T-Shirt Quilt - aka Memory Quilt

Have you created one, a t-shirt quilt, also called a Memory Quilt? I haven’t ~ yet ~ but would like to… someday! Any tips or techniques you’d like to share in the comments will be greatly appreciated!

From what I’ve heard here and there, there is a trick to working with the knit (jersey) fabric. Knowing how stretched out loved t-shirts can be, I totally understand it will be different from using “regular” quilt quality 100% cotton fabrics!

Fortunately, we have the internet filled with great tutorials! I’m on a mission to find and list some resources I come across, for future reference!

I went straight to Pinterest and did a search for t-shirt quilt tutorial.

A common suggestion throughout:

Although the loved t-shirts have been washed/dried many times over the years, all the sites say to wash/dry once more!

NOTE:  I received a suggestion by a reader: when re-washing one more time, do not add fabric softener to the wash, nor place a dryer sheet in the dryer!

Before stabilizing the t-shirt’s logo (the common core found throughout all the websites I visited), I found Wee Share, her tips and tricks are certainly worth the read-through once you’ve gathered all the memory shirts you want to use. It only makes sense, because not all the logos are the same size, it’s critical to measure and design on paper what goes where ~ FIRST! She’s provided us a cool .pdf to record the t-shirt and it’s measurement!

Quilters Diary also explains well how to stabilize the t-shirt, before cutting out the logo!

Goose Tracks Quilts has listed how many t-shirts it takes to make certain size quilts. This is based on all t-shirt logos cut out the same size - 14.5” finished square.

12 shirts will make a throw-size quilt, approx. 48" x 64" - 3 across x 4 down.
20 shirts will make a twin size quilt, approx. 64" x 82" - 4 across x 5 down
30 shirts will make a full size quilt, approx. 82" x 96" - 5 across x 6 down.
36 shirts will make a queen size quilt, approx. 96" x 96" - 6 across x 6 down.
42 shirts will make a king size quilt, approx 110" x 96" - 7 across x 6 down.

In addition to her tips and instructions, Almost Casual listed “Important Notes” worthy of repeating here!

**Important Notes**

Put your machine on zigzag stitch - this helps when working with jersey

Use a needle made for jersey - a needle that is too sharp can break! This, for some reason, took me forever to figure out. I broke many needles and had many cries when I first started sewing with jersey.

Use a lightweight cotton thread

Go ahead and thread a few bobbins so that replacing them is easy

Already Loved has a two-part series on how to make a t-shirt (memory) quilt filled with step-by-step photos!

One more thing I discovered during my research, and let out a huge sigh of relief, the sashing and outer space fabric – say if logos are on point (like a diamond shape), can be out of “regular” quilt quality 100% cotton! It will help stabilize the over-all quilt!

Creating a t-shirt (memory) quilt isn’t as scary as I thought before I started this quest of knowledge!!! I am so grateful others have shared their tips and techniques!

Again I ask you, will you comment with your suggestions?!!!

Gathering Ideas for Dedicated Sewing Room

While browsing the internet for sewing room organization tips and hacks, I found something Karen, over at Sew Many Ways, wrote: “Look at something not for what it was MADE for...but what it could be USED for.”

I totally agree!

Throughout her blog, she has many examples how to use items unconventionally. I landed this idea, use a mug tree to hang scissors! I absolutely love this because it keeps them together, and uses little surface space! This is a doable!

Oh. My. Goodness. Her post, Sewing/Craft Room Ideas and Updates, is packed full of great ideas! I highly recommend her blog!

By the way, she shares tips for other rooms, and closets, as well!

Although her space is much much larger than I only have in my dreams, many suggestions she offers I can/will incorporate into mine!

Oh… I hope I can find my cheese board…I certainly don’t use it for cheese any longer!

            You ask, Why?  Check out her oversized button wall decoration! See what I mean? Such cleverness! I just love (and appreciate) people who are so creative, then share their ideas. What a blessing!

I just love what/how Karen used a folded ruler… I know Momma used to have one that was her dad’s… I hope I can find it and she’ll let me have it!

I could spend HOURS going through her blog!

And, while watching HGTV “Fixer Upper” when visiting with Momma this past week (we don’t have fancy tv here at the ranch), I fell in love with a craft table Joanna had made for a client. I copied the picture and emailed it home, to Bud… hoping he’ll make it for me someday!

Another find, found on Positively Splendid, and one that he hasn’t yet seen (I don’t want to shock him into total shut down!) is the perfect cabinet to hold my embroidery machine and serger! I know he can make this beautifully and it would be a treasure!

Okay… back to surfing the net for ideas! I hope everyone has a blessed day!

Sewing Tips and Techniques

Can we ever have too many tips to make sewing easier, more professional looking? I don’t think so! I’m finding clever people all over the place! Many times I’ve thought, Why didn’t I think of that?

I love learning new sewing tips and techniques… here are a few I found!

Heather shows how to Tuck Your Tail In! I will remember this when I get back to my serger!

A wavetuck? I’ve never seen this one before! I'm thankful Sew4Home provided great pictures and step-by-step instructions. This is perfect timing for an upcoming project I’m thinking about creating for Christmas!

