Dear Friends:

My DDIL wants me, in the New Year, to make a quilt out of Tshirts and other items of clothing from my twin grandsons. No doubt I will be dealing with various types of materials. Any tricks to quilting these together? Should I put a backing of some sort onto each piece? Are there any internet sites which might help?
Thank you and here's hoping that all of those who celebrate this happy and holy time of Christmas enjoy the day and the season.

I used a lightweight fusible interfacing on the back of each t-shirt emblem to add some stability, the biggest challenge was figuring out how to get most of the emblems to a uniform size. I added sashing between each t-shirt so each could be showcased on its own and not compete with the one next to it.

I belong to a Longarm forum.....was reading yesterday and the t-shirt quilts were brought up --- apparently NONE of them like to quilt and most said they refuse to quilt them!!!!

Here's a link to directions I wrote for a t-shirt quilt.

http://reviews.ebay.com/Make-Your-Ow...00000000832366

It was my first t-shirt quilt and after searching the web for endless hours, I thought I'd put some of the knowledge I learned together as a way of helping someone else that had never made one and wanted to make one.

Hope it helps a little.

Thank you :D:D:D

What were the specific reasons given for the dislike of t-shirt quilts (if you can share professional secrets)? :wink:

The biggest reason I don't like them is that the heavy painted parts are hard to quilt over. But quilting can be done, I free hand quilt as well as computerized, so if there is a will there is a way.
I use Pellon fusible that has a light weight webbing in it.
It's fun to do.

Ah, so it had to do with the actual t-shirt, not the way it was stabilized or pieced into the quilt.

I could see that maybe breaking a needle or two.

Thanks for the clarification.

Thanks for the link. A gal at church has plans for me to help her make one (I have never made one, but she just knows I can help her!) over Christmas vacation and winter.
Bought a book and have read through it and now your wonderful directions.

Cut the whole front off the tee shirt and fuse a lightweight interfacing to the back of each tee shirt. I place the right side of the tee shirt face down on a teflon pressing sheet and then fuse the interfacing on the back side. Do not iron the interfacing, press and hold, then move the iron to another place and press and hold again until the interfacing is completely fused. The teflon helps prevent any "meltable" things on the tee shirt from sticking to the ironing board cover. Then I cut the tee shirts in the size blocks I want them in, usually 12 1/2 inches squares. Then add sashing and a border. If the tee shirts are stabilized correctly, they don't stretch when the long arm quilter stitches them. I have made several this way and they have turned out great.