It seemed so harmless at the time.
About thirty years ago I stumbled upon a pattern for a quilt made up of t-shirt squares. The idea was to cut out the front (or back) designs of a number of your favorite tees, stitch them together, and have a cozy and beautiful keepsake. Why this resonated with me so intensely I cannot say precisely. I enjoy sewing, but I had never actually made a quilt. Quilting, in its purest form, had been a a part of my “mom thought life” for many years, but it had always been one of those things I would do at some future point, when I had more time…when my four children were grown. In preparation for that future quilting Marie I had saved most of the fabric scraps from every sewing project I had completed in my adult, married, mom life. I had a couple of cardboard boxes…BIG cardboard boxes…filled with bits of cotton and flannel, ginghams and chambrays, dotted Swiss and corduroy, denims…pounds of the stuff.
I feel the need to own something right here and now; I was that mom who on more than one occasion was guilty of making her children matching outfits. The primary unfortunate in most of my sewing rampages was my son, who would obviously require a little vest to complement the girls’ dresses, and on one dark day I actually made him velveteen overalls. He was a toddler at the time, but those overalls, in retrospect, were comical. Props to all of my friends who overlooked my mania. I could not find a photo of the overalls…sorry…not sorry.
Occasionally I would move the boxes around, or sometimes I would actually open the boxes during a fit of nostalgia. I finally made a smallish (36 inches by 36 inches) quilted wall hanging for my bedroom. It was made of scraps from my bedroom curtains and a few other items, and it was rather cute…but it was HARD…and TIME CONSUMING. It was not hand quilted, just “stitch-in-the-ditch” machine quilted. I was discouraged. I had secretly concocted a goal of creating quilts for each of my children by the time they left for college. I could not see how that was ever going to happen.
Enter the T-shirt quilt!
Since my two bulging cardboard boxes of scraps might have served as a kind of foreshadowing, you might not be surprised to learn that I had a not-so-shabby collection of t-shirts already tucked away. I had held onto these for no particular reason…other than I had a vague sentimental attachment to them. Additionally, our entire family, all six of us, had a pretty much unwritten dress code of daily t-shirt wearing. Every sport or camp or club my children were a part of brought a new shirt to their wardrobes. As a very active homeschooling family we went on many educational outings, and t-shirts were often the souvenir of choice. Regardless of the origin, I had enough shirts to make my first quilt!
The first quilt contained some true “vintage” shirts…my college society jersey (Three Cheers for Omega Chi) from 1971 and my husband’s physical education shirt from Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas (Go Big Red!), circa 1973. There were a few from vacations and sight-seeing outings, a few from children’s sports and community theater, as well as random cute tees from favorite stores and garage sales…hodgepodge is putting it mildly. The designs on the shirts were cut out into 14 inch squares and then stiffened by applying iron-on interfacing to each one. At that time I was fixated on light blue chambray, so that was used to join all of the squares, create a backing, and bind everything off. Rather than machine-quilting the finished product, I used a lightweight yarn to tie it off, approximately every 2 1/2 inches. It was, to my inexperienced eyes, a beauty, and I enjoyed it for a time.
In 1994, my oldest daughter left for college. Several years had passed since my t-shirt quilt adventure, and I began thinking about making another quilt that would be a comfort to a homesick coed. Those t-shirts had continued to multiply from more and more family activities. As I gathered shirts for my planned quilt, I realized that there were several in my original quilt that I would actually prefer to put in a child-specific quilt…her very own shirts and her very own memories. I reluctantly concluded that this was the best thing to do for each of my children. I made the decision to disassemble my first quilt and sort the shirt squares according to most probable owner…most likely to have actually worn said shirt. The process was the same, but I had a more focused goal in mind and a more diverse and colorful outlook on the joining fabrics and backing. Soon I had the squares ready, and rather than using my old pal, chambray, I scoured the old boxes of fabric for connecting pieces and used a forgotten flat sheet for the backing. It was a great success and brightened a little corner of the women’s residence hall.
