T-Shirt Quilts...should I or not?
#21
I made one with t-shirts, jerseys and sweatshirts. My favorite thing was to use a hoodie pocket as one block to be used as a remote control pocket! I used one type of medium weight fusible interfacing. There were some tiny skirts (dance team) that I pieced together to make the larger block. Then all the tshirt blocks went into a maple island BQ pattern. Working with different weight fabrics in the same quilt was absolutely no big deal. Here it is: http://www.quiltingboard.com/picture...e-t126291.html
Definitely try the pocket idea! Everyone loves it.
Definitely try the pocket idea! Everyone loves it.
#22
Super Member
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 2,033
#24
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Burke, Va
Posts: 344
I like to make t-shirt quilts. just finished one last week. I like to add shashing and a cornerstone so I have to make sure that all the blocks measure exactly in this case 14.5 inches. I have made about 6 and have been paid $160 - $300 depending on size and wheather they brought fabric or not.
I first took a class on making these t-shirt quilt and that really helps because it gives you confidence to quote a price. With fabrics at $13 a yard it is more expensive now, please do not short change yourself.
I first took a class on making these t-shirt quilt and that really helps because it gives you confidence to quote a price. With fabrics at $13 a yard it is more expensive now, please do not short change yourself.
#25
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Idaho
Posts: 1,290
I am making one for my DS (age 42) out of fleece. 1. Cut a 16' square from paper bag or cardboard. 2. Lay the 16" square on top of the front or back of the t-shirt, making sure it is centered. 3. Use a marker to trace the template. Cut just inside the line. 4. Once all the t-shirts are cut, use the template to cut out the same number of fleece square. 6. Match a t-shirt with a fleece square back sides together. 6. One each square quilt with a diagonal pattern. 7. Repeat the same diagonal going the opposite way. 8. Once all squares have been quilted sew t-shirts into rows and then sew rows together. Use a 1/2' seam allowance. Trim the seam very slightly with pinking shears. 9. Fold each side of the seam over and stitch 1/4" from the original seam to make a 1" border. 10. For outside border turn over 1/4'for a total of 1/2". Top stitch in the middle.
#26
They aren't difficult. Just be sure to do the stabilizer for eliminating stretching. I have made from all sizes, mixed sizes. Just add fabric to make squares the same or a different row of other sizes. I will try to add some photos, but don't know if I know how!
#27
Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 292
I have a t-shirt quilt on my list to do. I also attend a weekly quilting class with the tech school. Two other students made a t-shirt quilt. The teacher said to use stabilizer but NOTE - it should be stretching opposite of what the shirt is stretching to prevent distortion. One lady now is making a quilt and after putting on the stabilizer, she cut them out and added sashing. Should be a great quilt. The more you know or can learn before making one will help and it will not be frustrating.
#28
Check out what Molli Sparkles did with a t-shirt quilt for his brother: http://www.mollisparkles.com/2015/07...-workshop.html I love the look of this quilt - so much interesting to look at!
#29
Super Member
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Tavistock, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 1,071
1. Get paid! I made one and got $500 plus expenses of $285! For a large twin quilt.
Takes the most time to arrange the shirts. Use iron on interfacing LIGHTweight cut in block sizes - it can be pieced.
Not really hard but can be a lot of fun if you add little details to make it personal. I like to add in fabric prints of their favourite things, colours, activities etc. And always flannel backing, printed to hide the quilting errors.
They usually become someone's favourite quilt - even the adults.
Takes the most time to arrange the shirts. Use iron on interfacing LIGHTweight cut in block sizes - it can be pieced.
Not really hard but can be a lot of fun if you add little details to make it personal. I like to add in fabric prints of their favourite things, colours, activities etc. And always flannel backing, printed to hide the quilting errors.
They usually become someone's favourite quilt - even the adults.
#30
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: kansas
Posts: 6,407
while not particular hard, I think they are labor intensive--I usually will cut the desired logo out, then stabilize it with a featherweight Pellon or other fused stabilizer. Once I've got the t's cut and stabilized I measure all and then start sketching a design--that can get tricky with them being all different sizes. It's probably just me, but I seem to end up doing at least 2 cuts,sometimes 3. That's where your sashing comes in--I always sash as the ones I've made without sashing just stretch too many different ways! I do always seem to get a few with wider sashing, but once I get it figured out I assemble as vertical strips and then sew them together and add borders. I long arm quilt the quilt--I definitely suggest you do NOT use a high loft poly bat! Even with stabilizer I sometimes get t-shirt pulling away from the stabilizer when I'm quilting. Shirts I have found to reject--those that are worn/torn (don't hold up to the quilting process) and I make sure that if I use the mesh sports jerseys that the customer knows that the stabilizer will peak through the mesh. also, those t's that have the big, plastic logos can not be quilted without creating "pull" on your machine--so I let the customer know that if it's a large logo it won't be quilted, but I will quilt around it. I agree with several of you--just not that fun to make or quilt, so I charge 9 cents a square inch--includes all labor, the stabilizer, bat, back and quilting. Often people don't want to pay that, which frankly is just fine with me!
That being said, I've made several customer ones, plus all my nieces and nephews get one for high school grad.
That being said, I've made several customer ones, plus all my nieces and nephews get one for high school grad.
Last edited by quiltingshorttimer; 10-17-2015 at 05:49 PM.
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