Can I make t-shirt blankets DIY at home? The answer is yes. This ultimate guide is written to help you to create a t-shirt quilt as you desired with no challenges.
Let’s get started with how to make a t-shirt quilt for beginners and keep your eye on till the end to learn our helpful tips for your handmade quilt from shirts and find your favorite patterns!
Are T-shirt quilts hard to make?
Learning how to make a t-shirt quilt for beginners is not as hard as you thought, but it does require basic sewing skills and patience. The process involves cutting t-shirts, stabilizing them with interfacing, and sewing the blocks together. By following our detailed guide, beginners can successfully make a beautiful and functional quilt from t-shirts easily at home.
Step-By-Step T-Shirt Quilt Instructions for Beginners
Step 1: Prepare supplies needed to make a t-shirt quilt
- T-shirts
- Lightweight fusible interfacing
- Rotary cutter, cutting mat, and ruler
- Sewing machine and thread
- Iron and ironing board
- Quilt batting
- Backing fabric (cotton or flannel)
- Binding fabric
- Pins or basting spray
- Scissors
Important Note for beginners:
Depending on the desired quilt size, you’ll know how many shirts are needed for a t-shirt quilt. From my experience, you’ll need at least 10 t-shirts to make a throw-size quilt 48” x 64” and 30 t-shirts to make a full size t-shirt quilt 82” x 96”.
Step 2: Identify How Big Your T-shirt Blanket DIY is
As mentioned earlier, the number of shirts you choose to make a blanket will decide the quilt size. Let’s select your favorite t-shirt designs that you love for the handmade quilt. You should choose the t-shirts that are clean and in good condition to make a t-shirt quilt.
Step 3: Start Cutting T-shirt Blocks
First of all, you’ll need to work with your t-shirts to make a t-shirt quilt. Cut along the side seams, shoulders, and sleeves to separate the front and back of each t-shirt.
Then you’ll cut pieces of lightweight fusible interfacing slightly larger than your desired block size.
Step 4: Interface your t-shirts
Next, place the interfacing on the back of each t-shirt panel and iron it according to the interfacing instructions. This will prevent the fabric from stretching and makes it easier to sew for beginners when they make a t-shirt quilt for the first time.
Before you design the quilt layout, determine the size of your square blocks. 12” x 12” or 14” x 14 are highly recommended for beginners. Then, you will use a rotary cutter, ruler, and cutting mat to cut the stabilized t-shirt panels into uniform squares.
Step 5: Design the T-shirt Quilt Layout
Lay out the t-shirt blocks on a flat surface, arranging them in a visually pleasing layout. You can include sashing strips between square blocks and cut sashing strips to your desired width.
Step 6: Start Sewing the Quilt to make your rows
Sew your rows first. You’ll sew your t-shirt blocks together in rows using a ¼” seam allowance. If using sashing, sew a sashing strip between each block in the row. Next, let’s match the seams together carefully. In case you use sashing, add horizontal sashing strips between the rows.
Step 6: Assemble and Quilt the Layers together
Lay the backing fabric right side down, then the batting, and finally the quilt top right side up. You should pin or baste the layers together with safety pins or basting spray to keep them from shifting.
When it comes to making a t-shirt quilt, beginners should choose an easy and simple quilting design like stitching in the ditch (sewing along the seams) or a basic grid pattern. These designs can be done by sewing for beginners without any difficulties.
Remember to sew through all three layers, starting from the center and working outward to prevent bunching when you quilt the layers.
Step 7: Trim and Bind the T-shirt Quilt
Yeah, you nearly completed a DIY t-shirt quilt. Trim the excess batting and backing fabric even with the quilt top. Then fold the strips in half lengthwise and press.
Sew the binding to the front of the quilt, raw edges aligned. Miter the corners for a neat finish. Fold the binding over to the back and hand-stitch it down.
Step 8: Custom Your T-Shirt Quilt
You can add your name, the date, or whatever you want to custom your t-shirt quilt.
Free T-Shirt Quilt Patterns for Beginners
T-shirt memory quilt
You may choose logo designs on your t-shirts and combine them in different sizes. Then follow our steps to make a t-shirt quilt as a keepsake for you or beloved ones on any occasions.
T-Shirt Quilt with Cornerstones
This t-shirt quilt pattern is inspired by small squares placed at the corners of each block or sashing intersection, adding a decorative touch. Then you’ll sew the squares together and place cornerstones at the interactions.
Framed T-shirt Quilt for Beginners
You’ll make a t-shirt quilt with borders around each t-shirt block, which makes your quilt more polished and easy to accommodate different sizes of t-shirt designs.
Related Framed Quilts:
T-shirt Quilt Problems & Care Instructions
Creating a t-shirt quilt is a rewarding project, especially for those who learn how to make a t-shirt quilt for the first time, but it comes with its challenges and specific care needs.
Please keep in mind the following common issues to avoid messing up your DIY t-shirt quilt:
- Ensure the stability of stretchy t-shirt fabrics during sewing
- Avoid unintended patterns or images being cut off
Proper care for your t-shirt quilt:
- You should wash the quilt gently in cold water and air dry or tumble dry on low to ensure its longevity.
- A mild detergent is recommended to preserve the colors and the shrinkage of your t-shirt blanket.
- No bleach or fabric softeners
Once beginners are warned with t-shirt quilt problems, and follow these care instructions, their t-shirt quilt will remain a cherished keepsake for years to come.
The Bottom Line
Hopefully, this article helps beginners find it easier to make a t-shirt quilt when you start trying this project at home. In addition to recommended free t-shirt quilt patterns, you may discover our Quilts category for new favorite designs from independent artists at affordable prices.
Reach out to us to share your first project of a t-shirt quilt DIY after reading this blog post.
See more DIY project articles from a T-shirt:
How to Cut A T-Shirt into A Tank Top: DIY Tank Top Tutorials
Reference Source:
www.brother-usa.com/home/how-to-sew
