cindi

If you're making all the blocks one square size, remember that the smallest the block can be must be the size of your biggest logo. So measure the length and width of all your logos. If the widest is 14" and the longest is 15", your block must be at least 15.5" square to allow for seam allowance. I make my own templates from heavyweight posterboard, and they can be used over and over again. I just cut the posterboard 2" bigger than the block size, cut the correct block size out of the center of it, and use a pencil to draw the block. Then I use my ruler & rotary cutter to cut the shirt. Clear as mud? I've got one of these for about every size you can think of. Good luck!

suern3

I used Eleanor Burns' T-Shirt Quilt pattern for my grandson's baseball quilt. I am one who likes a written pattern and her instructions are very good, of course. She includes drawings and yardage for different sizes. Also used some of her suggestions for how to use the buttons, neck line of jerseys. She has layouts for using different sizes of t-shirts and small logos. It is not an expensive pattern, maybe $8 or so. I was very nervous about starting to cut up my grandson's baseball t-shirts and jerseys! Was very pleased with it.

SusanSusan33

One of the QB members has the BEST tutorial ever. Go to www.seamstobeyouandme.com. It is sooo thorough!

Normabeth

Missouri Star Quilt Company and a free tutorial on making T-Shirt quilts, it's actually done by one of Jenny's daughers,
when I made my first t-shirt quilt, I found this very helpful.

Stitch124

I am working on a t-shirt quilt now and not using a pattern. Many of the ideas above are really good advice. I will tell you what I've learned to do and not to do.

To do: Decide what size you want to make and what size your machine will accommodate when it comes to quilting. I told my friend to provide 20 t-shirts. I ended up with a 25 - 12.5" squares. Some were squares made up by putting four logos from the front of four shirts together into a 12.5" square. I also made a 2.5" sashing and 2.5" border. This quilt is now almost the size of a king size quilt! Consider making a smaller quilt...say 10 - 15 t-shirts.

To Do: Use the correct stabilizer. I actually purchased stabilizer that was too stiff and used it for about 1/2 of the squares. The other half of the squares I used a lighter weight stabilizer. Now the quilt is stiiffer in some areas and just right in others, making it hard to quilt.

To Do: Use low loft batting - T-shirt quilts are heavy to begin with...Low loft will make it easier to work with in your machine.

To Do: I am seriously considering tying this quilt rather than quilting it, since it is so big and I am working on a manual Singer 301A. I don't want to mess up the backing and batting and make it pucker because I can't keep my quilt laying flat in my small machine when quilting it. LA is not an option because the lady who wants it doesn't want to pay that much for it.

Just my 2 cents worth.

QuiltPat

I've only made one tee shirt quilt and I am thrilled with it. I did not use a pattern or book, just some advice from friends and on line. Fusible tricot interfacing worked well for me. Follow good advice of Maryb in this thread. A few of the shirts were old or thin, so the interfacing was important. Tee shirt quilts are a bit heavy, so I used a light bamboo-cotton batting and a cotton backing, no flannel. Have fun.

cindi

I use Warm & Natural for my t-shirt quilts. Thin, but cozy. My Australia quilt does have a flannel back, and I must admit, I love it! I was pleasantly surprised that the quilt didn't end up heavy at all, and it's not too warm. It's June and I'm using it in the house right now as I write this. I think using the lightweight interfacing definitely helped in that respect.

Zappycat

I took a class at a local quilt shop. It seems like all the quilt shops always run this class... especially now at graduation time! BUT... as everyone else said, you don't need the class, its very easy. But if you do take the class I can almost guarantee that you will learn more from your classmates that you will from the teacher if you are not following rigid instructions. It was amazing to see everyone's ideas come to life. I made mine from my daughter's soccer jerseys from her entire soccer career along with a few high school and college tshirts. I did not use lattice or borders. I followed advice from feline fanatic here on the boards and made my borders from more t shirts. I am backing it with flannel because I want it to feel like a warm and cozy sweatshirt! It was such a fun project! (http://www.quiltingboard.com/picture...t-t221094.html)

skaduzy

What fusible did you use?