The carry quilt

The Carry Quilt is my favorite project to date. I felt as though the final product exceeded my expectations! I was in my element in conducting research through photographic documentation and note-taking, and I was overjoyed that this project afforded me the opportunity to look into the affordances of materials. I ended up changing the direction of the design after my prototyping experiences suggested that tarp would not serve as a good base for a blanket.

Once I referenced my photographs and observed that people who were experiencing homelessness were already using moving blankets, I decided to incorporate them into my final design. I was pleased that the double-zippered cloth pockets were already being used in the context of securing one’s belongings while traveling, and choosing to use TSA locks in order to lock the hidden-within-the-moving blanket pockets was an excellent final detail.

One of the many skills I learned during this process was how to partner with a small business in order to have the multi-layered Quilt stitched. The Carry Quilt is three moving blankets thick, and incorporates two layers of double-zippered cloth pockets. I also learned how to use an industrial sewing machine in my own training to fabricate prototypes for this Quilt. Finally, I learned never to underestimate the power of clean lines, and to continue to require hemlines to neatly align.

Final Design for the Carry Quilt

Quilt is constructed from three moving blankets and two layers of double-zippered cloth pockets. here, the blanket is revealing an opening where a double-zippered cloth pocket is visible.
The Carry Quilt was designed by myself, and the fabrication (stitching the blankets and pockets together) was done by Potrero Cleaner Alterations.

Gathering Data by Photographic Documentation

Images taken on the streets of the Potrero Hill and Mission Bay neighborhoods.

Documentation of Discarded or Forgotten Objects

This blanket was found at the intersection of 16th St. and Arkansas.

First Pass at Prototyping

Left image: material studies; Right image: making a pocket out of tag board and painter’s tape affixed to brown paper

Second and Fourth Passes at Prototyping

Left image: making a zippered pocket out of tagboard affixed to a tarp “blanket”; Right image: pinning a double-zippered cloth pocket to a tarp “blanket”

Fourth Pass at Prototyping, Continued

In addition to pinning down the double-zippered cloth blanket, I decided to make another open pocket, but using brown paper instead. I am still investigating the potential sizes and looks of the pockets juxtaposed with the tarp blanket.

Third Pass at Prototyping

I considered making the pockets hidden during my third pass at prototyping. Even though my fourth pass at prototyping involved the preferred double-zippered cloth pockets, this third pass revealed a new design strategy: hiding the pockets, all the white keeping the zippers exposed. This third pass is made of four layers: the first and third are made of brown paper; the second layer comprised of a handmade tagboard pocket with glued-on zipper, and the fourth layer is comprised of blue netted fabric. I considered this design, as I wanted the recipient of this blanket to not only have the ability to successfully store precious items, but I wanted the recipient to be able to keep warm, and to use the blanket as a means of shelter. I realized that I needed to make my blanket multi-layered, and that one tarp layer would be insufficient.

Process Shot

I pivoted regarding my choice of materials. Having multiple layers of tarp and blanket batting did not provide an aesthetically pleasing solution. I wanted for all of the layers of the Carry Quilt to align without additional folds or seams. I was inspired to incorporate moving blankets into my design, due to the fact that I had seen people who were experiencing homelessness use them during my process of photographic documentation.
In this image, I am pinning the double-zippered cloth pockets to the underside of one of the layers of moving blanket.

Process Shot

I am testing the holding capacity of the doubled-zippered pockets here. I have selected two sizes of pocket, and my aim was to be able to comfortably store food and eating utensils in at least one of the sizes of pocket.

Final Design for the Carry Quilt: Shot 1

Image reveals one corner of the blanket folded upwards
The Carry Quilt was designed by myself, and the fabrication (stitching the blankets and pockets together) was done by Potrero Cleaner Alterations.

Final Design for the Carry Quilt: Shot 2

Image reveals two corners of the Carry Quilt folded upwards
The Carry Quilt was designed by myself, and the fabrication (stitching the blankets and pockets together) was done by Potrero Cleaner Alterations.

Detail Shot 1 of the Carry Quilt

Image reveals a double-zippered cloth pocket filled with toiletries and a keepsake photo. once loaded, pocket will be secured with an accompanying TSA lock. pocket and lock are completely hidden once the Carry Quilt is in use.
The Carry Quilt was designed by myself, and the fabrication (stitching the blankets and pockets together) was done by Potrero Cleaner Alterations.

Detail Shot 2 of the Carry Quilt

Image reveals a loaded double-zippered cloth pocket secured with a TSA lock. pocket and lock are completely hidden once the Carry Quilt is in use.
The Carry Quilt was designed by myself, and the fabrication (stitching the blankets and pockets together) was done by Potrero Cleaner Alterations.