Taking T-Shirt Quilts to the Next Level
Sampler Wallhanging using T-Shirts
From Beyond the Tee – Innovative T-Shirt Quilts
by Mary and Jen Cannizzaro
Class Description
Make a wallhanging or pillow or the start of a quilt to feature the logos from treasured tees.
This project is perfect for skilled beginner through experienced quilters.
Learn how to choose the block that will work with your t-shirts, how to ‘fillet’ the t-shirts, how to stabilize them for good results and the construction of multiple blocks. Three shape options are circle, hexagon, or diamond. Each student can choose all of one option or multiple.
Class Length
2 hours for the design, ‘fillet’ and stabilizing sections
2 hours additional for the construction
Class Supplies
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Required text: Beyond the Tee – Innovative T-Shirt Quilts
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A variety of t-shirts and clothing to choose the best options
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Stabilizer: one or more of the following
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Stabili-Tee fusible interfacing by CTPub.com available in 60” x 72” or 60” x 10 yards
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Fusible Midweight interfacing such as Pellon 931TD or comparable – usually 20” wide
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Terial-Magic – liquid stabilizer
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Pellon Pattern Ease or other lightweight non fusible stabilizer or template plastic to create templates from the book.
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Rulers:
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60-degree ruler to cut the diamond pattern (can be shared, if permitted by shop).
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6” x 24”
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6” x 12” ruler to cut the hexagon pattern (suggested).
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Background fabric to coordinate with the t-shirts or theme. Amounts will vary with the options chosen. (If the same fabric is used for backgrouds, approximately ¾ of a yard.
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Each student needs to have a pressing cloth. We use a piece of a t-shirt back.
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Basic sewing supplies including rotary cutter, fabric scissors and non-fabric scissors if cutting template plastic.
- Printable outline for project available here: Download Class Print-Out
Tip: A kit could be offered to include
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stabilizer, Pattern Ease or template plastic
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printouts of the templates for students to help in the flow of the class.
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If you have a die cutter with circle and hexagon size dies, the templates can be cut from template plastic and offered for sale. We offer die cut templates for the hexagon and circle in a variety of sizes.
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If students just want to try the technique, encourage them to use thrift shop T-shirts. Or provide a few in the kit.
Classroom Preparation
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Each student needs a sewing machine but not set up for the first part of the class. Their space will be used to ‘fillet’ the t-shirts until sewing begins.
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Common cutting station that can accommodate trimming a 24” x 16” block.
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Common pressing station needed to apply Stabili-Tee or interfacing.
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If you choose to use Terial-Magic, have an area set up to be able to wet the fabric and hang to dry. Having an example of how the Terial-Magic works is helpful to show students the possibilities.
Class Outline
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Review the three options of shapes for the block with the students.
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Help students choose the appropriate shapes depending on their raw materials.
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Review, if necessary, the Make it Work – Solutions to Common Problems on pages 8-11.
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Follow the instructions for How to Fillet Clothing on page 7.
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Review Choosing a Stabilizer and follow the instructions beginning on page 12
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Follow the instructions for:
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Circle – beginning on page 31
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Hexagon – beginning on page 37
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Diamond – beginning on page 42
