How to Make a T-shirt Quilt

If you’ve run out of shirt storage ideas – or if t-shirt collection organization skills – are not your strong suit to begin with), you may find yourself with a bunch of sentimental t-shirts you have no idea what to do with. Have we got the answer for you: make a t-shirt quilt with your cherished collection. More than just a useful way to store t-shirts (albeit t-shirts you can never wear again), quilts of this type often become meaningful heirlooms for you and your family or friends.

Also known as “memory quilts” or “shirt blankets,” these handmade creations can be any size or design you choose – from a small lap throw or baby blanket to a King- or Queen-sized quilt. What you make truly depends on what you want most out of your t-shirt quilt.

Let’s dig in to discover how to make a t-shirt quilt step-by-step.

1. Gather the shirts to make a quilt

This may be easy or not so easy, depending on your current t-shirt organization and the purpose behind your quilt. You may want to stick just with what you already own, or you might need to purchase a few to round out your collection if you’re sticking to a certain theme (like sports or bands) and don’t have enough to make the size quilt you want.

2. Assess the t-shirt quality

Of course, you’re going to want the highest quality material you can find for your t-shirt quilt. The sturdier the pieces, the longer the quilt will last. If you’re using shirts with slogans or logos on the front, you also need to take a look at both the smallest size of shirt you have and the largest t-shirt graphic in order to figure out just how big your squares can be. (Remember that you’ll lose ½ of an inch on each side once they’re sewn.)

Pro tip: wash and fold t-shirts you want to use so that they are clean and crisp for the next steps.

3. Decide what size t-shirt quilt to make

Baby Lock has a great article on how to size your t-shirt quilt – and how many t-shirts (and pieced blocks, if you choose to use them) are needed to make the quilt you envision. See below for recommendations in order to determine how many t-shirts you need to make each size:

• Lap | 45” x 45” | 9 or 12 t-shirts needed
• Large Lap | 45” x 60” |12 or 16 t-shirts needed
• Twin | 60” x “90 or 75” x 75” (long twin) | 16, 20, 24, 25 t-shirts needed
• Full | 75” x 90” or 90” x 90” (wide full) | 20, 25, 30, 36 t-shirts needed
• Queen | 90” x 105” | 25, 30, 36, 42 t-shirts needed
• King | 105” x 105” | 30, 36, 42, 49, 56 t-shirts needed

4. Decide what style t-shirt quilt to make

Next, you need to decide what type of quilting design suits your needs and materials. This step really depends on your personal style and, of course, quilting experience. According to this helpful article from Too Cool T-Shirt Quilts, the main quilt top types are traditional block style with sashing, traditional block style without sashing, a quilt with unequal rows or columns, variable style, puzzle style, or “crazy” quilt style. Each has their own benefits. Your choice will really depend on what type and quality shirts you have to work with, how you want to organize t-shirts and shirt blocks for the best design, and whether or not you want to add sashing.    

5. Gather tools

In addition to t-shirts, you are going to need – at the least – a sewing machine, rotary cutter and scissors, seam ripper, basting pins or spray, acrylic ruler, self-healing cut mat, large table or counter, thread, batting, and fabric for the back side of the quilt, the binding, and/or any pieced blocks. Depending on how precise you want your quilt to be, you might benefit from picking up still more tools and materials to help you get the desired effect. 

6. Bulk up and cut out t-shirts

Grab your rotary cutter (or small, sharp scissors) to cut out the front of each individual t-shirt. Next, apply fusible interfacing as directed to the back of each shirt front to give them more structure and heft. Next, you need to cut each individual t-shirt into the exact size you want it. Go slowly and aim for uniformity. Unless you’re making a t-shirt quilt with different sized squares, each one must be the exact same size. (If you are making any pieced blocks, now is the time to cut and sew them to the same specifications as the t-shirt squares.) 

7. Decide how to organize t-shirts

Call on your inner fashion designer! This step is all about arranging the cut t-shirt squares (and any pieced blocks or sashing you might be using) in the order you want them. There are no rules: You can arrange them completely randomly or try to group them by color or theme. Whatever looks and seems best to you is the right choice. After all, you’re the one doing all the work!

8. Sew front pieces together

Use your sewing machine (or needle and thread) to sew all the pieces (including sashing, if you’re using it) together. Aim for a ½-inch seam on each side, and use sewing pins to keep different sections in order while you work on them. Many quilters like to sew blocks together in rows, and then sew the rows together to make the quilt top.

9. Add backing and batting

Once you’ve got the front pulled together, it’s time to sew on the backing and then stuff the fabric sandwich you’ve made with batting. This video about how to finish a t-shirt quilt gives a great step-by-step guide to this process. In short you need to use pins and binder clips to make sure you’ve got the layers as smoothed out as possible before quilting them. Work through each section individually and carefully.      

10. Quilt and bind

The last steps are quilting the fabric sandwich together and then adding the finishing binding pieces to the edges. When it comes to quilting, you’ll need to choose which type to use: tying, stitch-in-the-ditch, computer driven long-arm quilting, or non-computer driven long-arm quilting. (While the first two methods can be done with a sewing machine or by hand, the long-arm quilting requires an additional, specialized machine which may or may not be in your t-shirt quilt budget.) Last, choose which binding method to use to finish the edges and voila! Your quilt is ready for prime time.

Once you’ve finished your quilt, give yourself a little time to reflect on a job well done. Your friends, family, and closet organizer will all be so proud – and they should be! That’s a lot of work!

If you’re looking for more inspiration and advice on how to make a t-shirt quilt, upcycle, or simply pack up your sentimental shirts, check out the following:

The Modern Rules for Making a T-shirt Quilt – Too Cool T-Shirt Quilts
T-Shirt Storage Ideas: Brilliant Methods for Any Space – Cabin Lane
15 Creative Ways to Upcycle Old T-shirts – HGTV
How to Pack Clothes for a Move – CubeSmart