Need a graphic design opinion

[Mdtrimble]

I’m designing a t-shirt quilt for my father, and I’ve done the initial cuts. I’m working with a 4” grid for my layout, so all my finished block dimensions will be divisible by 4, if that makes any sense (4x4, 8x8, etc). I have a number of t-shirt tops that I initially cut @ 16x16, but now I’m having second thoughts, and want your opinions. I’ve included pictures of one shirt top as an example, pictured both as a 16x16 block and a 12x12 block. Pictures include seam allowances.

Here are the issues as I see them:
—if I leave the blocks at 16x16, I will have a sizable border between the design and the edge of the block
—if I trim them to 12x12, many of the designs will go almost to the edges of the block, and the seams will cut some of the ads in half (not sad to loose the ads per se, but concerned that having them peak from the seam at the edge of a block would be distracting)

thoughts?
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[Hulamoon]

How about doing a square in square design of sorts so they all come out the same size. I found this as one example, all of them don't need a frame.

]square in square.jpg

[Hillbillyhike]

I like that idea Lorie. Pretty quilt!

[bubba]

Does your dad know you are making this quilt? If so, ask him how he feels. If it were me, I'd go with the choice on the left.

[Hillbillyhike]

I agree. Of the two I like the bit of border around it.

[srgreene]

Morning. I like the boldness of the graphic on the smaller block and I'm not bothered by the ad slipping into the seam. The larger block and border looks like it would add order and calmness if the Ts start getting too busy. As you lay this out maybe both sizes will work. Good luck seems like a great project. Sandy

[oldmanquilts]

The example on the left, with ads are my choice. Otherwise I'd cut the "ads" off completely. If not cut off it looks like poor planning to me.

[Mdtrimble]

Thanks so much for your feedback. Everyone has a slightly different eye, and I appreciate the spread of opinion (just like my quilt circle - you ask them and you get 15 different opinions 😉)

I’m not planning on doing a traditional style quilt where every block is the same size; I am letting the design on the shirt dictate the size, using a “puzzle” style layout, similar to the picture below, from a previous quilt (though this quilt will be all t-shirts with graphic designs).

I’ll lay it out first, and maybe I’ll trim some
of the blocks smaller (like the picture on the right), but I think I’ll leave many of them larger, with the border. I’ll post pictures when I get to it (I have two other quilts to finish for Christmas before I can start this one😆)
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[srgreene]

Great project. Do you have a small black sashing around the blocks? I really like the look. Sandy

[Mdtrimble]

It’s navy blue 1/4” dashing. The quilt I’m currently working on will have a similar sashing in dark purple.

[Hulamoon]

That looks absolutely awesome! 👍

[Hillbillyhike]

I really like that! I've never made a memory quilt before.

[Rhonda K]

I like the bigger block. It keeps the sponsor's logo intact. Perhaps your dad had a connection with a member from one of them. Keeping the border allows some quilting space also.

[Cathy F]

Love the look of the quilt with the various size blocks adds so much design interest.

[Jean Sewing Machine]

I have made a number of T shirt quilts and use the dimension of 12-1/2” wide by 13-1/2” long for my blocks. I don’t do what I call puzzle quilts where you use blocks of different sizes fitting them together like a puzzle. I combine small blocks together and cut them to the 12-1/2” by 13-1/2” block size. That size incorporates most screen printed shirt designs.