Crafting A T-Shirt Quilt: A Cool Guide

If you're looking to transform your old T-shirts into a unique quilt, then 'How to Make a Too Cool T-shirt Quilt' by Andrea T. Funk is the book for you. This comprehensive guide, first published in 2011, will take you through every step of the quilt-making process, from planning and cutting to sewing and finishing. With easy-to-follow instructions and creative ideas, you'll be able to create a one-of-a-kind quilt that defies expectations. The book also introduces the innovative 'Too Cool' method, which does away with iron-on backing and cotton sashing, resulting in a softer and more durable quilt. So, if you're ready to turn your T-shirts into a work of art, this book will be your trusted companion.

Choosing and preparing T-shirts

"The first step in making your T-shirt quilt is choosing the T-shirts you want to feature. Select T-shirts that are meaningful to you and have interesting designs or logos that you want to showcase. Consider the variety of colours, sizes, and themes of the shirts to ensure a diverse and visually appealing quilt. Look for shirts with memories attached, whether they're from sports events, concerts, trips, or significant life moments.

Once you've selected the T-shirts, it's time to prepare them for quilting. Wash and dry the T-shirts to remove any shrinkage or potential bleeding of colours. This step is crucial to ensure that your quilt remains vibrant and doesn't shrink unevenly after completion. After washing, carefully cut out the desired portions of the T-shirts, including the logos, designs, or text you want to display. Cut generously around the desired area to ensure you have enough fabric to work with.

Sort the cut-out pieces into piles based on similar characteristics, such as theme, colour, or size. This will help you visualise how the quilt blocks will come together and allow you to plan a layout that balances the different elements effectively. Consider the overall size and shape of your quilt and adjust your cutting and layout accordingly.

If the T-shirts are particularly thin or worn out, consider fusing a lightweight interfacing to the wrong side of the fabric. This will add stability and structure to the quilt blocks, making them easier to work with and ensuring they hold up over time. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for the interfacing, and test a small piece first to ensure it adheres properly without affecting the fabric's colour or texture."

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Cutting T-shirts

Preparation:

Before you start cutting, there are a few things you need to do to prepare your T-shirts:

• Wash and dry the T-shirts: It is important to make sure your T-shirts are clean before cutting. Wash and dry them according to the care instructions.
• Iron the T-shirts: If there are any wrinkles or creases in the T-shirts, use an iron to remove them. This will ensure that you have a smooth surface to work with.
• Examine the T-shirts: Look at the T-shirts you plan to use and consider the following:
• How many T-shirts do you have, and what are their sizes?
• Do you want all the quilt panels to be the same size, or do you want a mix of different-sized panels?
• How large do you want the finished quilt to be? Do you have enough T-shirts, or do you need to add fabric to fill in the spaces?

Cutting the T-shirts:

Now, you are ready to start cutting! Here are the steps to follow:

• Remove the front panel: Use a pair of sharp scissors to cut the front panel of the T-shirt, cutting as close to the side seams as possible to maximise the fabric you have to work with. Cut off the sleeves, seams, and any neck banding. You should be left with a rectangular panel.
• Cut the back panel (optional): If you also want to use the back of the T-shirt, repeat the above step for the back panel.
• Layout the T-shirt panels: Use a flat surface to lay out your T-shirt panels. Arrange them until you are happy with the design. You can also add pieces of coordinating fabric to fill in any gaps, leaving enough fabric for a seam allowance.
• Trim the T-shirt panels: Trim the panels according to your desired design, leaving enough fabric for a seam allowance. Rotary cutting tools can be helpful for this step.

Additional Tips:

• Map out your layout: Before you start sewing, it is ideal to map out your layout to ensure you are happy with the design.
• Fuse interfacing to the T-shirts: If you are concerned about stretching, you can fuse interfacing to the back of the T-shirt panels before trimming them to your desired size.
• Use sharp scissors or a rotary cutter: Ensure your cutting tools are sharp to make clean cuts and minimise fraying.
• Take your time: Cutting T-shirts for a quilt can be intimidating, but take your time and follow the steps carefully.

Designing your quilt layout

The first step is to decide on the size of your quilt. This will depend on the number of T-shirts you have available and how big you want your final quilt to be. A small lap quilt will require fewer T-shirts than a king-size bedspread, for example.

