Ideas for a memory quilt
 

My dear friend's 6 yr old grandson died recently. I have offered to make a memory quilt from his clothes. What would you do? I have thought of cutting them in 8" squares and add a block with a Bible verse and one with his date of birth and death. Would I use both denim and the woven and knit shirts?

how about putting a few of his pictures and or his favorite things as well

I have recently been asked to do 4 memory quilts. I asked the families for more idea of what they want. It may seem hard to do at first, but it will really help both of you to get what the family really wants. I asked how big, if they want a certain pattern, etc.... They may have some special momentoes they would like included too. I also like the idea of adding pictures. I think the name, birth & death dates added somewhere is a must. Just my thoughts....

I put the dates on the label and no information about myself...I make the quilt about that person and no reference to me. I've had several people like that I don't put the birth date and death date front and center. I use sleeves and every part of shirts.

yes i would not put the dates front and center but i would definitly put the makers name on the lable it is a piece of art----there are lots of symbols you could use but you need to find out what the family thinks is appropriate----what did the boy himself like sports trucks -------what would stimulate a memory for the family ---did he carry frogs in his pocket -- what song got him to sleep as a baby etc

I'm making six memory quilts for my family from my mom's clothes. I'm not putting either her birth date or date of death on any of them. I'd rather they not look at the date of death - that's just too depressing for all of us, as she died much too young, even for a mom. I'd rather they remember the good times, not the sad one. I'm doing just basic 5" blocks with simple sashing. I want the clothing to be the center of attention - not the quilt pattern.

I also made this label, and wrote a nice little poem which I will put on each quilt.

Cindi, that's a very beautiful label.
I'm working on memory quilts from FIL's plaid flannel shirts. I've added some additional dark and light flannels to stretch the fabric, all the plaids will be his. I'm adding appliqued burr oak leaves to each one -- I traced some leaves from the beautiful huge trees on his property. I'm also adding a shirt pocket to the back of every quilt with the label, adding it last so that the pocket isn't quilted shut.

My sister and I are working on one for our niece, Jamie, who, at 35 years old, passed away on 3-29-11, of breast cancer. We wanted to do something to comfort her mother, our other sister. Several of Jamie's friends have offered thoughts on "Lessons they learned from Jamie", so we incorporated those "lessons", as embroidered blocks on a quilt. It is not done and I will post a picture when we are finished. I'm going to try to add a picture of what we have - so far. The empty spaces in the center will have pictures of Jamie and her immediate family.

Carol, feel free to use the poem - anyone can use it! So glad you like it :)

Me and a lady from church are making 1 for another lady at church whose husband died. They loved to go to Hawaii to visit their sons and he had several Hawaiian shirts. We have cut pineapple shapes out of them and are appliquing them onto white fabric then sashing them in the same print as the pineapple. We are going to use some denim shirts of his for the pieced backing. We are going to use parts with pockets so she can add momentos if she'd like. I would say first ask what they'd like...if they have no idea or it's too hard for them right now then perhaps you can find some applique patterns of things boys like. Also maybe some of his pictures.

Diannia