Go Back  Quiltingboard Forums > Main
T-Shirt Quilts >

T-Shirt Quilts

T-Shirt Quilts

Old 06-24-2013, 01:08 PM
  #11  
Senior Member
 
cindi's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Central Ohio
Posts: 987
Default

If you're making all the blocks one square size, remember that the smallest the block can be must be the size of your biggest logo. So measure the length and width of all your logos. If the widest is 14" and the longest is 15", your block must be at least 15.5" square to allow for seam allowance. I make my own templates from heavyweight posterboard, and they can be used over and over again. I just cut the posterboard 2" bigger than the block size, cut the correct block size out of the center of it, and use a pencil to draw the block. Then I use my ruler & rotary cutter to cut the shirt. Clear as mud? I've got one of these for about every size you can think of. Good luck!
cindi is offline  
Old 06-24-2013, 02:29 PM
  #12  
Super Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Nebraska
Posts: 3,252
Default

I used Eleanor Burns' T-Shirt Quilt pattern for my grandson's baseball quilt. I am one who likes a written pattern and her instructions are very good, of course. She includes drawings and yardage for different sizes. Also used some of her suggestions for how to use the buttons, neck line of jerseys. She has layouts for using different sizes of t-shirts and small logos. It is not an expensive pattern, maybe $8 or so. I was very nervous about starting to cut up my grandson's baseball t-shirts and jerseys! Was very pleased with it.
suern3 is offline  
Old 06-24-2013, 04:12 PM
  #13  
Senior Member
 
SusanSusan33's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: SW Florida
Posts: 739
Default

One of the QB members has the BEST tutorial ever. Go to www.seamstobeyouandme.com. It is sooo thorough!
SusanSusan33 is offline  
Old 06-25-2013, 09:02 AM
  #14  
Super Member
 
Normabeth's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Central New Jersey
Posts: 1,013
Default

Missouri Star Quilt Company and a free tutorial on making T-Shirt quilts, it's actually done by one of Jenny's daughers,
when I made my first t-shirt quilt, I found this very helpful.
Normabeth is offline  
Old 06-26-2013, 04:24 AM
  #15  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Usually in my sewing room
Posts: 813
Default

I am working on a t-shirt quilt now and not using a pattern. Many of the ideas above are really good advice. I will tell you what I've learned to do and not to do.

To do: Decide what size you want to make and what size your machine will accommodate when it comes to quilting. I told my friend to provide 20 t-shirts. I ended up with a 25 - 12.5" squares. Some were squares made up by putting four logos from the front of four shirts together into a 12.5" square. I also made a 2.5" sashing and 2.5" border. This quilt is now almost the size of a king size quilt! Consider making a smaller quilt...say 10 - 15 t-shirts.

To Do: Use the correct stabilizer. I actually purchased stabilizer that was too stiff and used it for about 1/2 of the squares. The other half of the squares I used a lighter weight stabilizer. Now the quilt is stiiffer in some areas and just right in others, making it hard to quilt.

To Do: Use low loft batting - T-shirt quilts are heavy to begin with...Low loft will make it easier to work with in your machine.

To Do: I am seriously considering tying this quilt rather than quilting it, since it is so big and I am working on a manual Singer 301A. I don't want to mess up the backing and batting and make it pucker because I can't keep my quilt laying flat in my small machine when quilting it. LA is not an option because the lady who wants it doesn't want to pay that much for it.

Just my 2 cents worth.
Stitch124 is offline  
Old 06-26-2013, 05:30 AM
  #16  
Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 17
Default

I've only made one tee shirt quilt and I am thrilled with it. I did not use a pattern or book, just some advice from friends and on line. Fusible tricot interfacing worked well for me. Follow good advice of Maryb in this thread. A few of the shirts were old or thin, so the interfacing was important. Tee shirt quilts are a bit heavy, so I used a light bamboo-cotton batting and a cotton backing, no flannel. Have fun.
QuiltPat is offline  
Old 06-26-2013, 05:38 AM
  #17  
Senior Member
 
cindi's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Central Ohio
Posts: 987
Default

I use Warm & Natural for my t-shirt quilts. Thin, but cozy. My Australia quilt does have a flannel back, and I must admit, I love it! I was pleasantly surprised that the quilt didn't end up heavy at all, and it's not too warm. It's June and I'm using it in the house right now as I write this. I think using the lightweight interfacing definitely helped in that respect.
cindi is offline  
Old 06-26-2013, 06:29 AM
  #18  
Super Member
 
Zappycat's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 1,079
Default

I took a class at a local quilt shop. It seems like all the quilt shops always run this class... especially now at graduation time! BUT... as everyone else said, you don't need the class, its very easy. But if you do take the class I can almost guarantee that you will learn more from your classmates that you will from the teacher if you are not following rigid instructions. It was amazing to see everyone's ideas come to life. I made mine from my daughter's soccer jerseys from her entire soccer career along with a few high school and college tshirts. I did not use lattice or borders. I followed advice from feline fanatic here on the boards and made my borders from more t shirts. I am backing it with flannel because I want it to feel like a warm and cozy sweatshirt! It was such a fun project! (http://www.quiltingboard.com/picture...t-t221094.html)

Last edited by Zappycat; 06-26-2013 at 06:32 AM.
Zappycat is offline  
Old 06-28-2013, 01:17 PM
  #19  
Super Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Chagrin Falls, Ohio
Posts: 1,274
Default

What fusible did you use?

Originally Posted by Narda H. View Post
I found the best book ever! T-Shirt Quilts Made Easy by Martha Deleonardis. This has about everything and it will inspire you to do something different if you want to. The only thing I discovered was she recommended Pellon 911FF and I found a even lighter weight fusible at my fav quilt shop. It cost a bit more but was very light and soft. You really don't need much to stabilize the fabric. Click on my name and you can see my posts to see the t-shirt quilt I made for a client.
skaduzy is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
mac
General Chit-Chat (non-quilting talk)
17
03-15-2015 09:44 PM
profannie
Main
33
01-24-2015 01:30 AM
appliquequiltdesigns
Main
10
04-15-2010 12:31 PM
Susan in Texas
Introduce Yourself
16
07-01-2008 12:06 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


FREE Quilting Newsletter