Portrait Quilts -- Turn a Photo into a Quilt

Portrait Quilts -- Turn a Photo into a Quilt

Have you ever wanted to turn a photograph into a quilt? 

That's exactly what we've been doing in the Meander Quilt Guild this month!

I started with a photo of my beautiful Grandmother, Dorothy, taken right around the time of her wedding. Isn't she stunning? 

I then turned that photograph into a design that I could use. And for Portraits I really like to use value instead of color to create the design, so I pay close attention to the lights and darks, ignoring the realistic color entirely. 

I then translated that design into fabric using my raw-edge appliqué method. I am really pleased with how this one turned out, and I want to start another one with this same portrait, but maybe with more warm colors or prints! Or even make it scrappy! We'll see...

This has quickly become one of our Meander Member's favorite workshops! So many of our members have been sharing their portrait plans and designs in our private Facebook group, it's been a lot of fun to see! Maybe I'll do another post in the future of our members' Portrait Quilts! 

Here is a photo of my Grandmother on her wedding day. This one might need to become a quilt one day too, though the lace detail might prove tricky. I love these photos.  She passed away in 2018, and I miss her everyday. 

 

Now, I'd love to hear from you! If you were to turn a photograph into a quilt, who would you choose to be the subject? A child or grandchild? A pet? A wedding photo? Leave a comment below and let us know!

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40 comments

I would like to turn a pet photo into a quilt pattern, but I’m having a hard time figuring out how to do it!

Laura Stolzenberg

I’d like to try mom’s picture. She was a simple woman and I’m hoping that her picture will work the best

Carol

I have a great full length photo of my mom, her sister, and their cousin from the early 50’s. Would something like that work, or does it need to be a portrait?

Ruth Jones

A beautiful lady, and is that Chantilly lace in her gown? I had that lace in mine, by memory used a whole roll, at 25 pound per yard, a massive amount in 1962!!! in New Zealand, and it would have been imported then. When our younger daughter was married in 2018, just over 2 years ago, she used the skirt, mended the holes with invisible thread, tea dyed to a very pale ecru, and gathered onto a wide waist cumberbund. Then, the satin from my Mum’s wedding gown, from 1937, was soaked in Napisan, ironed, and that was the underslip[.Love you photos and the way you have used it. What a joy to have those.

Jean McKinstry

I would do a picture of my grand kids. They make the silliest pictures.

Jean

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