Over the ensuing years I crafted each of my remaining children his/her own quilt. Some of them were more a twin bed size (five squares by six squares), and some were larger (six squares by six squares). When my oldest daughter married, she presented me with 30 t-shirts…most from her new husband (who apparently also came from a home and mother who held onto cherished clothing), but a few were from her college days. She asked me to make the quilt top (stitch everything together), and then she would finish the backing, binding, and tying off. At some point I remade my original quilt, filling in the gaps of missing children’s shirts with more recently acquired ones. It brings a smile to my face every time I use it or see it or fold it…every time.
Thirty-something years later…
To date, if my memory serves me, I have completed ten quilts. The last two have been theme-based: one is made up of t-shirts I accumulated over my twelve years of teaching special education at Kirtland Middle School, and the other is composed of shirts I received when I participated in one mile and 5K races over a similar span of time. Both of these quilts are very special to me, and they symbolize what I now embrace as my inner drive to keep challenging myself…keep learning new things…staying engaged with life. At some future time, maybe, I’ll delve into that more in depth. It’s not necessarily the person I started out as…or the person I imagined I would become…but I do keep myself entertained.
For full disclosure the pattern I have used for my t-shirt quilt empire is Heirloom Quilts & Wall Hangings – Custom-Made From Souvenir T-Shirts, 14 Sunrise Point Court, Lake Wylie, SC 29710, T-QUILTS, copyright 1992. I did a quick search and could not find out if the company still exists. If you have a hankering to join me in my ongoing t-shirt quilt obsession, I will include an overview of the process below. This is by no means a substitute for an actual pattern, but just in case you are interested, here is what the process looks like:
So you want to give it a try?
- Gather your clean t-shirts
- Cut the t-shirt designs from front or back into 14 inch squares. You can make a pattern from tissue paper or cardboard. Plexiglass would work really well, so that you can see how your design is centered. The original pattern came with a clear, plastic template. It is easier (and faster) to use a rotary cutter on a cutting mat.
- Cut out the same number and size of squares of a fairly lightweight fusible interfacing.
- Fuse the interfacing to each t-shirt square, following instructions on interfacing.
- After fusing all squares, do a final cut of each square into a 12 1/2 inch square. Again, this is much easier to do with a rotary cutter on a cutting mat.
- Now it is time to arrange your squares into the most pleasing positions. Think about balancing out light colors versus dark colors and try not to have squares of the same background color next to each other. I found doing this on my clean wood floor in my living room to be the easiest method. Move the squares around until you are happy with the look. Then, starting from the top left corner, working from left to right and top to bottom, stack the squares so that the top square is the top, left corner. When you begin sewing the squares together, you will have it all in order.
- Select the fabric you would like to use for your joining strips and squares. I like to use a light color for one and a dark for the other. This gives a pleasing balance to the finished product. Choose two designs that will complement your t-shirts. When making my school-themed quilt, I chose fabric that included a bee print (a nod to the mascot hornet) and the school colors of blue and gold.
- You will need enough fabric to create the pattern shown, a long fabric strip on each side of the squares and a little fabric square at each corner. FYI a typical twin bed comforter size is 5 by 6, a double/queen bed comforter size is 6 by 6, and a king comforter size is 7 by 6. Smaller quilts for wall hangings, etc. would be any size you choose. Here’s a visual for you.
- Cut out your rectangular strips. Strips that go between squares should be 2″ x 12 1/2″, and those that go on the outside edge of the quilt should be 2 1/8″ x 12 1/2″. Squares along the outside of the quilt should be 2 1/8 x 2″, and those that are in the inside of the quilt should be 2″ x 2″. I have had a good outcome tearing long strips of fabric at the proper width and then using my rotary cutter to cut the length…makes this job a bit faster. Do double check your measurements before you start ripping fabric. I learned this the hard way. What is it carpenters say…measure twice, cut once? This applies to sewing as well.
- Iron all of your fabric strips and squares and keep them sorted into their same size piles…another lesson I learned back in the day.
- Ready to sew?? Yes!!
- Starting at the top edge follow the grid, and using a 1/4″ seam, sew outside squares and strips in the correct pattern. Be sure to use the strips and squares that are a bit larger for all of this row.
- Now you will start creating your design using strips and t-shirt squares. You will use an outside strip always at the beginning and end of these rows. Pin an outside strip to the left side of your first t-shirt square and sew together, again always using a 1/4″ seam. Pin and sew an inside strip to the right side of your square and continue until your first row is complete. Remember to end with an outside strip.
