Creating a T-shirt quilt is a wonderful way to breathe new life into old shirts, preserving memories in a form that’s both practical and sentimental. The first, and arguably most crucial step, in this creative process involves preparing the shirts for quilting. Proper preparation of your shirts ensures a smooth quilting experience and a final product that you can be proud of.
In this tutorial, I will take you step by step through selecting, cutting, and stabilizing your shirts, setting the foundation for a handcrafted masterpiece that weaves together nostalgia with the warmth of a personal touch.
In addition to these written and photo instructions, you can watch my video showing you how to prep the shirts.
Step One: Pressing Your Shirts
Begin by smoothing out your T-shirts. An iron is your best friend here, as it helps to eliminate any creases or wrinkles.
To protect your ironing board from any potential mess, lay down a layer of parchment paper under the shirt you’re working on. It’s also wise to place parchment paper on top of the shirt. This simple trick keeps your iron clean, preventing any adhesive from the interfacing from sticking to it.
Pro Hint: If you’re in an area with hard water, consider using distilled water in your iron. This can help prevent lime buildup, ensuring your iron works efficiently for longer.
Step Two: Applying Interfacing
Interfacing is essential for adding stability to your T-shirt fabric, which tends to be stretchy and can warp easily during the quilting process.
You’ll notice your interfacing has two sides: one shiny, one matte. The shiny side contains adhesive and should be placed facing down onto the T-shirt material.
Start preparing the shirts by ironing from the center of the interfacing, pressing down firmly to activate the glue. Work your way outward to ensure the entire piece is securely attached. For optimal results, set your iron to a cotton setting. Whether or not to use steam is up to your preference, though it can aid in the process.
I let the adhesive adhere and then check the ends to make sure it’s on there well. Since it is an expensive product, I used the end pieces to make a full piece to avoid waste.
Now the shirt is nice and stiff. When I lift it up it’s more like a piece of paper and not stretchy. The added structure makes it easier to work with.
By following these initial steps of preparing the shirts carefully, you’re setting yourself up for success with your T-shirt quilt project.
In my next tutorial, I will show you how to add sashing pieces to the quilt top.
Other posts in this series:
- How to Make A T-Shirt Quilt: Adding Sashing
- How To Tell A Story with Your Shirt Layout
- T-Shirt Quilt Final Reveal
This post was originally published on March 16, 2016.
