What not to do with a T-shirt quilt, tips and tricks

I just finished long arm quilting this T-Shirt quilt for a customer and it looks ok from here, but let me show you some THINGS you should/shouldn’t do with T-shirt quilts, and I’m sorry if my customer is reading this, I sent her emails about things I saw in the quilt that needed improvements, I don’t know how else to say it politely.

#1

First you need a stabilizer! Heat N Bond makes a thing Pellon one that works well and you’ll need a LOT! and #1 make sure it’s actually IRONED onto the back of the shirt properly and doesn’t peel off later- something I noticed on this quilt- it’s hard to tell since the quilt was on the frame and I was looking from the top!

#2

Make sure you trim the shirts straight and if you add borders like here, make sure you press those seams flat and sew everything straight!

Here a small block differed by a whole inch!

#3

Pressing! Press those seams when you sewed them and straight!

#4

Line up the seams straights, don’t stretch- which is so tempting on a project like this, but don’t do it!

#5

If making rows, measure and pin before sewing, don’t just “wing” it, it gets really heavy and will pull when you’re sitting at the sewing machine!

It was very bowed at the bottom!

#6

Don’t use super thick embellishments or BUTTONS on the shirts! Needles will break if you run over those!

Here I watched the machine (QCT) and stopped it, then traced it and it WAS going to hit the button and then go back around it, so I stopped the machine after that and sewed a bit, then manually connected the two points and totally avoided the button!

Good thing quilting hides a lot but there WERE puckers at the end near the bottom and there was no way to avoid it, it ended up being 2 inches in difference between the top width and the bottom width and it was crooked too- see pictures above!

When I laid it out on the floor my kids still liked it and to them it didn’t matter much. I don’t know…. But this picture looks OK I guess. I hope I wasn’t too harsh about this, but T-shirt quilts are NOT my favorite to quilt.

6 thoughts on “What not to do with a T-shirt quilt, tips and tricks”

  1. Bravo to you for even doing a T-shirt quilt! I know long-armers who won’t touch them! I do know with proper stabilization and careful cutting and stitching, they can turn out great but even stabilized, knit does not behave like quilting cotton!

  2. Great information Bea, I have never made a t-shirt quilt and can imagine how hard it would be to quilt. I’m sure the maker was still very happy with her quilt.

  3. Ah yes the t-shirt quilt that we see everything wrong with it, but the recipient will never know. One of the most difficult fabrics to handle but they do turn out lovely. I prepare with interfacing and straight line quilt myself. Thank you for sharing the tips in case I send one out to a LA.

  4. It’s not just the fabric or the weight of the quilt when done. Those transfers – the team names, etc are plastic and can gum up your quilting neeedle(s). Thanks for the tips.

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