quiltlady1941

do you quilt over the design on the t shirt or just around it?

The t shirts that were given to me are a XXL so are really big and the design on them are big too. The squares were cut with a 15x15 square so they are pretty big blocks.

well the t shirt square hold up with wear and washing with just quilting around the design? [if that is what I am going to do]

I am planning to do a QAYG because I don't do well quilting a bigger quilt on my machine.

another question, if I am going to use a color thread to match the background a light blue,and the shirt is a different color do I change colors for each shirt? and what about the back different color thread in the bottom? the back is the same as the front background light blue. Thanks again for your help

alisonquilts

I have had bad luck quilting across the printed designs on T-shirts (the kind that you can feel a change in texture) - my tension goes wonky, and frequently the thread frays and snaps. This may be something I am doing wrong, or something to do with the thread I am using, but I now avoid sewing over the design if at all possible (and grit my teeth to avoid cussing when I stray over the edge). I often do little isolated spots of quilting in "blank" areas inside the pattern (where the original T-shirt color has been used as part of the design) - not very geometric, but it helps to accentuate the pattern of the T, and it holds the quilt together.

Because T fabric is so thick, a fair amount of your stitches will bury into it, which is nice if you are using a contrasting bobbin thread that pops through at all - you don't notice it as much. I tend to change thread color with each new shirt color (but keep the bobbin thread the same), but this is definitely a personal choice - do what feels/looks right for you!

Alison

stampinteresa

A friend of mine just made her 3 daughters each one. She hand tacked hers.
They were a big hit with her grown dauaghers. Teresas

hopetoquilt

I just read a t-shirt quilting book. They recommend a LAQ due to the changes in texture... I sent my last one out to a LAQ and she quilted across the t-shirts with a very neutral color. It looked great. I do not send all my quilts out, just the ones I am not confident about quilting myself.

suebee

I pieced and quilted 8 tshirt quilts last year and had a tough time quilting over that rubbery stuff so I started quilting in between the lettering the best I could. They actually turned out great. Good luck.

bossross

I just finished a t-shirt quilt. I quilted around the borders and sashing and then I lightly tacked in the center of each t-shirt. I used a clear mono-filiment thread, both top and in the bobbin. I find if I use a different color thread in the bobbin, the tension has to be exactly right or you can see the both colors on the top.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]322036[/ATTACH]

leggz48

I do LAQ; when I do a T-shirt quilt, I use a King Tut thread and a free-motion design overall. I haven't had a problem with the different textures, but I have to watch when going over heavy seams. So far I've had good luck with them. BTW, although I've used colored thread over white Ts, the design pretty much disappears or blends when you look at the 'big picture' so to speak. Have fun with it.

BETTY62

Good luck with your T-Shirt quilt.

oldhag

I have quilted a few t shirt quilts on my home sewing machine. One was just in the ditch with echo quilting around the designs. I got brave after that and have done all over designs. The last one was in variegated thread cours in oranges and reds to look like flames. I had not trouble quilting after I switched to a ball point needle. You are working with knits even if they are stabilized.

quiltlady1941

Thanks everyone for your advice... I really can't afford to send this quilt to a LAQ and that is why I am going to try and do QAYG and hope for the best. So far I am just to the point of laying out the block to see where they will all fit. Some of my blocks are 15x15 and some a little bigger. Boy this man was big! LOL.... Anyway as the blocks are not all the same size this is a little hard for me to fit them all in and have them look good.

You all gave me a lot of tips so that will help me , I'll remember the ball point needle and also try and go between the designs and not over them.
This is my first try at this kind of a quilt. I usually have a pattern to go by and I'm just winging it on this one..I have looked at lots of t shirt quilts and that has helped out a lot.

This is just a little scary as the shirts were my friends hubby that pass away about a year ago, and if I make a bobo in the sewing or cutting I can't go out and get more t shirts as what I have is it. So that scares me a little, but I am giving it a good old girl scout try and hope for the best..LOL ..

A friend just show me a different way she does her QAYG without strips between the blocks, I really like her way and will give that a try too. Boy all these new things all at once is scary..LOL Thanks eveyone for your help, this forum is the greatest! and so are all of you. Thanks a lot ...
Bossross your quilt is beautiful and I hope mine comes out half as good Thanks for sharing..