You Want Your TShirt Quilt When?

Wow, almost back into the swing of things after the big Christmas Rush.  First of all,  thank you to everyone that that trusted us with their t-shirts last year.  We are blessed.

That being said, we run into the same problem every year during peak times.  The customer believes that we will start working on their quilt the moment they leave our shop, and will do nothing else until it is complete.  Um, no. 

Our 'normal' turnaround time is 4 or 5 weeks.  Now, that seems like a long time, but that is just reality.  At peak times like graduation and Christmas, it definitely takes 4 weeks.  But why so long??


OK, let me list just a few reasons:

• The phone.  OMG.  Yesterday, I had 12 robo calls from the same number.  (I re-dialed it one time and it was some foreign voice saying they were Microsoft Support.  Really??  Fraud alert..... Microsoft NEVER calls anyone..... ), 3 other  'Private' callers, with no one at the other end, and multiple other phone calls from valid customers either scheduling a drop off or pick up.  Just a part of doing business.
• Backlog.   When you came into the shop, you even commented on how many tubs/jobs we had going on. We do the jobs in the order they come in.  We do NOT move YOUR job to the top of the list. All of our projects are important. Yours is also.
  
  We had one day last November where we received 18 T-Shirt/Memory quilt projects in ONE day.
   
• Customers. Yes, we love you. You love your shirts. You are excited about getting your quilt.  But please, don't call and ask 'how is my quilt coming along?'  Unless you have a deadline (that we know about up front), and it is getting close to the date.  Rest assured that your quilt is coming along just fine. 
  
  We do not work on one quilt from start to finish.  For the amount of quilts that we do; that is just not efficient.  We do process shirts as they come in, but that mostly means that we get it in the computer, and print paperwork.  If the shirts are mailed in, we shoot an email letting you know that the shirts have arrived safe and sound.   The rest of the processes are done in steps. 
• Your crisis is not our emergency.  We try to work with everyone so that everyone is happy.  If you call  four days after dropping off your shirts because you decided to celebrate Christmas on December 3, instead of the end of month.  Well, we might have a problem. The squeaky wheel does NOT get a quilt.  (Oops - did I say that out loud?)  
• Life.  Believe it or not, quilters have (or try) to have a life.  Ask my friends.  I disappear around Quilt Market time (end of October), not to be seen until the New Year.  That is because we  are working 12 to 14 hour days on your quilts the last few months of the year.  We then take off (as in not even turning on the lights in the shop) until New Years Day, when I generally host an all-day sew-in for my quilting buddies.

I am really not complaining, and don't want to sound rude - (which sounds rude), but just trying to explain the process. 

So if you are planning on a special t-shirt quilt for someone, try to plan ahead to ensure your quilter has plenty of time to get your gift back to you before your event.

T-Shirt Quilt Style - Order or Chaos?

There are two major styles of T-Shirt quilts.   What I refer to as  'Order' and 'Chaos'.  OK, that seems like an extreme comparison, but let's look at the difference between order and chaos as pertains to t-shirt quilts.

First of all, I grew up looking at quilts that two of my great-grandmothers and my grandmother made or were working on.  In high school, my favorite classes were  geometry, accounting, physics and silver-smithing   (I went to a great high-school- we also had  archery and canoeing as phys-ed options).   I was a computer programmer in the corporate world.   I like lists. I like to read Science Fiction.  OK, yeah, I am a geek. But, all of these studies involve science and ORDER.

How does that pertain to quilts you ask??

Traditional Style Quilt

T-Shirt quilts fall into these same categories.  A traditional quilt is generally created using uniform sized blocks that are laid out in columns and rows.  Traditional  t-shirt quilts will appeal to most people because their sub-conscious wants this order and the 'eye' wants to see things in an ordered way.

Random or Chaos Style Quilt

A random quilt can be done in many ways.  If you have ever looked at the random styled t-shirt quilts, you will either love 'em or hate 'em.  Couple of reasons for this.    It takes a lot of skill and creativity to lay out a random style t-shirt quilt in a pleasing manner.  Most people don't have that skill. There are a few t-shirt quilt providers out there that have formulas for creating these quilts, but, the problem is that the color  and value of the t-shirts is not taken into account.  Sometimes, the formula works, but more often than not, the resulting quilt just looks like chaos.

At T-Shirt Quilts of Texas we are known for our high quality 'TRADITIONAL" quilts and proud of it!  We have years and years experience looking at the shirts that you provide, and coming up with a pleasing and satisfying layout of the shirts.

You did WHAT with my T-Shirts?

There are a lot of folks out there making T-Shirt Quilts.  Or rather, should I say t-shirt comforters or blankets.    There is a new company out there professing to be the 'cheapest' on the web.  I have had several of those 'cheap' blankets come to my shop with either the mom in tears because the t-shirts were ruined, or the recipient in tears because the 'blanket' was awful....  Whatever the issue, you just know that this 'blanket' was done poorly, and you know it will never be used or displayed in public.   

