T-Shirt Quilt Tutorial, Part I

[madamwitty]

Over the last few months, I have been working on a quilt made out of t-shirts of mine and my husband's from our college and high school days.  I'm not done yet, but I have been asked for some advice about making a t-shirt quilt.  I have been blogging about it a bit over at 43Things, but not in a consistent manner.  So, I thought it would be

Comments

T-shirt quilt

[anonymous]

Thanks so much for posting this! I have been on a "fact-finding" mission like you, trying to glean the "best of" from many sources, but I really want to hear from someone like me who didn't really have much experience to describe how it went for you.

My late husband collected many T-shirt (I'm sure I have at least 75). The Too Cool T-shirt quilt style really appeals to me for two reasons: It says they don't use the interfacing (I've heard some comments that it makes for a stiff quilt), and it appears that you can cram a lot more t-shirt logos on it...however, and because of this, I'm really afraid it would a logistical nightmare.

I suppose before I go any further in my planning stages I could get a couple of different weights of fusible interfacting and try it with fabric from the back side of my beloved t-shirts.

Eager to here more of how it went for you and what you might do differently if you did it again, and clarify any confusion you may have run into while accomplishing this worthwhile craft.

Is that a photo of your finished quilt?

Happy Weekend,
Vicki

Re: T-shirt quilt

[anonymous]

Hi Vicki,

I am from Too Cool T-shirt Quilts and my method of using different size block is not difficult. It is not a logistical nightmare. But I would suggest using my book or e-book to get you through the process. $8.25 for the e-book is a lot cheaper than the interfacing. And with the instructions, you do not have to reinvent the wheel. And interfacing does make the quilt stiff. Let me know if you have any other questions! Good luck with the quilt.

Andrea@toocooltshirtquilts.com

PS multiple size blocks is the way to go. The designs on T-shirts are all different sizes and it is ashame to have to try to make them all fit into the same size block.

Re: T-shirt quilt

[madamwitty]

As always, quilt style is a personal preference. I personally like the tidy look of having squares all the same size with sashing between, and I had just the right number of shirts for the size and style I chose. Certainly it is good to know that there are resources out there for people who would like to do it a different way. This is just an account of how I did my quilt so that people have another perspective from which to choose.

It is true that interfacing does make the quilt stiffer than without interfacing, but again it is a matter of personal preference as to what is the right feel for one's own quilt. I actually want a certain amount of stiffness to a quilt - floppiness is for sheets. Batting adds some stiffness of its own, but I expect that washing the quilt a few times will reduce the interfacing's stiffness. I'll report back once I've reached that point.

I would be curious to find out what it is about the Too Cool T-shirt Quilts method that eliminates the need for interfacing. But, as I am already very happy with my quilt, I won't be purchasing the e-book.