1. What kind of sewing machine do you use?
I have a Janome M7 that I use it for both piecing and quilting. It has a large throat space that makes it easier to quilt large quilts. I also have a Janome MC8200 that is not as large as the M7 but also has a large throat space; it’s a great machine for a lower price point than the machines from the professional series.

2. Do you quilt your own quilts or send them off to be quilted?
I do not send my quilts off to a longarmer to be quilted. I quilt all of my quilts myself on a domestic machine. The quilting is my favorite part.

3. Do you prewash your fabrics?
Most of the time I do not prewash my fabrics. Fabrics that have been prewashed do not shrink as much and do not crinkle as much. I love the look of a crinkley quilt.

4. What kind of thread do you use?
I use different threads for different parts of the process.
– For piecing, I use Gutermann Sew All.
– For quilting T-shirt quilts, I like the 50 weight cotton quilting thread from Missouri Star Quilt Company.
– For quilting regular quilts, I like the 40 weight polyester quilting thread from Missouri Star Quilt Company.
– For the chunky top stitch that I use to secure my labels, I have been using the #8 Perle Cotton Floss from Missouri Star Quilt Company.

5. What kind of batting do you use?
I use Warm And White the most. I also use Warm and Natural sometimes. They have the same composition and feel, but Warm And White does not have pieces of the cotton plant that might show throw the fabric. When a client wants a thicker batting, I use Warm and Plush. It has more cotton for a thicker batting with a little bit of extra puff and coziness.

6. What kind of needle do you use?
My favorite needle for quilting is the Janome purple tip needles. If you’re having trouble with your thread breaking when you quilt over seams and thick spots, these could be a big help. For me they have significantly reduced/eliminated this problem. Of course, nothing is a substitute for getting a fresh needle after every 4-8 hours of sewing. If you’re thread is starting to break more often or you’re skipping stitches, see if a new needle helps. For piecing I typically use Schmetz 80/12 Universal Needles and may go up to a 90/14 needle if I’m working with thicker fabrics.

T-Shirt Quilt FAQs

1. What kinds of items can go in the T-Shirt quilts you make?
The “T-Shirt” in T-Shirt quilts is a loose term. I’ve used all kinds of clothes and a few non-clothes items in them. The biggest limitation is wash-ability. I wouldn’t recommend including Dry Clean Only clothing in your T-Shirt quilt because this will make your entire quilt Dry Clean Only. You want to be able to use and wash your T-Shirt quilt. If you have an item you aren’t sure about, feel free to ask me.

2. What is your turn around time for making a T-Shirt quilt?
I am not taking as many custom orders at this time due to various reasons. Custom orders are on a case by case basis.

***If you have any other questions, contact me and I’ll answer as best as I can. If I get multiple people asking the same question, I can add it to this page.

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