A history of a t-shirt quilt and instructions for making your own quilt.
You have a dresser drawer or closet full of old t-shirts. It’s time to clean up and make room for shopping after the 4th of July sales. You might just find it’s time to clean up, but you really don’t want to get rid of those shirts after all these years. Like the images, the t-shirts hold memories of a time when…
So what do you do with the pile on the floor of the many colors and sizes of old jerseys from the days when your kids played soccer or the little leagues? What about your old college t-shirts or the ones you saved from high school activities? Those have to mean something or they still wouldn’t be on the back of their closest.
Instead of throwing away all these great memories, saved for so long, turn them into a t-shirt quilt.
I worked on a t-shirt quilt for a friend, whose son passed away a few years ago. T-shirts are no longer just souvenirs, they are now time-share gifts that can never be returned.
Your son was also a student in my classroom, many years ago. As I cut, iron, sew and quilt, memories of a young man wash over me and make me smile. As a quilter, I am pleased to be able to use my talents so that the family can snuggle under the quilt made from days of joy and peace with their child.
Old shirts turned into a t-shirt quilt can be lifelong memories.
Here are some tips to follow when making your t-shirt quilt:
Instructions are based on a finished 15″ square shirt block. The quilt will eventually be the same size quilt block with fabric sashes between the shirt/blocks and a fabric border.
First, check all of your t-shirts to make sure the designs will fit in a 15″ square. Sizes: All sizes include a 1 1/2″ frame and 2″ brim and are based on a finished 14 1 t-shirt. /two”. block shirt. If the shirts are smaller than the size listed above, sewing the shirts together can form a block.
12 shirts will make a quilt the size of a blanket, approx. 48″ x 64″ – 3 wide x 4 bottom.
20 shirts will make a double size quilt, approx. 64″ x 82″ – 4 wide x 5 bottom
30 shirts will make a full size quilt, approx. 82″ x 96″ – 5 wide x 6 deep.
36 shirts will make a queen quilt, approx. 96″ x 96″ – 6 wide x 6 deep.
42 shirts will make a king size quilt, approximately 110″ x 96″ – 7 wide x 6 bottom.
Step 1 – Select the Shirts – Make sure the shirts are clean and not stained.
Step 2: Fusible Interfacing – Each shirt should be backed with a non-woven fusible interfacing to prevent stretching. Purchase a Pellon Fusible Fusible Fusible Interface. Good quality allows the jerseys to stretch less. Purchase enough for 17″ per shirt. Iron first before cutting shirts to required square size.
Step 3 – Sashing/Bordering/Binding Fabric: Sashing strips form a decorative grid between each T-shirt block. Plan 2″ (1 1/2″ when finished) framing strips between the blocks, 2 1/2″ (2″ when finished) strips for the trim, and additional fabric for binding.
Step 4 – Shirt Cutting – Separate the front of the shirt from the back. Make sure the shirt is flat, iron if necessary. You want the side of your shirt to be larger than 15 square inches, ideally larger than 17 inches to fit the interface. After applying the interlining, you will cut the shirt square to the desired size. (Mentioned in Step 2)
Step 5 – Fusion – Cut the interface into a 17″ square. Do not cut the interface, it will show through. Place the interface resin side down on the wrong side of the shirt, trying to center the design as much as possible. as possible Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for fusing the back of each t-shirt together Use a press cloth so glue doesn’t stick to the iron Watch out for wrinkles – once they cool! they will not be removed!
Step 6 – Cut the Squares – Square each fused shirt to 15″. layout space.
Step 7 – Arrange – Place squares on the floor or bed and arrange. Toggle light/dark, busy/not so busy. Make sure that the blocks can be read from the desired direction and that they all go in the same direction. Pay close attention to repeating the pattern and the words so that they, and not just the colors, don’t end up in the same row or column.
Step 8 – Completing the Quilt Top – Add Sashes – Sashing strips are the horizontal and vertical strips between the blocks. Horizontal strips should measure 15″ long x 2″ wide. Cut enough sashes strips to add to all but the bottom row of shirts. Sew horizontal strips to the bottom of each block, except the blocks on the bottom row. Sew blocks together to form columns. To keep the quilt straight, use posts in the corners of the block and between the trim strips. The use of a contrasting color creates a “pop” in the design of this publication.
Step 9 – First sew trim strips onto each block. Make sure the first and last block in each row has a trim strip at each end. Now sew the strips between the rows of blocks by adding the posts between the strips. Include one strip for each block. There should be a stripe between each row of blocks, as well as above and below the blocks to form part of the border. The side border will be done automatically as you complete the rows.
Finish: Quilt top and layer backing wadding. Baste or safety pin together. You can hand or machine quilt the t-shirt quilt.