Hi Ladies, I am new to quilting, actually i have never made a quilt. I have been sewing for over 50 years, made everything from pocket books to insulated coats, to drapes, but never a quilt, and i'm scared to death to start it.It doesn't seem to be very forgiving if you make a mistake, like clothing is quite easy to fix if you make a mistake, but a quilt seems so precise. anyways does anyone have any idea how to make a memory quilt? my adopted daughter lost her 11 month old baby girl to brain cancer, and she wants me to make her a memory quilt out of some of her baby clothes and some photos of her that i have on my computer to be printed on photo fabric and then ironed on to either some of the clothes or fabric. i know this is going to be quite an undertaking, i'm just not sure where to start, but i think once i get started i will be fine. PLEASE if anyone can help in anyway, let me know. thank you in advance. kathy(sfire55)

Welcome. I'm also new to quilting, but you have so much more related experience then I do, so you'll be superb in no time at all. I haven't made a memory quilt, so can't help with that.

I suggest you add another post explaining what you want to do in one of the other topics, and "headline' it with what you want to do. The folks on this site are so helpful, I'm sure someone can help you.

Please let me express my sympathy on the loss of your grand daughter. I cannot begin to imagine the emotional pain of losing a child or grandchild.

I will pray for you and your daughter.

Welcome from southeastern, PA I had the same sewing background that you have & quilting seilf taught was no problem. If you can read directions, you can quilt. I think quilts are much easier than clothing. Just make the adjustment to 1/4" seams & get a 1/4" foot if you don't already have one.

Welcome to the quilting board! I'm sure you will do just fine because of all your previous experience, especially with draperies and things like that. I can't help with the memory quilt, but I wanted to welcome you here and also express my deepest sympathy on the loss of your granddaughter. I don't know what to say other than I am so, so sorry! You will find lots of helpful advice for the quilt here. There are a lot of knowledgeable people here to help.

Cathyvv, Thank you so much for the advice. Her death was devastating to say the least, my daughter is just starting to come out of her grieving state.

Oh my...well first of all...welcome to the forum. There are some wonderful people here on the forum. I am so very sorry about the loss of your grand-daughter....it is devastating. Here are some examples of memory quilts:

http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-1935-1.htm
http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-66609-1.htm
http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-1600-1.htm
http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-58916-1.htm
http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-6119-1.htm
http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-33861-1.htm
http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-38910-1.htm
http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-50901-1.htm

Hope these help! Good luck!

Thank you Donna Jean, it just seems harder than that, but you are very encouraging!Kathy

Welcome to the board from North Central PA.
So sorry to hear of your loss. {{{HUGS}}}

Many folks on the board have made memory quilts so I am sure you will be getting lots of help. I haven't made any, but I have used Printed Treasures Sew In fabric sheets to incorporate pics into my quilts and they have worked well, just a little difficult getting the paper off at times. Someone posted on the board that you just reheated the fabric with a warm iron and it solved the problem. I got Printed Treasures (in the green package I think) at Joanns and used my coupon because they are a little pricey.

Once again, welcome and please let us see pics of your quilt when finished.

Thank you so much Wolfkitty. Kathy

Gail, THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!! I WILL CHECK THESE OUT. How great everyone is and how helpful. Thanks again evryone, i would say ladies, but we might have a gentleman aboard! thanks again, Kathy

You are right! We have several gentlemen!
Once again, welcome!

Nursie76, Youv'e got it, if i ever get it started! i have bought most of my paper to iron on, i'm not quite sure how to position the pictures, so that i don't waste the paper. Thanks again, Kathy

Welcome from Michigan.Sorry for the loss of your granddaughter. I haven't made a memory quilt yet, but do plan to do one with my late Father-in-law's ties.

Don't now how to make a memory quilt, but I do know what it is like to lose a child. My thoughts are with your daughter and with your family. I think of the wonderful good times, my son was 42 when we lost him, age is irrelevant when this happens. You and your family all think of the good things about your grandchild and live with those memories. God Bless

By the way. I am from Uk, but I Loooooooove NY. City Quilter is a great shop, not cheap but wonderful

Oh I am so sorry about that precious baby. Some things just don't make sense :(
I'm from your neck of the woods- Utica. Lived in Syracuse also for many years.
Welcome to the board. Quilts aren't nearly as hard as some of the things you've made! (in my opinion)
Take care :)

Welcome to the board! I have not done a memory quilt yet, but I am sure there are many here who can help you. You are so nice to be doing this.

QBee~Gail, Wow! Thank you for sharing those quilts with me ..........yes, yes, they were very helpful, i think i get it now....i mean i have a lot better idea. i'm just wondering how in the world you do the irish chain? i mean the pieces are so tiny! that has always been my favorite i think, besides the cathedral quilt. oh, i have dozens of quilting books, not mags, but , books! so you see i really do want to quilt, i'm just such a big chicken to start. yes, i said the same thing, how can you be afraid to quilt after making all of the things that i have made! kathy

There is a lady who's books are SO EASY to read. I have only made one quilt...I'm brand new at this and I used her book and it was great. I did NOT sew before so it was all new to me and it still made sense. I believe she has a book on the Irish Chain...her name is Eleanor Burns. I will check to see if I can find the book.

