T-Shirt Quilt: Supplies For A Cozy Creation

T-shirt quilts are a great way to preserve old memories and keep warm. They are fairly easy to make and can be as basic or intricate as you like. To make a T-shirt quilt, you will need a collection of T-shirts with designs that you want to preserve. You will also need a sewing machine, fabric for the backing, and a few other supplies. The process involves cutting the T-shirts into panels, arranging them into a design, and sewing them together. You can make the quilt as large or small as you like, depending on the number of T-shirts you have.

Tools: Scissors, rotary cutting tools, iron, ironing board, sewing machine, etc

Making a T-shirt quilt is a fun and easy project that can breathe new life into old T-shirts. The tools you will need for this project include:

Scissors

A good, sharp pair of scissors is essential for cutting the T-shirts and other fabrics. You will need to cut the T-shirts into panels or squares, so a sharp pair of scissors will help you achieve clean and precise cuts.

Rotary cutting tools

Rotary cutting tools are highly recommended for making quick and accurate cuts. They are especially useful when trimming the T-shirt panels to the desired size, as they can easily handle the curves and straight lines of your quilt pattern.

Iron and ironing board

An iron and ironing board are essential tools for this project. Before cutting the T-shirts, you will need to wash, dry, and iron them to remove any wrinkles. The iron will also be used to fuse interfacing to the back of the T-shirt panels, stabilising the stretchy fabric and making it easier to sew.

Sewing machine

A sewing machine will make assembling your quilt much faster and easier than sewing by hand. It is recommended to use a ballpoint needle designed for knit fabrics to avoid snagging the T-shirt material. Additionally, a walking foot attachment can be helpful for feeding the fabric through the machine smoothly.

T-shirts: Old T-shirts with sentimental value, ideally with large designs

T-shirts with sentimental value are ideal for a quilt, especially if they have large designs. The number of T-shirts you will need depends on the size of the quilt and the size of the T-shirt designs. For example, a T-shirt with large designs on the front and back might offer 800 square inches of usable fabric, whereas a T-shirt with a small breast logo may only offer 16 square inches.

Before you start, it's a good idea to wash, dry, and iron your T-shirts. You can then cut out the front panel of each T-shirt, removing the sleeves and seams. You can also cut below the neckband and remove the hemmed area at the bottom of the shirt. This will give you a rectangular panel from each T-shirt.

You can then plan the layout of your quilt. If you don't have enough T-shirts to fill the gaps, you can use coordinating fabric. Once you are happy with the layout, trim the T-shirt panels, leaving enough fabric for a 1/2-inch seam allowance. You can then fuse the interfacing to the back of the T-shirt panels, before sewing the panels together.

• You will usually need at least 16 T-shirts to make a throw blanket-sized quilt.
• If a standard sewing machine needle snags the T-shirt fabric, switch to a ballpoint needle made for knits.
• If you're new to quilting, consider making a small practice quilt with T-shirt fabric scraps before starting on your main project.

Quilt size: The number of T-shirts needed depends on the desired quilt size

The number of T-shirts you will need for your quilt depends on the style of quilt you want to make and the size of the quilt.

For example, if you are making a traditional-style T-shirt quilt, which is made with one block size, laid out in rows and columns, you can calculate the number of T-shirts you will need as follows:

• First, decide how wide and how long you want your quilt to be.
• Then, decide on the size of the blocks. Traditional-style quilts typically use 12" to 16" square blocks.
• Next, divide the width and length of your desired quilt by the size of the blocks. This will give you the number of blocks you need in each direction.
• Finally, multiply the number of blocks in each direction to get the total number of blocks needed for the quilt.
• If you are using both sides of the T-shirts, each shirt can make 2 blocks.

So, for example, if you want a quilt that is 60" wide x 84" long, and you decide to use 12" blocks, you would need 35 blocks in total (or 18 T-shirts, assuming you are using both sides).

