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?!!!

Save the Date!

I wanted to give everyone a heads-up! The American Patchwork & Quilting magazine’s

1 Million Pillowcase Challenge

continues!

Save the date!

September 16 – 17
for their 3^rd annual Sewathon 24-hour Marathon!

After doing a search here on my blog for “pillowcase” (because I know I’ve shared how to do the roll-up method before), I also saw that I’ve shared about their challenge since the beginning! Back in 2013, their mission was listed among the Community Sewing organizations I suggested!

The basic pillowcase is sew easy to stitch up! If you want to create some fun and really creative pillowcases, click here for free patterns and ideas!

The thing about this mission, you donate the pillowcases to the charity or cause of your choice! For which charity/cause will you donate the pillowcases? My heart is leaning toward the flood victims in south Louisiana. Bless their hearts. Such tragedy.

As of this writing, APQ’s website reports they have almost 690,000 pillowcases toward their 1 Million Pillowcase Challenge! How fabulous is this?!!?! With our help, this just may be the year they hit the 1 Million mark!

Stay up-to-date with all the going on’s by liking their Facebook page!

And, don’t forget to log your numbers on their site! (Click here to learn how to update the pillowcase counter.) Let’s help them reach their goal this year! Will you gather a group together? Will you make some on your own?

Check out the stories, and see the various small/large groups that have contributed to this mission! Be sure to add your own story!

Become a Superhero!

The beginning of September, when Sew for the Charity of It! celebration began, I suggested to find a cause, or two, or three, and begin sewing, creating handmade items to give to those needing comfort.

I couldn’t pass up not sharing something I recently discovered! Oh, my! The Enchanted Makeovers’s Capes for Kids mission!

“Transforming Shelters for Women and Children from Surviving to Thriving Spaces”

This fabulous non-profit organization believes:

Capes for Kids represents hope. Since every cape is unique and handmade with love, each child who receives one will feel their own superpowers, and know that they have the strength and ability to create whatever they want for their lives.Sending Hope, Faith, and Love to Children Living in Shelters Across the Country.

As children, we often play “dress up”. But beyond just having fun, the clothing or costumes we put on our body send us a message.

Many children play “Superhero” because the messages that Superheroes “save the day” is everywhere, but Enchanted Makeovers believes it’s not about calling on “superman” or “supergirl” to swoop in.

It's about calling on our own strength, from within, that we never knew we had. It’s about the power of our minds, tapping into our imaginations. 

It's about putting on our daily armor and believing in ourselves.When our programs were being developed, the goal was to teach the children life skills as well as coping skills. The power of imagination is infused throughout. As Dr.Victor Frankl, the author of Man’s Search for Meaning pointed out, when you can imagine survival, you will survive. For the children, the “Capes for Kids” program ignites the imagination and creativity.

As a kid, did you play dress-up? I certainly did!

I made a cape for one of the grandson’s several years ago… it’s from Papa’s recycled t-shirt. It was when the youngest was into Batman. Because he lives in Dallas, and we live on the ranch, this is the only time – since the birthday – we saw him in the cape!

What about joining the Capes for Kids program? Or, simply make capes for kids living in your local  family shelter!

On the Parents.com website, and was published in the December/January 2014 issue of FamilyFun magazine, they’ve teamed up with Enchanted Makeovers for this campaign. They also have a free, simple cape pattern.

Limitations live only in our minds.

But if we use our imaginations,

our possibilities become limitless.

~ Jamie Paolinetti

What an amazing project to be involved in ~ helping kids find their empowerment through imagination!

I’m going to go make a cape… or two, or ten! Will you?

Making a Statement

Someone asked me yesterday if I had a prepared a business plan for Lanetta’s Creations. In part, yes. Then she posed another question: did I have a vision statement. Interesting. I’d never considered the difference between “mission” and “vision” before her question. It prompted me to do an Internet search this morning and found numerous discussions regarding creating the plan and writing a mission and vision statement.

I want to share one site in particular I found uplifting and informative in writing a personal mission/vision statement. Within the Life Tools for Women site, she wrote a specific phrase that stood out for me when describing the living, always changing, vision statement: “through life’s different seasons…” Love it! Aren't we all ever evolving, changing, growing! Hope so!

I appreciate the information so much, I created a new board “Inspirational” just to pin the site! Its words will give me much to consider while working on the red/white/blue doll clothes! Hopefully, by the day's end, I’ll have my personal vision statement that will also apply to Lanetta’s Creations.

True words of wisdom always helps, too!

I stumbled upon this wall hanging during my early morning quest for knowledge.

The lovely decorated words touched my heart.

The creator of this display has many delightful things, and for a small fee, she offers tutorials how to create them yourself!

Although I’ve not yet personally taken a tutorial,

I've pinned her site under crafts.

It may just be what you’re looking for to make that

perfect gift for someone special in your life.

I’m not a big Oprah fan. But, from what I understand, she ended her show with grace, and encouraged us all when she said: “Everybody has a calling and our job in life is to figure out what that is and to get about the business of doing it.”

Indeed! I must figure it out! Have you figured out your life’s calling?