Home | Arts-and-entertainment

T-Shirt Quilt Buyer's Guide 

A t-shirt quilt can be a wonderful and beautiful keepsake, and when it's correctly made from the best materials it can last a lifetime. Many online companies offer custom t-shirt quilts that are very inexpensive, and while inexpensive isn't necessarily bad, it's important to ask the right questions of your t-shirt quilt provider before you buy. Cheap materials and poor technique will result in a quilt that breaks down over time. Here are the questions you should ask a t-shirt quilter:

Q. How custom is your quilt?

Online you can find decent t-shirt quilts that are reasonably priced but that aren't necessarily "custom." The colors, patterns, and arrangement are usually the same. Since you are having a t-shirt quilt created as an heirloom, it is important that it really is custom-made.

Q. Will polyester or cotton batting be used?

Polyester batting is inferior to cotton; it doesn't breathe and can substantially degrade over time. Although cotton batting is more expensive, it is more comfortable for everyday use and lasts longer. Another reason cotton batting is better than polyester is that cotton batted quilts hang flatter and more beautifully against a wall. If a quilt doesn't come with batting at all, which some do, it is not really a quilt.

Q. Is sashing used to separate the t-shirts?

Sashing is a ribbon of fabric used between t-shirt squares to separate them. Be sure that your quilter is going to use sashing if you decide to have a t-shirt quilt made. Not only will it enhance the design, sashing will help your t-shirt quilt last longer.

Q. How is the quilt built? Do you bind you or "flip and quilt"?

The older "flip and quilt" or "flip and sew" method is the less time-consuming way to make a quilt. It is less expensive, but the quilt usually won't hang or lay completely flat. The bind method, on the other hand, takes longer. However, the finished product lays or hangs flat and looks much nicer.

Q. What are the thread weight and the thread count of the fabric that will be used?

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.

Article Source: http://www.uberarticles.com/articles

Author Sara Musfeldt has been a fan of quilting art for many years. Sara has especially fond of t-shirt quilts, which make a great gift. Remember, a quality quilt lasts for generations.

This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 3.0 Unported License, which means you may freely reprint it, in its entirety, provided you include the author's resource box along with LIVE VISIBLE links (without "nofollow" tags).