T-Shirt Quilt Information

Please feel free to call or text us at (502) 210 6291 if you have any questions!

Finished tshirt blanket custom tshirt quilt

A t-shirt quilt is a piece of functional art made from your awesome memories.

Shirts can be turned into a custom blanket t-shirt quilt

So, start by focusing on the shirts that mean the most to you, not on quilt size.

Focus on the most important shirts for your thsirt quilt

Your important shirts need to be in the quilt no matter what. We can make a t-shirt quilt from those, however many shirts that is.

Want a t-shirt quilt for a certain bed size? We have a guide below for general number of shirt sides needed.

What You Need to Do

Sorted Shirt Piles for Your Custom T-Shirt Quilt

Any Fabric!

No need to cut or layout shirts

Just make sure they’re clean

We’ll let you know as soon as they arrive.

You can also drop your order off at our Louisville location

Ship your sorted shirts for your tshirt memorial blanket

Turnaround time is usually 2-4 weeks.

We’ll let you know when your t-shirt quilt is shipped or ready for pickup!

Before you know it, you’ll have your very own custom t-shirt quilt – and an empty closet!

Fully Machine Quilted

The real deal: fully machine quilted with internal batting.

This greatly enhances the strength and longevity of the quilt and keeps it from looking dumpy/saggy.

Professional Custom Design

We design your quilt to custom fit your shirts with no hassle to you.

We have over 10 years of t-shirt quilting experience; designing t-shirt quilts is our passion!

High Quality Fabric

We’ve sourced the highest quality cotton fabric at an unbeatable price. We offer both quilter’s cotton for a cooler quilt and flannel for a warmer & softer option.

Order Here

T-Shirt Quilt Deposit
$95.00
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Pricing

T-Shirt Quilt
$95 Base + $5 per Shirt Side
A “shirt side” is just what it sounds like – the front or back of a shirt. So, the front & back of a shirt counts as 2 shirt sides.
Picture Square / Embroidery
$20
Send us a digital image and we can have it printed onto fabric and put it in your quilt. We can also embroider text (price varies per line & length).
Hanging Sleeve
$20
A tube of fabric on the back of the quilt, meant for a curtain rod.

Quick Sizes & Prices

The starting price for each size. REMEMBER: We prefer you to focus first on shirt sides rather than finished blanket size.
Size	Starting Price ($)
Wall Hanging (9 – 11 shirt sides)	140
Throw (12 – 19 shirt sides)	155
Twin (20 – 24 shirt sides)	195
Full / Double (25 – 35 shirt sides)	220
Queen (36 – 48 shirt sides)	275
King ( 49+ shirt sides)	340

FAQ

Call or text us at (502) 210-6291 for more information, or check out our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page

How many shirts do I need?

At least five. The size of the quilt is determined by the number of shirt sides that are provided.

We recommend that you focus only on using the shirts that have meaning and let it be whatever size it organically turns out to be. This also makes the process simpler for you.

Do they have to be t-shirts, or can I use another fabric?

We can use any fabric or article of clothing!

What’s a shirt side?

The front or back of a shirt. So, you can usually get up to 2 shirt sides from a shirt (the front & the back). They’re usually each cut into a 15″ square but multiple small logos on shirt sides can be combined together into a single square. Don’t worry, we usually handle all of that – we just need to know which parts of a shirt are important to you!

We also call miscellaneous pieces “shirt sides” for pricing purposes, such as a handkerchief or pair of pants.

Should I cut the shirts?

No, please bring us the whole shirt. If you’ve already cut them, we can still work with them but pre-cut shirt sides that are smaller than 15″ squares may require additional work.

Do you design the layout or do I?

By default we will design the quilt for you and balance the colors as evenly as we can throughout the quilt. If you have a specific design in mind, please let us know when you order it and send us a photo of the layout if possible. That said, we usually prefer it be left to us!

How do I prepare the shirts before ordering?

Sort the shirts based on what side you want, choose a color, and you’re done!

Full Prep Instructions

How do I order?

You can view our order page here. Leave a deposit for your order, get us your shirts, and we’ll send an invoice for the balance before we ship.

If you’re near Louisville, feel free to drop your shirts off in person by scheduling an appointment. Or, if you are simply too busy, you can even schedule a pickup and we’ll come get it!

What is your turnaround time?

Our turnaround is currently up to 4 weeks, but we can always work with you to get it done sooner. If your quilt is for a graduation or Christmas gift, please get it to us as soon as possible to minimize stress and late fees because we may even need to stop accepting orders during these periods due to high demand.

How will you cut the shirts?

