You Did WHAT With my T-Shirts?

10 Biggest Mistakes In Creating A T-Shirt Quilt

10 Biggest Mistakes When Having A T-Shirt Quilt Made.T-Shirt quilts are a work of art.   They are the scrapbook you can sleep under. You have a drawer full or a box of treasured tee that you have been collecting over the years.  Maybe they are school, sports, concert or vacation shirts.


You've heard about t-shirt quilts but don't have any idea about how to get one made. 
There are SO many t-shirt quilt/blanket makers out there.

 (More on difference between a quilt and a blanket)

There are good t-shirt quilts and the not-so-good results.    

Here are 10 of the most common mistakes made by the non-professionals, and even some professionals.   

Be sure to ask your quilt-maker lots of questions and ask to view examples of their work.  

 

  1. Workmanship - there are so many aspects to good workmanship.   fail-intersections.jpg
      - Do the seams run straight?   
      - Are there tucks in the seams?
      - Are there holes or missed stitches in the seams?  
      - T-shirts all inserted in the same manner  (up and down and not sideways)
    Look closely at the photos, and you can tell if the quilt-maker takes care when creating your quilt.

  2. T Shirts cut out in random sizes - T-shirts come in all shapes and sizes.  Are the logos of the shirt centered, or just whacked off?    Sometimes you will see a bit of the collar in the block.  That is fine, and I'll bet the image is centered in the block. 

  3. Cheap Materials - Cheap quilts = Cheap materials.  Just a fact.  In order for a quiltmaker to offer cheap quilts, they have to skimp somewhere.  Usually, this is in the materials used.  Don't go for the solid colored fabrics, fleece, or other polyester fabrics.  Ask if the quilt maker used 'quilt shop quality' fabrics.


    FAIL-t-shirt.jpg
  4. Shirts are not stabilized -  Some quilters skimp on this important part of your quilt.  How old ARE those t-shirts?  Is there wear and maybe a few little holes from years of use?  A GOOD stabilizer will also add life and many more years of use to those most-loved t-shirts.  Don't let your quilt-maker whack your beloved tshirts into tiny bits of fabric that have no relevance to the theme of the quilt.   (read more about Order vs. Chaos)

  5. Cheap Batting - Thicker and fluffier is not better!  The really thick (high loft) battings are usually made of 100% Polyester.  This equates to being HOT to sleep under as polyester does not 'breathe'.  You want a quality batting that is at least 80% cotton.  Some polyester is OK, as it helps the batting hold together.  All cotton battings will not hold up to multiple launderings.

  6. Seam intersections not matching - When four corners meet. it should be perfect.  Many times when there is no stabilizer, the t-shirts are stretched and don't match up.  Intersections should be flat and not forming 'volcanoes'  (quilters technical term for those lumpy intersections).  
    Read more about  quilty technical terms. 

  7. Poor design layout - Whether traditionally pieced or random/chaos pieced.  If the layout is not pleasing, you won't be happy with the quilt.  You won;t understand 'why' you don't like it, you just know that it does not 'look right'.  A professional  quilter will have experience and an eye for layout.  This only comes with experience.  More about Traditional quilts vs. Random Quilts.

  8. No sashing or Cornerstones -  Sashings and cornerstones are an important part of creating a flat and even quilt.  The sashing adds stability to the t-shirts, and the cornerstones, while adding a nice design element helps make sure the rows and columns all line up in a straight lines.  
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  9. Not Quilted - What is holding the layers of your quilt together?  Tying? - not a good option as it is usually too far apart to hold the quilt layers together for the long haul.  You want to be able to cuddle, drag around and launder this quilt for YEARS to come. Professional quilting adds a pleasing all-over design to the quilt that does not take away from the t-shirts, but adds that finishing touch that makes you know you have a quality quilt.

  10. Not finished properly - Binding is the term for that outer fabric coverin the raw edges of the quilt.  This is just as important as the other elements of YOUR quality memory t-shirt quilt.  Some quilts/blankets  just roll the backing up and over the outer edge to cover the raw edges.  The really cheap blankets just do what is called the 'pillowcase' method as they literally just sew around the outside edges and call it good. 

     

You can still have a quilt made with high quality materials, but if the maker is not skilled, you will still have a disappointing quilt.  Please do your research, and find out how many quilts your potential quilt-maker has actually made. Make sure you the t-shirt quilt you get is one you will be proud of.

To learn more about having a quilt made from your tee shirts, download our free T-Shirt Quilt Buyer's Guide.  Learn about what to look for when you are ordering a t-shirt quilt.

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Shadywood Quilts is a full service professional business that can help you complete your quilt at most any stage. We also 'fix' quilts made by non-professionals. If you get started, and don't feel you are going to be able to complete your quilt. Take pictures of your quilt in process, email it to us, and we can let you know if we can help you get it finished.