Playing with layout - opinions please
 

I'm working on a T-shirt quilt for the friend of my oldest DD - and she's paying me to do it!
All but two blocks will finish at 12 x 12 but those two will be 14 1/2" square. I will be filling in with bits of the bright blue, pink and tie-dyed shirts and possibly the gold and green as well.
My DH's sister & I came up with these options. She really doesn't like things to be off-center but I prefer option 3.
What do you think?

I like the last option the best.

I much prefer a directional quilt than all the tee's going every which way. To me, and probably only me, showing them going in all directions shows no order. It makes me anxious just looking at it. OMG....I know I am getting old now! I like to be able to read all the tee's at one time, not be tilting my head back & forth.

I haven't made a tee shirt quilt yet, but the ones I like are the ones that have different size tee's with sashings that spotlight each block. Pick your daughter's favorite color as the background. Sash the tee's with a color that contrasts really good or many colors. I kept this picture of one that I just loved. It has order and different sizes of tees and variable spaces in the background, the better to put quilting in. I wish I could give credit to whoever designed & made this quilt, but I wasn't smart enough to keep that info.

I have made a number of t-shirt quilts. I think that unidirectional quilts tend to be a lot nicer. I have found when working with different size patches that framing them with sashing and background fabrics has its advantages. Another option is to run the patches in "columns" with other patches of the same width. eith sashing in between the columns. Many times I've used pre-washed flannel for sashing. Another trick I have learned is to make sure the stablizer you use is fairly light weight but sturdy.

I agree with Barb in Louisiana about all in the same direction. More importantly, if your DD is paying you to do the quilt, you should make it her way!

my choice would be option 4

Is there an option where they all go the same direction? It is just my opinion, but I think placing the shirts in different directions looks sloppy and not well thought out.

I hate playing the "Dizzy Bat" game. Looking down and having to go this way and that.

I agree with all going the same direction...with sashing. I have been asked to do 2 t-shirt quilts, a 4 deployment quilt for DS & a 4 yr. cheer leaders quilt of different schools and travels to England & Italy for DGD. I have the stablizer now so they need to get busy to select the tees. I like to have 2-3 things going at a time, so it doesn't get boring. Sorry about my rambling, but sugest to go in all one direction and you can still play with the tees by adding different sizes withsashing

I can see that I'm really bucking a trend here. the thought process I'm using is that it give the user something to search for or discover while cuddled in the quilt. My daughter certainly likes hers. I shall await the verdict from the person I am making the quilt for. I'm told she and the actual recipient are rather eclectic, "free-thinkers" and she had already given me written permission to use my artistic vision. And she has seen the one I made my daughter.

Regardless of any of our opinions, the quilt should always be for the person who receives it. What I perceive as the best could be boring to someone else. Please let us know what your daughter decides. What could really be neat would be to do a central design with radiating arms with the tee's in them. Just wanted to let you I can really think up some fun ways to do anything, although sometimes, not very doable. FYI....I can't do scrappy or Yellow Brick Road or any of those type quilts. For me, they just don't flow, and yet there are lots of them made so I am in a minority with my opinion.

Then completely go with your ideas on direction. I think an adult cuddle quilt is perfect. Just an idea since the recepiant is eclectic have you thought about cutting some of the shirts smaller (closer to the designs) and making it more patch work style. That's how I just did one and my DD loves it. Most of the shirts are right side up with a few of them with just words turned sideways. If you are happy with your sizes and shapes I say the last layout is most appealing.

Well I have heard via my daughter that the recipient of this quilt would like it to have sashing. So be it.
She thinks it may become a wall hanging. It's going to work about about 60" x 72" so we shall see. Still figure on doing something similar to my favourite layout so picture it with sashing ...

I have to agree with shirts all going same direction, but if the recipient likes it wonky, make it wonky!

I don't like all the different directions, either. The whole point of a T shirt quilt is to read the shirts. I'd have to put them all going in the same way, so the quilt has a definite top and bottom. Size of blocks, sashings, prints, all these are optional. But the direction of the shirt writing is non-negotiable, IMO... (And it's just that... an opinion!)

I prefer to have all the shirt to be in the same direction with the designs readable from the bottom of the bed. When I have different sizes of t-shirt I measure the larges design and an inch or two to the measurements top and bottom and then I make all my blocks that size. Sometimes I will add two small one with sashing in between and even on the sides to make a block that is the same as the larger ones.
I cut filler pieces out of t-shirt fabric I iron stabilizer on some of the backs of the shirts to extends the blocks to the size I need.

