T-Shirt Quilting Question

[alum]

Has anyone made or been given a tshirt quilt made from your old tshirts? Is it too weird to bring it to college? I've been visiting a lot of colleges lately and they seem to be everywhere. Additionally, there is a long-running ad in our alumnae magazine for custom orders.

Tell me your thoughts.

[AUDeltaGam]

I'm planning on having one made relatively soon with all my sorority t-shirts. I think they are great

[alum]

This would be for a college freshman. Would it be showing too much of an attachment to high school if one was made w/ old sport teams and hs stuff? It seems like a great way to get some more use out of the shirts, because she probably wouldn't want to WEAR them in college. I have made them on commission for other people but never asked the student if it "fit in". Usually I am just talking to the moms because it's a surprise for the hs graduate.

[WLFEO]

I made one from my sorority t-shirts and I love it! I use it a lot.

Actually I have a couple of boxes of t-shirts that I'm planning on making another quilt (shirts from when I was an advisor) when I get the time. Also I've made 2 for my sister-in-law....one of her sorority t-shirts and one from her Creative Memories t-shirts (she's a consultant). My nieces are saving their soccer shirts for a quilt.

I took a class on it at a local quilting shop. It didn't really tell me anything I didn't already know but it did provide some info on how to figure final measurements, etc.

[ISUKappa]

I made one for the chapter house when I was a senior from old recruitment, philanthropy and date party t-shirts. It still gets used a lot in the TV room.

I also made one from my husband's fraternity and athletic shirts from college and we use that as our main blanket in our living room and when we go on trips.

[alum]

Originally posted by AXiD670
Mr. AXiD670 got me one for Christmas! Now I have to dig out the shirts and set my pattern before I can send it in.

I was looking on their website and saw one of the sports ones from high school. It made me sad that I had gotten rid of all my band t-shirts from hs or I would have one of those made, too. I don't think it would be showing too much of an attachment to high school -- I would think it would, however, if the student were to wear the shirts instead of having a quilt.

That's what I was thinking too! Although I guess she could wear them running. That's the only time she wears tshirts anyway, yet she still has 100s (or so it seems).

It's one thing to make a tshirt quilt as a commission, your time is compensated. It's another to put all the time into it for your own child if they won't like it or if it will lumped in a closet because its not "right" for school. I would hate for her to get an automatic cut from recruitment because of some active happens to see it and think it is too weird and high school oriented.
I think I am reading too much into this and should just get busy and start designing!

[WLFEO]

IMO, any chapter who would release someone because they have a t-shirt quilt with high school activities on it is probably not a chapter worth joining!

[alum]

I would hope nobody is that shallow. However, listening to my friends with college daughters who went through recruitment at a variety of schools and reading too many of these rush threads about getting cut for the wrong outfit, I wonder?

Those of you who had tshirt quilts made, is it possible to post them on this thread? I would love to see them!

[Lindz928]

Originally posted by AXiD670
Mr. AXiD670 got me one for Christmas! Now I have to dig out the shirts and set my pattern before I can send it in.

I was looking on their website and saw one of the sports ones from high school. It made me sad that I had gotten rid of all my band t-shirts from hs or I would have one of those made, too. I don't think it would be showing too much of an attachment to high school -- I would think it would, however, if the student were to wear the shirts instead of having a quilt.

Would you mind posting the link???? I have been saving my sorority shirts for YEARS because I want to have one made. (Truth be told, I would rather make it myself, but I haven't had the time or opportunity to learn how to quilt just yet.)

Anyway, I would love to see the site.


And alum, I think it would be a great gift for a high school graduate. When I graduated high school, my great-grandmother gave me a quilt that she had made and saved for me for years and years. It isn't fancy, or stylish or modern.... But I love it and still use it all the time.

I'm sure she would love to take those memories with her to college.

[alum]

For any of you wanting to do it yourself, these are easy instructions from my GLO's magazine. My own way is in CAPS.

