T-shirt Quilt

Do you have too many t-shirts that you've accumulated over the years? Too many to wear but each too special to throw away or donate?

That's exactly how I felt and so I decided to make this t-shirt quilt using many of the t-shirts I never wore and that were just taking up space in my closet. This quilt is super cute and rather easy to make--it took me just one day to finish the project from start to finish!

Step 1: Lay Out the Pattern

Start by cutting out the t-shirts into square tiles. Each of my squares was about 12 inches x 12 inches but you can adjust the size of your squares depending on the size of your t-shirts. Most of my t-shirts were unisex small or women's medium. Note that it's totally possible to use both the backs and fronts of shirts.

Once you have your quilt tiles, lay out the t-shirt tiles into a nice pattern. My quilt is 3x4 tiles, but feel free to change the dimensions of your quilt depending on the number of t-shirts you want to include in the quilt.

Step 2: Flip Over the Pattern

After deciding the order you want your tiles in for your quilt, you're going to need to flip the pattern over in order to sew them all together. Note that when you flip the pattern over, you will also need to reflect the pattern so that when you sew them together, they will be in the order you want them in on the front.

Here's a diagram of how you want to arrange the tiles when you look at them from the back. If from the front, you have them lined up like the first diagram, you will want to line the backs of the tiles up like the second diagram.

Step 3: Use Pins to Connect Quilt Pieces

Take one row at a time, and use pins to connect each piece to the one adjacent to it. A good way to do this is to fold each tile over about 1/4 inch on the side you're going to pin to the other tile. Then, using pins, carefully attach the two pieces to each other at the folds.

Step 4: Sew Pieces Together

Using a sewing machine on the straight stitch setting, sew the two pieces together to connect them. Continue doing this for every piece in the row and then for every row.

Step 5: Pin Long Quilt Segments Together

Once you have three long rows of sewn tiles, you can start connecting the rows together!

Using a process similar to the one we used to connect the individual tiles, you will use pins to hold the rows together about a quarter inch from the edge of the fabric.

Step 6: Sew Pieces Together

Then sew the rows together to form one large quilt piece. I go over the seams twice when doing this to further strengthen them.

Step 7: Add Backing to Quilt

Once you have finished the front of the quilt, use a piece of fleece and cut it out so that it is slightly larger than the quilt. It might be necessary to sew together multiple pieces of fleece if you have a larger quilt.

Then, turn over the two pieces so you have the fronts of your t-shirts facing the patterned side of the fleece.

Use pins to connect the two pieces at about a quarter inch around the edge and then sew the seams in place. Leave about 3 inches of unsewn seam in order to turn the quilt rightside out.

Step 8: Turn Quilt Right-side Out

Carefully pull the quilt through the small unsewn area until the entire quilt is revealed!

Step 9: Sew Together Last Corner

Using a needle and thread (or a sewing machine), sew together the small unsewn area that was used in the last step.

Optional: you also sew the front piece of the quilt to the backside of the quilt at the corners of the quilt pieces for extra reinforcement and to keep the front and back pieces together.

Step 10: Admire Your Beautiful New Quilt!

And voila, that's the finished quilt! This is such a fun quilt and it's always a good conversation starter and since most t-shirts are rather soft, this is a super soft and comfy quilt to have around!

Comments

[bobbie14243]

Getting ready to make one for my daughter. I had to check yours out as we have many of those types of shirts (key, robotics, physics...)

[judyspak]

Very nice! This is something I intend to make for my daughter out of the teeshirts she wistfully weeded out of her collection. Like yours appear to, they all have memories associated with them but they just don't get the usage to justify the drawer space. I would make one suggestion however. Since the fabric is a knit, it will stretch slightly under normal usage and this could break the less forgiving straight stitch. Using a size 11 ballpoint needle (to avoids snags that could become holes in the laundry), I'd substitute a medium zigzag stitch for all seams, including the binding, since fleece has some give as well. I love your photo.Looks like you're smiling from head to toe and gives the viewer a good idea of the scale!

[julezjw]

Thanks for the suggestions! I'm still learning how to use a sewing machine so thanks for the tips :) Also, that's my little sister in the picture but thanks!

[bb61]

I`very never seen one without batting. Thank you for showing how a lighter weight blanket can be made!

[mrsmerwin]

Key club, physics club, and robotics! Very impressive. I like how you made this a summer weight quilt. I never would have thought of that. I usually make them with batting--it gets cold here in Michigan.

[julezjw]

Haha thanks!! Yeah, this is the perfect thing to take out to the picnics or beach days too when it can get a bit windy but you really don't need a heavy blanket :)