Graduation season sneaks up fast. One minute your student is learning to tie their shoes, and the next they’re walking across a stage in a cap and gown while you try not to cry into your phone camera.

A T‑shirt quilt is one of the most meaningful gifts you can give a graduate — it wraps up their memories, accomplishments, and favorite moments into something they can take with them into the next chapter.

But before you box up those shirts and send them off, here are the most important things to consider ensuring the quilt turns out exactly the way you envision.

1. How Many Shirts Do You Actually Need?

Most people underestimate this. A throw‑size quilt usually needs around 12–20 shirts, while larger quilts can use 30 - 50 or more.

If your grad has:

• Sports shirts
• Club shirts
• Musical or theater shirts
• Vacation shirts
• “I just liked the color” shirts

…you’ll have plenty to choose from. But it’s good to count before you commit.

2. What Size Quilt Fits Their Next Chapter?

Think about where this quilt is going:

• A dorm bed
• A first apartment
• A couch for late‑night study sessions
• A keepsake they’ll treasure for decades
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Choosing the right size ensures the quilt is both meaningful and practical.  While they may be in the dorm for a year, those mattresses are twin XL which is not a normal size after college.

3. Are the Shirts Clean and Ready?

It sounds obvious, but you’d be surprised how many shirts arrive with:

• Mystery stains
• Locker‑room aromas
• Wrinkles that have achieved sentience
• 
  

Give everything a quick wash and dry so the quilt maker can work their magic.

4. Do You Want All the Shirts Included… or Just the Favorites?

Some grads want every memory represented. Others prefer a curated collection of their most meaningful shirts. If your child played sports, do you want/need every number? Or are the just a few to include.  Although you may want this to be a surprise for your graduate; if you’re unsure, ask them.   You may have pulled a shirt that they didn't like or worse yet...wasn't theirs!  (Shirts can migrate especially between teens!)

5. What Style of Quilt Do You Want?

Not all T‑shirt quilts are created equal. Some makers use:

• Uniform block sizes
• Variable block sizes
• Sashing
• Borders
• Custom layouts
• 
  

At Meg’s Quilted Memories, the goal is always to highlight the shirts in the most flattering, balanced way — but it helps to know your preferences.  Also, we'll show you a picture of  your layout so you see exactly what you're getting and you can move things around during the layout process.  You won't just send the shirts off, cross your fingers and hope for the best!

6. How Important Is Professional Quality?

DIY T‑shirt quilts are a beautiful idea… until you’re wrestling stretchy fabric at midnight and Googling “why is my quilt shaped like a trapezoid.”

A professional quilt maker:

• Stabilizes every shirt
• Cuts blocks accurately
• Uses high‑quality batting
• Quilts everything securely
• Ensures the quilt lies flat and lasts for years

If this gift is meant to last through dorm life, laundry cycles, and adulthood, quality matters.

7. What’s the Turnaround Time?

Graduation season is the Super Bowl of T‑shirt quilts. Makers book up fast — sometimes months in advance.

If you want your quilt ready for:

• Senior night
• A graduation party
• The big day itself

…be sure to check availability early. (At Meg’s Quilted Memories, spots fill quickly every spring.)

8. Do You Want Extras Like Names, Dates, or Special Blocks?

Some families love adding:

• The graduate’s name
• Graduation year
• School colors
• A special photo block
• A message from Mom or Dad
• 
  

These little touches turn a quilt into a true heirloom.

9. What’s Your Budget?

T‑shirt quilts vary in price depending on:

• Size
• Number of shirts
• Quilting style
• Custom features
• Some makers call their product a quilt when it's really a blanket.  There's a difference!  You can read about that here https://www.megsquiltedmemories.com/blog/we-make-real-quilts-not-blanquilts.
• 
  

A well‑made quilt is an investment — one that lasts far longer than flowers, balloons, or a gift card to Target.

10. Who Do You Trust With These Memories?

These shirts represent years of hard work, late nights, victories, friendships, and milestones. You want someone who treats them with care, communicates clearly, and delivers a quilt that honors your graduate’s story.

That’s exactly what Meg’s Quilted Memories specializes in — thoughtful design, professional craftsmanship, and quilts made to be loved for a lifetime.

Ready to Create a Graduation Quilt They’ll Treasure?

Whether your grad is heading to college, the military, a new job, or their next big adventure, a T‑shirt quilt is the perfect way to send them off wrapped in memories.

When you’re ready, you can explore options, check sizing, and get started right on my website. If you have a quick question, give me a call! I do pick up the phone.  I’d love to help you create something unforgettable for your graduate.