Working Together

Your Vision

Memory quilts aren’t about my vision. The design of your quilt is guided by you and we’re here to help bring your ideas to life.

Typically, the items of clothing you gather will inform the overall design of the quilt. Based on the number of pieces, their colors and textures, we’ll discuss your overall vision and what quilt designs would work well for your specific project. I usually have clients send me some preliminary photos of items that they’d like to include.

Choosing Pieces to Include

Generally, memory quilts have between 5 and 20 pieces of sentimental clothing, but more can always be incorporated. You also don’t have to limit yourself to just clothing. Items like tablecloths, handkerchiefs, napkins, embroidered patches and pillows covers can also be powerful sources of memories.

The best fabrics to include are woven cottons and cotton blends like button downs or dress shirts, flannel and linen. Stretchy fabrics like jersey and knit fabric can be used, but will have a lightweight layer of interfacing added to the back for stability while sewing.

Fabrics like leather, pleather, fur and items with sequins and rivets are not suitable for quilting. Generally, I’m not able to include buttons, snaps or zippers into the final quilt.

Shipping

To get started, collect and wash the items to be included in the memory quilt and ship the clothing to my studio in Northern Virginia. If you’re local, we can arrange an in-person pick-up. Each piece will be photographed so it can be digitally added to your quilt design mockup. We’ll discuss your ideas, likes/dislikes and decide on colors, theme and story you want to tell.

The Design

Together, we’ll design 3 quilts for your review and send a digital mock-up of the final quilt via email. This is the time to make changes and add your own input to the design process. Once we’ve got it just right, we’ll prep the fabric and begin sewing.

Timeline

Typically, memory quilts take 8-12 weeks to create.

Our Clients..

1. Don’t want a traditional, blocky t-shirt quilt design. (If you do want that look, there are lots of other very talented makers that can do that design for much cheaper.)

2. Love a little (or a lot) of color.

3. Want something handmade and like seeing the hand of the maker in the final product.

4. Aren’t afraid to let us “fussy cut” your sentimental items (when it makes sense).

5. Like to be involved in the design process. We’ll work together to choose a quilt design, backing, binding, quilt stitching design and label.