- You will be alternating rows of strips and squares with rows of strips and t-shirt squares. Just remember anytime you are doing an outside edge to use the wider strip or square.
- This process always takes me more time than it should. I am incapable of continual sewing. After each row I must stop and admire my work. I usually lay each row out as I complete it, spreading it over the floor or a bed, so I can see the pattern unfold…positive reinforcement at its best!
- After all of your rows are completed, join the rows together…what size seam?? Yep…1/4″! This is a cumbersome task, especially if you are making a real bed-sized quilt. I usually sew the top half together and then the bottom half. Then I muster every last bit of willpower and strength I have remaining and manhandle the two halves together, pinning first and finally sewing together. Voila! Your quilt top is done! Revel in your accomplishment!
- Now you will need to find your backing fabric and your batting. I like using a flat sheet for the backing, either recycling one I already have or buying one in a matching or complementary color. Wash and dry the sheet and iron if necessary; you want a nice, smooth surface to work with. For batting, I like a natural cotton. Be sure to check your quilt top dimensions so that your backing and batting are a bit larger, and you can cut them to the exact size you need.
- Lay your sheet out on a clean smooth surface. My wood floor works best for me. I use masking tape to secure it to the floor to avoid shifting or bunching. Then lay your batting out over the backing, smoothing it as much as possible. Finally, lay your quilt top over the other two layers, being sure to have batting and backing sticking out all around the edges; you want to be sure you have all three layers everywhere. You may need to adjust or redo if you see any lumps or bumps.
- All smooth? Let’s get to pinning the layers together. Starting in the center of the quilt, pin the layers together every 3-4 inches. I use long pins (about 1 1/2″long) with colored beads on the heads. This helps you see each pin well, and they are easier to manipulate. Work your way around the quilt until all squares and strips are pinned.
- Carefully trim around the edges of your quilt so that all layers are even. Carefully roll your quilt up.
- Time to tie off your quilt! Using a fine-tipped marker make dots on your t-shirt squares and fabric strips and squares. Use a ruler to make these dots exactly 3 1/4″ apart. I always start on an outside edge on the bottom. Each fabric strip will have a total of three dots, each small square will have a dot in the middle, and each t-shirt square will have a total of nine dots. If you are unsure, use a pencil to make your initial markings. The point is to have all of the dots spaced evenly over the entire quilt. FYI, if the position of a dot would be in an awkward place on your t-shirt design, feel free to adjust it a bit. A knot might look funny on someone’s nose or other unfortunate place. You will be tying off on each dot.
- Using embroidery floss in a complementary color take your needle through one dot, and come up at 1/4″ or less; then do the same thing again in or near the first two holes. Cut the thread to about 1 1/2″ to 2″ tails. Tie the ends together, right over left, then do it again twice, but left over right. Trim thread ends to about 3/4″ or whatever length you prefer.
- Almost done!!
- Binding a quilt can be tricky, and I admit I have had to rip out a many a stitch and retry on several occasions. I will not attempt to “walk you through” the process here. I always use pre-made bias quilt binding in a matching or complementary color. Measure your quilt perimeter so that you purchase enough. You will be machine sewing the binding to the top of the quilt and then folding it over and hand stitching or hem stitching it on the underside of the quilt. If you are unsure about this process, please, please, please check Youtube for tutorials. There is a nifty way to get a nice mitered edge on your corners, but a flat fold can look terrific also. Make it your own!
- You are done!
Final thoughts
I hope you will try your hand at this fun project. Who knows? You may become hooked on t-shirt quilts like me. Honestly, friends, these are toasty warm and so colorful and unique! They are fairly heavy, too, and offer the same cozy feeling you get from a weighted blanket. I especially love having them available for our winter guests.
So, why do I love these so much? Why have I made ten of them? Why do I, gulp, have enough t-shirt squares hidden in the guest room to make at least two more? Every quilt is beautiful. Every quilt tells a story or two…or more. Every t-shirt in every quilt has touched the people I have loved and been worn in the places I have been. Every quilt is a work of art, made all the more precious by the lives it has already touched and those it will touch for years to come.
Now…about those cardboard boxes of fabric…