Memory Crafts

A few years after my sister's husband passed away, we began to think about making some "memory crafts" from the many shirts and other clothes he left behind. 

(It's something that some girlfriends and I had done many years back when we made pillows out of some wool jackets that were left after a loved one's passing.  Back then we thought we would create a business, and call it "Memor-ease"....that never happened.)

Anyway, I gathered a selection of dress shirts, and began to design things.  I made various pillow covers, and when a new baby arrived in the family, I designed and made him a quilt with shirt fabric from the grandfather he would never get to know.  I also created some aprons, and covered a small box with shirt fabric and buttons.  

Small sewing box covered in shirt fabrics & buttons

                     Apron constructed of three different shirt fabrics

I copied the doggie patterns from some baby p.j.s that I bought, drew patterns and cut all the pieces.  Then, ironed on and machine-appliqued each piece.

THE FINISHED QUILT, minus a bit of personalization that I added at the end.

The shirt fronts make great backsides for pillow, complete with button closure

This was a flannel shirt; the red and blue appliques came from other solid-colored shirts.

 I originally started this post almost two years ago, and found it as a draft in my list of posts.  I remember now that I didn't want to post it until I had given all these gifts to their recipients.   I decided to go ahead and post this now, hoping to inspire you to re-purpose materials  that will always spark memories of someone dear.