STEAM / MakerSpace Resources

Subject area ideas: http://www.spencerauthor.com/maker-projects-look-like-subject-area/ 

What You’ll Need:

• At least 18 T-shirts. This will allow you to use the front and back of each T-shirt – ideally, 35 individual T-shirts should be used.

• Pair of scissors

• Permanent Marker

• 14x14 Cardboard cutout

• Fabric for the back panel. Dimensions should be at least 98” long and 70” wide

• Ruler

Step 1: Creating Your T-Shirt Squares

• Lay your t-shirt over your cardboard panel

• Fold the sides of the t-shirt around the cardboard panel to help you center the logo of your t-shirt

• Using a permanent marker, draw a line on each edge of the cardboard panel – this will be your cutting guide.

• Do this for each T-shirt until you have 35 T-Shirt squares

• In a nice open space, start aligning your squares to create your pattern! If you’re looking for inspiration, check out our post on creating your own layout or see what our customers did.

NOTE: If you don’t have 35 individual T-shirts to use as your squares, try incorporating the backs of your T-shirts into your pattern. Some squares can be blank!

Step 2: Connecting Your T-Shirt Squares

• When you’ve decided on your layout, stack the first row of squares on top of each other and line up the edges of each T-shirt square as best as you can.

• Measure out 14 1x1 strips on the right and left edge of your T-shirt square stack.

• Cut each strip, making sure to cut OFF the top and bottom strip for the left and right edge. The result should be 12 1x1 inch strips on the left and right edges of your T-shirt square stack.

• From here, you will be able to measure out 12 1x1 inch strips on the top and bottom edges of your T-Shirt square stack. When the strips have been cut, place your T-shirt squares back into their spots in your quilt layout, and repeat these steps for the remaining rows of squares.

• When all squares have 12 1x1 inch strips on each of their edges, you can begin to tie them together! The outer edges of your design will remain untied, be each square with an edge next to another square’s edge will be tied together.

 NOTE: all 4 edges of each T-shirt square will eventually have 12 1x1 inch strips that will be used to tie each square together. If you want to measure each strip individually, you can tie the panels together as you go. To minimize time, I would stack as many squares as you can align, measure out your strips, cut them, and then tie them.

Step 3: Connecting Your T-Shirt Squares with the Back Panel

 When it comes to creating a back panel, there are two options:

• The first option is to have one long piece be the back panel, resulting in less strip cutting and tying. Only the outer edges of the panel will have strips, and these can be lined up with the outer edges of your T-shirt squares and tied together.

• The second option is to repeat the same process used to create the front panel of your T-shirt Quilt – cutting 35 14x14 inch squares, followed by cutting 14 1x1 inch strips on the right and left edges of each square, removing the top and bottom strips, and following with 12 1x1 inch strips on the top and bottom edges of each square.

NOTE: The choice is yours, but the result is varied. Using option 1 will create a separation between the front and back panel, while using option 2 will be more time consuming but results in a more finished looking quilt.

Step 4: Caring for your T-Shirt Quilt

It is recommended you wash your T-shirt quilt in cold-water only, on a gentle cycle speed. To dry, try a medium to low heat for a period of 50 minutes or less, or hang your quilt to dry on a hanging line!