Memory Quilt - Mom's Clothing
 

I saved alot of my Mom's clothing after she passed away a year and a half ago with the intentions of making memory quilts for me and my two brothers. It took some time for me to get into the right "mind set" to do the task but just this past weekend I FINALLY got up the nerve to sort through the bins. There are alot of rayon/cotton blends, poly/cotton blends, some knits, and a few sweatshirts adorned with her beloved butterflies. Of course, I did find some cotton pajamas, but not as much as I was hoping for. Do I even bother using the non-cotton clothing?? Would you recommend using a stabilizer?

Wish I could help you, Ive never used those materials in a quilt but sounds like a lovely idea.

I did one for my best friend from her mom's blouses. They were all poly cotton and very sheer. I backed them with muslin. I woild use anything with with a cotton or cotton blend. Probably not the knits, but i bet there is a way to do it.

A good stabilizer is Pellon SF 101 - it is an iron on which adds nice stability to fabric. I've never worked with those blends either so can't offer any advise on that.

I made a tshirt quilt from t shirts and turtlenecks for a family after their mom died. I used woven fabric for the sashing strips and backed the knits with non stretch interfacing. Then I tied it. I bet if you interfaced the stretchy fabrics and thin ones, you could mix them up in a quilt.

I have worked with some of the fabrics... some I actually fuse to a muslin to make them more workable. Lots of different fusibles to suit the different fabrics. Unless there is a fabric that is really a dry clean only, its only a matter of getting them to play well in the construction process and the durability. I find using fusibles can cure just about anything. One good thing about fusing some fabrics is it really cuts down on the raveling !

I used all my mom's clothes - knit PJ's, stretchy shirts, jeans, pants. Fused Pellon 906F on the back of the stretch stuff and it worked great!

I also saved the party dresses from my mom and planned to do a crazy quilt with all type of fabrics. I thought of using muslim so I sew to it the different fabrics. I haven't started.
Good luck

I think that you can use all of the fabric. A strip quilt using a muslin backing for your blocks could work very nice. It really doesn't matter if all the fabrics are the same kind. Just use the muslin to stabilize and quilt randomly. When I made one and took it to my older aunts they told so many stories that the fabric reminded them of, it was delightful. Try not to stress about it just remember good memories of you Mother and share your experiences. :)

do a foundation string quilt you can use any fabric.

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!

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!

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.

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!!!

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

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.

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!!

These quilts would definitely be utility quilts!

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Memory quilt....
 

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.....

just did a memory quilt for my mom from my dads flannel shirts and a pair of jeans- came out fine. I have fabric left over and will use it in string and crumb blocks. I entered the quilt in the fair, hope it does well.

BELIEVE ME WHEN I SAY: It CAN be done and it is a MOST wonderful feeling when finished. I made three 50 X 60 quilts for a lady from her mom's clothing. All kinds of fabric, thick, thin, in between. I just used very thin shirt interfacing, ironed it on, cut 12 x 12 squares and sewed them together. Put a 3 inch border around edge. Granted you'll have to go around collars and buttons when quilting , but the end result if fabulous, specially to the person you make it for. If I can do it, I'll post a picture of one of them. Now, they can be rather heavy, so make them smaller than queen size.

Thank you ALL for your tips and ideas! Please, please, please.....feel free to post pictures of what you have done.

It's your quilt, your mom and your memories. Use what you want. I'd keep heavy double knits for the back, however.

The t-shirts and the rayons could probably use some light weight interfacing.

I've used poly/cotton and rayons more than once.

Mom's stuff in a utility quilt?

I was going to suggest this also. You also could make a crazy quilt. Using a stabilizer or foundation you could use all this fabric. I have have made three memory quilts using all types of fabrics. Look forward to seeing what you come up with.

Yep......meaning it would get used and not stuffed into a closet.