Memory Quilt Workshop

Host a Memory Quilt Workshop or Class for Your Sewing Students!

A memory quilt is a wonderful project for your sewing students to make. It is something that students can look at and cherish for years to come and even share with their children some day. Memory quilts also make precious gifts for moms and grand moms that are sure to bring a tear to their eye when they receive the quilt filled with old time photos of their family.

The idea of making a memory quilt came to me when a client contacted me and wanted a memory pillow to put on the cover of a book she was writing. Once I made the pillow I fell in love with the idea and made a memory quilt for myself. After embellishing the quilt with vintage lace, buttons, and pearls, I thought it was so beautiful I decided right away to offer making this project in a workshop to my students. This black and white quilt filled with family photos is such a rewarding project and offering it as a workshop, it was a huge success. If you can add this workshop or class to your curriculum in your studio, I highly suggest it.

The memory quilt is fairly easy to make and there are several ways to make it. Our method is probably one of the easiest. We first have students sew together twenty 8″x 8″ squares of different black and dark grey fabrics together to form the quilt top. Then we have them sandwich and sew the quilt top, back, and quilt batting together leaving an opening for turning. Then trim seams, turn quilt pretty side out and hand sew the opening closed. Now the fun part! Then student can cut out and arrange their family photos on the quilt. They can be held in place by zigzagging around the edge. Students can quilt as they like in addition to going around each photo. Last students are encouraged to be creative and embellish and decorate their quilt with buttons, lace, and pearls!

To get the photos onto computer paper is easy. I ask for the students to bring 12-16 photos in from home and then I scanned them and put them on a word document. I changed them to black and white or sepia, and then I printed them onto computer fabric for t-shirts that you can simply find at your local fabric store or craft store.

I run this workshop every-other year for my students. I hope your students enjoy making their memory quilt as much as my students do! Enjoy some photos below showing some of our students with their memory quilts they made.