CoalTownQuilter

Thanks ladies for all the tips/ideas! I'm off to the garage to do some re-sorting!!

Teacup

I have a friend who made keepsake teddy bears from her mother's clothing, and later from her dad's shirts. She mixed coordinating fabrics on each bear. They were soft and huggable.

My daughter made me a very cuddly pillow from my mother's fleece jacket. Cut off the arms and neckline, squared the front and back, stitched it up. The buttons on the button-up front allow you to open it to take a pillow form in and out.

meyert

I am currently working on memory quilts as well. We lost my nephew in a car accident earlier this year. My sister gave me his clothes.. I think she gave me every stitch of his clothing except underwear, and what he had on the day of the accident and what he was buried in. (I have 7 quilts to finish - 55 x 65 not big quilts) I have jeans, puffy jacket lining, flannel, tshirts, dress shirts all mixed together. I love the mixed materials.. its a neat effect. I did buy some filler cotton fabric to work in as well (Jacob loved horses and hunting and tractors - so this fabric helped incorporate those things into the quilts)

I did use fusible interfacing on everything - except the jeans. Now I am not completed, so I don't know how these will last. But so far so good. The interfacing has made it much easier to sew and handle.

I have 2 that are based on the jacobs ladder pattern - I modified them a bit just to be able to put the tshirt logos on. One for my son has no pattern.. just pulled together however it worked.. the other are just 4" blocks.

Good luck. I am sure they will be wonderful quilts

Pete

I made crazy quilt bears out of my mom and mom-in-laws hankies and presented them to my sis and sis in law. Turned out great.

Gms Taylor

My niece wants to make a jean rag quilt out of her Mother's jeans and shorts and wanted to use the same sort of fabric mentioned above. Would it be a good idea to use them on the back of the demin? Do you think they would blend in when cut.

misseva

I have used scraps from garment making and sew them to a muslin backing. Use wide strips, narrow strips, etc. My mom did the same thing so all her quilts were utility ones.

pollyjvan9

I made memory wall hangings for a friend from 3 or 4 garments. They were blouses and a robe. I had a hard time convincing myself that I could make anything pleasing but came up with 3 or 4 ideas. She loved them and asked if I had enough left to make some for her two sisters for this Christmas. I didn't worry about the fabric content because they probably will never be washed.

Treasureit

Yes please stabilize your fabrics...especially the stretchy ones...Use NON WOVEN stabilizer...I think Pellon makes it, but you don't want the fabrics to stretch while sewing so the non-woven ones hold it in place.

I made a t-shirt quilt and had no problems cutting or sewing with the stabilizer. Put in on before you cut a block.

I think you can use most of the fabrics...just know that they will all wear differently when washed. But I wouldn't worry too much about that. Aging quilts are so comfy and loved.

misseva

I made a quilt for my granddaughter out of her ball tees. Didn't have any fusible so I just ironed freezer paper on the backs then cut out my blocks and then sewed cotton sashing around each block, then removed paper. Very low cost and quilt worked up just fine. The sashing was in her school colors.

daisylady

I have done memory quilts of flannel , double knit,,, cotton dresses... all work well...... I used a brick type design sew I don;t have to match seams..... all turn out well without stabilizer.... I then long arm them.... great to do for people.....