Iron-on interface vs. water soluble stabilizer
 

I noticed that t-shirt quilts called for iron-on interface to stabilize them. I want to make a memory quilt from my husband's shirts, but many of them are golf shirts, which would also need to be stabilized. I wanted the quilt to be soft, and I think interface would make it stiff. I was wondering if anyone has tried water soluble stabilizer? I only see it being used with embroidery. But wouldn't it stabilize a t-shirt (or golf shirt) and then could be washed away after the quilt is completed, leaving the quilt nice and soft? I haven't used either the interface or water soluble stabilizer myself. Any opinions?

There are very lightweight interfacings that I don't think will make your quilt stiff. They are used in very lightweight fabrics like what you would use in lightweight blouses. However, I think if you quilt it well, wash away stabilizers could be an alternative.

You might want to try the fusible tricot interfacing. I used that on a t-shirt quilt because I also didn't want it to be stiff. It came out very nice! You just have to pay attention to which direction you are applying it. You want the stretch of the tricot going the opposite way of the stretch of the shirt.

If you used the wash away, you would want to quilt it really heavily. The interfacing is not there just for the quilting process, it's to keep the knits from stretching out of shape when you use or display the quilt. You should also look at Misty Fuse. I used it with some silk and the hand is still very soft.

I just took a t-shirt quilt class at my LQS. Teacher instructed us to use tear away stabilizer. Joane's has it pretty cheap, especially with coupon. fuse it to the back of the shirts and sew blocks together. remove before long-arm quilting. she said the interfacing wreaks havoc with long arm( thread breaking, etc). She also said interfacing makes quilt too stiff.

I think the teacher is wrong on some of the stabilizer. I used tricot interfacing on my Mothers clothes and it is wonderfully soft. It stays soft, but keeps fabric in place.

I just longarm quilted my t shirt quilt which had French fuse as the stabilizer. My machine had no issues with the interfacing. I feel that the quilt is a lot lighter than I expected. I am about to longarm my daughters t shirt quilt which is made out of all her baby clothes. I used a lightweight interfacing on that one. I've only used water soluble stabilizer for the tops of embroidery to keep the stitching looking great so I don't know how it would do in this instance.