interfacing on tshirt quilts
 

I am going to start a tshirt quilt - I have made several already. But recently I saw an article on the internet about not using interfacing. They really talked down using interfacing. Basically their main reason was the extra weight that the interfacing adds

Has anyone here made a tshirt quilt and not use interfacing.

I have made several tshirt quilts but none without interfacing. I use the the lightest weight that will stabilize the shirts. I don't think I would even attempt without interfacing. But maybe that's just me. The quilt is naturally heavy weight but so what.

I have made only one t shirt quilt and used very light interfacing. I can't imagine trying to work with the shirts without some sort of stabilizer. The Gal at joann's helped me pick out the very lightest one. Don't remember what it was but it worked

I have made several t-shirt quilts without interfacing/stabilizer after taking a class at my LQS using Too Cool T-Shirt book. Love how soft and cuddly they are! I would recommend a class or the book on the method. https://www.toocooltshirtquilts.com/

I have made many, many T-shirt quilts over the years and always used the featherweight interfacing. The quilts were always soft and cuddly. Even double sided T-shirt quilts. They are heavy but that is because the knit jersey is heavy. Lift up a garbage bag full of T-shirts and then lift up a bolt of featherweight fusible interfacing, the added weight is negligible. Now I do know some interfaces are quite heavy like the nylon tricot ones. But the featherweight stuff is indeed as light as a feather and adds absolutely no stiffness, it simply keeps the T-shirts from stretching out of shape as you sew them. I would not attempt making one without some sort of interfacing unless I starched the shirts so heavily they would be like card stock. As the starch washes out, that is a viable alternative but I have never actually tried it.

Lisa Capen Quilts has a really good tutorials on You Tube.

As a judge in a county fair, I saw a T-shirt quilt made without stabilizer. Not nice.

The only possible way that I can think that you would not have to use an interfacing would be if you were doing an allover quilting and even then, it would stretch like crazy when putting it together. One thing I tell my students is about how much bad info is out on youtube. Many folks simply make videos because they can and they are full of misinformation. Trust your gut - if it sounds weird, it probably is!

I work for a quilt shop and we do lots of t-shirt quilts. Have done them with and without stabilizer. With is always much better, my favorite is shape flex. Using stabilizer, in my books, is always better. Just follow the directions on your stabilizer so that it stays put. Peace, Brenda

I can't imagine making one without interfacing. I too read an article recently about not using interfacing. IMHO I would always be concerned about the fabric shifting or being stretched out of shape. I can't see how you could square up a block??? I don't think I have the guts to mess up a quilt using a method without stabilizer. T Shirts are not replaceable it they are memorabilia

I have made t-shirt quilts, but only with interfacing. That is a must for me. Otherwise, the t-shirts are way too squirrelly.

I always, always, always use interfacing. Much easier to quilt and a much nicer, smoother finish. Where are these articles you guys are referencing? I’d love to read them to see their reasoning. It just doesn’t make sense to me.

Thank you so much for your reply and thoughts.

It was the website that Vinnie called out in their reply that I was reading. But I just can't settle into the thought. Even if I can imagine myself sewing the shirts without interfacing.. cutting them to size would really scare me

I've made a t-shirt quilt using freezer paper ironed to back of shirt instead of fusible interfacing and sewed regular cotton sashing on all four sides before removing it. Then I just sewed the blocks together and quilted in the sashing. My batting allowed wide spacing and the blocks were not real big.

interesting...that makes my mind whirl ha ha

I asked my long armer about not using interfacing. She said it plays havoc with the needle. The fabric wants to come up with the needle and it makes a mess. She said she will not quilt a t-shirt quilt without interfacing. You might aqsk your long armer how she feels. Maybe if you are using your domestic machine or hand tying you could get away with it. For me, I will go to the effort to stabilize the shirts.

In my experience the interfacing generally lets go after a few washes anyway. Interfacing is lightweight and the tshirts are heavy so adding it doesn't make any difference in the weight but adds stability while you are working on it.

Pellon 911F is my go to for t-shirt quilts. Love it and bought an entire bolt when Joanns had interfacing on sale at 60% off!

I delivered a t-shirt quilt to the long armer for my friend. No stabilizer and minky back. Long armer just smiled and handed it back to me! Said stabilize it and I will attempt it (she does all our work so knows us well) but no guarantees. I took it back to friend and she ironed on to each square. It was adequate but not great. In hind site we decided we should have Not cut the stabilizer into squares, but just ironed on long strips right over the 2" sashing. Might have kept it from being so wonky. Minky just added to the wonky! It got quilted, but there were a few bumps and lumps. No wy to avoid it. Lesson learned!

I appreciate all of your thoughts. I have been thinking as well and I am thinking possibly the lady at the website only tried interfacing years ago - she started in 1992. So I am sure interfacing has come a long way since 1992. Just like so many other things with sewing

I will be using lightweight interfacing :)