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This is the presentation from Dawn Schaben’s February 2019 program on T-shirt quilts.
How many t-shirts do I need to make a t-shirt quilt?
- 12 t-shirts: throw approximately 48 x 64
- 20 t-shirts: twin size quilt approximately 64 x 82
- 30 t-shirts: full size quilt approximately 82 x 96
- 36 t-shirts: queen size quilt approximately 96 x 96
- 42 t-shirts: king size quilt approximately 110 x 96
These measurements include 1.5 inch sashing and 2 inch border with each t-shirt block being about 14.5 inches.
5 Typical styles of T-shirt Quilts
- Traditional Block Style with Sashing
- Traditional Block Style without Sashing
- Unequal Rows or Columns
- The Too Cool Style also known as: Variable or Puzzle Styles
- Crazy Quilt Style
Details to look for in a T-Shirt Quilt
- Using interfacing or not
- Blocks Fit the Designs on the T-shirts
- Designs Are Centered on the Block
- No Part of the Design on the T-Shirt is Cut Off
- The Blocks are all different sizes
- No Rows and Columns
Ways to Mess Up Your Quilt
- Using cheap fabric and materials to make your quilt.
- Using 100% polyester batting
- All the blocks are the same color
- No thought put into layout
Layout Design Ideas
- Shadow Box
- Patchwork
- Leave On collars, pockets, patches
- Incorporate Photos – graduation quilts
- Turn the Blocks on Point – more challenging
- Use Quilt Patterns Designed for Large Blocks
What do I need to make a t-shirt quilt?
- T-shirts
- Interfacing
- Material for sashing or blocks (pre-washed)
- Material for backing (pre-washed)
- Batting
- Polyester – pros and cons
- Cotton – pros and cons
Sorting the T-Shirts
- Sort by color
- Do you have enough for more than 1 quilt
- Remove stained shirts
- Remove shirts with holes
- Do you have a theme?
- Sport
- Activity
- Organization
Preparing your t-shirts
- Wash and dry – do not use softener – interfacing will not stick to the t-shirt
- Cut up the t-shirt
- Front, back, sleeves
- Cut the pieces larger than you want for the actual blocks
- Make sure you cut off neck edges and seams (don’t want that extra bulk in seams)
- Fusible interfacing
- After you have applied the fusible interfacing, trim the shirt down to the desired size – do not cut off any of the design and remember to leave seam allowance
Interfacing /Stabilizer
- Knit or woven
- Pellon SF101 Shape-Flex – Iron-on Woven (great if you are using t-shirts with lots of wear)
- Bosal 312 – light-weight not woven
- Pellon Quilters Grid 820 – non-woven
- Attached Mistyfuse
- Pellon 906F Fusible
- June Tailor T-Shirt Interfacing
- White or Black based on color of t-shirt
- Follow the manufacturers instructions for the fusing!! IMPORTANT!!
- Weight of stabilizer – don’t use a heavy stabilizer as it will add weight and take away the drape and the comfort feel of the quilt.
- Don’t piece interfacing – it will show through in the finished quilt
- Benefits of stablizer – blocks that are easier to work with and give you a better finished product, especially during the quilting process.
Design Ideas
- Sashing or No Sashing
- I personally recommend sashing as it gives the quilt stability and helps with the stretch issues that can occur when you sew t-shirt to t-shirt.
- Sashing can also provide an overall look that pulls together all the different colors in the t-shirts.
- Don’t have to use traditional blocks with sashing. Try something different.
- Who says that all the blocks have to be squares and rectangles? Take this T-shirt quilt idea for a spin, by piecing striped, checkered and zig-zag sashing to make your shirt blocks really pop!
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Now that the Jacket Challenge is about to wrap up, we’re looking for our next idea. Take the survey below to be part of our process:
https://3793909.polldaddy.com/s/what-do-you-want-for-next-starry-eyes-challenge
If you don’t understand the choices, that probably means you’re not in the Starry Eyes email list. Contact me to be added, and to get the meeting minutes and other explanations.
Here are the handouts for a class held in June 2018 on making a convergence quilt.
Ice Dyeing is super easy. Betty Tyree taught the Starry Eyes a couple years ago. I’ve done it 3 times since her workshop. So, although I’m not an expert I can assure you it’s easy.
