Turning old Greek T-shirts into...quilts?

[auakl]

Okay, here’s the issue. Now that I’ve graduated and been forced to grow up (those that are still undergrads, delay this transition as long as possible ) my wife and I have literally dozens of Homecoming, Rush, Bid Day, Iron Bowl, Grab-A-Date, Repaving the Driveway ’99, Crush Party, etc. T-shirts. The question is, what to do with all of them now? Unfortunately, a lot of them have shrunk considerably (the idea that I may have expanded just a bit since my college days would never cross my mind ) and those that haven’t, I just don’t have the opportunity to wear them as much as I had previously. Rather than allow them to continue to fill my dresser, banish them to cardboard boxes in the attic or turn them into work shirts, I would like to somehow display them or preserve them in some way. A fantastic idea I once read/heard about was turning the old shirts into a wall hanging / quilt by sewing all of the backs of the shirts together in rows and columns (like you would individual panels of a quilt), adding a backing and stuffing, then hanging from a curtain rod on the wall. What do y’all think? Any other suggestions or feedback on how y’all think this would look? Thanks!

[33girl]

Courtesy of the lovely ladies of KKG, here is how to make a t-shirt quilt.

http://www.kappakappagamma.org/quilt.htm

[chideltjen]

one of my friends did a t-shirt quilt out of all her shirts from tournaments and meets in high school. she just cut out the main logo and added a base fabric to go around it. her mistake is that she made it 2 panels wide and like 8 panels long so it's a lil uneven to say the least. but it's cute. they have special interfacing for t-shirt quilts at fabric stores (can you tell i am a joann's girl?) and if you have any quilting experience you are two steps ahead of me cuz i think that is what i eventually want to do with all of my shirts.

[Senusret I]

A quilt is an excellent idea!

My mom took one of my old t-shirts and made it into a small throw pillow.

[Optimist Prime]

I might just frame shirts i messed up

[ShaedyKD]

Bumping this up, because I did a search, and many of the "how-to make a t-shirt quilt" sites do not work anymore. I recently graduated, have 50 million KD shirts, and want to get crafty with the sewing machine. I know how to sew, thanks to Fashion Productions I in high school. I'd appreciate any help!

[ISUKappa]

I've made two t-shirt quilts -- one for my chapter to keep in the tv room and one for my husband. They're relatively easy, just take some time assembling.

1. Decide what size you want your quilt to be, and whether you want strips of fabric dividing the squares of t-shirt. Measure and cut the t-shirts (adding 1/2" or 1" extra on all sides for seam allowance (1/4" seam if you added 1/2"; 1/2" seam if you added 1")). The easest way to cut is to first measure a cardboard template, then trace the template on the t-shirt, then cut using a rotary cutter, ruler and mat.

2. Iron stabilizer on the backs of the cut-out t-shirt squares. You need to do this so they don't stretch.

3. Arrange t-shirts on the floor in the pattern you want for the quilt. Pin together, two at a time, and sew until you have a row completed. It's easiest to sew by rows across when you're sewing the entire top together.

4. Once you have the top sewn together, lay down your backing (a flat sheet works well), batting and quilt top in that order, just as they will look when the quilt is finished. pin together on the edges and through the middle. Sew together with a basting stitch first to keep things from sliding and then fold over and pin the backing 1/2" over the top to create your binding. Sew together. Tie quilt every 6" or so.

Here's the one I did for my husband using a king-size sheet for backing:

[Tom Earp]

FYI, there was a Site on Ebay that offered to do this!

Had to furnish T-Shirts + shipping.

Bidding LOW!

[DaffyKD]

I am an avid quilter, although I have not yet made a T-shirt quilt. Here is a site with directions that was posted on our Quilt Guild newsletter. Keep in mind, quilting is addictive and once you start, you may never be able to quit.

http://www.goosetracks.com/T-Shirt%2...tructions.html

DaffyKD

[astroAPhi]

ISUKappa, you did an awesome job!

[WhiteDaisy128]

I did this...I just couldn't stand to part with the t's, but I HAD to have more space in my dresser...and I can't wear the t's to work. It turned out really big. I was only a collegian for 2 years and my quilt covers a queen size bed!!!

[ShaedyKD]

Thank you so much everyone! ISUKappa, I love the quilt you made! White Daisy, I feel you. I have a whole suitcase full of shirts...I was active for 4 years. Now I have to narrow down which ones I want on my quilt!

[PhoenixAzul]

i saw a fantastic shirt quilt (of an AOPi girl's mother) at a quilt show this summer. It had the front designs as little tiny squares in the rows, and the bigger squares were boarded by red-rose fabric. It was adorable. My mom said she'd do one for me of my PX shirts and my letters and my fraternity shirts (I've got a shirt i love that says "if I were a guy, I'd pledge kings".)

[UpPinkies]

Originally posted by ISUKappa
I've made two t-shirt quilts -- one for my chapter to keep in the tv room and one for my husband. They're relatively easy, just take some time assembling.

1. Decide what size you want your quilt to be, and whether you want strips of fabric dividing the squares of t-shirt. Measure and cut the t-shirts (adding 1/2" or 1" extra on all sides for seam allowance (1/4" seam if you added 1/2"; 1/2" seam if you added 1")). The easest way to cut is to first measure a cardboard template, then trace the template on the t-shirt, then cut using a rotary cutter, ruler and mat.

2. Iron stabilizer on the backs of the cut-out t-shirt squares. You need to do this so they don't stretch.

3. Arrange t-shirts on the floor in the pattern you want for the quilt. Pin together, two at a time, and sew until you have a row completed. It's easiest to sew by rows across when you're sewing the entire top together.

4. Once you have the top sewn together, lay down your backing (a flat sheet works well), batting and quilt top in that order, just as they will look when the quilt is finished. pin together on the edges and through the middle. Sew together with a basting stitch first to keep things from sliding and then fold over and pin the backing 1/2" over the top to create your binding. Sew together. Tie quilt every 6" or so.

Here's the one I did for my husband using a king-size sheet for backing:

Never thought of that idea. Your quilt looks great!!! My friend is a Gamma Phi Beta and when we were in school she was always buying shirts. I have to tell her this idea because she should have plenty of shirts. I swear every day, every event, every hour, every minute she was writing a check for 8.00 here, 10.00 there. My shirt collection is not that big yet, but I do have a shirt I would love to turn into a pillow.