My plan exactly but the blocks might be a few different sizes.

If it is a snuggle quilt to be used I lean to omni directional. If hung then obviously one direction

I just finished one for a friend. I didn't use sashing, and blocks were different sizes and put together like a puzzle, did have to add some fillers to make it a rectangle. I did have it one directional. There are so many ways to make these- so have fun with it.

I prefer all going the same direction or if not that why not divide into quarters with each shirt going the same direction but the sections going different directions

I vote for the last one.

I love snuggle quilts with everything going every which way. But with a wall hanging, I think they need to be right side up. Adding sashing as needed will get them all the same size.
Have fun.

I have seen some beautiful Tshirt quilts. They used stabilizer and it gave the knit shirts much more body. I personally hate looking at anything that I have to look every which way, I prefer things in a more orderly direction (yes, I am a Libra). I would use sashing to make the blocks it.

I have made four bed size t-shirt quilts. They look better when they are uni-directional. A sash for each block really helps to off set each t-shirt. I used the school colors as sashing for my son's t-shirt quilts. Also, for the stablilizer, be very careful when choosing. The first t-shirt quilt I made, I used an iron on fabric and it made the quilt very heavy, plus gummed up the needle very badly. For the t-shirts that are an irregular size, either cut down to fit the others or fill in with another fabric so the blocks are similar in size. just my 2 cents! Good luck with the quilt :)

I'm with you, I like #3. That would be my first choice, then #4. I have done t-shirt quilts and I have found that the quilts I've done with the t-shirts all the same direction framed and then another background fabric, are wonderful. But the ones with the t-shirts in all different directions are fun and feel like they can be used, washed and loved. So I think just like any other quilt we do, it's up to you, your DD and how you both think her friend will use it. Good Luck

The girl may have no idea how it's going to turn out, and once she sees how big it is, I'm sure it will go on her bed or couch. I love that picture of the one with the printed background and various size/shape blocks. In any case, I agree with all-one-way opinions. You are a good mom to do this for her, and I'm sure it's fun to do it.

I totally agree with Barb in Louisiana so I guess that makes me old too. I love the one that she displayed. It's neat, organized & easy to read. Obviously, it's up to the one who is paying you but IMHO, I agree with Barb.

I've made a lot of tshirt quilts and they have always been hits. I do keep mine one directional, for ease of reading, and I frame the blocks to bring them to size.
I keep as little of the actual knit fabric as possible, trimming around just the design. I tend to like scrappy framing for each block then I use a common fabric to sash the quilt. I like to use even the small designs, and will often join 4 of them to make a block to equal the larger blocks. Or I might use a long narrow section to add size to one that is shorter by adding it to the top, bottom or side.
I make each row like a puzzle, and it may be taller or shorter than another row. I just make them all the same width so they fit together across.

Me too, I like the last setting. Great quilt.

I am with Barb in Louisiana - I like them all going in the same direction.

Of the 4 options you showed, I like #4 the best.

t shirt quilt
 

Why not add a border around all the 12" squares to bring them up to 14.5"? Then you will have a neutral color between all the squares. The eye needs a place to rest.

IMHO, I think they would look better all going in the same direction. I think turned all different ways makes you eyes jump around too much.

Not sure if you like this option, but it's how I did my grandson Ayden's t-shirt quilt. There are instructions for it in the archives under tutorials. One of the best parts of doing a project like this is the special thoughts of the person you are creating it for! Good luck...it will be a treasure for sure!

I have made many T-shirt quilts. I have used the backs of the tees as fabric to frame out small designs to fit the largeat size of tee design. I also prefer designs to all go in one direction, but have see some where it is multidirection. These have also used smaller designs as sashing. I think I would ask owner of tees if possible. I know the younger recipients have loved all the ideas. You just never know!! Whatever you end up with, it will be cherished. Trust me.

HuskerQuilter - one of the best looking t-shirt quilts I have seen. I really like it!!

I like the last (offset) option the best. One suggestion...check your fusible interfacing on the backs of the shirts...make sure the glue completely melted/fused...I just had a customer quilt...looked ok...but every block had the fusible barely secured...had to remove from the frame and repress every block!

Truly AWESOME!

The May issue of the Online Quilt Magazine has a picture of what I envisioned for this quilt. Unfortunately I can't figure out how to link it to this thread.

#4 looks very good

I like #4 with the reds spread out more.