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Common Questions

T-Shirt Quilt Construction

 

A Mary’s Quilted Memories T-Shirt Quilt is constructed of 6 primary components

1 T-Shirt Panel: The T-Shirt Panel is the primary focus of a T-Shirt memory quilt. The panels are harvested from the customer’s shirts. The typical size for a shirt panel square is 15 inches. This can vary due to the size of the shirt and the size of the shirt graphics. Both the front and the back of the shirt can be used if desired.
2 Heat Bonded Interfacing/Stabilizer:A key element but invisible component is the Heat Bonded Interfacing. Prior to the final cutting of the shirt panel, an interfacing is heat bonded to the back of the shirt square. This provides several very important functions:
  • It creates a non-stretching fabric which allows the quilt to be manufactured at a higher quality due to it’s stabilized structure.
  • It prevents stretching and puckering during and after use. A non-interfaced shirt panel can loosen, stretch and pucker due to normal ‘on the couch’ use from feet and tugging.
  • It creates a stable foundation for the shirt graphics to help prevent them from splitting and cracking.
  • It gives old worn out, thin shirts new life by providing a stable foundation.
The interfacing is a high quality backing that prevents stretching but is still very soft and pliable. It does not create a hard or rigid fabric.
3 Sashing: Sashing is also a key component of a Mary’s Quilted Memories quilt. Sashing is the fabric that borders, frames, and distinguishes the T-Shirt panels. It creates the front color of your quilt and provides separation between the shirt panels. It enables the integration of color themes into your quilt (team, product or school colors) and creates separation between different color shirt panels. All of Mary’s Quilted Memories quilts come standard with sashing!
4
Binding: The Binding/Edging is the fabric sewn onto the perimeter of a quilt that binds together the edge of all the layers to create an attractive accented border.
5
Backing: The Backing is the fabric that makes up the backside of the quilt. It is typically an accenting solid color but can be a print if requested.
6
Batting: The Batting is the fluffy inner layer that gives the quilt its thickness and exterior texture after quilting (all over stitching).