T-shirt Quilt Buyer's Guide
Sara Musfeldt
A t-shirt quilt is a wonderful keepsake. It can last a lifetime when the best materials are used, and it is made correctly. Inexpensive, custom t-shirt quilts are sold by many online companies. Inexpensive isn't bad, necessarily. Your quilt will break down over time if cheap materials are used or the technique it poor. Before you buy, however, it is important that you ask your t-shirt quilt provider these questions. The questions you should ask are:
Q. Is your quilt custom-made?
Many internet websites offer decent t-shirt quilts at fair prices, but they aren't always "custom". The patterns, colors, and arrangement are usually very similar. The point of creating a t-shirt quilt is to have an heirloom that can be passed down - it's important the quilt you buy is truly custom.
Q. Is the batting polyester or cotton?
Cotton batting is superior to polyester. Polyester batting doesn't breathe and will degrade substantially over a long period of time. Cotton batting is more expensive but also more comfortable for everyday use and will last much longer. When cotton batting is used, the quilt will hang flatter and more beautifully against a wall. Sometimes quilts are not made with any batting. In this case, the quilts cannot really be considered quilts at all.
Q. Do you separate my t-shirts with sashing?
If you're having a t-shirt quilt made, make sure that your quilter uses sashing (a ribbon of fabric between t-shirt squares) to separate your t-shirts from one another. Sashing will help your t-shirt quilt to last longer as well as enhance the design.
Q. How is the quilt built? Do you bind you or "flip and quilt"?
The "flip and quilt" or "flip and sew" method is older and less time-consuming. Although it is less expensive, the quilt usually won't hang or lay completely flat. If the more time-consuming bind method is used, the finished product will lay or hang flatter and will look better.
Q. What are the thread count and thread weight of the fabric you use?
A quilt should last decades if the best fabrics are used. The thread count of the best type of fabric is 75, and the thread weight should be 30-34. Check with your quilter about the thread count and thread weight of the fabric they use. The last thing you should check, if you can, is the sharpness of the printing on the fabric. Inexpensive fabric has printing that is inconsistent and blurry, and it will degrade over time.
Author Sara Musfeldt has been a fan of quilting art for many years. Sara has reviewed the creations of http://moonlightquilts.com/) Moonlight Quilts, including their http://moonlightquilts.com/custom-t-shirt-quilts/) t-shirt quilts.
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