By default, unless notified otherwise, we will cut a 15″ square out of the front of your shirt and discard the back. We can instead use the back of the shirt if notified to do so. Alternatively, we can use both the front AND the back – this will count the shirt as two shirt sides for pricing purposes.

Any number of shirt sides will work.

Can I put shirts on the back of the quilt?

We only put the shirts on the front of the quilt and use high-quality cotton quilting fabric on the back. A quilt with shirts on the back cannot be machine quilted and tends to look sloppy.

How do I order embroidery?

When you order your quilt, simply indicate what you’d like embroidered (exactly as you’d like to see it) and where it should be located on the quilt. Font choices are either a cursive script or block font. Price is determined by the number of words and size, usually between $15-$30.

Do you do other custom quilting and sewing orders?

We can machine quilt or finish an existing quilt top, or make a pillow out of a shirt or two. Otherwise we are not currently accepting custom orders. Check with your local fabric/quilt shop to see if they have any referrals!

Can I order different machine quilting designs?

Yes, but after a decade of experience with machine quilting, we have found that one design works far better than the rest for t-shirt quilts. While other designs may seem good on paper, in practice an evenly spaced “stipple meander” is the least distracting in person and least likely to wrinkle the stretchy t-shirt fabric. It also allows us to go around certain areas of your shirts, like buttons, attachments, faces in images, etc without breaking the pattern.

Some may prefer to have no visible stitching across their shirts. This is very understandable but often results in saggy and dumpy looking quilts. This effect will be most visible in person and not in pictures (where they have been neatly spread out for presentation). That said, we can a stitch in only the corners of the squares instead of a meander all over it, which will be nearly invisible and secure the different layers of the quilt much better than no quilting at all. Simply request “Baste Quilting” when you order.

Can I supply my own fabric for the backing and borders?

Yes. Please contact us beforehand to make sure you have enough fabric for the size of your quilt.

Can I have squares cut a different size than 15"?

Yes, that’s no problem! Simply request it when you order. Please keep in mind that many people underestimate the size of their shirt designs and it looks very sloppy if some shirts have been cut too small. Smaller square sizes will also reduce the size of your quilt, which can be good or bad depending on your preferences. Lastly, smaller size squares limit the potential to combine different shirts into the same square.

We’ve consistently found the 15″ square to be the best size for t-shirt quilts but there are exceptions. Quilts made from baby clothing, for example, are best with much smaller squares. Quilts made from only plain blouses, gowns, and other graphic-less garments tend to look best with a 12.5″ square.

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Testimonials

Why choose Happy Dance Quilting?

Quality and Value

While you can have your t-shirt quilt or blanket made as cheaply as possible, the old adage applies: you get what you pay for. Those blankets or quilts may look good at first, but aren’t made to last. They either won’t be machine quilted, so will fall apart in time or are backed with cheap fabric that will bleed color and ruin your shirts after the first washing.

On the other end of the spectrum, many experienced quilters who decide to start making tshirt quilts do high quality work, but are not thinking in terms of efficiency or using the most modern tools available. This raises their expenses, which get passed down to you. They may also be trying to fit making t-shirt quilts around their day jobs, leading to much longer turnaround times. Plus, these quilts are often densely custom quilted, which makes for a stiffer, less cozy blanket, and takes a lot more time and work to do for no practical gain. So while you will likely still get a beautiful t-shirt quilt from a high-end custom t-shirt quilt maker, you will pay a lot more for it.

Happy Dance Quilting is the happy medium between these two extremes. We use only high quality materials, so our tee shirt quilts are made to last (and are machine washable!). Additionally, we’ve worked hard to hone our process to deliver a high quality product as efficiently as possible. And we’re always looking for ways to make a better quilt, blending time-tested quilting techniques and cutting-edge methods to give you the best tshirt quilt at the lowest possible price, with the fastest possible turnaround.

A Brand You Can Trust.

Having a t-shirt quilt made is exciting, but it can also be a little scary. Your shirts, jerseys and other pieces of clothing are irreplaceable: what if something happens? We work to take all the risk out of having a t-shirt blanket made. We don’t ask you to cut your own shirts or choose a layout. That’s what we’re here for! Our team has over 100 years of combined sewing and quilting experience: we know what we’re doing!

Plus, unlike any other t-shirt quilt maker, you can come to our Louisville, Kentucky shop to drop off your shirts! You will have a one-on-one consultation with one of our tshirt blanket experts who will walk you through the process, help you make any choices and give you peace of mind that your keepsakes are in good hands.

Ready to get started? Place an order now!