In love with T-shirt quilts

T-shirt Quilts! They are very popular. Maybe you’ve been dreaming of a t-shirt quilt for years. Perhaps you have recently seen a picture of one and thought, “Awesome, I can get that tub of old shirts out of my closet without having to throw them away!” T-shirt quilts are a great way to preserve, memorialize, or use (pick your favorite verb) all those old shirts and create something useful and beautiful.
However, before you rush to your closet to unearth those tubs of saved tees, there are some things to consider. The biggest are size, style, and quality which will all impact the cost of your quilt. Shall we discuss them in order?
You can order a t-shirt quilt of practically any size! The graphics on the shirts are cut out as squares. Most blocks will be around 14 inches for a large or extra-large shirt or 12 inches if the shirts are smaller. In the case of the larger blocks your quilt can be any multiple of 14. Small throws are usually 12 blocks (3 x 4) and the sizes increase up to a king size (9 x 9) but you can pick your size and the number of t-shirts!
There are several styles of t-shirt quilts to choose from as well. I am going to list them starting with the least expensive and in my opinion, the least impressive!
First is the basic t-shirt quilt. It is just blocks sewn together in rows and the rows are then sewn together to make the quilt top. A quality quilter will take time to make sure the colors coordinate and don’t fade into each other, and that all the corners match in sharp points.
The next step up is a quilt that puts a single sashing color around each block, separating it from its neighbor. This adds definition to the quilt and with the right color selection, can really make your tshirts pop! It is also a good choice if you would like your quilt a little larger than your t-shirts will accommodate, since the addition of the fabric sashing increases the overall size of the quilt.
Third is a quilt that has fancier sashing. It is possible, with the use of contrasting colors to create a shadow box around each block. This takes more time and effort but it can be a wonderful choice if your shirt selection is limited!
Then there is the mosaic or puzzle quilt. In this style the blocks are not cut to a uniform size. The shirts are cut to more closely fit the graphics. This quilt may utilize pieces of plain tee-shirt to fill in the odd space between blocks. This quilt has no fabric sashing. As you can probably guess, this quilt top requires a lot more shirts! As an additional feature on any of these shirts you could add a solid or decorative border around the outside of the shirts. Some quilters offer you a choice between a few edge-to-edge quilting patterns that are suitable for t-shirt quilts. Others may offer out-line or 3D quilting.
Almost universally, t-shirt quilts are priced based on the number of t-shirts blocks used in your quilt. When you shop around, especially on-line, you will find some really inexpensive options for having your t-shirts made into a quilt. Your local quilter is going to charge you more. Maybe quite a bit more. What’s the difference? Why should you pay more to your local quilter? The answer is simple. Quality! My Dad always said, “You get what you pay for!” That is the case with your t-shirt quilt as well.
Let’s talk about that inexpensive option first. When you buy from the cheap on-line company you are paying someone minimum wage, or maybe a little bit more, to make your quilt. If it doesn’t take any special talent or skill to make your quilt top, have you considered doing it yourself? Also, if you read the descriptions of the product, and look closely at the pictures, you will see that you won’t really be getting a quilt.
Why do I say that? Webster defines a quilt as a “multi-layered textile, traditionally composed of three layers of fibers, a woven cloth top, a layer of batting and a woven back combined using the technique of quilting, typically applied in a decorative design.”
First, they are not using any batting or padding between the layers of fabric. Second, they do not quilt your “quilt”. Some places use ties, stitches through the two layers then tied off, spaced a regular distance apart, to hold the two layers together. Others will “stitch in the ditch”; sew down each seam line of the t-shirts in a block pattern to hold the layers together. What you are getting is a blanket not a quilt! And, at the price they are charging, they are very likely, not using a quality backing fabric. Lastly, they do not take the additional time, or expense to stabilize each shirt. This means over time your “blanket” is going to stretch out and get wonky.
So what does your local quilter offer you that is so much better it warrants the higher cost? First, you are paying for their experience. Chances are they have been sewing and quilting for years! They have the knowledge to make a quilt that will last a life-time. They are professionals and charge accordingly. They are not going to work for minimum wage. You wouldn’t ask your plumber or electrician to work for pennies on the dollar.
Your local quilter is staking their reputation on “your” satisfaction. You are not an anonymous, random person from somewhere. You are their neighbor and part of their community. You are the foundation of their success or failure. They care!
The shirts will be stabilized. Most quilters use a thin iron-on woven interfacing. This will not be noticeable to you as you use your quilt. It will however, improve the appearance and extend the life of your quilt.
You are going to get a quilt. There will be a quality batting between the layers of fabric. It will be quilted! Quilters know the best quilts have a long, well loved life which means they get used. Quilts are for snuggling in, building indoor forts, and outdoor picnics. Quilters understand your quilt will need to be washed and dried. Quilting holds the batting in place and keeps it from shifting and getting thin in some places and bunching up in others. Quilters are not going to waste all the time and effort to make you a beautiful quilt and then ruin it by using a low quality fabric that will not last.
I have one other thought to share with you about the cost of a t-shirt quilt. I don’t buy a lot of t-shirts. When I do, it is a shirt that speaks to me or I feel will have sentimental value, reminding me of a vacation or some other special occasion. Usually the shirts I buy are in the $20 range. Maybe you don’t spend that much on your shirts, maybe you spend more. My point is, those shirts were worth, in my case $20 each new. You’ve been saving them for years. Now, is not the time to go cheap.
Remember you are purchasing an heirloom! Instead of thinking about how much it will cost you to get a one-of-a-kind quilt that will last you a life-time; count the number of shirts you have stuck in those tubs. Do that math! How much money do you have sitting in the back of your closet? Still don’t want to invest in quality? Donate those shirts to a respectable charity.

Laura Knight Knight-Time Quilting