01/20/2026
Current Needle in a Cornfield guidelines, instructions, pricing, and FAQs as of 1 April 2026.
- T-shirt Quilts are $15.00 per block, plus the cost of longarm quilting (the fancy stitches that hold it together). * Please note that I won't know what you owe for quilting until my longarm quilter (Julia) is finished with your quilt top.
- Your $15.00 per block includes:
° The quilt batting (the fluffy stuff between the shirts and the cotton backing)
° Muslin backing fabric
° Interfacing (heated onto the back of every shirt for stability)
° Hand-cut, machine-sewn binding around the edges
- If you want to use one side of a shirt (one block) = $15.00
- If you want to use both the front and the back of a shirt (two blocks) = $30.00
- When choosing your shirts, please keep in mind that the finished block size is 12". * If your shirt's design doesn't fit in a 12" area I will have to cut some of it off.
~ Graduation quilts: Please reserve a spot before the end of February.
~ Christmas quilts: Please reserve your spot by the end of September. Even if you change your mind, it helps me plan my schedule.
IMPORTANT NOTES BEFORE BRINGING ME YOUR SHIRTS:
- A $50 deposit is required at the time you drop off your shirts. This allows me to purchase any supplies that I may need for your quilt without using my own money. The $50 will be deducted from your total.
- PLEASE write your name on all of the bags that you bring, or put a note inside each bag! At any given time, I have 2-10 quilts' worth of shirts, and I don't want to mix them up.
👚 If you want me to use only the FRONT of some shirts, mark one bag "FRONT".
👚 If you want me to use only the BACK of some shirts, mark one bag "BACK".
👚 If you want me to use BOTH SIDES of some shirts, mark one bag "BOTH".
This step may seem overwhelming at first, but it eliminates the need to message you multiple times with pictures of different shirts. This step gives you an idea of how large your quilt will be, and it cuts down on time, allowing me to finish your quilt more quickly.
- If you have shirts with sleeves cut off that require repairs or add-on fabric to square them up, a charge of $6.00 per shirt that requires repair will be added to your total. It's tedious, time-consuming, and slows down the process.
- I will contact you with the total for your quilt top when it is ready to go to the longarm quilter. At that time, one-half of the balance for your quilt is due. (Please make checks payable to Maria Hill. Thank you!) The remaining balance, along with the cost of quilting, must be paid upon pickup. If you wish to make payments between those two times, that's fine as well. All checks returned for NSF will incur a $36 returned check fee (that's what my bank charges me).
FAQs:
"HOW BIG SHOULD I MAKE MY QUILT?"
That's totally up to you! There is no right or wrong size for your quilt, and there are no guidelines. Some people want to use x amount of shirts, some only want to spend x amount of money, and some want a quilt to fit a certain size bed. They can be any size that forms a square or rectangle, but no more than 72 pieces (an 8' × 9' quilt). The size is entirely up to you.
"HOW MANY SHIRTS ARE IN A QUEEN/KING/TWIN-SIZE QUILT?"
I can't tell you how many shirts you need based on the size of your bed because there are so many mattress variations nowadays. If you want it to fit a certain bed, I always tell customers to measure across the top (allowing for however much overhang you want on both sides), and then from the top of your pillow to where you want the quilt to end. Since the finished blocks are 12", it's easy to determine how many shirt pieces you'll need.
"HOW BIG IS TOO BIG FOR SHIRT DESIGNS?"
The square that I use when cutting is 12.5", and the finished size will be 12". A portion of your design may be lost if you choose an all-over or oversized design. I always send photos of any shirts I'm unsure about before I cut them, but if you're not willing to lose part of a large design, please choose another shirt. The most difficult shirts for sizing are school state shirt backs, Harley-Davidson, NASCAR, and concert shirts. All can be cropped, but generally speaking, the entire design doesn't usually fit.
"WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A T-SHIRT QUILT AND A T-SHIRT BLANKET?"
1. I don't make t-shirt blankets.
2. Blankets are thinner, not quilted, and will distort your shirt's vinyl or screen print with washing and use over time.
3. Because of #2, quilts are more expensive than blankets. (Just like purchasing one of each from a box store.)
"WHEN SHOULD I ORDER MY CHILD'S QUILT FOR GRADUATION?"
Graduation t-shirt quilts should be ordered no later than 28 February to guarantee pickup before graduation.
"WHEN DO I NEED TO PLACE MY ORDER FOR CHRISTMAS?"
Anything ordered after 30 September cannot be guaranteed for Christmas. It's a several-week process to cut and prep the shirts, piece them together, get the quilt top to and from my longarm quilter in Spencer, and then finish it.
"HOW DO I GET YOU MY SHIRTS?"
We live at the end of Lone Tree Road (heading north), across Highway 48, and 1.1 miles down the road on the left, next to Crowe Equipment (Jasonville address). You can simply bring them to my shop. I'm also happy to meet you somewhere if I'm able.
"HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO GET MY QUILT?"
I have a full-time job an hour away from home. This honestly depends on how many quilts I have going at once (it takes longer around graduation and Christmas, obviously), and how busy I am at work (I'm gone 11-13 hours a day, sometimes six days a week). I try to give the best estimate I can, but sometimes life happens.
"HOW DO I PAY YOU?"
The aforementioned $50.00 deposit, as well as the remainder of your payment, can be made with cash or a personal check.
Thank you so much for your time, consideration, patience, and business over the last 15 years!
Maria
NIAC