Once you know the size of your quilt, you can start planning the layout of the individual T-shirt blocks. The T-shirt blocks are assembled into vertical or horizontal strips, which are then sewn together to form the body of the quilt. You will need to decide on the width of each strip, bearing in mind that the wider the strip, the more room you will have for adjustment.

When planning the layout of each strip, start with the widest T-shirt designs first and work your way down to the narrower ones. This is because the narrow designs can be made to fit into wider strips if needed. You will also need to consider the color of the blocks and try to vary the colors so that you don't have too many like-colored blocks next to each other.

As you plan the layout, you may need to move or resize specific design blocks to make everything fit. This part of the process is like a puzzle, so be patient and flexible. It is helpful to have a large work space where you can lay out all the T-shirt blocks and rearrange them as needed.

Once you have decided on the layout of each strip, you can start measuring and cutting the T-shirts to the exact size needed. This is the final cut, so measure twice and cut once! Then, you can attach fusible interfacing to each block to stabilize the stretchy T-shirt material and prepare it for sewing.

With your T-shirt blocks prepared and your layout planned, you are now ready to start sewing the strips together. Follow your layout plan carefully and take your time to ensure that all the blocks are lined up correctly. Once the strips are sewn together, you can attach them to form the body of the quilt.

Sewing your quilt

Now that you've cut your t-shirts and designed your quilt layout, it's time to start sewing! Sewing your t-shirt quilt is a fun and rewarding process that will bring your creation to life. Here are some detailed instructions to guide you through the sewing process:

Sewing T-shirt Material

When sewing your t-shirt material together, it's important to use a sewing machine with a 1/4-inch seam allowance foot. This will ensure that your seams are straight and accurate. Sew the t-shirt pieces together following the design you have laid out, taking care to line up the seams neatly. Press the seams with an iron to flatten them before moving on to the next step.

Preparing the Quilt Top

Once you have sewn all the t-shirt pieces together, it's time to prepare the quilt top for quilting or tying. This involves trimming any excess fabric and ensuring that all seams are secure. You may also want to add a border to your quilt top for a more polished look.

Quilting or Tying

At this stage, you can choose to quilt or tie your quilt. Quilting involves stitching through all layers of the quilt to secure them together, while tying uses knots to secure the layers. Quilting can be done by hand or machine, and there are various quilting patterns you can follow to create different designs. Tying is a simpler method that involves using a needle and thread to tie knots through all layers of the quilt.

Binding and Finishing

The final step in creating your t-shirt quilt is binding and finishing. Binding involves sewing an extra piece of fabric around the raw edge of the quilt to give it a neat finish. You can choose to machine bind or hand stitch the binding, depending on your preference. After binding, your t-shirt quilt is complete and ready to be used and enjoyed!

Remember to take your time during the sewing process and enjoy the creative journey. Sewing your quilt is a rewarding experience that will result in a unique and personalised creation.

Binding and finishing your quilt

There are three typical types of binding you can use on a T-shirt quilt: no binding, half binding, and strip binding. No binding is when the raw edges of the quilt are folded under, and the front and back are sewn together, leaving a hole for the quilt to be turned right side out. This method does not require additional fabric or skilled quilters, and keeps costs low. Half binding involves bringing excess backing material around to the front of the quilt and stitching it down. This method is also relatively easy and does not require additional fabric or "blind" stitching. Strip binding or full binding is the most sophisticated style, where the binding is made from a different piece of material than the back of the quilt, allowing for a contrasting colour. This method is more time-consuming and requires a skilled quilter.

Once you have chosen your binding method, it is time to finish your quilt. First, iron the seams of your quilt top open to avoid extra bulk while quilting. Then, prewash your backing fabric to prevent your quilt from looking puckered. Next, choose your batting material, considering the weight of the T-shirts and how densely you need to machine-quilt your quilt. Use basting pins and/or spray to avoid distortion. If using T-shirts in a variety of colours, consider using a cream or gray thread to machine-quilt, blending in with all colours.

Now, you are ready to quilt! Use a walking foot to evenly feed all the layers of the quilt and avoid distorting the knit top. Start from the centre and work your way out to the edge, smoothing the quilt as you go. Avoid quilting through heavy plastic parts or heavily embellished portions of the T-shirt design. Instead, consider echoing around the design and filling the remaining part with a stipple or other fill design. Finally, stitch the binding to the back of the quilt, then fold it around to the front and stitch it down using a straight or decorative stitch.

Frequently asked questions