Not quite a rugby quilt

Now that all the hoopla surrounding the Rugby World Cup is over life as we know it can get back to normal.  No doubt some quilters with mad keen rugby supporters in their households have whipped up a rugby themed quilt or two, as I’ve noticed rugby panels for sale in my local quilt shop.   Robin already has his own quilt with a slight rugby theme – although not quite a rugby quilt it has many memories attached. 

For Robin’s 60^th birthday several years ago,  I wanted to  make him something special. Some of his unwanted tee-shirts had interesting pictures so I decided to use them in a quilt, a sort of “this is your life” quilt. I used iron-on non stretch Vilene to back the knit fabric, and a black and white New Zealand silver fern print as the background. The quilt is backed with winceyette and is machine quilted.

Robin’s tee shirt quilt

The six tee-shirts used were: 

Hawkes Bay Brewery (now closed) purchased after a tour through the factory.  Hard Rock Café, Honolulu, purchased on our first ever overseas holiday.  New Zealand Rugby World Cup 1991 tour, featuring commemorative stamp issued by New Zealand Post.  C J Pask Winery, Hawkes Bay, purchased on a wine tour.  Norsewear New Zealand Ltd, brought from the iconic factory in Norsewood which previously made a range of woollen items, (now sold to another buyer and producing socks).  Taihape Centennial 1994, purchased at Taihape after arriving in style on a steam train from Wellington. 

Rugby World Cup 1991 tee-shirt

Down the side borders are logos from former workplaces, New Zealand Post Office, New Zealand Fire Service, Cityline Buses  and Toops. Also included is a logo from Caravan Camping NZ, and one from a treasured and sadly worn out Rugby World Cup fine red wool jersey.  I named this quilt “Memories of Work and Play.”