One of the ways we are able to provide for the needs of our large family while keeping a reasonable budget is by thrift shopping, and I have discovered I really enjoy it.  It feels good to provide for a need (or want) and not break the budget.

We have a little local shop that supports a school, and it’s one of my favorite places to browse.  It is astounding, really.  If I think of something I know I’m going to want, or I pray about a need, it’s not uncommon to find it the next time I visit.  Other times I may keep my eyes peeled longer, but God always provides, one way or another!

Last year when we had a cold snap I realized that C1 needed a real bed quilt instead of the over-sized baby blanket and throws I had layered on his bed.  I started watching for a cotton twin sized bed quilt, and found a Target brand quilt with automobiles on it,  but a couple of the applique`s had begun to pull away so they were only asking $2.00.  This is something I can fix, so I was thrilled and thankful!

Then last winter that annual cold snap hit and I realized C2 also needed a real, bed sized quilt, but I wasn’t find anything.

My own bed quilt was a king sized quilt.  Our bed is a queen, but I like my quilts to hang long and cover the sides of the bed.  The top edge and whole first row of blocks had grown ratty from 12 years of wear, and my husband mentioned how nice it would be to replace it.  It did occur to me that our old quilt, a mix of blocks in the green and brown spectrum, could make a very nice boy blanket.

Sometimes using what you have is the most creative endeavor of all!!

I laid it out on the roomiest floor I could find, and spread C1’s quilt on top for a template, avoiding the ratty side of the old quilt.  C1’s quilt was a little shorter than I like, so I cut C2’s longer so that it will tuck under the bottom of his bunk mattress.  I just cut along the rows and pinned as I went to hold the layers together.

Using a heavy cotton camouflage fabric from Joanne’s, I cut strips and made a binding.  I used this tutorial as a guide to piece the binding and sew it on the quilt.  I’ve done a lot of bindings, but this is my favorite method by far!  The tutorial is clear and easy to follow, and it saved me a lot of time.  I did the whole project in one day.

I wasn’t sure I was going to like the camo fabric.  It had the browns like the quilt, but it was a completely different style.  However, when I put the quilt on the bed, I loved it!  The dark browns in the binding match the dark brown of the wood in the bed and make it look like I gave the project more forethought than I actually did.  (Really, I just didn’t find anything I liked better.)

I’d like to do a little woodsy theme in the boys’ room, with stars and some camp inspired decor.  There are old, green and flannel marine sleeping bags on the bottom of the beds for colder nights.  They’re fun to crawl around inside too, if you’re 4 and 6 years old.  🙂

Back at the thrift store I found a pair of matching pillow shams for 75 cents that also contribute to this woodsy theme and I’m keeping my eyes open for small stuffed animals that match the sham.

For $15.00 I replaced my quilt at the Salvation Army.  I still have some camo fabric to make the boys some hot and cold pack/bean bags (if I ever get around to it!) 😉

The best part?  C2 loves his new blanket, and seeing me make it for him makes him feel special too!