Salem, Oregon's
Running & Walking Club Site
Home of
Willamette Valley Road Runners (WVRR)
www.WVRoadrunners.org.

 

How to make a T-shirt quilt......Judy Martin 1. Wash t-shirts; choose only those that aren’t stained or damaged in the area of the logo. 2. Decide what size each t-shirt square (or rectangle) will be. Add ½" for seam allowance. Cut a template from cardboard (Nordstrom box works well!). Be sure that the template has perfectly square corners. Lay template over logo & trace around it in pencil. 3. Carefully cut out logo with pinking shears. 4. Cut out equal number of backing squares (I use lightweight flannel. —You could use ready-made interfacing. Choose fabric that doesn’t stretch, to give t-shirt fabric stability. Wash & iron fabric first. Pin backing to each logo square. 5. Make templates for corners and sides (see example above & below). Add ½" for seam allowance. 6.Count the number of squares and rectangles you need, and cut out these pieces. Again, I use flannel—Solid for the corners & plaid for the sides looks nice. . Don’t let this fabric dominate the logos! Your choice of color & pattern gives your quilt distinction and artistry 7. Lay out t-shirt squares. Arrange them for design & harmony. 8. When you are pleased with the effect, start sewing each horizontal strip of pieces together, starting with the top border pieces. When each strip is complete, sew the horizontal strips to each other, keeping corners square. 9. When all strips are sewn together: --If you want a fluffy quilt, add a layer of batting (available from fabric stores), cut the size of the cover –If you want a thin quilt, just add a back. A flannel sheet works well. Cut it to the size of your top. Pin right sides together, then baste diagonally across in a big X, so fabric lies flat. 10. Sew together on 3 sides, (like a big pillow case). Remove basting stiches. Turn, poke corners square, then turn in edges of 4th side, pin them & press so this edge lies flat and straight. 10. Create a "border" by sewing an inch or so from the edge. This helps keep the quilt square. 11. Use embroidery floss to tie front and back together about 5" apart, so front & back won’t "sag." 12. Proudly display your work of art—on a bed, on a wall, or on your lap !