I want to make one of these and I have my supplies and shirts ready to go but I don't get how to make all the squares the same size. The designs on the shirts are different sizes so I'm stuck. Do I cut the designs out in a square then fuse the interfacing on? The designs won't be centered and some are too big or too small to be the same size.

What am I missing here??

I'm no expert, but I pick a size block that will work best for most of the tshirt designs. Then I fuse the interfacing on the back and cut the blocks all standard size. Some have more plain t'shirt material around the design that the others, but there is always plenty of fabric to make the blocks all the same size.

That was quick, Cowpie! Thank you so much...that definitely helps.

I'm in to process of making a t-shirt quilt using all different sized shirts and designs. I cut out the design, ironed on interfacing and trimed to fit the design. Then I cut & sewed sashing on the sides measuring to make them all 18 inches blocks. The sashing is all different sizes to fit the t-shirt designs. So far it's not looking too bad. It's kind of a pain to make eash sashing different sizes. I did them one at a time to avoid being confused, but it worked.

I did mine the same way as cowpie. You can see mine under my topics(click LIST) if you click on my name (in blue) above my avatar picture. Not all of my blocks were the same size & that did cause me problems with the sashing, so it's MUCH better to make the blocks all the same size.

I googled tshirt quilt images, there are lots of photos showing all kinds of layouts, here is the address, you should be able to cut-n-paste into your browser or just google (or just click on it here, i think that might work):

http://www.google.com/search?q=tshir...=com.microsoft:en-us:IE-SearchBox&oe=&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wi&biw=1280&bi h=851

Be sure to fuse to the t-shirt fabric *before* cutting the block to size, to ensure accuracy in the cutting. You usually fuse before cutting.

I cut mine different heights but same width. then sewed the t-shirts into columns, making the columns the same length. It worked out nicely but I rather like the idea of making the blocks the same size for the next one!

If you want to see a good picture of a T-shirt quilt, check out watterside..."2 T-shirt quilts-totally screwed up one". Just go to search and type in that title and you'll see how she did hers with the shadow box effect. Awesome!

This is how I learned...Cut up the sides of the t-shirt and across the shoulders. Then I bought a ruler that is 15 x15 square and placed onto the t-shirt design. This will make sure all the squares are the same size. Then I used the fusable (iron on) on the back of the cut t-shirt square. This will keep from slipping and growing in size. Then I laid out into a pattern and proceeded to use 3" strips for the edges of the t-shirt...making windows. Add your batting and backing and then tied off with yarn. Add your boarder and you are finished. I beleive I hit all the stages! Hope so!