katier825

Next time I get the bright idea to make a large t-shirt quilt, I hope someone comes along and kicks me!

The assembly went very well...but now that I am quilting it, it weighs a freaking ton!!!!!! My shoulders are killing me and I'm taking breaks after each section. I changed my plans as I went along and quilted less than I wanted to. I was going to do some filling in around the designs in the t-shirt blocks. Instead, I went around the perimeter of the designs. If I ever get the desire to make one again (ya, right), I will save up and have it quilted by someone else!

On the up side, it's looking pretty good. I knew it would be heavier, but never anticipated it would be this difficult to quilt. Three more borders and I'm done. Already looking forward to the next (easier) quilting project. ;)

PegD

Hang in there, I'm sure it will be beautiful when it is done.

Grammashel

Be sure to show it to us.

blueangel

I'm sure it will be worth it when it's done.

thimblebug6000

What batting did you use that makes it so heavy? How far apart does that batting recommend your quilting to be?

Prism99

You might want to try quilting it standing up. I find it saves my shoulders a *lot*. I place my sewing machine on my cutting table and surround it with a styrofoam "table" (instructions on Youtube) to give me a large flat surface. Really worth it for me!

katier825

Warm & Natural. The t-shirts, plus interfacing add weight too. I try to quilt a few inches apart at the most, but still fairly loose.

katier825

I never thought of trying it standing up. Not sure if my table is high enough though.

I couldn't find the right size thickness of foam around here to make my own "table"...it's too thin and I'd need several layers. I did my own makeshift "table" which helps alot, but the whole thing is really too low. At least my chair adjusts, so that helps a bit.

BellaBoo

I have never had the desire to make a Tee shirt quilt. My girls never saved any of their old tee shirts anyway. I don't get the sentimental value of old tee shirts.

katier825

Actually, they were new t-shirts bought specifically for this quilt. My grandson loves Super Mario and Sonic the Hedgehog. Of course, you can't find fabric like that. My DIL found the t-shirts in the clearance and saved them for me. Oh well, it is a labor of love for my grandson. He's got some issues and this should make him happy. :)