The top is complete. Now I'm stumped on how to proceed from here. I really want to finish this quilt myself, as it's been a labor of love for a wonderful daughter-in-law.

Because some of the shirts have rather large designs, this wouldn't lend itself well to tying the quilt, so it will have to be sewn. I'm trying to decide between a diagonal grid or a clamshell quilting design. I think the grid might be easier, because the machine will do the work of pulling the quilt through evenly. The clamshell design is nice, but getting it smooth and even might be challenging for a beginner like me. I've been practicing free motion on scraps from the quilt and am not really pleased with the results. I suspect it will be even more difficult on the quilt itself because of the bulk.

I've been using my trusty Singer 201-2 and I am having a little difficulty coordinating between the speed of the machine and the motion, and this results in uneven stitches and not so smooth curves, with evident jerkiness. Any suggestions would be welcome.

Don't know how to help, but wanted to say your quilt is beautiful. Love the colors.

Wow..what a beautiful job! Love your colors.

I had a longarm quilter do the T-shirt quilt for my DGD. I had her do just a large meander and it looked really nice. If I were doing on my home machine I think I would do some kind of a grid.
(I was born in OK raised in CA. A friend called me a CIA....California Improved Okie):)

Nice job...I did one and just did stitch in ditch...I'm not good enough at this pt to do anything else.

I LOVE IT!! That is really nice. Maybe do stitch in the ditch and then go back and motif stitch the pics?? :)

I love this too. I just finished up 8 T-Shirt quilts. All I can say is trying to stitch through that rubbery stuff (thats on some shirts)...forget it. My machine did not like it at all. Everytime I hit that stuff, the thread would break. I dont know if my machine was being sensative or what. I also ended up using "ball-point" needles, that helped some. I would quilt around some of the designs on the shirts and then of course the borders. Im curious if you used stabilizer on the tshirt fabric? Good luck and I cant wait to see this done. you've done a really nice job.
Sue

Wow, it's awesome!!!

Several of the shirts had the rubbery printing. I was concerned about how this would affect the quilting process. Yes, I used stabilizer behind ALL of the t-shirt squares.

Gorgeous!!! I think a grid with the help of your walking foot would look great!

If possible, I would create a test sandwich for the rubbery designs to make sure the walking foot will handle them well.

I used the stabilizer as well. I dont know if you would have any trouble. Machines are funny, they dont behave the same ways. Make a practice sandwich out of exact same fabrics w/ tshirt and stabilizer and try that first. But I agree, with the gal that said just quilt it via SID. This one would look great that way.

No advice here; just wanted to say I think this is the prettiest one I've ever seen. (I sent my son's out to be long arm quilted.)

Wow, one of the nicest ones yet!

great quilt, what kind of stabilizer did you use?

It was lightweight iron-on interfacing from Joann's. It was on sale. It seemed to work great.

What about doing the grid from seam up to the photos but not going through any of the prints and then a meander in the borders?

Im a beginner, very new to quilting so not sure this suggestion is of any help or would even work. It is something I am thinking of doing with my Tee shirt quilt when I get it done. I just started getting mine cut out but put it away for a bit to finish a blue jean quilt that I need done before this weekend for a friend of mine whose hubby is going away for a month for stem cell transplant treatment for cancer.

I really try to avoid quilting into any design on the t-shirt. Stitch-in-the-ditch would work well. It's a very pretty top

That would be my idea as well, but most of the panels are quite large compared to a normal quilt block. This would leave large areas unsecured. The batting is poly, but the package says "up to 10" apart" on the quilting. Most of the blocks are larger than 10" square. This is why I am considering an all-over quilting such as the clamshell or diamond grid. I'd really like something fancier, but my skills may not be up to that yet.
:oops:

meander on the t-shirts, just avoid the inky, rubber designs, believe me, it can be done, it does take some planning

AWESOME quilt!!

Love the colors, great job!

Same for me.

Your quilt turned out great. I have made and quilted many T-Shirt quilts. I would stich in the ditch around each of your Squares following your material design. Then in the square itself, because your quilt has a comtemporty look , I would sew ramdom lines across the blocks. maybe two or three per square. Like start at one corner and sew a line diag. to the other corner. , then about 2" from the top on one side to about three inches on the bottom of the oppesite side. You will find that quilting t-shirt material to much even with stabalizer will make the material pucker. I am sure what ever you decide to do it will be Beautiful.

Wonderful quilt!

Very nice.

Thanks, I heading to Jo ann's tomorrow

I made several t-shirt quilts for my son and his fraternity brothers. As some of the shirts were getting pretty worn I just free motioned in a meandering design to help hold them all together. You did a wonderful job.

I've never made a t-shirt quilt before, but I just love what you have done!