T-Shirt Memory Quilts

Turn meaningful memories into a beautiful quilt you can enjoy for years to come.

T-shirt quilts are a wonderful way to preserve memories from school, sports, concerts, travel, careers, or special life events. At Precision Design Quilting, we transform your collection of shirts into a thoughtfully designed quilt that celebrates the moments and stories behind each piece.

Each quilt is carefully planned, stabilized, and constructed to ensure durability while preserving the graphics and details that make your shirts meaningful.

Please Send Shirts Uncut

To ensure the best possible design and layout, please send your T-shirts exactly as they are — do not cut them before sending.

Leaving shirts uncut allows us to:

• Preserve important graphics or text
• Properly stabilize the fabric
• Determine the best layout and block sizing
• Avoid accidental loss of important design elements

We will carefully prepare and cut the shirts during the design process.

Common T-Shirt Quilt Sources

T-shirt quilts are often created from:

• School or graduation shirts
• Sports team jerseys
• Concert or event shirts
• Military or service shirts
• Marathon or race shirts
• Travel or souvenir shirts
• Baby clothes or children’s shirts
• Career or organization shirts

Quilt Design Options

Each T-shirt quilt is custom designed to highlight your shirts while creating a balanced, visually pleasing layout.

Options may include:

• Simple block layouts
• Sashing between blocks
• Borders to frame the quilt
• Coordinating backing fabrics
• Quilting designs that complement knit fabrics

Quilts can be created in a variety of sizes depending on the number of shirts available.

How Many Shirts Do I Need?

The number of shirts required depends on the finished quilt size and the size of the graphics on each shirt. As a general guideline:

PLEASE REFER TO T-SHIRT PRICING FOR QUILTING PRICE BY SIZE

If you are unsure, we are happy to help determine the best size based on your shirts.

T-Shirt Quilt Pricing Structure

Each T-shirt quilt is custom designed, so pricing is typically based on the number of shirts and finished quilt size.

Typical pricing includes:

• Shirt stabilization
• Design and layout planning
• Quilt top construction
• Batting
• Backing fabric
• Longarm quilting
• Binding and finishing

Additional options may include:

• Monogramming – such as names, dates, events
• Custom borders or sashing
• Special backing fabrics

Because every project is unique, we provide a clear quote before work begins.

Ready to Start Your Memory Quilt?

Contact us to discuss your shirts, preferred quilt size, and design ideas. We’ll help turn your collection of memories into a quilt you can enjoy for years to come.

T-SHIRT LAYOUT GRID EXAMPLE: 

Red represents the shashing and typically matches the backing

9 Shirt Quilt

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12 Shirt Quilt Layout (Throw Size)

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16 Shirt Quilt

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20 Shirt Quilt

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“Don’t worry if your shirts are different sizes. We can adjust block sizes to preserve important graphics.”

All-inclusive T-shirt quilt pricing includes shirt preparation and stabilization, quilt construction, batting, backing, edge-to-edge quilting, trimming, and finishing.

Binding is optional and may be added if desired.

Custom T-Shirt Memory Quilt Pricing

What’s Included

All T-shirt quilts include:

✔ Shirt stabilization
✔ Custom quilt layout design
✔ Quilt top construction
✔ Quality batting
✔ Coordinating backing fabric
✔ Edge-to-edge longarm quilting
✔ Quilt trimming and finishing

Materials & Finishing Options

At Precision Design Quilting, we offer high-quality materials to ensure your quilt is durable, beautiful, and finished professionally. From batting and thread to backing and binding, we provide options to help complete your quilt with the look and performance you want.

Custom Art Memory Quilts

In addition to T-shirt memory quilts, Precision Design Quilting also offers custom art quilts created using fabric markers and personal artwork.

These quilts allow family members, friends, students, or groups to contribute drawings, messages, signatures, or artwork that become part of the quilt design. Each artwork panel is preserved and assembled into a finished quilt similar to the layout used in a T-shirt memory quilt.

This option creates a truly one-of-a-kind quilt filled with personal creativity and meaningful messages.

Perfect for Special Occasions

Custom art quilts are especially meaningful for:

• graduation quilts
• teacher or classroom quilts
• retirement gifts
• wedding or anniversary keepsakes
• family reunion quilts
• children’s artwork quilts
• team or club memory quilts

Each contributor can create a small artwork square that becomes part of the finished quilt.

How It Works

1. Artwork Panels
   Participants create drawings or messages on fabric squares using fabric-safe markers.
2. Fabric Stabilization
   Each artwork panel is stabilized to ensure durability and long-term preservation.
3. Quilt Layout Design
   Artwork panels are arranged into a balanced quilt layout similar to T-shirt quilt blocks.
4. Professional Quilting
   The quilt is completed using edge-to-edge longarm quilting to create a durable finished quilt.

Artwork Guidelines

To ensure the best results:

• Use fabric markers designed for permanent fabric use
• Allow artwork to fully dry before sending
• Keep artwork within the provided panel area
• Avoid heavy paint or thick materials that could affect quilting

We can provide recommended panel sizes and preparation instructions.

A Quilt Full of Memories

Custom art quilts transform personal drawings and messages into a meaningful keepsake quilt that can be treasured for years to come.

