Need Ideas for Memory Quilt
 

I was given 10 small men's button-up woven type shirts to make a memory quilt for a gal. (They were her late grandfather's.) They are mostly a combination of tan and/or blue, plaids and stripes. They all pretty much read the same as far as darkness/lightness. One is almost solid white with thin tan-colored lines in it. A couple read almost solid with the stripes or plaid. So there is a limited amount of contrast.

She has more shirts available if I need them. She says they are all pretty much the same blue and tan theme. (Sounds like my Dad's closet...open it and all I see is all shades of blue!)

I don't want to spend much to make the quilt other than buying backing and batting. Any ideas on a pattern to use to turn these similar fabrics into a nice throw-sized quilt? The colors of the different shirts look good together, but they will probably kind of blend together when pieced, so no need to do anything very complicated.

Any suggestions?

I have made memory quilts in the past and would be happy to make one again. This pattern caught my eye as one that I might try

http://thethriftyquilter.blogspot.co...e-thrifty.html

I have never sewn with using men's shirts but I searched on Google and these quilts pop up. Might check them out.

https://www.google.com/search?q=Memo...iw=995&bih=614

I love the one in the gallery with the ties. It is so cute!

I have seen the pineapple block with plaids. You might have to buy some white, gray, tan or light blue solid for the accent strips, but just buy extra from the backing fabric.

You might consider a simple four patch (or nine patch) with red sashing and/or binding, perhaps adding some blue chambray blocks to give a bit of relief from so many patterns in the fabric. It would also be nice to add a photo on fabric with Grand-dad on the back. I would think she'd be happy with a sofa or lap quilt. Or is that the same? My quilting bee used a lot of shirts from a resale shop to make lap-sized quilts for veterans. They looked like they came from an upscale catalog.

Just realized you could also put one of the pockets (with a button) on the back to hold a photo and information about the quilt if you don't want to print on fabric.

Just saw a quilt called Scrappy Mountain Majesty from Bonnie Hunter's site: http://quiltville.blogspot.ca/2005/0...majesties.html

I made a memory quilt for my boss's wife when her father passed away. She gave me a lot of his shirts & since he was from Indiana, I made the Indiana Puzzle block & I put them on point. He never went anywhere without a white hankie & she included those in with the shirts for the quilt. I used the hankies as my corners & sides & she absolutely LOVED the quilt. I used a pocket from one of the shirts with the button still in tack & put the label inside the pocket. It was the most rewarding quilt I've ever made. When she saw it she quietly & softly touched each block, reminding herself of the times he wore those precious shirts.

Thanks! This is really a great tutorial.

I'm in the process of making a memory quilt (lap size) from my BIL's shirts. Some are dress, some are flannel, some are knit. I;m using a simple nine patch pattern, with the shirt fabric as patches, but I purchased some coordinating sashing fabric to use with star-shaped corner stones of fabric from his suede cloth traveling vest. Because there are so many different weights of fabrics, I have interfaced the lighter ones with fusible knit interfacing. It is very light and supple, but gives the dress shirts more heft to play with the flannels and knits! I wanted to use just his shirts, but found I needed some more contrast and a color to pull it all together. I gave myself permission to add one fabric! I will use lightweight batting and flannel on the back for comfort. Hope these ideas give you something to think about!