Quiltingboard Forums - t-shirt quilts without the stabilizer... can it be done?

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ckcowl, you have just saved me so much effort and work...I am beginning a T shirt quilt for great grand son, am doing T shirts on front which is cotton, then using knit for backing...had planned to quilt after making top, now with your idea will just tack or tie in places, did not even consider this until now...wow..the back is camo knit and front base is muddled tan (color of sand) so it should work out fine..thanks memepeggy

Here's link for T-Shirt quilt and instructions. You can download this file.....http://www.allpeoplequilt.com/projec...t-quilt_2.html

Hope this helps

T-shirts will stretch out of shape unless you stabilize them. When I make t-shirt quilts I use a light iron on stabilizer that I get at Joann's by the bolt. It is usually 20" wide. It is light weight enough not to make the t-shirts stiff, but keep their shape. You might try getting a sample of this stabilizer and iron it on a scrap of t-shirt to see if you like the feel of it. I still used warm & natural between the t-shirts and the backing of the quilt.

Quote:

Originally Posted by wildyard

I have just been asked by a local radio "personality" who has had the same show for 38 years to make a quilt for him from his collection of themed t-shirts. This is a great honor to me as I am a great fan of all he has done and represents.
Here is my problem and question:
Every t-shirt quilt I have ever felt, has not been soft and cuddley because of the feel of the iron on stabilizer. I, and he, really want this quilt to be very soft. I will use flannel or fleece for the backing. If I use fleece, then I will use a layer of sheet between since the fleece and knit are both so stretchy. So, here is my question:
Any suggestions out there about how to best accomplish my goal without using the iron on stabilizer that will stiffen the t-shirt knit?
Could I starch it enough for sewing, then wash the starch out? Could I pin it a lot and stitch each square to a backing of sheet fabric? Could I do it like a rag quilt with the t-shirt for the front and fleece for the back?
As you see, I'm full of ideas with no idea which way to go. I will make sample squares trying all these methods if necessary, just hoping some of you can save me some steps.
Hugs and smiles and thanks!!!

I used the directions from a book called "How to Make a Too Cool T-Shirt Quilt" by Andrea T. Funk. She uses no stabilizer at all and it works.

Quote:

Originally Posted by featherweight

Sorry, I would not attempt to make a t-shirt quilt without some Tricot stabilizer. The shirts are hard enough to work with with stabilizer let alone not using it. I think it is a lot more work to not use it.. JMHO

Me too!

Quote:

Originally Posted by wildyard

Well, you could use iron on woven tricot interfacing. It is soft and would not interfere with the soft feel of your quilt. I think you would not be very happy with a traditional type quilt without somekind of stabilizer for the t-shirts.

I wouldn't recomend it. Tee shirt fabric stretches and the long arm quilters I know, won't quilt a tee shirt quilt unless the fabric is stabilized.

I would get a really lightweight stabalizer like the ones they use for silk or any lightweight material. It would keep the T-shirts from stretching and would still be soft.

Quote:

Originally Posted by PatriceJ

i'm in the process of making a t-shirt quilt. i'm not using any stabilizer at all. i've simply spray basted the t-shirts to the batting. each block is backed with scrap muslin. since i'm stippling around the motifs, the shirts remain flat.

i'm making it up as i go along, so i have no idea yet what the final layout will be. it'll be a quilt-as-i-go. these are a few of the "blocks" so far.

once the top is cobbled together, i'm going to flip it over and use turkey tracks to fasten the pieced back. the stitches will go through the muslin and batting, but not show on the front.

PatriceJ,

Your stippling is to die for! Can I come take lessons from you? Shouldn't take more than a few years to teach me how to do this.

I'm takeing a class and we are going to be using Non woven fusible lightweight interfacing. The teacher said doesn't make the blocks stiff.