One of those  other 'blankets'.

Is there any hope?   We have reconstructed many quilts that were a big disappointment made by other non-professionals.  While this is not our main business, we do understand that sinking feeling when getting  a horrible quilt/blanket/comforter.

 Generally, these are the styles of quilts/blankets/comforters. 

• Professionally Machine Quilted -  This is a professionally quilt edge to edge pattern that evenly covers the quilt without distracting from the t-shirts. The stitches are consistent and the pattern is consistent across the quilt
• No quilting at all - The quilts from Project Repat boast that they are the cheapest, and there is a reason.  They don't use batting, they don't quilt it, they don't stabilize the shirts, they don't bind the quilt, they don't use real fabric for the backing.
• Minimal quilting   -   Non Professionals who are making quilts on their kitchen table, or doing some random loop de loops in a messy manner. 
• Too much Quilting - How can that be?   While well intentioned, too much quilting is just as distracting as not enough quilting.  T-shirts that are quilted too densely (and especially those without a stabilizer) will end up with 'squoosed' quilting.  That is a technical term for pleats and puckers.   We are the only company that use 100% cotton stabilizer to prepare your shirts for a lifetime of use and wear. Most don't use any stabilizer or use a man made polyester material (such as Pellon or Thermoweb). 



Tied or no quilting

• Tied - Oh my.  this is what my great-grandmother used to do for utilitarian quilts.  At least she put the ties a couple of inches apart where they might do some good.    One quilt that I got in for a makeover had a total of 6 (as in SIX) ties to hold an entire quilt together. 
• Other - This is what we lovingly refer to as 'creative quilting'   This is means that the maker used one or more methods of assembling a quilt.   Sometimes we can't even figure out the method. 

Can YOUR Quilt Get a Makeover?

Really, the easiest quilts to do a makeover are the ones that are tied or have the least amount of quilting.   The 'non-professional' quilters make inconsistent size stitches and the pattern is all over the place. 
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 What we can Fix

 Your choice whether we re-piece the entire quilt, or leave it as is, and add a stabilizer, borders and new backing fabric.  We use fabrics called 'Tone on Tones' which are great for hiding everyday wear such as pet hair and lint.

T-Shirt Quilts - Should I or Shouldn't I????

At Shadywood Quilts and T-Shirt Quilts of Texas, we have literally made thousands of T-Shirt and Memory quilts since 2006.  Suffice it to say, that we have a bit of experience in the  of making a successful T-Shirt Quilt.

While we are busy making T-Shirt Quilts for hundreds of folks every year, we have several people that bring us the T-Shirt Quilt TOP for us to finish.  We love taking care of you, but sometimes we cringe when we see the top that the customer wants us to work a miracle on.  Here are some suggestions.

STABILIZER

Usually, the problem is that they have not STABILIZED the T-Shirts before piecing them together.  We use a high quality 100% cotton fusible to stabilize all T-Shirts before including them into a quilt.  This prevents the block from stretching or looking "saggy" in the finished quilt.  While we don't suggest using a heavy-weight polyester, that is still better than NO stabilizer at all.  If you do decide to not use a stabilizer, we will require a stabilizing 'waste' border be added to control the stretching.

SASHINGS

We also always include Sashing and Cornerstones at no additional charge.   We always press the seams away from the T-Shirt towards the sashing to reduce bulk.  The cornerstones help us line the blocks up nice and even.

BATTING

The finished T-Shirt Quilt does not have to be heavy and cumbersome when it is complete.  Use a high quality 80/20 (80% cotton, 20% Polyester) batting.  Don't go 'cheap' on the batting (or any of the fabrics) when making a T-Shirt Quilt (or any quilt for that matter).   Make sure your quilter does an 'all-over' pattern or 'pantograph'.  There is no reason not to quilt through the T-Shirts.   You want the quilt to be securely quilted so that it can hold up after years and years of loving use and laundering.  Our favorite battings are Hobbs and Legacy brands.

In most cases, stitching through the emblems does not cause any problems for the quilter.  However, sequins and crystals can wreak havoc with the longarm machine and it's needles.  Be aware that the 'hopping foot' cannot go over these items and may cause the stitching to go around the 3-dimensional object and corrupt the quilting.  'Puff' paint also causes problems, and if you think about it, is not very pleasant if you put your face on it!!

THREAD

We have been asked to use 'invisible' thread.  First of all, no thread is invisible.  It might a translucent shade that blends really well, but we really don't know how well the nylon or polyester thread will hold up to repeated washings and visits to a hot dryer.  We always use neutral colored thread, more on the light side that won't detract from the shirts.  Most popular colors that we use are a light grey or a light tan color. 

