Go Back  Quiltingboard Forums >
  • Main
  • Do I HAVE TO...? >
  • Do I HAVE TO...?

  • Do I HAVE TO...?

    Thread Tools
     
    Old 03-03-2015, 10:06 AM
      #21  
    Super Member
     
    Join Date: Nov 2010
    Location: Utah
    Posts: 2,074
    Default

    Thanks, Ladies. The denim quilt pattern is "Brick Work or Windows Denim Quilt." You can find it on Craftsy or Etsy. It's a quilt as you go thing, and works up pretty fast. I've made them with flannel instead of denim, and put minky in the center squares, and they make a soft, snuggly baby quilt.
    quiltedsunshine is offline  
    Old 03-03-2015, 10:08 AM
      #22  
    Power Poster
     
    Join Date: Feb 2011
    Location: Lowell, MA
    Posts: 14,083
    Default

    I have a friend who makes T-shirt quilts, using interesting designs from the front or back of T-shirts, and this is the tip she gave me - fuse lightweight fusible interfacing onto the back of the T-shirt fabric to stabilize it, otherwise it will give you all kinds of hissy fits.
    MargeD is offline  
    Old 03-03-2015, 10:15 AM
      #23  
    Junior Member
     
    sxboyer's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Mar 2010
    Location: La Pine, Oregon
    Posts: 100
    Default

    For sure the stabilizing would be most helpful, but.... the t shirts were made without it... Having made a LOT of t shirts in my time, just knowing you have to be very gentle when you sew them, it is very doable to just sew the blocks. Put the t short on the down side of the seam with the cotton and you will have good luck.
    sxboyer is offline  
    Old 03-03-2015, 10:47 AM
      #24  
    Super Member
     
    annette1952's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Apr 2010
    Location: Harrison, MI
    Posts: 8,493
    Default

    I also like the jeans idea. Makes a nice looking backing too
    annette1952 is offline  
    Old 03-03-2015, 12:58 PM
      #25  
    Senior Member
     
    Join Date: Jan 2014
    Location: Beautiful Oregon
    Posts: 320
    Default

    I know what you mean! These directions for making a t-shirt quilt are very very different than any others. This was the second only quilt I ever made, and it was so easy even for a novice as me. There is no batting at all, it isn't needed. You use fleece for the back, but you have to read this pattern carefully to see how it is done one square at a time. It is so fast and easy, and looks great. Needs no starch, no foundation piece, just read it over and see what you think.

    I say all of this because I posted it once before and I got flamed somewhat when someone said, "t-shirt quilts have been around for a long time, and everyone already knows this!"

    Well, I knew that too, but honestly, I don't think you have seen one as easy as this.

    http://tinyurl.com/lm6nhxt



    Originally Posted by dsch
    I have made 5 memory quilts of shirts that belonged to my deceased cousin. There were so many t-shirts that I refused to throw away and lots of scraps, so I made LOTS of string blocks. I STILL had lots of t-shirt parts left over so I cut them into 6 1/2" squares. I appliqued hearts on some of the squares, but I have over 100 squares to deal with. Do I HAVE to put some kind of backing on the squares before sewing them together? Since they will be interspersed with the string blocks, won't that provide enough stability to make a lap quilt? I don't know if I can afford the backing for all the squares!

    Thanks for any and all advice.

    Last edited by RosaSharon; 03-03-2015 at 01:01 PM.
    RosaSharon is offline  
    Old 03-03-2015, 04:51 PM
      #26  
    Super Member
     
    wildyard's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Mar 2010
    Location: Upstate NY, north of Syracuse Area
    Posts: 6,003
    Default

    I have found that when I don't put something behind the knit fabric, it is very helpful to pin a little more to help keep the stretch to a minimum. I also find adjusting the presser foot to a lighter pressure works great as it puts less drag on the fabric, thus causing less stretch.
    wildyard is offline  
    Old 03-03-2015, 08:09 PM
      #27  
    Super Member
     
    Lyncat's Avatar
     
    Join Date: May 2010
    Location: Sun City West, AZ
    Posts: 1,265
    Default

    Thin fusible interfacing doesn't cost much, and makes a huge difference when you are sewing the squares together.
    Lyncat is offline  
    Old 03-04-2015, 10:10 AM
      #28  
    Super Member
     
    misseva's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Jul 2010
    Location: East Arkansas
    Posts: 2,534
    Default

    Originally Posted by AZ Jane
    What about freezer paper, at least until they are sewn together????? Just a thought?
    Yes, that will work. I made a t-shirt quilt for my granddaughter and didn't have any fusible interfacing. I just ironed freezer paper to the back of my shirts before I cut them out and left it on until I sewed borders of regular cotton all around. After that I removed the paper and had no problems with the t-shirt material stretching.
    misseva is offline  
    Old 03-04-2015, 12:50 PM
      #29  
    Super Member
     
    GailG's Avatar
     
    Join Date: May 2008
    Location: Louisiana
    Posts: 6,764
    Default

    Originally Posted by PaperPrincess
    Off the top of my head, I would say you need stabilizer. You might be able to get away without if you use regular cotton quilting fabric as sashing to control the edges of the blocks. However, since it sounds like you have extra, why not piece a small sample without it & quilt it and see how it goes.
    Before I learned the 'proper way" to stabilize tee shirts for quilts, I cut tee shirt logos and used cotton for sashing. In sewing the sashing to the tee shirt block, I placed the sashing on top and the tee shirt on the bottom close to the feed dogs. This was a good way of keeping the stretching down to a minimum. The first quilt, I hand quilted around the sashing (SITD) and did some tying within the blocks. That quilt is still going strong after 17 years. This last quilt I did (a UFO from about that same time) was done all tied. It's the softest most comfy quilt around! One tee shirt quilt that I stabilized had to be quilted by a LAer because of the size and weight.
    GailG is offline  
    Related Topics
    Thread
    Thread Starter
    Forum
    Replies
    Last Post
    dsb38327
    General Chit-Chat (non-quilting talk)
    31
    06-12-2010 08:42 PM
    bitty39
    Main
    28
    05-18-2010 07:23 PM
    imjustme
    Main
    21
    10-21-2009 07:51 AM

    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