T-Shirt Quilt - help?
02-22-2011, 12:13 PM
#1
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The top is complete. Now I'm stumped on how to proceed from here. I really want to finish this quilt myself, as it's been a labor of love for a wonderful daughter-in-law.
Because some of the shirts have rather large designs, this wouldn't lend itself well to tying the quilt, so it will have to be sewn. I'm trying to decide between a diagonal grid or a clamshell quilting design. I think the grid might be easier, because the machine will do the work of pulling the quilt through evenly. The clamshell design is nice, but getting it smooth and even might be challenging for a beginner like me. I've been practicing free motion on scraps from the quilt and am not really pleased with the results. I suspect it will be even more difficult on the quilt itself because of the bulk.
I've been using my trusty Singer 201-2 and I am having a little difficulty coordinating between the speed of the machine and the motion, and this results in uneven stitches and not so smooth curves, with evident jerkiness. Any suggestions would be welcome.
Because some of the shirts have rather large designs, this wouldn't lend itself well to tying the quilt, so it will have to be sewn. I'm trying to decide between a diagonal grid or a clamshell quilting design. I think the grid might be easier, because the machine will do the work of pulling the quilt through evenly. The clamshell design is nice, but getting it smooth and even might be challenging for a beginner like me. I've been practicing free motion on scraps from the quilt and am not really pleased with the results. I suspect it will be even more difficult on the quilt itself because of the bulk.
I've been using my trusty Singer 201-2 and I am having a little difficulty coordinating between the speed of the machine and the motion, and this results in uneven stitches and not so smooth curves, with evident jerkiness. Any suggestions would be welcome.
Quilt top for DDIL
[ATTACH=CONFIG]119547[/ATTACH]
02-22-2011, 12:18 PM
#4
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Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Louisiana
Posts: 12,166
I had a longarm quilter do the T-shirt quilt for my DGD. I had her do just a large meander and it looked really nice. If I were doing on my home machine I think I would do some kind of a grid.
(I was born in OK raised in CA. A friend called me a CIA....California Improved Okie):)
(I was born in OK raised in CA. A friend called me a CIA....California Improved Okie):)
02-22-2011, 12:36 PM
#7
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Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Arizona
Posts: 4,039
I love this too. I just finished up 8 T-Shirt quilts. All I can say is trying to stitch through that rubbery stuff (thats on some shirts)...forget it. My machine did not like it at all. Everytime I hit that stuff, the thread would break. I dont know if my machine was being sensative or what. I also ended up using "ball-point" needles, that helped some. I would quilt around some of the designs on the shirts and then of course the borders. Im curious if you used stabilizer on the tshirt fabric? Good luck and I cant wait to see this done. you've done a really nice job.
Sue
Sue
02-22-2011, 01:07 PM
#9
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Several of the shirts had the rubbery printing. I was concerned about how this would affect the quilting process. Yes, I used stabilizer behind ALL of the t-shirt squares.
Originally Posted by suebee
I love this too. I just finished up 8 T-Shirt quilts. All I can say is trying to stitch through that rubbery stuff (thats on some shirts)...forget it. My machine did not like it at all. Everytime I hit that stuff, the thread would break. I dont know if my machine was being sensative or what. I also ended up using "ball-point" needles, that helped some. I would quilt around some of the designs on the shirts and then of course the borders. Im curious if you used stabilizer on the tshirt fabric? Good luck and I cant wait to see this done. you've done a really nice job.
Sue
Sue
02-22-2011, 01:16 PM
#10
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Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Western Wisconsin
Posts: 12,930
Gorgeous!!! I think a grid with the help of your walking foot would look great!
If possible, I would create a test sandwich for the rubbery designs to make sure the walking foot will handle them well.
If possible, I would create a test sandwich for the rubbery designs to make sure the walking foot will handle them well.
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