How To Make a T-Shirt Quilt

Making a t-shirt quilt is an easy, fun way to preserve memories.  A t-shirt quilt simply consists of large 12" squares which are framed, or sashed, with a contrasting fabric.  Here are the basic instructions to get you started.

1. Choose your t-shirts.  The shirts that you use should be clean and in good condition.  If they are excessively worn, your quilt will wear out faster, too. If you have an uneven number of t-shirts, you can use plain fabric in some squares, too.

2. Attach fusible interfacing to each shirt.  You'll need to attach interfacing to each shirt to prevent it from stretching.  Interfacing is an iron-on fabric which stabilizes material that might otherwise stretch too much to be used in a quilt.  A medium-weight interfacing is adequate for this project.  Cut the front and back of each shirt apart, then cut a 14" square of interfacing.  These instructions are based on a 12" square for each shirt.  If you want to use a larger square than that, adjust the measurements accordingly.  Center the interfacing on the back of the shirt design.  Iron it onto the t-shirt very carefully, making sure to avoid wrinkling the fabric or the interfacing.
3. Cut the design to size.  Once the interfacing is in place, cut each shirt design into a 12-1/2" square -- the 12" design, plus 1/2" for seam allowances.  Remember to leave space around each design for the seam allowances!
4. Choose and cut your sashing fabric.  Sashing is the border that runs in between each design to separate them and give them prominence.  Each sash should be 2-1/2" wide -- 2" finished width plus the 1/2" seam allowance.
5. Choose and cut your border fabric.  You may choose the same fabric as your sashes, or a contrasting fabric.  You will want a border of 3", which will be 2-1/2" when finished.
6. Assemble your t-shirt squares into columns.  Sew each t-shirt square to a sashing strip, using a 1/4" seam allowance.  Then, sew each t-shirt square/sashing strip to another combo, to make columns of squares.  The number of squares in a column will depend upon how many t-shirts you have and how large you want the finished quilt to be.
7. Assemble the columns into a quilt-top.  After you have sewn all of your t-shirts squares into columns, add long sashing strips to the side of each column, then sew the columns together.  Cut each long sashing strip slightly longer than the length of the column of t-shirt squares, then trim it when you're done if necessary.
8. Add your borders.  Attach your border fabric around the outer edge of your quilt-top, again using a 1/4" seam allowance.
9. Layer your quilt.  Lay your quilt-top, wrong side up on a large, smooth surface or on the floor.  Layer your batting and your backing material on top of it.  The batting is what insulates your quilt.  A low-loft polyester batting is appropriate for machine-quilting.  If you're planning to tie your quilt, you may want to use a high-loft cotton batting to give it that puffy, cozy feeling.  The backing material is typically the same fabric as your borders, but it can be anything you like.  You could even piece together more t-shirt squares and have a two-sided quilt!  Baste or pin the quilt-top, batting and backing fabric together.  You may then quilt the three layers, or simply tie them.  This involves threading a length of yarn through the three layers at regular intervals and tying it in a square knot.
10. Finish your quilt.  Add binding to your quilt and iron it if necessary.  Your masterpiece is complete!