If you are making a puzzle-style T-shirt quilt, where the blocks are different sizes and shapes, it is more difficult to calculate exactly how many T-shirts you will need. This is because the size and number of designs on T-shirts can vary greatly. A T-shirt with large designs on the front and back might yield over 800 square inches of graphics, while a T-shirt with just a small breast logo may only have 16 square inches. Therefore, the number of T-shirts you need will depend on the specific T-shirts you have and the size of quilt you want to make.

As a general guideline, for a throw blanket-size quilt, you will usually need at least 9 to 16 T-shirts. For a twin-sized quilt, you will likely need around 12 to 20 T-shirts.

It is important to consider the size and number of designs on your T-shirts when planning your quilt, as well as whether you want to use one or both sides of the shirts.

Design: Map out the quilt design before cutting the T-shirts

Mapping out the design of your quilt before cutting the T-shirts is an important step in the quilt-making process. This step will help you visualise the final product and ensure that your T-shirt panels are cut to the correct size. Here is a step-by-step guide to help you map out your quilt design:

Select your T-shirts

Choose the T-shirts that you want to include in your quilt. Consider the size, colour, and design of each shirt, and decide how many panels you want to cut from each shirt. You may want to cut panels from both the front and back of the shirt, or just the front.

Prepare your workspace

Find a large, flat surface to lay out your T-shirts. This could be a table or the floor. You will need enough space to arrange the T-shirts in the desired pattern.

Arrange the T-shirts

Start by laying out the T-shirts in the pattern you want for your quilt. Consider the colour distribution and try to avoid placing similar designs side by side. Play around with the arrangement until you find a composition that you are happy with.

Take a picture

Once you have found an arrangement that you like, take a picture of it for reference. This will help you remember the design and make it easier to rearrange the panels after cutting.

Measure and record dimensions

Measure the usable portion of each T-shirt panel and record the dimensions. Decide on a consistent width for all the blocks so that each column of your quilt is the same size. The rectangles can be different lengths.

Cut the T-shirts

Use a rotary cutter or sharp scissors to cut the T-shirts to the desired size, following the measurements you recorded. Cut the panels as straight as possible, ensuring that the design or words on the shirt are aligned properly.

Trim the panels

If needed, trim the panels to your desired size, leaving enough fabric around the edges for a seam allowance. Typically, a 1/2-inch seam allowance is recommended for T-shirt quilts.

By following these steps, you will be able to map out the design of your T-shirt quilt effectively and ensure that your panels are cut to the correct size. This will make the sewing process easier and help you create a well-designed and visually appealing quilt.

Interfacing: Use fusible interfacing to aid sewing and stabilise the quilt blocks

Interfacing is a crucial step in making a T-shirt quilt. It helps stabilise the quilt blocks and makes sewing easier. The soft and stretchy fabric of T-shirts can get distorted if sewn without preparation. Thus, applying a fusible backing to the T-shirt fabric is essential. This backing helps the T-shirt hold its shape while cutting and sewing.

Fusible interfacing is available in woven and non-woven varieties, and both work well. The choice of interfacing depends on the desired softness of the quilt. For a super-soft and drapey quilt, Pellon 906 nonwoven fusible interfacing with a bamboo blend batting is a good option. For a stiffer quilt, Pellon 911 nonwoven fusible interfacing is a better choice. This type of interfacing is also suitable for flimsy knit T-shirts and wall hangings as it increases the sturdiness of the quilt.

When using fusible interfacing, it is important to follow the manufacturer's instructions. The general process involves cutting the interfacing slightly smaller than the T-shirt to avoid accidentally melting glue onto the iron. Place the interfacing with its glue side against the reverse side of the T-shirt and cover it with a damp press cloth to avoid melting the inks. Adjust the iron temperature as per the instructions and press the interfacing to the T-shirt, using firm pressure and holding the iron steady for 10-15 seconds.

Using interfacing ensures that the T-shirts maintain their shape during sewing, trimming, and quilting. It is an essential step in creating a well-constructed T-shirt quilt.

Frequently asked questions