Spirit Quilts

Football weather is in the air. School athletes are heading to the field for game night, which can get pretty chilly in some areas of the country.

Take a lap quilt along with you to the game to keep toasty as you cheer on your favorite team. A team quilt is a fun way to get into the spirit of the sport.

Where do you start?

That depends on the type of quilting technique you will use.

Applique offers a ton of options for a spirit quilt. Look at your school’s mascot. Is it something you can easily create with fabric?

If not, think a little broader. Is your team’s mascot an animal with paws? If so, make a simple quilt with a large paw in the center – using school colors of course.

Make a fast and easy spirit quilt by using school colors and appliqueing on the jersey number of your favorite player. This is a really quick project if you make it as a self-binding or pillow case type quilt that does not require mitering corners.

Since animal prints are popular fabric styles, you have a chance to incorporate those into your team quilt. Leopard and zebra prints are easy to find. You can even find some cotton versions of alligator textured fabric.

If applique isn’t your thing, you can still make a nice spirit quilt. Select a quilt pattern and use fabrics in team colors to create it. Embellish these popular prints with  faux furs and other fun trims!

Do you have a child playing football? Feature the athlete on your spirit quilt by making a photo quilt. You can make a large center block with the team photo in it, then make cornerstones with various photos of your player.

Rag quilts make fun spirit quilts because the fringe seems so pom-pomish.  Cut 5 inch blocks (or whatever size you choose) and sew them together to make a rag quilt.

You don’t have to limit yourself to a lap size quilt. The bigger the quilt, the better! Use the larger quilt to share with a seated neighbor or wrap your child up nice and snug.

Put your quilting skills to work to make matching seat cushions for the games. Use the same principles you would with your typical quilt projects, but make it thicker for comfort. You could also simply make a patchwork slip cover to slip over a ready-made cushion.

To keep your spirit quilt and cushion together, make a spirit tote. It will be a great place to carry your gloves and scarf, as well as money for that concession stand popcorn! You’ll have a spectator spirit set!

A spectator spirit set is also a good way to raise money for your sport's booster club. If you are a member of the club, volunteer to make several tote, quilt, cushion combos to use as raffle items.  Those who applique can use those skills additionally to make custom spirit sweatshirts to donate. The shirts could have a football or mascot on the front with the team name appliqued in team colors on the back shoulder area.

All these ideas are just as easily transformed into projects for band boosters, cheer boosters, or any school program really.

Spirit quilts are a good gift to give to coaches as an end of season gift, and teachers and administrators love them as well.

There are so many ways to use your quilting skills to show your support for your favorite school teams.  Use your creativity and start crafting! If you get started, maybe you can even have one ready before the next game!

© 2011-, Penny Halgren. This article courtesy of http://www.How-To-Quilt.com. You may freely reprint this article on your website or in your newsletter provided this courtesy notice and the author name and URL remain intact.

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