How to Make a Quilt Pattern With T-Shirts
- 1). Determine the appropriate length and width for your quilt. Generally, you want each square of your quilt to contain one T-shirt. If you have 15 T-shirts, you may consider making a 5-by-3 square quilt.
- 2). Measure each of your T-shirts lengthwise and width-wise to determine the appropriate width for each square. Typically, you want to cut your T-shirts so that all of the squares are the same size. If your smallest T-shirt is 10-by-12 inches, subtract 1 to 2 inches for the seams to make the square's new size 8-by-10 inches. When you cut this T-shirt, you will cut it into the 10-by-12 size, using the extra 2 inches as material for sewing the shirt to the rest of the quilt. The final size of each square in the finished quilt will be 8-by-10 inches.
- 3). Determine if you want to include horizontal and vertical sashes. These sashes are lines of fabric between each T-shirt. Most sashes are 1 to 4 inches wide and run across the entire width and length of the quilt. Add this width and length to each quilt block once. For example, if your sashes are 1 inch wide and the square is 8-by-10 inches, the new size for your square will be 9-by-11 inches. Sashes should be made of out a fabric other than T-shirts.
- 4). Draw your pattern, marking the appropriate amount of squares and the sashes between them. Add one extra sash to the width of the quilt. Add another extra sash to the length of the quilt. For example, draw a column of five squares, each 9-by-11 inches, including the 1-inch sash. Each square should consist of 1 inch of sash on the right and 1 inch of sash on the bottom. Draw a second column to the right. Draw a third column and add a sash to the left side of the quilt. Since you have already included a sash on the right side of each column, you do not need to add a sash to the right side. Add a sash to the very top of the quilt, since each square already has a sash on the bottom.
- 5). Sew one column at a time when making the quilt. Sew each T-shirt to the vertical and horizontal sash, one square at a time. Sew according to the pattern, adding a top and left sash after you assemble all of the squares. You can sew by hand or with a machine, depending on your preference.
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