Memory quilts - what to do with your children's old clothes

Like a lot parents (I assume), I have quite a few of my children's old clothes put away. Mostly it's the baby stuff, that is so small and impossibly cute that they hardly seem like a real little human was in them. I adore these things. They were the things my children wore in the first days, weeks and months of their lives and I've attached a whole bunch of sentiment to that. However, there they are lingering in three or four taped-up boxes. They'll probably never be worn again but I can't get rid of these favourite little clothes.

Just before you say that some needy children out there may need them, I do donate absolutely every other stitch of unwanted or outgrown clothing or footwear to charity. However, that's not really the point of this post. So what is, you ask? Well, I heard about someone who had taken their children's old clothing, cut them up (gasp) and stitched them together into a quilt.

Can you imagine? All those beloved prints and patterns and colours all in big quilt that can now be used and seen on a daily basis... and it frees up the storage space. F-A-B-U-L-O-U-S.

Whilst I contemplate learning some sewing skills and see if I could make an eiderdown, let's check out some other patchworks: 

Patchwork pillow from Bright & Blith (with tutorial) via Ohdeedoh.

 
Patchwork quilt from Rice - I love that purple trim.

 
Baby clothes quilt by Wee Wonderfuls.

 
  
Baby clothes from the 50s and 60s by Fonticulus on Flickr.

Now that I've had chance to browse the web looking for baby clothes patchwork quilts, I've realised how popular they are plus there's cushions and pillow shams too. There are even people who will make them for you for a fee. However, I think this is a project I'd really like to take on myself... once I hone up my very rusty sewing skills.

Would you make something like this? Any tips?

More inspiration: Check out the memory quilt Flickr group.

Comments

[Cosy Home Blog]

My mum made a king size patchwork quilt from lots of old fabrics and it's great being able to pick out what was what (there are old pieces from clothing, curtains etc in there and from all generations). She did it all by hand and used hexagon shapes, but if you use a sewing machine and stick to squares, it would be a lot easier and quicker. The harder bit is backing it all at the end, but there are classes you can go to to help you do that.

It is a lovely way of preserving memories and historical fabrics too, so I'd highly recommend it!

[London Lisbonite]

I've always been a bit worried that if I started a quilt, it's one of those things that would get dropped halfway through because my tastes would change. However, the modern one with the purple trim is, as you say, lovely so I guess it'd be interesting to start on one - perhaps using some pretty Liberty prints or similar?

[Camilla @ Hygge Nook]

Cosy - wow, I'm always amazed by the hexagon quilts. Your mum must have been hugely talented.

The Rice squares one is my favourite and I love how the purple trim ties it all in. Liberty prints would be really pretty I'm sure or maye even Marimekko or Amy Butler? Would I ever finish it though? Not sure!