Tee-Shirt Quilts - so many ways to make them!

There's more than one way to make a quilt

Making a tee-shirt quilt, (I  have to admit, something I never wanted to do) requires some thinking about just how you want to go about it! Using the whole front of the shirt in the top, including the sleeves for a layered look or just squares the image on the front, a sort of 'meme quilt'? Individual squares fluffed up with batting? Individual block quilted or whole quilt quilted, as well as the usual 'where will this be used? Does it require batting or just a layer of cotton sheeting?

Use the whole front, layered?

Just use a portion to make 'meme's'?

Which ever way you choose, to keep the tee shirt portion from stretching, you will need to back them, perhaps with a muslin like fabric. Another option is that you could use an iron on interfacing, but consider how that leaves the fabric feeling a bit stiff, and determine for yourself whether, once completed, that might effect how your quilt will lay and feel. Neither option are right or wrong, just different. 

I think that I would be using a fabric, were I to make one, so that I can 'stuff' area's of the image with a high loft batting or even a little bit of pillow stuffing. For instance, in the image above, I might outline the cat using a black thread and straight stitch along the outside and along the white lines, and 'stuff' the cat before closing the last line, making it 'stand-out' from the rest of the image.

Super Simple Two-sided Aprons

Making Aprons can be simple and they are fun to give. A gift that can be used over and over, and enjoyed by both giver and receiver! Mine are reversible, just as easy to  make as one sided, making them more 'seasonal.

Here's how I did it. The first time I made them, they were all in the same fabric, and I made a paper pattern using newspaper, to cut them all out. The second time, I simply used a measuring stick or tape, and a straight edged ruler (a quilting ruler in my case.) I started with a list of who I was making them for, decided on the fabric for each, and added that next to the name, then counted how many of each I would need. For adults, I cut the fabric I had purchased in 3 foot lengths. Each 3 foot length would be 2 apron sides. For the kids sizes, I made them 2 and 1/2 foot lengths for taller/bigger kids, 2 foot for our 5-8 year old's (and 3, but I sewed in a big fold, with long stitches that would easily pull out, because 3 grows quickly.) I did not make the kids narrower, as covering more rather than less kid felt like the right direction. As most fabrics are 40-45 inches wide, this will make each apron front 20-22 and 1/2 inches wide.

Once the lengths were cut, I marked the top of each with a pin and then for the adults marked off 4 inches on either side of the pin (making an 8 inch center top of the apron.) For the kids I marked off 3 and 1/2 inches for the bigger one's and 3 inches to either side of the center pin for the other's. Once the center tops were marked, using my handy ruler, I marked the angle to cut by selecting 12" (see the image below.) I then cut along the side angle lines, and then cut along the fold of fabric and had one side of 2 aprons cut out. Hold on to those corners for the next project!

Apron pattern for varied sizes

I continued until I had all the sides cut, and put them together with their 'other side' folded and set them aside for sewing. Before putting them together, you need 'straps', which can be tied/buckled (both neck and center) or a combination of tied/buckled and solid. They can be made of the same fabric that your aprons are, and if they are, you will need to cut for each adult (1 and 1/2 inch wide) 2 - 36 inch ties for the 'waist' and 1 - 24" for the top (that's what I used, but measure the length on yourself to be sure it fits, but don't forget to include the top of your apron in the size.) For the kids, I used 24 inches for the 'waist' and 20 inches for the top, although I used lace or ribbon or paracord on mine, to better match both sides of the apron.

Right sides together place straps

Straps pinned in, ready to sew

Strap sewed in, side sewing begun

Once you have everything (and if your using matching fabric ties, sewn along each side at 1/4 inch seams, turned to the right side, ironed and topstitched) pin the wrong sides of your apron together. Place the top strap inside, laying the right sides of match fabric together at the top of the apron, 1/4 inch from the edges. Lay the right side apron back into place matching the sides of the apron. You should now have the front and back (holiday and non-holiday in  my case, pinned together, with the top strap inside.) Sew the left side strap on, reversing to be sure it's in place to stay, 1/4 inch from the edge (at the end of the strap section) turn and sew down the angled side, using a 1/4 inch seam. 

Stop where the straight edge begins/turns, and lay in that sides tie, again, leaving the tie inside and matching fabrics. Sew the strap in, reversing to get it in good, and continue to finish other side in the same manner, leaving the top of the apron open. Once the right strap is sewed down, you can pull the right sides through, pull it tight to the stitching, iron and top stitch, 1/4 inch seams along all sides, except the top, that will need to be sewn just over the fold.

Reversible with Holiday and non-holiday sides	Matching, both non-holiday are dragonfly fabric	Sometimes, the color theme is what matches
It's not too difficult to 'size' them to fit everyone	Note the fold in the smallest, easy to 'let out'

Remember those corner pieces that were cut from the top of the aprons? I put them together, a little randomly, to create pot holders. With two random squares of fabric, some batting and a a little binding, these aprons will go to their reciepients with a 'sorta matching' pot holder, to make the gift even better.

Choose your pieces	Once begun you can chain stitch them	After stitching they will require pressing!
Stuffed with 'wrap & zap' and stitched	Finished with bias tape!

Half-Square Triangles and Quilt Designs

Scroll down to A Quilt I haven't Made Yet, to see where I'm going with these. I was finishing the squares, to set aside for later, but decided to go ahead and finish the quilt(s) after all...

Drawing the lines to sew around	Sewing around the lines drawn	Stack of sewn lines, I'm half-way
Finally, all the lines are sewn	Now begins the cutting of the lines	Blocks are now triangle squares
Squares still have a long way to go	Trimming every square...	Boxes are all trimmed to 3 1/2 or 4"
Building off the pin wheel	Building it one row at a time	The storm is nearly built
The quilt top, that's all	Can you see the chain around it	Next top 1/2 square stars
First one sewn with ripping to do	A handful of stars made	Storm Chained Finished
Hidden Patterns Done	A Heart in Stars	Patriotic Snowman
Building Blocks	First Finished Block	First Finished Block
1st Similar Top in Halves	2nd Similar Top Ready to Sandwich