Graduation Gift Idea: A T-Shirt Quilt
May 26, 2010 in Made by Mom
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I started with a stack of tshirts that he accumulated throughout his high school extra-curriculars…
And these patches he was awarded in league bowling (he is a really amazing bowler and is going on to bowl at the collegiate level next year for Dana College)…
I made a quilt with my husband’s and my T-shirts several years ago in which I cut the same size quilt square from the front and back of every T-shirt. Since Ben had a lot of variety in the sizes of the usable design of each shirt (like really big numbers on old football and baseball jerseys but also small numbers and/or patches on the sleeves), I wanted to make his quilt with a hodge podge of different size quilt pieces. This took a bit of planning. First, I measured the minimum size of quilt block that would need to be cut from each T-shirt in order to capture the whole print, number, or patch and made a list (it took the front and back of one page)…
Then I figured out how I might piece them all together on graph paper. It is a good thing I am kind of a dork and like puzzles…because this was one. It was not easy to figure out how to make a bunch of random size pieces fit into a perfect rectangle and not have any pieces of the same color touching. The size of some of the pieces had to be adjusted to make it work (since I measured the minimum size for each piece originally, there was no problem with making it bigger and leaving more blank space around the design).
With my plan in hand, I chopped up all the T-shirts, and sewed them together (again a bit of a puzzle to satisfy my nerdiness). I was still diligently working on the day we had planned on hitting the road for his ceremony and reception, so I never stopped to take pictures throughout the process…sorry…that is why I called this a gift idea, not a tutorial.
The back is a micro plush blanket that I bought at Target and cut to the same size (it is super soft!!!). The final dimensions of the quilt were 66 inches by 103 inches, so it required a king size blanket to accommodate the length (it is about the equivalent of a extra-long twin size comforter). I used about every last square inch of his football jersey for the binding. The binding is all hand-stitched, and I am proud to say I finished the last stitch as I pulled into the driveway on the way back from the graduation ceremony. It was spread across the couch as a part of the “shrine de la Ben” (the spread of photos, trophies, certificates, etc. which were out for his reception). Which I decided to share with you…what can I say?…I’m kinda proud!
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See the quilt in the bottom corner of this last pic?
Here my sister and I are with the handsome grad…
Congratulations Ben!!!
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Turning Old T-Shirts into a Blanket! | Lily & Frog
on June 2, 2012
Douglas on 
Fred Chapman on 
julia on 
Mandy
edna on
Ben…what a great quilt to cover your long frame! It is so nice to have a useful and handsome memento of your high school days, but the best ‘award’ is your being a vital part of a terrifically talented family. Wishing you well for all of your college days. Knock ‘em dead in bowling! Fred and Jean…ahhh…three down and three to go! I know your buttons are bursting. Alisha…what a gift of love. Too neat. Love from your craft-challenged mother-in-law who stands in awe. Penny
What a gorgeous quilt – such a lovely idea to incorporate all of those memories and make them even more lasting!
Thanks for linking to a Round Tuit!
Hope you have a fabulous week!
Jill @ Creating my way to Success
http://www.jembellish.blogspot.com/
Your quilt is amazing with so many memories sewn in. Wonderful!
What a fantastic quilt! My husband has tons of tshirts from college that he never wears anymore but just won’t get rid off…this is a great idea! I’d love it if you shared at my linky party… http://www.serendipityandspice.blogspot.com
-Melissa
Amazing! I’ve made a t-shirt quilt following a “Too Cool T-shirt” method – which you’ve re-invented very nicely. Check it out at http://ajennuinelife.blogspot.com/2011/11/my-too-cool-t-shirt-quilt.html
I love this! My kids have so many sports shirts that are in the closet and I wasn’t sure what to do with them because they want to keep them…now I know! I’d love for you to share this at my new party called Mix it up Monday:
http://flourmewithlove.blogspot.com/2012/01/mix-it-up-monday_29.html
I hope to see you soon
You put soo much work into that quilt! I am in the middle of doing a t-shirt quilt, but not as complicated as yours…. I love it!
I’ve seen these for babies, but I kind of love the graduation idea even more! Wonderful!
I saw you on Simply Ceations Friday! The quilt turn out great! Congrtulations to you (and your brother too)!!!
I made one of these when my daughter jamie graduated from college in 2000. I don’t even know where it is now.
It was a very warm quilt for sure!
great job on your quilt.
gail
This is an awesome idea! And a perfect graduation gift. So many directions you could take this. Love it!
Thanks so much for linking up to the challenge!
Karah
[...] a little more of a hodge podge and scattered design. After a little more searching I found Snug as a Bug Baby and her approach was exactly what I was picturing in my mind. Although she did a whole heck of a [...]
I’m getting ready to make a tee-shirt quilt for my grandson. Love yours. How did you quilt yours?
It is just tied with string at several “corners”…nothing fancy.