School Teacher Retirement {Memory Quilt}

" A teacher takes a hand, opens a mind, and touches a heart". 

I was recently asked by one of my boy's school to make a memory quilt for a teacher that was retiring this year.  My schedule was really, really tight, but when I heard that she had been teaching second grade there for 43 years?
I knew I had to make it happen.

Photo cred: School FB site

The staff gathered up some old tshirts and some plaid skirts from the uniform closet. 

I took a short time to make a plan and decided on relying on an old memory quilt book by Better Home and Gardens. It seemed to fit the number of t-shirts there were and a way to incorporate the plaid in the sashing, but without overwhelming it.

The one tweak I made was extending the outer stars into the border.

It was also requested that I make an embroidered block with her name and dates.

 Omni Navy by Superior threads in a floral free motion quilting seemed the "right" choice. 

Navy minky backing by Shannon Fabrics. It has become somewhat of a standard for my memory quilts. I usually hear "I love how soft the back is!"
 And the bright green binding for pop!

A printed quilt label with remnant scraps of plaid. The bible quote is from the school handbook. 

I was so excited to see that she loved it when she opened it at her retirement party.

Photo cred:  School FB site

Such a happy recipient!

Quilt Stats
Measures: Approx 50"x 50"
Pattern: Remember When from BHG Memory Quilt book
Fabric: Kona Solid Navy, Kona Kelly Green, Shannon Fabrics Navy Cuddle
Thread: Omni Thread Navy Blue by Superior Threads
Quilted: Free motion flowers on HQ Avante


Whenever I finish them, I'm always resigned in the fact that I don't particularly love making them, but I sure do love the response from the recipients, and it makes it all worth it!