Hobby to Homemaker!

After entering my first year at Central Michigan University, I learned how many people really loved the idea of "t-shirt blankets".  I brought my t-shirt blanket with me to CMU and my friends, roommates, and even complete strangers who saw me sitting at a CMU football game or just sitting outside studying on my blanket, would comment on how "cool" and "unique" my blanket was.  Conversations would be made from my blanket as people would ask me questions about the particular t-shirts found in my blanket and what a particular shirt meant to me.  I found it exciting to have something as simple as a blanket be able to reveal so much about me.  The conversations would often lead to, "Where did you get that made? I want one out of my t-shirts!"  After revealing that I had made it, people were often impressed and asked if I could make them one.  I never took them seriously, because it had never crossed my mind that I was more than capable of making t-shirt blankets for others and that this could actually turn into something more than just a sewing hobby I had. 

This idea of making t-shirt blankets for others was brought to light when my boyfriend, Steve, suggested to his mom that I could make a t-shirt blanket for his brother's graduation gift.  In the past, his mom had ordered a generic high school blanket from the school that was quite costly. But, this particular year when she went to order it, they were no longer selling the school blankets.  Steve showed his mom a picture of my t-shirt blanket, and she agreed that it would be a great graduation gift.  While they both though it was a great idea, I was hesitant.  I loved to sew and create things, but I had only made one t-shirt blanket in the past, my first t-shirt blanket.  I was worried that it wouldn't turn out the way his mom had imagined, I would forget how to make it, or I would make an unfix-able mistake.  Steve assured me that I would do a great job and that his mom and brother would be happy with it no matter how it turned out.  So, hesitantly, I agreed to make the blanket.  Thankfully, I remembered how to make it and no mistakes were made and it turned out great.  His brother was so surprised and excited when he opened the blanket on the day of his graduation party.  It was displayed at the party and guests of the party complimented me on the blanket and I felt a sigh of relief that I had successfully made a t-shirt blanket that so many people loved!

Here is a picture of the blanket I made for Steve's brother:

Don't forget to visit my website at www.bresblankets.com or follow me on my new twitter account @bresblankets

My First T-Shirt Blanket

Often times family members, friends, and customers ask me how I ever thought to make t-shirt blankets and how Bre's Blankets began.  Here is my story on my first t-shirt blanket.

In high school I was enrolled in the advanced sewing course because after taking sewing classes in middle school and one in high school, I had a passion to sew and create homemade projects for myself and for others.  I created pajama pants, dresses, skirts, tops, purses, and bags.  I took pride in each of the items I created and would proudly wear it around school.  I began making dresses for my friends.  I even made my little sister, Chloe, an Easter dress.  I loved making things for people and felt so much joy seeing their excitement in something that I created.  In the advanced sewing course, after we completed all of the assigned projects, we were able to choose our own unique project that we wanted to create.   With the help of my sewing teacher, I decided I wanted to make my very own t-shirt blanket, filled with all of my t-shirts from school.  I loved being able to pick out the shirts that symbolized something to me.  I included shirts from past mission trips, softball and basketball shirts, a CMU shirt (the college I would soon be attending), and even shirts as simple as camouflage to represent that I was a deer hunter.  Each shirt was carefully picked out because of its special meaning to me.  I constructed the blanket in and outside of class time and worked very hard because it was so important to me.  Once it was completed, I was thoroughly excited!  While all of my past projects were special, this one didn’t compare because it was more than just something I had made with fabric bought from a store, it was something I made out of important pieces that represented me.  My t-shirt blanket helped tell my story.  It not only represented my hobby of sewing, but the blanket encompassed so much more, with each shirt symbolizing a different aspect of my life.  While some may find that cheesy, it is more than true.  Looking at my blanket even now, it brings back so many memories.  Ask me about any of the shirts in the blanket and I can tell you a story behind it!  Here is my first t-shirt blanket that I made!

Please stop by my website as well at www.bresblankets.com.