Bernadette Harwood

Hi, I have made lots of t-shirt quilts and I always tried to make them the same size. Then I realized why limit ourselves. The width of the blocks need to be the same size but the lengths don't . I usually measure and find the biggest design and make my plans from there. Say the biggest block is 18 by 18. Then you make a row with all the blocks 18 by 18 or how many rows you want that size. You can have the other rows 18 by 10 or 12. Just make a whole row the same size. You could make them all different sizes and make borders for each block to make them all the same size. That would be more work but will turn out nice too. I sometimes applique some of the little tiny logos here and there on the borders or on the plainer blocks. Be sure to use iron on stabilizer on the shirts before cutting them out. It will give you more accurate sizes and stop the quilt from stretching later.

Bernadette Harwood

Here are a couple of pictures showing different size blocks.

Sallyjane

I tried unsuccessfully to post the pictures of a t-shirt quilt that I made for my husband.

I used my 12.5"x12.5" template for all the squares. So, even tho some of the shirt designs were smaller, I just centered the template over the design and cut the nice large squares. Maybe the shirts you are working with are not big enough to do that. Mine were all L or XL mens.

I used my DH old denim workshirts for the sashings, even included the pockets and logos from the workshirts. It turned out really nice!

mountain deb

I did a t-shirt quilt several years ago for a friend. They pinned them in place because there were a lot of them and I did not have the time or inclination to fiure out how to lay them. What I did do was use different bias tape left over from various projects (different widths, colors etc) and used them for borders. It brought in color, fun and mystery. No, I did not keep a picture of it.

cbuchanan

I encountered the same problem with my g'daughter's t'shirt quilt. I used the back side of the same shirt and cut pieces to sew to the logo piece to bring it to the right size. Worked beautifully.

Also had the same problem of too many white t-shirts but I used a black fabric with red, yellow, blue, etc. small dots on it and it was perfect to set off all the white and light colored shirts. Put a bring yellow on the back. It turned out to be the best looking t-shirt quilt I've made yet and I've made one for all my grandchildren when they graduated from hi school.

I also used a lot of the small logos on the pockets and worked them into the outer sashing strip. Then I machine embroidered their name and graduation date in the sashing strip corner.

Good luck.

JoanneS

I wish I had a picture of the Tshirt quilt I made a couple of years ago - the picture is in CT, and I'm in AZ. Anyway, the point is that I fused a fusible kniw facing to the back of the Tshirts to stabilize them before sewing them into the quilt. I used bigger pieces of the shirts than just the logos, so they definitely needed the stabilizing.

Blue Chicken - your quilt is gorgeous, and my prayers are with your nephew. Having gone through the cancer journey myself, my emotions and memories come roaring back whenever I hear about someone else being diagnosed. It's especially heartrending when a young person is sent on that journey. I'll cheer when I hear he's 'officially' in remission!

alaskasunshine

We have a very dear friend Jason Merkle he also had a very rare brain tumor. He went to the BURZYNSKI CLINIC IN HOUSTON TEXAS. All medical doctors I have asked about BURZYNSKI hate the man! Go figure Jason is alive and doing very well. PLEASE check out Dr. S. Burzynski he knows what he is doing. Jason did not have Chemo, or radiation. Burzynski specialize in really difficult cancers. I was privelaged to meet Jason & his parents in Michigan. They are a lovely family. Burzynski has so much information on BURZYNSKI.ORG (all lower case)

God Bless you,
AlaskaSunshine

Suz

Be sure to stabilize your t-shirt pieces by putting a light-weight knit fusible stabilizer running in the opposite direction of the knit in the t, i.e., t fabric stretching right to left, stabilizer stretching north to south. Cut the t-shirt pieces larger than what is needed, add the fusible according to package directions and then cut the block to the correct size.

If a stabilizer is not used, the t-shirt seams will stretch and you will not be a camper. (Sorry, be a happer quilter!) And I doubt you will be happy with the results.

Suzanne

GailG

I made a t-shirt quilt for my SIL and had the same problem with the size of logos. Also I had wanted to use some of the pockets on the quilt. What I did was plan on having most of the blocks finished 12 1/2" To get that size I had to use sashing, smaller blocks, to fill in the spaces. On the larger blocks I did the same. You will see it on the thread GAILG'S T-SHIRT QUILT. I'm a duck when it comes to operating the computer, so I don't know how to tell you to get to it except to go to my bookmarks and find it there. I'm sure there must be a simpler way. Good luck. Any questions, PM me.

Debby

I am working on my second t-shirt quilt. The teacher that I had cut out the small logos. Using wonder under she ironed them to a larger (the size of your squares) piece and stitched around them. I did this and have several on one square. I spaced them in a eye pleasing manner. It came out real nice. My daughter is very happy with it. Good luck.