Quilt making-- HELP!!?

Question

Okay, so I want to make my mom a quilt for christmas but I want it to have pictures of me and her on it. Do I have to have a pattern? Can I just cut a bunch of t-shirts and other fabrics into squares? I got muslin from the fabric store to transfer the pictures too. But what do you guys suggest i do??? ANY HELP WILL BE APPRECIATED. will select best. thansk.

Answer 1

Here are some instructions on how to make a t-shirt quilt. You can substitute your picture sqaures for some of the t-shirt sqaures. You won't need interfacing on your muslin, just on the t-shirt squares.
http://www.straw.com/quilting/articles/teequilts_how.html
Since you are a beginner, it might be better to buy fabric that is already prepped for the printer. If you want to use the muslin, here is some advice
http://h71036.www7.hp.com/hho/cache/784-0-0-39-121.html
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Answer 2

Besides the tshirt squares, you can print pictures onto fabric using your computer. My favorite printer fabric is called Printed Treasures. I find this to be the easiest way to include photos in a quilt.

If you have digital photos, you can print directly on the fabric just like it was paper, peel off the backing and then cut the fabric to fit whatever you need for the quilt.

If you don't have digital photos, you can scan a photo (or anything else for that matter), then print it onto the fabric.

You don't have to have a pattern, you could just use squares or rectangles. If you are a beginning quilter, I would recommend using squares that all the same size. It really doesn't matter what size as long as they are all the same.

You can see some good examples of photo quilts and tshirt quilts at http://www.quilt-pictures.com/memory.html

Answer 3

You do not need a pattern to do a photo quilt. Quilting is basically math shapes arranged in a pattern with a 1/4" seam. You will need some "lattice" strips to link the t-shirt blocks together -- have you heard of "Jelly Rolls"? They are pre-cut fabric strips of 2.5 inches... great for lattice work between blocks. Many quilting stores and online places sell them. Expect to pay about $25 and up for a roll.

Everyone has suggested great ideas. You will need to cut the t-shirts and photo blocks to equal size -- like 9" or 12" blocks, for example. For beginners, I also like the website called the "Quilter's Cache" -- Marcia has free patterns listed for all levels of quilters. Here is an easy pattern for a photo memory quilt:

http://www.quilterscache.com/P/PictureFrameBlock.html

However, you may want to start off small since Christmas is right around the corner. Keep in mind that besides completing the quilt top, you need to consider you have to layer or "sandwich" the quilt with top, batting, and fabric backing. Many quilters begin a quilt for the holidays well in advance -- some take a year?

http://www.dummies.com/WileyCDA/DummiesArticle/id-4046.html

If you have a walking foot for quilting that thick "layer" on your sewing machine... that would be great.

http://www.dummies.com/WileyCDA/DummiesArticle/id-1792.html

Or if you don't have that device -- maybe you need to hire a professional quilter to quilt it? Many pros have a 1-2 month waiting list for the holidays if not more. I would highly recommend a small photo quilt (crib size), photo block pillow, or a photo runner that can be hung on a wall. And don't forget that once the quilting is done... you will need to buy prepackaged binding rather than making your own. Binding is usually sold in 2- to 3-yard units. It is the last step to finishing your quilt and takes some time to stitch.

http://quilting.about.com/od/bindingaquilt/Binding_the_Quilt.htm

Finish your quilt with a label with your name and date.
Hope this Helps!