Have more T-shirts than will fit into one quilt? A double-sided T-shirt quilt lets you use T-shirts on both sides, so you can include more of your collection without making the quilt huge.
It is also a good option when you have two different stories to tell, one on each side of the quilt.
On This Page:
When should you choose a Double-sided T-shirt quilt?
How Is a Double-sided T-shirt Quilt Different?
How Many T-shirts Do You Need?
How to Divide Up Your T-shirts
Double-sided T-shirt Quilt Limitations
A double-sided T-shirt quilt has T-shirts on both the front and the back of the quilt. Instead of using a traditional fabric backing, the second side is made from more of your T-shirts.
This gives you twice the space for T-shirts without making the quilt larger. It also lets you separate your T-shirts into two different stories, themes or time periods.
A double-sided T-shirt quilt is a good option when you have more T-shirts than will fit into the quilt size you would like.
Instead of leaving T-shirts out or making a much larger quilt, a double-sided quilt lets you use more of your collection by putting T-shirts on both sides. The quilt stays a manageable size, but you get twice the space for T-shirts.
It is also a good choice when you have two different stories to tell. One side might be high school and the other college. One side might be running T-shirts and the other family T-shirts. The two sides do not have to match, but they should both make sense to you.
You will need to flip the quilt over to see the second side. So, if your goal is to include as many T-shirts as possible, that flip is not an issue!
A double-sided T-shirt quilt is very similar to our original T-shirt quilt. The front is made the same way, using your T-shirts in our Too Cool puzzle-style layout.
The difference is on the back. Our original T-shirt quilt has backing fabric in the color you choose. A double-sided T-shirt quilt has more T-shirts on the back instead of backing fabric.
Both quilts are long-arm quilted, but the quilting is much easier to see on an original T-shirt quilt.
With a double-sided quilt, you gain more space for T-shirts, but you give up choosing a backing color and seeing the quilting as clearly.
The photo here shows the back of an original style T-shirt quilt. This is replaced with T-shirts on a double-sided quilt.
A double-sided T-shirt quilt needs about twice as many T-shirts as an original T-shirt quilt. The front needs the same number of T-shirts as an original quilt, and the back needs about that many again.
The exact number still depends on the size of the quilt, the size of your T-shirt graphics and how many graphics are on each T-shirt. Our chart is a starting place, not a hard rule.
Before we make a double-sided T-shirt quilt, the T-shirts need to be divided between the front and the back. Both sides of the quilt must end up the same size, so this part takes a little planning.
You can send all your T-shirts together and let us divide them based on block size, color, content and how the quilt will look. This is the easiest option.
You can also divide your T-shirts before sending them. For example, one group might be for the front and one group for the back. This works well if the two sides tell different stories.
If you divide the T-shirts yourself, it helps to include a third group labeled "If Needed." These extra T-shirts give us room to balance the two sides if one side ends up smaller than the other.
We can also add blank blocks to the smaller side so both sides finish at the same size.
$893
48" x 48"
15 - 20
$1,102
52" x 64"
18 - 25
$1,280
60" x 72"
20 - 30
$1,426
60" x 84"
30 - 40
$1,837
84" x 92"
40 - 50
$1,997
92" x 100"
50 - 60
A double-sided T-shirt quilt is long-arm quilted just like our original T-shirt quilts. The quilting holds the front, batting and back together so the quilt is strong, washable and made to be used.
The difference is visibility. On an original T-shirt quilt, the quilting shows clearly on the backing fabric. On a double-sided quilt, the quilting is much harder to see because both sides are made from T-shirts.
So yes, your double-sided quilt is quilted. You just won’t see the quilting as clearly as you would on a quilt with a solid fabric back.
A double-sided T-shirt quilt is a great option when you want to use more T-shirts, but it does have limits.
Both sides of the quilt need to finish at the same size. That means we may need to move T-shirts from one side to the other or add blank blocks to the smaller side so everything lines up.
Double-sided quilts also work best with flat items like T-shirts, sweatshirts and fabric. Items with too much thickness, weight or dimension do not work well because there is no plain fabric backing to hide or balance those issues.
There is also a size limit. Double-sided T-shirt quilts can be made up to queen size.
The biggest limitation is simple: you cannot see both sides at the same time. You gain more space for T-shirts, but you will need to flip the quilt over to see everything.
Typically 4 to 6 weeks.
The timing depends on the time of year. Around Christmas and during high school graduation season, it may be closer to 6 to 8 weeks. In January and in August it could be closer to 3 weeks. If it will be longer than 6 weeks, we will let you know.
If you have a specific date that you need to have your quilt returned by, please indicate this on your order form so we can plan accordingly.
Note: The turn around time clock begins upon your approval of the size of your quilt. We try to email you size and border options within 2-4 days of receiving your box. We do not start counting time until we hear back from you approving your quilts size. The time does not begin when you ship out your T-shirts. Please note this in your time frame.
If you need your quilt by Christmas, graduation, a birthday, retirement, or another special date, please check our Holiday T-shirt Quilt Deadlines before you send your T-shirts.
We do not make double-sided baby clothes quilts.
We can put the fronts of your T-shirts on the front of your quilt and the backs on the back.
We will not attempt to match up every front to its back so they are front to back on the quilt. This is because the fronts and backs of T-shirts are rarely the same size and matching becomes unmanageable.
The biggest downside is the cost. A double-sided T-shirt quilt costs the same as two original T-shirt quilts of the same size because both sides have to be designed and made from T-shirts. The degree of difficulty is higher, too.
The other tradeoff is that you cannot see both sides at the same time. The quilt is also long-arm quilted, but the quilting is harder to see because there are T-shirts on both sides.
Yes. You can divide your T-shirts into a front group and a back group before you send them.
You can also send everything together and let us divide the T-shirts for you based on size, color, design and how the quilt will look.
Yes. This is one of the best reasons to choose a double-sided T-shirt quilt.
One side might be high school and the other college. One side might be running T-shirts and the other family T-shirts. The two sides do not have to match, but each side should make sense on its own.
Double-sided T-shirt quilts can be made up to queen size.
Because there are T-shirts on both sides, larger sizes become too heavy and difficult to work with.
We cannot place the front of a T-shirt on one side of the quilt and line up the back of that same T-shirt directly behind it.
That sounds simple, but it gets complicated fast. The front and back graphics on a T-shirt are usually not the same size, and the blocks needed for each side are often different sizes too. Trying to line them up would limit the design and make the quilt much harder to build.
Both sides of the quilt will finish at the same overall size, but the front and back of the same T-shirt will not be placed directly opposite each other.
Choosing which T-shirts to include in your quilt is a very important first step.
Be sure to watch or read our instructions on how to tell us what not to include.
Your order form has all the information we need to get started on your quilt.
Jaime A. Double-sided T-shirt Quilts
Over the last 30 years, we've learned so much about T-shirt quilts.
Visit our Learning Center to learn all about the ins and outs of T-shirt quilts and more!