Your clothing holds such precious memories. Whether it is the outfit your baby wore home from the hospital, a collection of your favourite t-shirts, or the clothing from a loved one that has passed, these are all pieces that you cannot bear to part with because each one has such meaningful associations.

Instead of packing things away in a box and only pulling them out occasionally to reminisce, let me take all your precious pieces and turn them into a lasting and useful keepsake.

The process is a simple one: you send me a minimum of 80 pieces of infant-to-toddler/child-sized clean clothing (100 or more if most of the sizes are newborn-6 months, or mostly just shirts). For adult clothing, I need 25 pieces (t-shirts, blouses, shirts, jackets, etc.). The cost of sending me the clothes is not included in my shipping costs. I cannot use bathing suits, cloth diapers, wool coats or leather. Cotton, cotton jersey (sleepers/onesies), flannel, fleece, taffeta, silk and satin; they all work beautifully in a memory quilt. The more patterned, the better – close, repeating patterns and central images look great in the quilt, as do a variety of colours or strong contrasts (like black and white clothes). Note that if you include them, I will add stained pieces to the finished product.

I pay special attention to focus features on the clothing, keeping designs and text intact whenever possible (see my photos for examples). I create the blocks, then place them in a pleasing arrangement, and finally I put the quilt together with machine quilting and a hand-sewn binding.

I will add up to 2 small pieces of appliqué to your quilt at no extra charge – a special bib, the adorable feet off a sleeper (see my photos for examples of these), or baby’s first mittens. Please indicate which pieces you would like appliquéd. If I do not receive special instructions either by Etsy Conversation or if the pieces are not clearly marked in the package of clothing you send me, I will not add any.

I will also add a hand-embroidered name block for an extra charge (see options). The block is 6x6 inches, holding up to 20 letters or numbers (e.g. "Grace Ann Jan 1 2018", or "Alexandra Clarissa"). I'll choose a cotton fabric that coordinates with the quilt, so that it will integrate beautifully into the quilt. Please note - each name panel is different. I will choose the letter/number style and the centre motif, if there is room for one.

Each finished piece will have some irregularity in it – it is impossible to sew thin cotton summer wear to winter-ready polar fleece and have it come out perfectly. The corners won’t always match and there will be some puckering, but this reflects the fact that the clothing represents a span of time, not a single moment, and it also emphasizes that these are not new pieces of fabric, but well-loved, well-washed memories.

For the backing, I will attach a 100% cotton or cotton flannel fabric, in complimentary colours, according to your instructions.

Throw quilt size is approximately 60 x 60 inches - size may vary slightly due to the clothing pieces and block size.