Memorial Quilt
 

On Christmas Day my daughter-in-law's mother died. She asked me to make a memory quilt out of her mother's clothes for her father. I was honored... She was adament that only her mother's clothes be used on the quilt top, and her favorite clothes used repeatedly throughout. I had pictures of her mother printed on cotton at Spoonflower. After she realized that there would be quilting through her mother's face on the quilt, she decided not to use them. I surprised her with the pictures on a pillow instead because it wouldn't require any quilting on them. I used her nightgowns and pajamas around the pictures.

It was such a puzzle trying to get everything on the quilt the way she wanted. She rejected my first attempts that I spent hours designing. I was totally stressed because I didn't want to ruin her Mom's clothes with something she didn't want. She had no clue how a quilt is made, but she knew what she wanted. Meanwhile, my son is in the background repeatedly saying "This isn't one of your show quilts Mom." and "Do we have to get someone else to do it? Eyeroll... not helpful.

In the end I got a text from her after she gave it to her father: "Thank you so much! You truly exceeded my expectations! I really appreciate all of your hard work! It is absolutely amazing!!!"

They took a video of her Dad receiving the quilt and pillow. All he could say was "How did she do this?" He called me later that night to thank me in tears. He had been married to her for 52 years.

It turns out this quilt was the hardest and most rewarding quilt I have ever made.

Your post brought tears to my eyes. What a wonderful way to be remembered! This may have been the most difficult quilt you have ever made but oh my, the job you did is spectacular. And the pillows are the icing on the cake. Congratulation on a job well done.

well done A+ Jenn!!!

Such a special quilt and pillows. It's a treasure.

Jennr8r, that is such an amazing effort that you made. And you did it! Your quilting talents being shared this way are a reflection of your generosity of spirit. Great job!! This is a story that could easily be shared on passiton.com. Thank you!!

Love Them all! Great memories to share with your family.

I absolutely love this! The lady must have had a great sense of humor. My favorite is ‘Underestimate me, that’ll be fun’- lol Where did you get your fabric sayings? Did you print them on fabric yourself? I need to make a quilt with words I said to them- when I would be scolding & called one child by every name but his and they say they’re not ___I say’ I know who you are and you know I’m talking to you!’ -lol

Every bit of fabric on the front of the quilt is from her clothes. She wore alot of funny t-shirts and plaid flannels.

Love the quilt and your hard work. I think I could have been friends with someone wearing those t shirts!

Spectacular Quilt! Take a bow! I like the t shirt saying: Of course I talk to myself, sometimes I need expert advice.
This quilt sounds like a labor of love. Every quilt has a story, and I'm so glad to hear that your quilt story had a happy ending.:)

Wow! That is a wonderful testament to love, both the 52 years they had together and the love for your daughter-in-law. Thanks for sharing with us.

A lovely testament to your creativity, JENN8R. You did a marvelous job at balancing the prints, oh so funny and a few sweetly serious, and the plaids. These snippets of her life show that she must have been an interesting person to be around. I am thrilled for you that your DIL and her father were more than pleased with the end result. Quilts that honor another can be such a challenge because they are so personal. But, you did it well and with an end result that pleased everyone.

What a labor of love that is. Great rememberance.

You did a fabulous job capturing her personality by including those T-shirts. Love the pillow with the plaid fabric that she was wearing in the photo too. What a labor of love and generosity. So glad it was well received after agonizing over the process.

Such treasured memories all sewn up with love, congratulations on a job well done!

What a beautiful tribute!!! You did an great job!!!!

What a wonderful and heartwarming quilt. I'm weepy just thinking about your quilt post and your efforts to quilt just the right piece for your DIL and her dad. Well done.

So touching a story and such a lovely quilt. :)

I am so happy - and relieved- for you that dil and her dad love the quilt!

turned out great - but definitely a challenging assortment of fabrics to work with.

also challenging to work with people who do not understand or respect how quilts are made.

Kudos to you!

Your quilt made me smile and I enjoyed reading your story about it. I think all quilts have a fantastic history behind them and you captured it all!

Oh Jenn, this is fabulous!!!!!!!!

You knocked that assignment right out of the ballpark, Jenn!
Looking at her T shirts, I know I would have liked this lady.
Very beautifully done!

I want a T shirt with that on the front !!!