A gentle, step-by-step guide to turning a loved one's shirts into a simple patchwork memory quilt, sewn by hand or machine.
Shirts make wonderful memory quilts. The cotton is soft from years of wear, the checks and stripes look lovely side by side, and every square carries a little of the person who wore them. This guide makes a lap-sized quilt of twenty squares. Take your time. There’s no rush with this one.
What you’ll need
- Five to eight shirts, washed and pressed
- A square template cut from card, or a ruler and rotary cutter
- Cotton wadding and a plain cotton backing fabric
- Neutral cotton thread, pins, needles and a thimble
- A box of tissues, if you need it
Step 1: Sit with the shirts first
Before you cut anything, lay the shirts out and look at them. Which one did they wear every Sunday? Which pocket always held a pen? Decide what details you want to keep. A breast pocket sewn onto a square makes a lovely hiding place for a note.
Step 2: Take the shirts apart
Cut off the collar and cuffs. Cut along the side seams and sleeve seams so each shirt opens out flat. Now you have back panels, front panels and sleeves to work with. The back panel is usually the largest and least worn.
Step 3: Cut twenty squares
Use your template to cut squares of the same size. Avoid worn elbows and stains unless the stain is part of the story. If a shirt is thin or stretchy, iron interfacing on the back first. More on that in which clothes work best.
Step 4: Plan the layout
Lay the squares in four columns of five on the floor. Spread the shirts out so no two squares from the same one touch. Swap them about. This is a good job for grandchildren. Photograph the layout when you’re happy.
Step 5: Sew the rows
Join the squares in each row, right sides together, with an even seam. A machine is quicker, but hand piecing works beautifully. Press the seams in each row in alternate directions so they nest neatly when the rows meet. Then sew the rows together.
Step 6: Layer and quilt
Lay out the backing face down, then the wadding, then your patchwork face up. Smooth, pin and tack through all three. Quilt along the seam lines by hand, or tie a knot of embroidery thread at each corner where the squares meet. Both hold well.
Step 7: Bind with a shirt
Cut long strips from the leftover sleeves and join them end to end. Fold, press and wrap the binding round the edge, then slip-stitch it to the back by hand. Using their shirt for the binding means it hugs the whole quilt.
Step 8: Add a label
Write or embroider a small label: whose shirts these were, who made the quilt, and the date. Stitch it to a back corner. One day someone will be very glad you did.
New to quilting altogether? Walk through the beginner’s path first.