Gretchen

I saved a box of clothing from my mom - like you I have a lot of knits and polyester blends, and then some wools.... figured I would put something on the back to stabilize the fabrics.... however I have not been able to bring myself to start. I have however come up with a design that I want to use so I know I will be starting soon!

auntpiggylpn

This is my go to stabilizer every time!!!! It is 100% cotton woven fusible. You can buy it by the yard at Joann's or Hancock Fabrics or on line. I buy it by the bolt because I use so much of it!

DonnaC

I made a rag quilt and rag pillows (as gifts) from my Mom's clothes. No need to stabilize; all the different fabrics played nicely together. And everybody loved the keepsakes. Don't know if rag quilting is your style but it worked well for this type of project.

CoalTownQuilter

I've made several tshirt quilts over the years and I do have some of the iron-on fusible left over. Not sure how some of her sweatshirts would work out. I suppose it wouldn't be any different than the tshirts. Well, I think I'm gonna just throw it all in there with the exception of the 100% scatchy old polyester and the sweaters!!!

bearisgray

Maybe you can sort the fabrics into washable and not washable - and go from there - depending on what you are planning to make?

bearisgray

Depends on how to plan to use the quilt, Do you plan to actually use it and have it get dirty and wash it now and then?

Or is this something to just look at?

Whatever you decide is fine - it might help you decide which fabrics to use - or to set aside for another project.

CoalTownQuilter

I would love to do an Irish Chain, a Split Nine Patch or something of the sort but I'm gonna have to re-sort the bins again after rethinking all of this!!

CoalTownQuilter

These quilts would definitely be utility quilts!

bearisgray

If it were me, then I would go for durability and washability.

You could do some fancy pillow covers with some of the more delicate fabrics - and practice different techniques while you were doing them, too.

Greenheron

SORT the fabrics and use like with like. Sweats and knits into lap quilts or tied coverlets. Poly/cotton with poly/cotton, etc. String piecing on fabric might work: use the cotton flannels as a base for the blends.

Another memory quilt idea is to use her clothing to make appliques, perhaps paper doll-style, to represent her life or her home and/or garden.