T-shirt Quilts – Tips for Quilting

We are entering graduation season. It’s the time for planning the future and looking back fondly to remember the school years. And for quilters, it’s T-shirt quilt season! T-shirt quilts are memory keepers, filled with nostalgia and personal stories. Creating a unique t-shirt quilt can be a labor of love, especially when it comes to longarm quilting. Longarm quilting stretchy fabrics offers a unique set of challenges. With some handy tips, you can turn your t-shirt quilt into a masterpiece. Let’s jump in!

The quilt top

As you create the quilt top there are some things to do that will make your job of quilting easier and more successful.

Stabilize your T-shirts

T-shirts are typically made of stretchy knit fabric, which can be tricky to quilt without proper stabilization. Use a light-weight interfacing or fusible backing to stabilize each t-shirt block before piecing them together. This not only makes the quilting process smoother but also prevents distortion and puckering. Be sure to follow manufacturer’s and press to adhere firmly so that you don’t run into the problem of the shirt separating from the backing. That would be a tuck waiting to happen!

Press seams open

T-shirt fabrics are generally thicker than quilting cottons. Cut down on bulky thick intersections by pressing your seams open during construction.

Use a light-weight thin batting

You’ll probably also want to choose a thinner lightweight batting for the quilt. Multiple t-shirts can get heavy when sewn all together. Unless you;re going for a weighted blanket result, keep your batting on the lighter side.

Prep your machine

Use the Glide Foot

Quilting over those bulky intersections and those rubbery logos can cause issues with the standard foot catching and distorting both the fabric and your design. Using the Glide foot can eliminate those headaches. The curved sides of the foot will glide smoothly over thicknesses.

Choose your needle

Should you use a Sharp or a Ball point? You are quilting through knits after all. So it would seem logical to use a ball point (designated on the package with the letters FG or FFG). But hopefully your shirts have been stabilized with interfacing which makes the fabric mimic a woven. Here’s where you might want to do a little experimenting. What you choose will depend on the shirts in your quilt. Take some of the leftover T-shirt scraps and try both kinds of needle to see which gives you better stitch quality. Some things to consider are whether your shirts have thick rubbery logos which might be hard to penetrate with a ball point needle. In that case a sharp (designated on the package with the letter R) is the way to go. Each quilt will be different.

Choose a design

Usually a loose simple design, like a meander, is the way to go with T-shirt quilts. The shirt logos are the star of the quilt, so don’t distract from that. You just want to secure the 3 layers and create a bit of texture. Be sure to practice your design til you feel confident with it for best results.

If you are free-motion quilting it will be easy to avoid problem areas like extra thick intersections, rubbery logos, or embellishments like buttons or patches. When using Pro-Stitcher, decide if you need to do some cropping to avoid those things. And be sure to choose a large-scale, open digital design.

Choose a thread

In most cases you’ll want a good strong thread that blends. A polyester in a neutral, blending color works well. I like So Fine! from Superior Threads. Sometimes it’s appropriate to use a monofilament (invisible) thread. My favorite is Monopoly by Superior Threads. Don’t forget it also comes in smoke color for those darker fabrics.

Learn more

Be sure to tune in to the HQ Watch and Learn episode that will premier on Tuesday, May 14, 2024 at noon Mountain Time. You learn a fast and fun quilt-as-you-go method, as well as tips for traditional quilting. You’ll find it on our Facebook page (facebook.com/handiquilter) or our YouTube channel (youtube.com/handiquilter)

Longarm quilting t-shirt quilts requires patience, practice, and a willingness to embrace the creative process. With these tips and techniques, you’ll be well on your way to creating a beautiful and meaningful quilt that will be cherished for years to come.

So gather your t-shirts, fire up your longarm machine, and let your creativity soar!

Quilt Every Day!

by Mary Beth Krapil