Directions:
Select 30 T-shirts. Using a 14" square piece of glass (available at a lumbar yard) as a template, cut the fronts from the T-shirts using a rotary cutter. The glass is heavy enough to hold the shirt while cutting and transparent so you can see if the shirt is centered. Cut a 14" square of light-weight muslin and stitch to the back of each block to stabilize it.
I USE A CLEAR OMNIGRID 15 X 15 QUILTING RULER INSTEAD OF GLASS. I USE GRIDDED (MARKED IN 1 INCH SQUARES) FUSIBLE INTERFACING INSTEAD OF STITCHING LIGHTWEIGHT MUSLIN. IT STABILIZES THE STRETCHY T-SHIRT FABRIC BETTER. BE CAREFUL WHEN IRONING! SOMETIMES THE DESIGN MIGHT MELT IF IT'S NOT SILKSCREENED.


Sew T-shirt blocks together, matching corners. Or, for a different look, sew a strip on each side of the square, then sew the strips together. Alberta first used a 3 ½" wide black strip, taking ½" seams. On another, she accented the black strip with a 3 ½" gold square at the corners – using Missouri school colors.
DITTO

To finish the top, lay the quilt and backing on the floor, right sides together. Pin, then stitch all around, leaving a 24" opening in one of the long sides. Return the quilt to the floor. Cut the batting to the exact size and lay it on top of the quilt. (Alberta used extra loft.) With a friend, roll the quilt backing and batting from corners as tightly as possible – rolling toward the opening. Stretch the opening over the huge roll of cotton and fabric and turn your quilt right side out. Unroll it carefully, working out any bumps or wrinkles. Stitch closed.
I SAFETY-PIN THE QUILT SANDWICH (BACKING, BATTING, TOP) TOGETHER, QUILT IT AND BIND IT RATHER THAN MAKING A QUILT PILLOW. IT CAN BE DIFFICULT TO GET ALL THE WRINKLES OUT FROM THE TURN-RIGHTSIDE-OUT METHOD

For tying you can use yarn, all six strands of embroidery floss, pearl cotton, or heavy crochet thread. The quilt should be tied about every four inches in a square or surgeon's knot. Alberta tied her quilts on the wrong side, but says that tying on either side would work.
I MACHINE QUILT IT.

[HBADPi]

Thanks for the link AXiD670 and thanks to alum for the directions...I might save them in the off chance I decide to make my own but just like Lindz I dont have the time or opportunity to lean to quilt. I'd still like to make my own at some point but I'm slowly phasing out my tshirts. I still wear some of our event tshirts but the minute they show wear and tear I'll retire them. I think I have about 5 tshirts retired so I have a long way to go before I'm ready to make a quilt.

Does anyone know if you can include sweatshirt letters in a quilt. I know the fabric is obviously thicker but the chapter I advise bought me a set of sweatshirt letters with "Chapter Advisor" embroidered under the letters. I'd love to include that in a quilt.

[alum]

I have used sweatshirt letters in commissioned quilts. If you are using fusible interfacing as the stabilizer, iron the sweatshirt material around the fabric and then flip it over and iron it on the fusible web side.

BTW, when I write iron, just press the iron to the fabric, wait a few seconds and move to a different section. Do NOT move the iron back and forth.

Letter fabric on sweatshirts is usually thick poly blend which needs a lower setting than the tshirt, sweatchirt material. You don't want to scorch the actual letters.

[ISUKappa]

This is the one I made for the husband



I cut the shirts a little larger and used a king-size sheet for the backing.

[AlphaFrog]

I haven't quite convinced myself to give up my t-shirts yet. Of couse I work in a casual enviroment so I can wear them to work. But that quilt is kinda making me change my mind Kappa, it's beautiful!

[HBADPi]

Originally posted by ISUKappa
This is the one I made for the husband



I cut the shirts a little larger and used a king-size sheet for the backing.

Oh thats too cute! I like that a lot!

How did you do the front? Sorry I'm quilting retarded.