OK...I found the book and it's under $10 :D
I would suggest that you kind of "design it" on paper or something and then get on here and get these folk's input. They can be SO helpful. Let us know if you need anything! Here is the book:

http://www.quiltinaday.com/shoponlin...play.asp?i=616

Sueisallaboutquilts~Susan Margaret, That is great to know that you are from my neck of the woods! My grandson goes with a girl that lives on the road right behind Wal-Mart, by sangertown.

Oh thank you Gail, i don't have that book, i'm surprised, because i'm irsh and i love the pattern, but i'm sure that it won't take long to come. you have got me so excited now that i can't hardly type!!!!!! WOOHOO!!!!!!!!!!!! i'm on my way!Q!!!!!!!! kathy

Boy, I totally understand where you are coming from on that point! It is so expensive, even with a coupon, you want to get the most you can out of every sheet. Unfortunately, both times I have used it, I could only get one pic per sheet...just a teeny weeny bit to big to get more on....But the up side is the quilts turned out great!

Good luck with yours, I will be watching for the pics :thumbup:

Gail, Not to change the subject, but i need a little calm right now. What kind of puppie is that a picture of? i have a 5 year old minature schnauzer and a 1 year old morky(part yorkie, part maltese)and i just love them to death , need i say more, they are spoiled rotten! i was going to put their picture on my i d, but couldn't figure it out. kathy

That is my baby...isn't she cute. I guess technically she is a "Morky". I didn't know anything about "designer" dogs when I got her. The lady was NOT happy about my little one. She had already breed her little Maltese but had just gotten a new male Yorkie (tiny little thing) for breeding and he got to her Maltese...so surprise!!!! So I got her for basically nothing. Now I hear they sell for like TONS of money...ROFL!!! Well of course...she's priceless to me. :D As far as putting a pic for your avatar, this is what ya do:
-Look at the top up there and click on "MY PROFILE"
-Then scroll down right past "PASSWORD" and you'll see "AVATAR"
-Now...you will need to know exactly where your pic is on your computer before the next step (ie: what folder, etc.)
-Hit Browse and it will take you to your computer files
-Find your pic and click on it...maybe double click
-Then hit "UPDATE AVATAR"
That should do it :D

Nursie 76, Thanks for the info. Oh well, I just won't be able to use all of the pics, another hard part, how do you pick out pics of a beautiful baby girl? Kathy

Now...after you do your avatar...you are going to want to make a pretty signature...here are the instructions from Kathyaire:

Go to this link:
http://www.mylivesignature.com/mls_wizard1_1.php
and follow the signature wizard instructions.
Once you get the signature you want, then choose 'want to use this signature'
then choose the 'generate BB code', then 'generate code for my hand written signature'. When the code is created, highlight it and copy it to the signature spot in your profile. Follow the steps exactly.

Welcome, and my sympathy for your and your daughter's loss.
Losing a child is against nature, so we will grieve more for their loss of a future.

I remember seeing one memory quilt a long time ago, all I can see in my mind's eye is a lovely little girl's dress appliqued to the middle of the back of it, along with a rectangle under it with her DOB and DOD on it. The front had other clothes on it all around the edges, inside was patched with most of the child's other clothing.

You might want to ask your daughter about what she thinks is the right thing to do. She will of course weep at the thought, but this is part of the healing process.

All our sympathy to you, and may the healing start as you sew on this loving quilt.

she is a cutie, patutie! I think my daughter paid 400 for mine, but her birth was intentional. Lucky me! My daughter raises Rotties, and she traines dogs, you know, kind of like the dog whisperer, Cesar Milan? So-o-o-o-o-o-o she has a fit with my dogs, 'cause she says mom, howdoes that make me look, your dogs are so spoiled and you let them get away with so much and i'm an obedience trainer. DUH! i just say oh well, i don't know what to tell you. My son and his wife have a Sheltie kennel, they are beautiful too!but i think they are a lot of work with all that hair and shedding. sorry, i just get going on dogs, or animals in general. kathy

oh thank you ramona, but my daughter gave my a whole tote of her clothes, i think that it was most of her clothes. she also has a 12 year old, who was 8 at the time and he was such a strong little boy, because he loved his baby sister so they were almost inseperable, i think that made it even harder. i can still see her in her casket. my daughter had a crown of flowers made for her and her sister bought her some feather wings that she put on her. that really did it. i just couldn't say anything. kathy

Welcome

sfire55, welcome from Idaho!

Thank you all for such a warm and wonderful welcome!!!! Kathy (sfire55)

Welcome, I used to live very close to you in Canastota NY. I miss Central New York !

Welcome!

Lori, You are a long way from home! I give people a lot of credit who are able leave their hometown. I used to live in canastota in the '50s. Kathy

Isn't that the truth! Kathy

Hello and welcome from SW Iowa. Glad to have you here.

Hi from Upstate NY!

I love City Quilter, just got an e-mail from Cathy with all their new stuff.