Another one from Sew4Home – creating ruching strips! I saw this on one of my sewing shows and had forgotten all about it! Love going through websites to jog my memory! I’m glad I have it included here, where I’ll easily find it again!

Pinking… it’s a good thing… rather than clipping those “V” notches on outside curves. If you don’t have a good pair of pinking shears, they are so worth the investment! Hopeful Threads shows the time saving tip very nicely…

This is something I do especially with 100% cotton. I’ve read over and over about pre-washing fabric before cutting – something I ALWAYS do!!!

              BUT, what I do first ~ before the fabric hits the washing machine ~ I take the time to serge both cut ends. I love not having to untangle/cut out the knotted raveled threads! Without the knotted mess, the fabric is less likely to twist on itself and get all yucky and difficult to press out before cutting out! If you don't have a serger, use your zig zag stitch ... it's better than nothing!

Do you have a favorite tip or technique to share?

Applique Tunnel Vision

I’ve had a bit of tunnel vision when it comes to applying appliques on projects. Again and again, I must remind myself: appliques are not just for quilts, or children’s clothing. I’m not saying I’ve never appliqued before, it’s just few & far between. Maybe it’s time, and a great way to use up those scraps!

After this round up of tips, techniques, and uses, I won’t shy away from using appliques on an array of items!

My go-to list:

Sew4home has a great article “How to Appliqué” sharing a list of tools needed, then tips and techniques for a variety of applications.

At Sew like my mom, Melissa has an appliqué tutorial with lots of pictures! Since I’m a visual learner, this is great!

Oh, my! Although the focus is on quilts, allpeoplequilt has a nice collection of tips within their Tip of the Day feature. Take a run through by clicking “next tip”!

Okay, I personally wouldn't classify this as “appliqué” in the traditional sense, but it’s a reminder of something I saw on one of my Sunday afternoon craft/sewing shows. Karen Millen created this “Stud and Appliqué Tote” but I saw the same technique used on a dress instead. I sure wish I could find that to share with you! It was beautiful! A perfect project to use my new Silhouette Cameo!

What about the different types of stitches to use when machine appliqueing? Check out The Crafty Quilter, and how to make a stitch sampler card like this: 

What about you? Do you appliqué?

Reinventing the Wheel

     In another lifetime, I wrote several award-winning educational grants and collaborated on many others. During the training process and beyond, my mentor would rhetorically ask, “Why reinvent the wheel?” I think about her statement quite often as I toss around topic ideas for this blog. As I wrote Saturday, many have already written great tips, tutorials, and techniques that make sewing much easier. Over the course of this National Sewing Month, I plan to share sites I’ve found particularly helpful, and why they’ve helped me become a better sewist. Rest assured, I’m not “reinventing” anything! Rather, I’m simply sharing the knowledge of others to give us all the opportunity to perfect our craft of sewing!

     My number one resource for fresh ideas and tips/techniques comes from Nancy Zieman. “Sewing with Nancy” is celebrating 30 years on PBS – for a REASON! She’s amazingly talented and explains techniques extremely well. Although she’s been on for years, I just recently began watching her – again. And now, I check her blog almost daily. It’s been amazing how much I’ve already learned.

     The other day, and quite by accident, I happened across Baby Lock’s “Inside Scoop” – Nancy’s Tip of the Month! I’m going share what she’s posted so far this year and, on occasion, put in my two cents worth via “NOTE”:

2012 Tips

September Tip of the Month

Don’t waste your money on buying cheap thread – you get what you pay for.

NOTE: Old thread – use it or lose it – by throwing it away! It’s so frustrating to get through a project only to then put a little stress on the stitching and the thread breaks!

August Tip of the Month

When you receive a compliment on something you’ve sewn, quilted, or embroidered, graciously say, “Thank you.” Please don’t point out the flaw that only you can find.

July Tip of the Month

For successful seam beginnings, I start stitching on an “anchor cloth” (a small doubled up scrap of fabric), then continuously stitch seams without trouble. Great tip for quilting and garment sewing too.

            NOTE: This is a habit. For me, it was/is a hard one to get used to, but so worth the effort!

June Tip of the Month

Press fusible interfacing to the back of frequently used tissue pattern pieces.

            NOTE: I’ve not done this – yet! It is on my “to do” list now!

May Tip of the Month

Add machine embroidery to a ready-to-wear pocket without removing the entire pocket. Instead remove the straight stitches and leave the bar tacks at the top of the pocket. You’ll be able to embroider the pocket and stitch it back in place with perfect positioning.

April Tip of the Month

When sewing on metal buttons with shanks, use a strand of monofilament thread along with the standard sewing thread for added strength in keeping buttons in place.

March Tip of the Month

Apply the soft side of sticky back Velcro to the top of coat hangers. A 3” strip on both top edges is all that’s needed to keep garments from falling off the hangers.

February Tip of the Month

When stitching two slightly uneven seams, always sew with the shorter length on top and the longer length on the bottom towards the feed dogs. The bottom fabric will ease as you sew and even serge.

January Tip of the Month

Next time you’re hemming, instead of using a straight stitch select one of the many built in decorative stitching on your sewing machine.

            NOTE: I should do this more often on my dolly’s dresses/blouses!

P.S. She has many more tips for years 2008-2011 on this same site! I highly recommend checking them out when you have a chance.