I get all my information and supplies online from Dharma.
Dharma has 2 Tutorials online:
Learn How to Ice Dye
Ice Dyeing with Ugly Colors
The tutorials have complete supply lists and instructions.
For fabric prep, I either use PFD (prepared for dyeing) cotton yardage or dyables as is, or I wash plain cotton in Blue Dawn dish detergent as Betty taught me. I don’t bother with the special textile detergent recommended by Dharma. I also use multiple soaks in Blue Dawn post-dyeing to get the excess dye out.
The only exotic items are the Fiber Reactive dye powder and soda ash powder. Dharma sells dye in primary color sets, or you can buy any specific color(s) you like. I bought my Soda Ash from Dharma, but apparently this commonplace chemical is cheaper bought locally. Kitty bought for our recent play date at a pool supply company. Kristen buys it as “washing soda”.
Two caveats:
- This process works best on plant fibers like cotton; the soda ash is for breaking down the cellulose in the fiber. It can degrade animal fibers like silk or wool.
- WEAR YOUR DUST MASK from the time when you open your dye powder till when you cover your container of ice+dye.
Below are shots of my most recent results.
— Susan K
rayon ribbon
folded
Ann Ware filled in for our historian. I don’t have the list of names, but I included them if I knew them.
Cathy’s service presentation
Cathy’s service presentation
Kraterfield; convergence back
Kraterfield; convergence front
Kraterfield; Hawaiian Ice
Kathy Martin
Kathy Martin
Kathy Martin
Kathy Wickham; raffle quilt blocks
Bonnie
A few months ago the art quilt group Starry Eyed Quilters started a grab bag challenge. We bought bunches of scraps together and grabbed them out of a large tote vowing to use at least a bit of every fabric we received. We intended a palette challenge.. sort of a ‘make lemonade’ concept. That was too tough.. it was too ‘scrappy’.. so we softened that constraint. The results are varied and glorious. Here are the ones revealed this month.
Bonnie
Judy C
Kitty
Kitty
Loretta B
Susan K
Here’s a copy of the program from our celebration day.
The September 2013 meeting included the reveal of the round robins we’ve been working on during the summer. In June, eight members brought their centers to guild in a tote, and randomly exchanged for another tote. We repeated this for 3 months, then the owner retrieved their tote with the results.
Kitty DeLapp, held by Kristing Pickering
Victoria Person, held by Kathy Marting
Janet Price
Kristin Pickering
Kathy Wickham
Susan Kraterfield
Kathy Martin
Judy McWhorter’s is missing. I’ll update this post if it surfaces.
[EDIT Feb 2018]
Here’s Kitty’s finished quilt; complete with proud new owner. Note she framed it out with more color blocking after Kristin P’s round, then Dawn Schaben extended it into a double bed quilt. There’s almost an Amish vibe for me now. — Susan Kraterfield
Here is the pattern for the block that I will be asking individuals to make tonight at the guild meeting. I will be asking them to make a block so we can make quilts like we did for the Orlando shootings. We will all make Block A. The blocks should be made with a bright happy color and white.
Quilts for Vegas Handout
Thanks,
Dawn
TOOL:
Small Half Hexagon Template for 5” Charm Packs and 2 ½” Jelly Rolls
By Natalie Dawn for Missouri Quilt Company (SKU NOT132) – $5.95 online
INSTRUCTION VIDEO: Missouri Quilt Co.
INSTRUCTION STEPS:
- If not using charm packs or jelly rolls, cut 2 ½” strips of fabric.
- Cut out a stack of trapezoids using the template.
- Arrange and sew together to form braid. I construct two rows at once allowing chain stitching.
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- Arrange two pieces right sides up.
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- Flip over added piece and sew (1/4” seam). Open and iron.
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- Add third piece.
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- Flip over added piece and sew (1/4” seam). Open and iron.
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- Add fourth piece.
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- Flip over added piece and sew (1/4” seam). Open and iron.
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- Add fifth piece.
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- Flip over added piece and sew (1/4” seam). Open and iron.
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- Add sixth piece.
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- Flip over added piece and sew (1/4” seam). Open and iron.
Continue adding pieces to desired length allowing enough length to square off top and bottom leaving ¼” seam allowance on each end.
