When I first went away to college my mom asked me to clean out my room. Once I came across my high school t-shirts, my mom asked if I was going to throw them away. Immediately I said no because I have way too many memories in all those shirts. I told her I was going to do something with them later on and to hold onto them for the time being.
After I graduated college four years later I finally re-approached the situation. Still having a special connection to each shirt, I decided I needed to create something with them. After researching different ideas, I decided a t-shirt blanket was my favorite option.
I found a few companies who were able to do it but I didn't want to pay the expensive prices. I read a few tutorials and watched a few YouTube videos on how to do it myself and decided to try it out all while knowing my super crafty grandma was available to help me through the process so I took the plunge.
If you're like me and are unable to part with your t shirts, I have the perfect solution for you!
What you'll need:
T shirts
Quilt Binding (I find double fold to be easiest, but in this tutorial I used a single fold)
What you'll do:
Connecting your Shirts:
Start by organizing out the t-shirts in the layout you want them in. It helps to do this first so you avoid cutting up any shirts you don't use. (I also like to take a picture to remember this layout later on.)
Once you have all the shirts you are using cut the shirts in half so you only have the side with the design you will be showcasing.
Once all your shirts are halved, grab your Fusible interfacing. I cut all my pieces of interfacing ahead of time.
Use your iron (or my #cricut heat press in this case) to apply the interfacing to the back side of the shirt (not the side with the design). This helps thicken the t-shirt and make it easier to sew. Also, be sure to make the interfacing larger than 12X12 so that it covers the entire area when you trim the shirt down.
Once all your shirts have interfacing on the back end, grab your quilters square. Place the square over the design part of your shirt. whatever lies within this square is what will be seen on your quilt (why it helps to have a clear square). Take your rotary cutter and cutting mat and cut all your shirts into 12.5X12.5 squares.
Once all your shirts are into 12.5x12.5 squares, line the shirts back up into the layout desired for your quilt.
Pin the shirts together in a line either along the row, or the column (not both, you'll be attaching one row at a time).
When pinning the shirts together, place the two connecting shirts right side in and pin along the edge that will be connecting them. do this along the rest of the row.
Once you have all your shirts pinned together you can begin sewing your rows together. Grab your sewing machine, thread and sewing scissors to begin.
Sew down the side of the shirts lengthwise using a 1/2 inch seam allowance. Be sure to reverse stitch at the top and bottom to keep from pulling apart. Do this until you have all your shirts in that row connected.
Iron the seams between each shirt to reinforce the stitch.
Do this for reach row down the quilt.
Once all your shirts are sewn together in rows, it's time to sew each row together.
Start at one end, the top or bottom, and pin your rows together (right sides in). The shirts should be upside down so once they're sewn together and you flip it up to lay flat all your shirts are laying in the same direction. Be sure to line up the seams!
Sew along the top using a 1/2 inch seam allowance, reverse stitching at each end.
Once the row is completed, iron the seam to reinforce the stitch.
Do this until all your rows are combined.
Adding your batting and backing:
Lay your quilt backing wrong side up flat on the ground or a large surface. Lay your batting flat on top of the backing and your connected t-shirts flat on top of that, right side up.
Once you have it laid out it should represent the way each layer will be once the quilt is completed. Pin these three layers together starting at the center of the blanket and working your way to the edges.
Once the pinning is done, take your blanket over to the sewing machine. Sew straight lines along the row and column lines to connect all three layers. Be sure to back stitch on each end. When you're finished, your three layers should be securely connected.
Attaching the boarder (two descriptions below, one for double folded binding tape and one for single folded binding tape:
Double fold binding tape -
Lay your binding flat all the way around the perimeter of the quilt until the ends meet again. Try and avoid placing any seams in your binding fabric near the corners.
When you're ready, mark where you want to start attaching your binding to the quilt with a pin. Be sure to leave at least a 12-inch tail of binding beyond your starting point so you can properly finish the ends.
It is at this point where you can use your rotary cutter to trim any excess batting and backing you may need to make the edges even.
Align the raw edge of your binding strip with the raw edge of your quilt. Stitch up to 1/4-inch of the corner, then back-stitch a few stitches.
Fold the binding up, aligning the raw edge of the binding in a straight line with the raw edge of the quilt on the next side. This creates a 45-degree angle on the binding. Finger press the fold.
Fold the binding down along the next side of the quilt. Align the raw edges together. Check that the top fold is parallel to the first edge of the quilt.
Sew down the side of the quilt, repeating this process at each corner.
Trim the corners. This removes the bulk in the binding corners, allowing the binding to fold nicely and lay flat and square. In the binding seam allowance, snip along the top fold of the binding up to the stitching line.
Pull the binding seam allowance back to reveal the little triangle fold of fabric from the binding.
Fold the quilt back out of the way and trip that small triangle away by cutting just next to your stitching line. Do this on all four corners.
Re-fold the binding back to form a neat angled fold. Pin the edge in place.
Turn the quilt over and fold the next edge over the quilt, forming a neat mitered corner on the back side. Pin in place.
Sew the binding in place using a short blind stitch by hand. For a professional finish, also sew the binding corner folds closed on both the front and back of the quilt.
Single fold binding tape -
Lay your binding flat all the way around your blanket.
It is at this point where you can use your rotary cutter to trim any excess batting and backing you may need to make the edges even.
Next you can pin your binding tape onto the blanket about 12 inches from the end of the tape. Leave this room for you to connect the two ends of the binding tape together.
Once you get to the corner leave about 6 inches for you to frame the corner.
Sew along the binding tape until you reach your 6 inch point from the corner.
To sew your corner, start by laying your binding tape along the edge of the blanket. Mark the end of the blanket perpendicular to the binding tape with a pin.
Fold your binding tape in half, right side in. Use a second pin to secure these pieces together so you can sew your angle.
Sew a 45 degree angle from the edge of your binding, up to the middle of the fold and then a 45 degree angle back down the other side.
Take your pins out and turn your binding right side out again, using something pointed to help push the corner out (I used my sewing scissors).
Tuck the corner of your blanket into the corner you just created with your binding.
Continue pinning your binding to the blanket and then sew along the binding. Continue until you make it back around to the beginning tail of binding tape.
Once you get about 6 inches from the beginning of your binding tape, measure out where your two binding tapes will connect together, marking the point where they overlap with a pin.
Trim the excess binding tape here.
Place the two ends of binding tape together, right sides together.
Sew along the binding tape perpendicular along the pin so your two ends are now connected.
Flip the binding tape right side out again.
Pin the remainder of your binding tape and continue sewing along the binding until you're back where you started. Be sure to back stitch.
Iron the seams to secure the stitches.
Then you're done!
Enjoy your new blanket and the memories it holds!
If you tried this yourself, share the results with us! We'd love to hear how it worked out for you!
Thanks for reading!