Memory Quilts

All Memory Quilt patterns were designed with the idea that the fabrics would come from a loved one’s clothing. However, when making one of the Memory Frames samples, I used bought fabrics that reminded me of my grandmother, since none of her clothes were available. Inside the frames of that one, I sewed in items collected from her treadle machine drawers. The frames can be used for brooches, veterans’ pins, quilt show pins, photos, embroidered sentiments, or anything you wish to display. Make as many or as few frames as you need for your number of items.

I will be forever grateful to one of our family friends, Mrs. Nevill, who called to ask me if I had any patterns that she could use to make a quilt out of her late husband’s shirts. I did not at the time, but it was only a day or so until I had three sketches ready to show her. She chose Memory Pockets. I made a sample with shirts I bought at a thrift store, and finished it just days before a local quilt show organizer called to see if I would fill a vacancy they had when a vendor was not able to be there. I had nothing for a booth, had never done a show, and was scared to death! As it turned out, Memory Pockets was a hit! In those three days, I watched women who saw it from across the room and walked straight toward it. I heard two statements repeatedly. Many would say, “I am SO GLAD I kept my daddy’s (or husband’s or son’s) shirts! NOW, I know what I want to do with them!” And, sadly, many others quietly said, “I wish I had kept his shirts.” And a few just stood there with tears in their eyes and didn’t say a word. After three days of highs and lows, I had completed my first quilt show – and I was hooked! Thank you, Jefferson Texas Quilt Alliance, for your last-minute invitation to be a part of your show!