I know I’m not the only one with loads of t-shirts sitting in a drawer. Ones that hold special meaning, but don’t get worn anymore. I used to look wistfully at other people’s t-shirt quilts and google every so often to see how much it would cost to get one made.
Turns out it costs a pretty penny. And for good reason! There’s cutting, interfacing, piecing the puzzle together, sewing with knits, quilting (or tying), and binding. And all with some of our most precious memories!
Whew. That’s enough to scare anyone off.
But I’m here with the hope of demystifying the t-shirt quilt for you, making it an accessible sewing goal, and encouraging you along the way. I’ve broken down the t-shirt quilt making process into weekly sessions with thorough instructions, resource links, photos, and even some videos to help you stop staring at those old shirts and start sewing!
As always, I’m happy to answer any questions you may have along the way and would also love to know tips and techniques that you’ve found helpful. The sewing community is a wonderful place to be. Happy sewing!
Grab this detailed checklist to stay organized while working on your t-shirt quilt. It’s complete with links to each blog post to keep you on track along the way!
Weekly Steps
Week 1 – Introduction and Supply Gathering
- How the sewalong is set up
- What you’ll need
- Stabilizing t-shirt basics
- Choosing your backing and batting
- Layout overview
Week 2 – Layout Options and and Cutting Your Shirts
- Layout options
- Cutting your shirts
Week 3 – Stabilizing and Trimming
- Stabilizing your blocks
- Finalizing your layout
- Double checking your block sizes and trimming
Week 4-5 – Quilt Top Assembly
Week 6 – Basting
- Square quilt top
- Basting techniques
Week 7 – Quilting/Tying
- Quilting techniques
- Tying techniques
Week 8 – Binding
- Square quilt
- Binding techniques
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