| If you're looking for a creative way to recycle some | | | | the design if possible, and also to make a cardboard |
| old clothes and preserve a few of your precious | | | | template to ensure even sizing. Now decide on the |
| memories at the same time, making a t-shirt quilt is an | | | | positioning of your designs and add strips of |
| easy way to do both. This fun project allows you to | | | | complementary colors between blocks if desired. |
| make personalized quilts from all those old t-shirts you | | | | Many times there are images with widely varied color |
| have accumulated over the years. | | | | schemes used in t-shirt quilts and the sashing often |
| T-shirt Quilts: Shirts from concerts, schools, or athletic | | | | helps to tie it all in together. |
| events can all be combined to create a special trip | | | | If you're making a one-sided quilt, then feel free to quilt |
| down memory lane in the form of a unique quilt. Add | | | | away, but if your creation has images on both sides |
| t-shirts with cartoon characters, favorite sayings or | | | | you'll want to use "invisible" thread so as not to distract |
| those with some special meaning and you'll surely end | | | | from the design. Sew each of the squares together |
| up with a future family heirloom. | | | | forming rows and then sew those rows together with |
| Follow this simple guide for suggestions and tips on | | | | added fabric borders if desired. |
| how to make your own special t-shirt quilt, what | | | | Now lay out the backing and the design sides next to |
| supplies you may need along with some helpful and | | | | each other, wrong side up, add the fleece or batting |
| useful hints. | | | | and then pin together evenly. Trim if needed, and then |
| First, decide on the size of your quilt which is usually | | | | stitch the edges leaving an opening large enough to |
| based on the number of t-shirts being used. Sort the | | | | turn the quilt right side out before sewing the rest |
| shirts by size keeping in mind that even numbers work | | | | closed. |
| best. For example, 20 t-shirts could be used to make a | | | | Supplies you may need: |
| quilt with five rows by four rows. Try to find shirts with | | | | Clean t-shirts An Iron Light weight, iron-on interfacing |
| images that are relatively the same size, 12 inches is a | | | | Scraps of light-colored fabric Sashing Polyester batting |
| common sized square used. | | | | Durable fabric for backing Square ruler Fabric scissors |
| Next, cut the side seams of the t-shirts from the | | | | Sewing supplies |
| bottom up to the armpit area, then across the sleeves | | | | Helpful hints: |
| and through the shoulder seams. It is very important to | | | | Plan your design on paper first and double check |
| reinforce the back of your shirt with the interfacing | | | | measurements before doing any cutting. |
| BEFORE cutting out the designs or squares. T-shirts | | | | Use extra sharp scissors to prevent t-shirts and |
| are made of material that's too stretchy to be cut and | | | | fabrics from fraying. Wash t-shirts in a mild detergent |
| sewn without the added support of the interfacing. It's | | | | that is free of fabric softener to ensure that the |
| also wise to use your scrap fabrics as a press cloth to | | | | interfacing will adhere properly. |
| protect the t-shirt's designs from the hot iron. | | | | Extra blocks can be creatively used to make |
| Using your ruler, square up the interfaced pieces | | | | personalized purses, pillows, curtains and throw rugs |
| making sure each one is the same size before cutting. | | | | just to name a few. |
| It's helpful to leave a few inches around the edge of | | | | |