Memory Quilts

There are so many milestones and turning points in life that call for a quilt. Some of those occasions are joyous: giving your child a quilt made out of their baby clothes as they go off to college, or organizing a signature retirement quilt for colleague after years of dedication.

Perhaps the most common reason for wanting a memory quilt, however, is when someone we love passes away and we find ourselves most in need of comfort. At times like that we are often left with too much clothing to keep but it’s too precious to just give away. Especially now as the country grapples with a pandemic that puts funerals out of the question for many people.

That’s where memory quilts come in. Memory quilts are most often made from textiles that have special significance—old clothes, tablecloths, bed linens—and then reimagined in a way that captures something of the personal essence of our loved one. Memory quilts give us something we can curl up in and keep warm remembering better times.