#1piecemaker

I need help. Show me some pictures girls. Give me some ideas. I have never seen a t-shirt quilt and somebody wants me to make one. I want it to be more than just fronts of t-shirts sewed together. Put your heads together and give me some input . Thanks

Moonpi

Until you see what type of shirts they are - how much is printed and how much solid, you really can't tell. Usually, you want to optimize the designs on them. If you have 80% dark, and 20% light, or other percentages that work, you can make sub-patterns. you may want to look at stabilizers, too.

Most of the nice ones are one of a kind, designed to reflect the personality of the owner.

#1piecemaker

Thanks Moonpi. I think I understand what you are talking about. What is a stabilizer though? I just picked up quilting a few years ago and most of what I know is self taught. I learn quickly when shown something but telling me something somehow some gets lost in the translation. I can look at a picture and see what has to be done but reading directions throws me a loop. I will wait and see what she brings me. I just was wondering if you sash them or just sort of cut to fit. Luckily for me she only wants a good size throw and not a big quilt.

jljack

Hi - Here's a quilt with t-shirt components, made for a specific person, with a specific theme. We used light weight stabilizer and it worked great.

G-Maw Wilda

I helped make a T-shirt quilt for one of the GWRRA members that lost her husband. She had his t-shirts from different meets. We cut the front of each shirt into a 12 inch sq. then put lightweight stablizer on it. We just sewed the squares together, put a light batting in the middle. Then we used a sheet for the back. We tied it, using crotchet thread. It was a queen size quilt. She was very pleased with it. If I can find a picture of it, I will post it.

Demshine

I haven't done one personally, but this site has some wonderful pictures and directionson how to make one.

http://www.goosetracks.com/TshirtQuilt.html

Dawn Hendrix

Here is the t-shirt quilt I made.. as a matter of fact it should be back from the quilters TODAY!!!!!


Just pm if you need help with this one!

swimmom

There is a fun book "Terrific Tees" by Roberta DeLuz. I have not made anything from her book yet though.

#1piecemaker

Thanks for all the great pictures and links. I think I have a good idea now. My only question is about How bad is it to stretch during quilting?

Moonpi

Tshirt fabric is knit, not woven, so it stretches in all directions. The stabilizer we are talking about irons on to keep it in place so you can sew it accurately. It is sold at fabric stores, with various brand names and thicknesses, ususlly white or black. For this purpose, you'd want the iron-on kind.

If iron on stabilizer gets separated from the plastic wrapper, you can still tell the glue side because it is shinier. Place the shiny glue side against the back of the t-shirt, and have fun.