Let’s Bee Social #220
My friend Barbara had a special request. A close family member recently lost his wife. Barb had acquired a few of this woman’s clothing items. And she wanted to know if I could help her turn these items into momentos for her family.
There were a number of knitted sweaters. We chose two – a white and a black sweater – to make into cushion covers. I still need to get a black zipper to make the black one, but the white one turned out great.
There was a nice fleece poncho. And the start to what we were hoping to make into a memory quilt. A pair of bright red Santana jeans. A leopard spotted boho bag. And a pair of beige striped capris. I didn’t want to try cutting the clothing down to patchwork squares. I wanted to leave them recognizable. So I went with more of a crazy quilt construction to make the pants and bag into the other side of the quilt.
I sewed around the outside edges of the two layers, to match them up with right sides facing.
Then turned them outside right and sewed again around the edges. And added some ditch quilting along the seams of the pants to hold the two layers together. It’s certainly not like any other quilt I have made before.
There is still a request for a few heart shaped pillows from a cherished red top yet to be made. But I am feeling good about what’s been accomplished so far….
Now… It’s your turn for Show and Tell!!!
What have you been working on?
Keep On Quilting On!
Lovely items, very sweet memory projects
The pillow is lovely and the family will cherish the coming quilts and items you are making. So special!
What a great memory pillow, can't wait to see the quilt when finished.
These are very thoughtful and wonderful gifts that will become treasured keepsakes for the family!
Using a sweater to make a pillow is such a great idea! And the fact that you are trying to keep the original pieces of clothing recognizable…Very thoughtful!
Lorna, these memory projects are amazing. You are truly a blessing!
Those pillows are fabulous, I would not have thought of these treasures…I'm pretty quick to cut things up. Well done!
Lorna, those are very sweet pieces for the family. You have really taken memory quilts/items to the next level. I'm glad to hear you are getting settled in <3
Lovely memory project. They will definitely bring comfort to the family.-Som
LOVE the pillow you did! Very creative quilt with her items too. I'll be watching for the heart pillows.
Funnily enough I've been doing the same this week, a friend ask me to make a 'subtle' quilt from her mum's bright and colourful clothes, most of which were slippery polyesters… the worst quilting week of my life! I managed a simple squares quilt for her dad full of colour and a couple of cushions with a lot of grey! 🙂 Your creations are beautiful, well done!
Hi Lorna! What a very cool idea of using old clothes for fashionable pillow covers! You are so clever! Sending warm spring wishes! Hugs, Karen
The pillow is so dainty and lovely with such a sweet story to match it. Thanks for sharing.
These are all wonderful memory items! I love the way you made the quilt and the pillow from the knitted sweater looks so squishable 🙂