How to prepare your t-shirts for a quilt

Thank you so much for all the wonderful comments. I can't tell you enough how much I appreciate all the lovely blog visits. So many of you asked me how I make the t-shirt quilts. I pieced and quilted this memory quilt for Jenny. This is the second one I made for her.

I made a scrappy backing and used the leftover t-shirt and clothing on the back of the quilt.

I am working on a new t-shirt quilt for Rosselle and decided to share a few pictures on how I am preparing the t-shirts to use them in a quilt. I will cut the t-shirts open and cut the blocks .5" bigger than the size I am going to square up the blocks. The size of the blocks all depend on how big the shirts are. These were cut to 14".

I will buy 10 to 15 yards of a soft fusible interfacing.

I like to press the wrong side of the t-shirt blocks with the iron on a wool setting. Next I will press a piece of fusible interfacing on the back of the t-shirt. I cut the interfacing the same size as the t-shirt block ( 14" again). Every interfacing has it own directions on how high to use the iron and for how long to press the facing down.

I will trim all the blocks down, a .5" smaller than the original block. These blocks are now all 13.5".

NOW IT IS TIME TO HAVE FUN...you can either sew the blocks together in a row in a random style setting or use sashings and corner stones. When I sew my t-shirt blocks together I lengthen the stitch length and use a .5" seam allowance. I press the seams open when I sew t-shirt to t-shirt to reduce bulky seams. When I sew t-shirt to fabric, I press the seams away from the t-shirt blocks.
Please remember, I have never took a t-shirt quilting class or purchased a book or pattern on t-shirt quilts. You might do it different than me. T-shirt quilts are fun to make and not suppose to be stressful!

I always keep a little plastic basket close by for scraps.

I quilted this t-shirt quilt for Sally. This is a random style setting and blocks are different sizes.

"Deb's Swirl" panto is one of my favorite patterns for t-shirt quilts. It is always a good idea to use a pattern for t-shirt quilts without an over stitching pattern. The t-shirts can be very stretchy.

Blue border.

Backing with sports.

Another quilt in a random style of t-shirt blocks quilted for Sheri with a panto called "Fossil".

Close up of some of the band t-shirt blocks.

Batik scrappy backing.

Another t-shirt quilt quilted for Betsy. She used a jelly roll to frame the t-shirt blocks.

The "Bubbles" panto always turn out nicely on t-shirt quilts.

Cross backing fabric.

I hope this will inspire you to make another or even your first t-shirt quilt.

Happy Quilting,
~Millie~

A good old stipple/meandering

I love a good old stipple or meandering. And it goes with every quilt...from traditional to modern to t-shirt quilts.

Rhonda made this purse and bag quilt for her 13 year old cousin. This is the second quilt she made. She used her cousin's old dance costumes to make the purse and shoe blocks.

I had to free-hand the stipple around the appliqued purses and shoes.

A close up picture of some of the cute bags and shoes.

Teal and black borders.

Zebra backing.

Busy t-shirt quilts always turn out well with a stipple. The next 2 quilts I used a stipple panto...no freehand work on these quilts!!!

It is always fun to look at all the different t-shirt and picture blocks.

Border and corner detail of quilt.

Red backing.

Do you see something under the quilt?

My son made him a sleeping spot before my longarm!

Sharlene made this Winnie the Poo machine embroidered quilt. She asked for a plain stipple quilting too.

Muslin backing...a favorite fabric of mine for a backing

Have you ever got something new that made you too excited to sleep? We went to Lowes one day and picked up pantry shelves to put all my quilts on. The baskets were on sale but they only had 6 out of the 9 brown baskets that I needed so I just picked up 3 blue and brown striped baskets. I thought it made it look more interesting. On the top shelf I have the quilts waiting to get back to their owners.

In these baskets I have all the unfinished quilts, batting, and thread.

I decided to keep these old baskets here for a while... Just to remind me of my own UFO's so I don't get too wrapped up in customer quilts.

Happy Quilting!
~Millie~

A new panto

Irene made this quilt in rich Tuscan colors for her daughter- in- law. She requested a panto called "Square Spiral." She also wanted the quilt to be quilted with a double layer of Hobbs 80/20 batting.

I did not have this specific panto and it was the first time I quilted it. The double layers of batting was the first time for me too and a struggle. But I was so impressed at how nice the quilting turned out. This panto is now one of my favorite new overall patterns.

I love the texture of the quilting...it is almost like a basket weave pattern. The picture below shows the stripe backing fabric.

Margie made this pastel Pinwheel quilt which I quilted for her with the panto "Snapdragon".

Aren't the pastel pinwheels cute?

Blue flower Minkee backing.

I pieced and quilted this T-shirt quilt for Kelly. The quilt is for her daughter that graduated this year and it was also her 18 birthday. What a cute idea for a birthday present!

Random style t-shirt blocks with the "Bubbles" panto.

Her daughter will attending Texas A&M University....A&M fabric in the border.

T-shirt quilt is in the Happy Birthday bag and ready to be picked up. Two more T-shirt quilts in the back which will be next to be quilted.

I also quilt sevaral donation quilts. This was the recent donation quilt I quilted for the library. I think any child will be happy to win this quilt.

Close up of some of the blocks...love the train!

Happy Quilting!
~Millie~