Because each quilt is uniquely designed, we are happy to discuss layout options and panel sizes before your project begins.

Batting Options

Batting is the layer between the quilt top and backing that provides warmth, softness, and structure. The batting you choose affects the quilt’s drape, loft, and stitch definition.

Available batting options include:

100% Cotton
A classic quilt batting with a soft, natural drape and traditional quilt appearance.

Bleached Cotton
Bright white cotton batting ideal for quilts made with light-colored fabrics.

80/20 Cotton/Poly Blend
A popular option that combines the softness of cotton with the durability and loft of polyester.

Bamboo
Lightweight and breathable with a soft, silky drape.

100% Wool
Provides excellent loft and stitch definition, ideal for quilts where quilting texture should stand out.

100% Quilt Grade Polyester
Durable and resilient batting that holds its shape well. A great option for quilts used frequently, such as picnic quilts, outhoor quilts, sports blankets, or children’s quilts.

If you are unsure which batting to choose, we are happy to recommend the best option for your quilt.

Batting is the layer between the quilt top and backing that provides warmth, softness, and structure. The batting you choose affects the quilt’s drape, loft, stitch definition, and durability. If you are unsure which option is best for your project, we are happy to recommend the best choice based on how your quilt will be used.

100% Wool Batting

Wool batting is lightweight, breathable, and provides excellent loft and stitch definition. It creates a beautiful, raised texture that highlights quilting designs while remaining comfortable and temperature regulating.
Best for: show quilts, heirloom quilts, and projects where you want the quilting design to stand out.

100% Cotton Batting

Cotton batting provides a natural feel with a soft drape and a classic quilt appearance. It produces a flatter finish than wool and softens nicely with washing.
Best for: traditional quilts, everyday quilts, and quilts that will be washed regularly.

100% Bleached Cotton Batting

Bleached cotton batting has the same natural qualities as cotton but is bright white, making it ideal for quilts made with light-colored fabrics.
Best for: white or pastel quilts where darker cotton fibers might show through.

Bamboo Batting

Bamboo batting is soft, breathable, and offers a beautiful drape with a slightly silky feel. It creates a lightweight quilt that is comfortable for warmer climates or close contact.
Best for: lightweight quilts, summer quilts, and projects where softness and drape are important.

80/20 Cotton/Poly Blend Batting

This blend combines the natural look and feel of cotton with the durability and loft of polyester. It provides reliable performance and good stitch definition while maintaining a traditional quilt appearance.
Best for: most quilts and a dependable all-purpose choice.

100% Quilt Grade Polyester Batting

Polyester batting provides higher loft, excellent durability, and resists shrinkage over time. It holds its shape well and stands up to heavier use.
Best for: quilts that will see frequent use or more rugged conditions, such as picnic quilts, outhoor quilts, sports blankets, travel quilts, or quilts for children and pets.

Quick Recommendation Guide

• Best overall choice: 80/20 Cotton/Poly Blend
• Best for heirloom or show quilts: Wool
• Best traditional quilt look: 100% Cotton
• Best for light-colored quilts: Bleached Cotton
• Best for softness and drape: Bamboo
• Best for durability and outhoor use: Polyester

Batting Comparison Guide

If you’re unsure which batting is right for your quilt, we’re happy to recommend the best option based on how your quilt will be used and the look you want to achieve.

Batting Frequently Asked Questions

Can I provide my own batting?

Yes. Customers may provide their own batting as long as it is large enough to extend at least 4 inches beyond all sides of the quilt top.

What batting do you recommend most often?

The 80/20 Cotton/Poly blend is the most popular option because it offers a great balance of softness, durability, and stitch definition.

Will batting affect how the quilting looks?

Yes. Batting type influences the loft (puffiness), stitch definition, and drape of the finished quilt. Higher loft batting, like wool or polyester, will make quilting designs appear more pronounced.

Will my quilt shrink after washing?

Natural fibers like cotton may shrink slightly during the first wash, giving quilts a classic crinkled look. Polyester batting typically has little to no shrinkage.

What batting is best for T-shirt quilts?

For T-shirt quilts we often recommend 80/20 Cotton/Poly or Polyester batting, as they provide durability and structure for quilts that will be used frequently.

If I’m unsure, can you help me choose?

Absolutely. We are happy to recommend the best batting based on the quilt design, fabric, and how the quilt will be used.

Thread Selection

We use Superior Threads Omni, a high-quality polyester thread designed specifically for quilting.

Omni thread is a 40 wt (Tex 30) corespun polyester thread that provides strong, consistent stitches while maintaining a smooth, balanced appearance on the quilt.

Benefits of Omni thread include:

✔ strong and durable
✔ smooth stitching for longarm quilting
✔ minimal lint buildup
✔ colorfast and fade resistant
✔ excellent stitch definition

With over 160 color options available, we can match or blend thread colors to complement your quilt fabrics.

Thread can be selected to either:

Blend with the quilt fabrics
for a subtle quilting effect

or

Contrast with the quilt fabrics
to highlight the quilting design.

Thread Selection Assistance

If you are unsure which thread color would work best with your quilt, we are happy to recommend a color that complements your fabrics and quilting design.

Our goal is to ensure the quilting enhances the overall appearance of your quilt while maintaining a balanced, professional finish.