently at a thrift store and came home with three good sweatshirts, still in good condition but ready for a good upcycle project.

This project is so fun and brings together quilting and patchwork with upcycle.  And who doesn’t love a comfy sweatshirt?  It doesn’t matter how many sweatshirts you have, I think you can always have one or two more!  They’re perfect for a cold winter day or for a cool spring or summer evening.

Of course if quilting and patchwork is not your thing, you can create any kind of applique design.  You can make your applique design as simple or as complicated as you like, then use her tutorial to add it to the sweatshirt.  

Go to Polka Dot Chair to see how to make this adorable upcycled patchwork quilt sweatshirt.  Don’t worry if you’re not an expert quilter or sewist.  If you have basic sewing skills you can make this project.  Her tutorial is easy to follow, with plenty of photos showing each step.

[photo credit: Polka Dot Chair]