Memories to Heirlooms |
 So you want to have a t-shirt quilt made and find a wide variety of pricing. Why are some t-shirt quilts so inexpensive? My answer would be:
1. Stabilizer – a product applied to the back of fabric to keep it from stretching out of shape; adds a bit of strength to well loved t-shirts. It is important for t-shirts to be stabilized before being sewn into a quilt or you will have a wonky quilt down the road. 2. Quilted or Tied – Quilting - by definition, a quilt is something that is sewn through 3 layers – normally a top layer, batting and bottom layer. My preference is to use the quilting to highlight the design of the shirts. Another option is to use an overall quilting design which is much faster. Tying - alternatively, the quilter makes one stitch through the layers with, yarn or string, every so often to hold the layers together. Quilting or tying- it's a personal preference, as they create very different looks. Quilting will generally hold up longer  3. Batting - as mentioned above, is the middle layer. It can be made of materials like polyester and cotton (the most common) or bamboo, silk, soy or wool. There are pros and cons to each and the price range is great. The choice will impact the warmth, look and feel of the quilt. My preference is Warm & Natural cotton batting because it breaths well, and I like the results I get with it. For batting to be stable, it is important that it is quilted or tied every so many inches. This varies for each batting type and is normally written on the batting instructions. You want to be sure the maker is going to quilt or tie within the requirements of the batting.  4. Quilting Thread – Quilts can be quilted by hand or by machine. Hand quilting involves a single thread going in and out through all three layers by hand. Machine quilting would have two threads, top and bottom, interlocking each stitch on a machine, which is faster than hand quilting. In Harriet Hargrave’s book, Heriloom Machine Quilting, she advises to never use quilting thread stronger than your fabric. This way, with wear, the thread would break, rather than the thread wearing a hole in the fabric. It is much easier to restitch the quilting than to repair the fabric down the line. Cotton thread is not as strong as polyester thread. Most T-shirts are cotton or a cotton/poly blend. For this reason, I prefer T-shirt quilts to be quilted with cotton thread.
Personal note: I have found companies online that make a good product for a more than a fair rate. When you choose a company/quilter to make your quilt and you are happy with their work, consider asking how much time they invested in your project and do the math. You may want to consider offering a tip for all the love they have brought to your quilt. Still have questions? Feel free to contact me and I will do my best to answer them.
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My first challenge was finding a unique name that spoke to my brand. After consulting a expert, my friend Pam at SlateConsultants.com, reading a book and articles and brainstorming hundreds of ideas, my sister suggested “Remember When,” the start of most of our family stories. I added Studio. Next, I was looking for a logo that ideally had a image that had a hidden message - easy right? Taylor Muir, a graphic designer I hired, offered some suggestions as did my friend Pam. All close, but not there.
After Googling creative logos I started thinking of a butterfly representing how I transform materials. The body could be a needle and the wings thread. Amy Holland at Amy-Holland-Pottery.com and her daughter Fiona, both outstanding artists, worked with me and drew a butterfly.  Taylor converted their drawing into digital form. Pam suggested some repositioning of the butterfly and Taylor finished the job. My family supported me through the process. My brother Chip and Mom both see a heart not a butterfly, which works as well since what I do is all about sentiment and love. I will always Remember When I developed a logo and all the talent, love and support I had.
 Now that I have a logo I love, let's put it to use on a project for you. Feel free to contact me and we can get started on your story.
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AuthorJean is the owner and designer for Remember When Studio. Archives
July 2022
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