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Being Creative, Everything Else

Book Review: T Shirt Quilts Made Easy

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T Shirt Quilts Made Easy by Martha Deleonardis

Published in 2012

ISBN: 978-1-60460-014-8

Some Chapter Headings:

  • Hints and How-To’s
  • Projects
  • Gallery
  • Easy Planning Guides

I should preface my review with this:  I borrowed this book from my mom when I was ready to make my daughter’s t shirt quilt.  I’m comfortable sewing and piecing quilt tops.  I was looking specifically for information about the coordinating fabrics, what size to cut the blocks, and how-to make all the blocks fit together.  This book did that.

I liked:

  • “It’s All About the Fabric” section that explained the best way to choose your fabrics for your project.  (Spoiler alert:  Don’t try to match your tee shirts!)
  • The entire “Easy Planning Guides” chapter.  To be honest, I skimmed over the other parts and camped out here.  I knew I wanted to start with 5 inch squares (a charm pack) so I used her “5 inch Grid Cut Block Chart to get the measures I needed to cut my tees.

My dislikes:

  • I found her grids too small for me to work with and designed my own in excel.

Conclusion:
I already know how to sew.  I already know how to piece a quilt top in a basic 4-patch or 9-patch.  If I didn’t, I’m not sure this book would have helped much.  But since I already knew those techniques, I was looking for a book that would help me design a cute t shirt quilt.  That’s why I found the discussion about fabrics so helpful.  I also love math and grids, so her planning guides were right up my alley.  This book does not teach you how to quilt–only piece the quilt top.  If you need a book to teach you how to quilt, keep looking.

Would I buy it for myself?
Yes.  If I had a stack of t shirts and a basic sewing knowledge, this would be a great place to start.

Would I buy it for a beginner sewer?
Probably not, but for a sewist who has mastered straight seams—you’re good to go!

Everything Else

Memories Made Into A Tee Shirt Quilt

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Oh the memories in our new tee shirt quilt ! My big girl started a new school back in August.  That means we had a stack of tee shirts that she wasn’t going to wear any longer.  I’ve been putting back her EGM tees since Kindergarten, saving all those memories– her “I’m in the Eagles Nest” shirt to her first swim team shirt.  I had running club shirts and church camp shirts and even a reindeer sweatshirt with her hand prints and foot print.

Tee Shirt Memories

This fall, I took the time to stop and organize these shirts.  That’s not entirely true.  We’re seriously decluttering to get the house ready to put on the market.  I was afraid that if I put this stack of shirts in storage, I’d not look at them again until she’s a senior.  So…I decided to take a moment weekend to create a memory quilt.  I pieced it over the Labor Day weekend.  It was later quilted by my aunt.

The toughest part of the process was also the most fun!  I choose to use 5 inch squares of fabric to complement my tee shirts.  Knowing this in advance made it easy to know what size to cut my tees down to.  It also made laying out the quilt so much fun!  I love a good logic puzzle.

tee shirt quilt grid

Interested in creating your own?  I’ll be happy to show you how.  Before you get started, I’d recommend you start with your tee shirts, some graph paper, and this book:

I’ll review the book for you soon.  Please leave me a comment if you want more how to info.

t shirt quilt book

Being Creative, Everything Else

Learning to Sew? You Need a Good Sewing Reference

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For my latest sewing students:

Even with all the great YouTube videos and photo tutorials on the web, I still think you need a great sewing book handy.  I have a few favorites.


I reviewed The New Complete Guide to Sewing here in 2008.  I still LOVE this book and recommend it to all my sewing students.

 

I reviewed Sew U here in 2008.  I would update this review just a bit today.  After using this book for several years, I’d suggest that this book is worth the purchase for 2 reasons:  1)her practical approach to sewing without a fancy studio or lots of tools and 2)inspiration.  If you are planning to take my 1 skirt, 3 ways class, then I highly recommend this book!
What about you ladies that sew all the time?  What books do you recommend to a new seamstress????

 

****note:  I’m in the Amazon Affiliate Program.  I will be monetarily compensated if you purchase through the links above.    That said, I do truly love these books and my recommendations have nothing to do with this affiliate program.