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The Construction of a T-shirt Quilt /
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How a Border Effects the Size of Your T-shirts

January 31st, 2023

2 min. read

By Andrea Funk

T-shirt quilts by Too Cool T-shirt quilts

Does a Border Make a T-shirt Quilt Larger?

colorful quilt with border by Too Cool T-shirt QuiltsThe answer is yes and no.

It all depends upon where you begin the discussion. Are you starting with a set quilt size or with a set number of T-shirts that have to be in your quilt? Where you begin dictates the answer.

Below we will look at how each starting spot answers the question about what adding a border does to the size of a T-shirt quilt.  

Adding a Border to a Set Number of T-shirts 

Too Many T-shirts, time for a Too Cool T-shirt QuiltsIf you are beginning with a set number of T-shirts, you first have to figure out how large of a quilt those T-shirts will make. After we cut your T-shirts, we provide this information to you.

Your border will then be added to the size quilt your T-shirts can make. 

For example, let’s say those T-shirts will make a quilt without a border that is 60 x 72. (This is our multi-use size quilt.)

Here’s what happens if you add a border of different sizes:

  • A 2” solid border will increase the quilt size to 64 x 76. This is because we added 2” to all four sides of the quilt. The inside of the quilt with your T-shirts is still 60 x 72. But the border will make the quilt larger. 

  • The larger border you add, the larger the quilt will be. A 2” solid + 4” pieced + 2” solid border will increase the quilt size to 76 x 88. This is between a twin and a full size. With this border, we added 8” to all four sides of the quilt. The inside portion of the quilt remains the same.

What it looks like to add a border to a T-shirt quiltBorder progression  big

 

Including a Border on a Set Quilt Size

 
 
 

woman and dog with T-shirt quilt with a double borderIf you are planning a quilt and you know what size quilt you want and what style border you want, you can then determine how many T-shirts you will need.

Adding a border to a set size quilt means that the inside of your quilt will be smaller.You will need fewer T-shirts to get to the size quilt you want with a border.

If you want a quilt with a final size of 60 x 72 including a border, this will mean that the inside of your quilt has to be smaller. Here are two examples.

  • A 2” solid border will decrease the inside of the quilt to 56 x 68. We subtracted 2” from all four sides of the quilt.

  • A 2” solid + 4” pieced + 2” solid border will decrease the inside size to 44 x 56. This is because we subtracted 8” from all 4 sides of the quilt. 

What it looks like to add a border to a T-shirt quiltWhat it looks like to add a border to a T-shirt quilt

 


Planning a T-shirt quilt?
Here are step-by-step directions for ordering your Too Cool T-shirt quilt.


 Where Issues Arise

Border on a Too Cool T-shirt QuiltThe issues we run into is when a customer wants a border, but they send in way too many T-shirts for a quilt the size they want with the T-shirts they want. 

They then have to choose between T-shirts and a border or end up with a larger and more expensive quilt than they wanted.

We always think that the T-shirts are way more important than the border. We suggest forgoing a border over T-shirts. 

Conclusion

We hope this article helps you understand how a border effects the size of a T-shirt quilt.

Remember, a border will change the size of your quilt if you begin with a set number of T-shirts.

When you start with a set size quilt, adding a border will not increase the size of the quilt, rather it will shrink the T-shirt portion of your quilt. 

 


Want to learn more about T-shirt quilts? Visit our Learning Center.
We have over 200 articles about all aspects of T-shirt quilts.


rainbow border on a Too Cool T-shirt Quilt

 

Andrea Funk

Andrea Funk is the inventor of T-shirt quilts made with multiple blocks sizes. The modern method of making T-shirt quilts. In 1992 she founded Too Cool T-shirt Quilts. Her life has been immersed in T-shirt quilts ever since.