QUILTING

Be realistic.  If you are not familiar with machine quilting on your domestic machine, let a professional quilt your quilt.  PLEASE don't tie your quilt or just stitch around the squares.  We have had so many people bring their quilts to use to fix after well meaning moms, aunts or grandmothers have tried to do.  It really does not cost that much, and the recipient will be much happier with the result.

I see the light - or I'm almost done!

First of all,  many thanks to all of you that have sent in your t-shirts to be turned into a treasured quilt.  Now, I'm not complaining, I am thrilled hat I've been so busy with customer orders, but  I only 1 T-shirt quilt and 2 custom quilts to finish for Christmas.  I'm hoping that for the most part that they will be done today.    Going to take a week or so off, then get started on the orders that have already come in for the new year.  I am blessed.  Here is a collage of some of the quilts finished up in the last week.

A cousin of mine sent some photos of my grandmother (Annie Scarlett) and her quilts.  This was taken back in the 70's.  My grandmother loved to make quilts, and this is a picture of her standing in front of a quilt that my great-grandmother pieced, then she quilted.    This is my favorite quilt. The 1/2" hexagons are all fussy cut  so that the flower or image all goes around the center hex.  One of my favorite memories was looking at the details when we would go visit as a child.  I still enjoy looking for certain blocks.   We hung this quilt in our "Old Fashined Quilt Bee" booth at Houston Quilt Festival this year.   I think it got more attention than our Raffle quilt!  oops!

Well, back to work, really do want to finish those last quilts up for the holidays!  Wish I would have had time to work on my stuff!
 

Recycle, Reuse, Panic!

Anyone who is on the Quiltville yahoo list, knows about recycling men's cotton shirts. Well, I had kinda ignored those posts, thinking, I DON'T need more fabric. So, I didn't pay much attention as to the best methods for chopping these shirts into usable fabric. Thanks to those that sent me links on the best way to get the most fabric. 

Women's Small Business Craft Show

Last month my neighbor and small business woman Jody T. hosted a craft show for the small business owners in Cypress Texas. Since I was right next door, I used the entrance to my studio as my booth. Since I was promoting my T-Shirt Quilts business, I had several t-shirt quilts hanging prominently, along with some other quilts that I had worked on.

Lots of booths and traffic through the booth. Have gotten several commissions as a result of that day.

Went to the leg doctor today, and got scolded for being 'up' too much. Need to keep that leg up and quit worrying about dishes and housework. ALL RIGHT! Finally, permission to not do dishes. Just wished I had gotten it in writing so that hubby would believe me.

Time Warp

Apparently I've been in a time warp. No posts since APRIL? Where have I been? All I can say is that life has been busy. Lots of new things coming and will have lots of pictures to post.

Going to join the Grandma Club. That exclusive club that only your kids can help you join. Rachael is due September 23, and we're planning on being in Atlanta in time to see new grand-daughter. Rachael has sent pictures of the ultrasound. Can't believe how detailed they are. You can see the little nose and cupid lips. She is going to be a beauty! Oh, and did I mention BIG? Rachael is a whopping 5'4" (I think) and is on her way to having an 8lb 14oz baby!

My home business has kept me busy. Between professional machine quilting and T-Shirt quilt business (as my buddy Sharon says) "I'm busier than a one-armed paper-hangar"! OK, maybe a one-legged paper hangar since I've had surgery on my leg this week.

Supposed to stay off my feet for 7-10 days, so have been trying to hand sewing projects lined up that I can work on this week and prepared to take with me to Atlanta.

Cool new toy - Pfaff Needle Punch Machine

Felt so guilty today, as I hardly worked on customer quilts at all! However, I did do some prep work on a t- shirt quilt where the customer wants me to include all the 'stuff' including the entire back of a cheerleading jacket. The back of the jacket is curved at the top, so was debating how to add cotton or whatever to the WOOL of the jacket and make it look right.

It finally dawned on me to use my new toy that I bought at Festival in November. My Needle punch Machine! Here is a closeup of where I needle punched the heck out of the layers, then did a quick zig-sag stitch over it for good measure. The extra stitching probably was not necessary, but figured if it was laundered, that would ensure that it did not come apart.
Anyway, think it turned out pretty nicely, but still have to do some calculations to figure out how to have a 21 x 15 inch center in this quilt!

T-Shirt Quilt is Ready to Quilt!

Finished up the top and the backing for this T-shirt quilt that is for Lindsey's friend Michelle. It has tee shirts from OSU (that is Oklahoma State University in Stillwater), concerts, Eskimo Joes and so on. On the back I incorporated some of the boxer shorts (as sashing around the smaller logos & pockets) as well as a piece of her baby blanket. The sashing and cornerstones are done in batiks. I've had the t-shirts awhile, so she has probably forgotten about them and it will be a complete surprize when she gets it!

Still have to quilt it, and I still have a couple of customer quilts that I need to finish before I can get to this one. I think it turned out pretty nicely!