The T Shirt Quilt

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• 

  Step 1

  Collect your tshirts and don't weep too much about the fact that you're going to cut them up.

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  Step 2

  Wash. Both yourself and the t-shirts. Because you're human and have stored the t-shirts in suitcases for years. And they were smelly. Not bad smelly, just musty smelly.

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  Step 3

  Iron. This was painful. I don't iron. I straighten my clothes after I've done my hair if necessary. I also discovered most of the t-shirts weren't yet dry and so things got a little steamy (teehee). I gave up on the ironing half way through.

• Step 4

  Make templates for the patches, learn from my mistakes and try to make them all the same size. But tshirt jigsaw is quite fun, but also frustrating.

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  Step 5

  Cut the front of the tshirts out using your new templates, ensuring you keep the motif central and a good few inches spare around.

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  Step 6

  Ok, so what I made isn't a quilt but more a patchwork blanket. I used fleece blankets from Primark at £2.50 a pop and cut squares to fit each t-shirt patch. I began by colour coordinating it all, then realised that was pointless as you're never going to look at the front and the back at the same time. I simply pinned the t-shirt to the fleece and snip snipped, I also kept the pins in after to keep it in place ready for sewing. You're going to need lots of pins for this.

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  Step 7

  So now I simply sewed the t-shirt onto the fleece (t-shirt motif facing down) and left a wee gap to turn it round the right way again after. Like I said, I don't know if my way is the 'right' way, but I like the finished effect.
  This was probably the most time consuming stage, I started counting up the hours but got to 30 and decided to stop. I had a routine of cutting a few squares out then sewing and repeat. This was how I maintained my sanity.

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  Step 8

  Lay patches out on double sheet and play t-shirt jigsaw
  Well this was pretty sodding difficult. When I started the project I decided not to make it perfectly laid out in a brick pattern, but rather higgeldy piggeldy, because that's what memories are. Putting this into practice was a headache and a half. The first row comprised of perfect squares, and then it just got confusing. I would sew a few together, then lie it out and pin more on... my patience levels really suck and so this was a true test of how much I wanted to make it.

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  Step 9

  I used blanket stitch to hand sew each patch together. At one point the blunt edge of one of the needles went through my thumb. Fun times.
  This stage took six seasons of Gilmore Girls. Because Gilmore Girls is now a unit of time.

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  Step 10

  I used bias tape to finish off the blanket. This was the first time I've ever used it and as I am not the neatest hand sewer I found it to be a life saver. The nice lady at the haberdashery taught me and steered me away from the pretty ribbons as it was quite clear that I was clueless, and then my genius Mumma re-taught me.

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  Step 11

  REJOICE! IT'S FINISHED! Take a photo for Instagram and gloat.

Comments

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emmilou w. · Wallasey, England, GB · 12 projects 31st March 2017

Brilliant!! I love your blanket...& you have inspired me to make one out of all the t-shirts I have collected...I've turned some of them into cushion covers but I think our home would be over-run with cushions if I carried on...hahaha!!

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Kitsunea m. 7th March 2017

i just loved your instructions, I'll definitly be adding my versión of this one <3.

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Deb P. 3rd March 2017

I am proud of you. Great job sticking to it and getting it done. You have inspired me to make one too. Thank you

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