Custom T-Shirt Quilt
Want to create a one-of-a-kind t-shirt quilt but have absolutely no sewing skills? Follow these easy steps to get your upcycled shirts prepared for someone else to sew them into your memory quilt.
Looking for a gift idea?
Or a way to keep memories in a special way?
Custom t-shirt quilts are a perfect way to display a collection of shirts.
I’ve saved t-shirts over the years as my children grew up…you know the ones they just loved and wore all the time…or the shirts that held a memory of a special event…or even shirts worn for sports they played.
As they outgrew their clothes, most were donated, but during every purge of their dressers and closets, there were always a few that, as I held them in my hands, I just couldn’t part with them.
Those shirts went into a large bin in a storage closet.
While at a home show years ago, I visited a booth of a quilter.
She had created beautiful quilts from upcycled T-shirts, and I instantly knew that’s what I wanted to do with all the shirts I had been saving.
But wow, it was super expensive to have a handmade quilt made from the t-shirts!
I understand and absolutely appreciate the time and skill involved in making a quilt, but I just wasn’t able to spend that much money.
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How to Create a Custom T-Shirt Quilt
I did some research and found a company that makes t-shirt quilts at a very reasonable price, right here in the USA.
You can read all about Project Repat here.
I really loved the company’s story and mission, so I purchased my first quilt for my oldest son, Jake, as a graduation gift when he completed high school.
And now, 4 years later, as Gavin, my middle child, prepares to graduate, I’m creating my second quilt.
The company really makes it super easy for you with step-by-step instructions on their website.
This is not a sponsored post! I just wanted to share how I created a custom t-shirt quilt using Project Repat.
Not only does a t-shirt quilt make a great graduation gift, it’s something that can be created for any occasion… birthday, anniversary… or just because.
Be creative!
I’m going to show you how to create a one-of-a-kind quilt from your upcycled t-shirts…
Gather Upcycled T-Shirts
As the years went by, I had saved lots and lots of shirts, so when it was time to find shirts for Gavin’s quilt, I had plenty to choose from.
Using t-shirts I had saved throughout his childhood, I created a sentimental memory quilt that I’m sure he will love.
I included shirts he wore over and over as a little boy, uniform t-shirts from the sports he played, favorite professional sports team shirts, and more.
Each shirt holds a special memory.
Which T-Shirts to Include?
Each size quilt requires a certain number of t-shirts.
But don’t worry, this information is all listed on the website.
Since I was creating a twin-size quilt, I needed 24 T-shirts.
After sorting through an entire bin of t-shirts to find the ones I wanted to include, I lined them up so I could measure them.
What Supplies Do You Need?
How to Measure a Shirt Graphic
You can also choose your quilt panel size when deciding which quilt you want to purchase.
I went with a 12″x12″ panel.
You want to be sure that the graphic on the front of your shirt isn’t bigger than 12″.
Cutting Shirts for a Quilt
According to the directions, I needed to cut the front from the back of each t-shirt.
The company requests the entire front of the shirt to be sure they have enough material to make each quilt square.
The smaller the shirt, the harder it is to get a square large enough for the quilt.
So you may not be able to use those tiny baby or toddler-sized tees.
Shipping T-Shirts
After I separated the front from the back of each t-shirt, I folded them to get ready for shipment.
Some t-shirts may have a graphic on the back that you want to use on your quilt, so for those, you would send both the front and back sides in, and they will be used on two separate quilt squares.
But for the others, you will just send in the side of the t-shirt you want to be used for your quilt.
Completed T-Shirt Quilt
This was the perfect way for me… a mom without any sewing skills… to create a sentimental gift for my son’s graduation.
I can’t wait to give it to him!
If you have any questions or suggestions, contact me or leave a comment!
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This would be such a great gift for my Senior daughter who is hopefully going away in the Fall to Swim in College!
Fingers crossed our seniors won’t miss out on the experiences of going off to college this fall! I’m sure she would LOVE this quilt!
Cool! I’d love to have this quilt for my daughter as a memory of all of her soccer jerseys. Such a cool graduation present someday soon.
I bet your daughter would love to have a quilt with her soccer jerseys…these t-shirt quilts are amazingg!
I lost my son, Andrew at 18, tragically in a car accident. It’s been 6 1/2 years since he’s been gone. I had saved all his t-shirts to make a quilt for his high school graduation. He was gone before I made it. I vowed to still do it. Each year that passes I set a goal of trying to get it done. We recently moved and he has a room here too. I have to get it done before September 15th. It’s so emotional but I need to do it. This would help tremendously but even if I don’t win this might be what I need to do to get it done. It’s a terrible block. It’s so painful to even write this. Hold your babies tight and cherish this time you have with them. You never know when that last goodbye is really the last goodbye.
Oh Sharon sending hugs to you! Thank you so much for sharing your heart with us. I lost my brother when I was 12 and he was 10 years old…I couldn’t imagine the pain my parents endured losing a child until I had children of my own. I’m so very sorry for your loss. Making a t-shirt quilt would be a beautiful tribute to your son.
My sympathies to your family as well. The pain of the loss doesn’t go away, you just learn to carry the weight with time and support from loved ones. Hugs to you all.
So very true…but they always remain close to our hearts.
I wanted to do this for my son several years ago but I just kept putting it off. I have all the T-shirt’s together just need to do it! Now I have a daughter graduating this year and feel I need to make this priority. She is a swimmer and a swim T-shirt quilt would certainly put a smile back on her face. This is just a wonderful idea to have as a keepsake of this season of their life.
I agree doing this project now would be even more meaningful especially to lift our kids’ spirits during this time at home. Project Repat makes it so easy for people like me who can’t sew!
I would love this quilt to celebrate my senior daughter who is graduating from an early college with her high school diploma and also an associates degree! No prom or graduation ceremony for her but we are doing what we can to make it special . She will be a criminal justice major this fall.
Congrats to your daughter! Where will she be going to college in the fall?