Turn Old Tshirts Into Cozy Quilts – A Guide To Upcycling Your Threadbare Tees

Turn Your Old T-Shirts Into Cozy Quilts

If you’re like me, your closet is full of old t-shirts that hold fond memories but are past the point of comfortable wear. Rather than tossing them, consider turning them into quilts – it’s a fun, creative way to preserve those memories while making something useful. As someone who’s made many t-shirt quilts over the years, here are answers to common questions people have about the process.

Why Make a Quilt from T-Shirts?

1. It gives old shirts new life instead of sending them to the landfill. From an environmental standpoint, reusing materials is preferable to adding to waste.
2. T-shirt quilts make great personalized gifts that recipients will appreciate and treasure for years. The shirts chosen tell a story through inside jokes, memories of events, favorite bands or shows, and more.
3. The process is a nice craft for those evenings when you want to keep your hands busy. It’s relaxing to sew and piece together shirts, remembering each one’s significance as you work.

Getting Started with Materials

The basic materials needed are the t-shirts themselves, fabric scissors, a sewing machine if doing machine piecing (hand stitching works too though!), matching thread, and backing/batting materials. A good rule of thumb is picking 10-15 shirts on the smaller end and 20-40 for larger king/california king sizes.

As for backing, you can use flannel, quilt cotton, or recycled material like leftover jersey knit. Polyester batting works great for its loftiness and washability. Measure everything out properly leaving extra fabric for fringe or borders if desired. Marking patterns on shirt backs helps keep pieces right sides together when sewing.

Preparing and Cutting the Shirt Pieces

The preparation step takes the longest but sets you up for easy piecing later on. First remove any buttons or embellishments from shirts. Then lay them flat and use sharp scissors to carefully cut off collars, sleeves, and hems, keeping the front design intact. From here, measure and mark 6-8 inch squares using a water-soluble fabric marker or chalk.

Remember that most shirts are on the bias, meaning the design will stretch and distort if cut on the diagonal. To avoid this, cut squares either straight across or on the vertical/horizontal. Once cut, press all pieces with an iron to flatten seams. Folder or basket these “blocks” together by color/pattern for easy piecing later.

Sewing the Pieces Together

With everything cut and sorted, the fun part of constructing begins! I usually start by laying out a few random blocks to get a feel for placement, then build out rows of 3-5 squares each by pinning right sides together and sewing a 1/4″ seam with matching thread. Periodically press seams open or to one side as you piece rows together for a flat, cohesive look.

For larger backs, connecting row strips end to end creates the overall top surface. When piecing in this joined manner, a walking foot can really help keep layers aligned perfectly. Use your judgement on how many strips to join before adding horizontal rows – fewer longer strips reduces seams for a less bulky look.

Add Backing, Batting, and Binding

Once the pieced top is complete, layer it face down with batting, smoothing any bumps. Then place backing material right side down on top, aligning raw edges. Baste layers together using long stitches or quilt as desired all around to keep them secured while adding binding.

For the final touch, cut thin strips of coordinating fabric into bias tape or “continuous binding” for an easy, professional-looking finish. Iron binding strip to wrong side of layered quilt front, then stitch close to folded edge, mitering corners neatly. Finish by folding binding to back and stitching down securely. Your keepsake t-shirt quilt is complete!

Washing on a gentle cycle helps soften cottons. From my experience, these quilts become even cozier with age as the memories they represent get to be refelt each time they’re snuggled under. A t-shirt quilt makes for a heartfelt, one-of-a-kind gift that will surely be treasured. I hope sharing my process gives you some fun ideas to try making your own! Feel free to message me if you have any other questions.

Tips for Making T-Shirt Quilts

FAQ

1. How do I make a quilt from t-shirts?

   Basically, you cut up the t-shirts and sew them together like regular quilt squares. Cut off the sleeves and neckline. Then cut the shirt material into squares or rectangles. You can also do fun shapes. Sew them together and add batting and a backing. Add your favorite quilting designs on top. Looks awesome hanging on the wall!

2. What fabrics work best for t-shirt quilts?

   Cotton t-shirts are sort of the easiest to work with since they’re a pretty thick cotton fabric. At the same time, you can use pretty much any woven fabric like jersey knit or fleece. But heavier ones might be harder to cut and sew. Perhaps go with medium weight fabrics. The nice thing about t-shirts is they come pre-washed so they won’t shrink on you after you quilt.

   

3. How do I prepare the t-shirt fabric?

   To get started, you’ll need to cut off the collars and sleeves of each t-shirt. Then cut the t-shirt pieces into squares or strips – whatever pattern you choose. It’s a good idea to pre-wash and dry the fabric so it doesn’t shrink after you quilt it. You can even decorate the t-shirt pieces with markers or fabric paint before sewing if you want some bedazzle. Mind the finger smudges!

4. What size pieces should I cut the t-shirts into?

   There’s no right or wrong size – it depends on your project and skill level. Somewhere between 6-12 inches is a nice average. Bigger pieces give a bolder look but require more advanced piecing. Smaller pieces are simpler but may take longer. Try sketching templates on paper first. Or cut a test piece to decide what you like. Do whatever looks awesome on your wall!

5. How many t-shirts do I need?

   The number of t-shirts depends on the size of quilt you want to end up with. A twin-size quilt calls for around 12-15 t-shirts. A queen may use 30 or so. It also depends how large you cut the pieces. Cut larger and you’ll need fewer shirts. Cut smaller and the shirts will go further. But who’s counting, right? Have fun mixing colors and memories!

6. Can I personalize the t-shirt quilt with pictures?

   What a great idea to make it extra special! You can attach photos with fabric glue or tiny stitches before sewing. Cut them into shapes that coordinate with your patchwork. Be sure to protect photos with clear vinyl or laminate so they don’t get stained over time. What memories will you share? Grandkids will love seeing mom in retro 80s gear decades from now!

   

7. How do I finish the t-shirt quilt?

   Once pieced, add batting between the t-shirt front and a backing fabric. Then quilt as desired – either by hand or machine. Bind the raw edges with coordinating fabric. To hang it, attach a sleeve to the top back with more stitches. Ta-da, a one-of-a-kind conversation piece is born! Isn’t it amazing what a stack of old shirts can become?