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Remember the people we've lost through their clothing.
A memorial quilt is made from the clothing of someone who has died. It might include T-shirts, dress shirts, sweatshirts, jerseys, jeans, robes, uniforms, pajamas, or other clothing that still feels connected to that person.
Each piece of clothing tells part of their story. Some items may remind you of what they loved to do. Others may bring back a certain place, season, job, trip, team, or everyday moment.
A memorial quilt gives those clothing items a new purpose. Instead of being packed away in a box, they can become something useful, comforting, and close by.
On this page:
There is no perfect time to have a memorial quilt made. Grief is different for everyone. Some people are ready in a few months. Other people need much longer. The important thing is not to rush yourself into making decisions before your brain and heart are ready.
From our experience, it is best to wait at least three months before starting the process. In the first weeks after someone dies, even simple decisions can feel hard. A memorial quilt requires choices about which clothing to use, what parts of each item to include, how many quilts or pillows to make, and what colors or styles you want. Those are not decisions you want to make while everything still feels raw.
Waiting also gives you time to find all the clothing you may want to include. Important items can be tucked away in closets, cars, gym bags, campers, laundry baskets, or places you do not think to check right away. Once a quilt is started, it may be too late to add something you find later.
You also want to understand the cost before you begin. After a death, financial details can take time to settle. Funeral expenses, medical bills, changes in income, and other costs can all affect what makes sense. Take your time. Gather the clothing. Think through what you want. We will be here when you are ready.
You can use many different types of clothing in a memorial quilt. T-shirts are the most common, but they are not the only option. Dress shirts, sweatshirts, polos, jerseys, pajamas, robes, jeans, uniforms, work shirts, flannel shirts, and other washable clothing can usually be included.
The best clothing items are the ones that remind you of your person. Sometimes that means a favorite T-shirt. Sometimes it is a button-down shirt they wore all the time, a sweatshirt from a trip, a work shirt, or a piece of clothing that just feels like them. It does not have to be fancy or perfect to matter.
We can mix different fabrics together in one quilt. A memorial quilt might include T-shirts, dress shirts, denim, sweatshirts, sports jerseys, and other clothing all in the same quilt. We can also use special items such as race bibs, scouting items, flags, photographs printed on fabric, and even neckties in some quilts. Machine washable fabrics are usually the easiest to work with.
Some fabrics may change how the finished quilt needs to be cared for. For example, neckties and other delicate fabrics may mean the finished quilt should be dry cleaned instead of machine washed. If you have something unusual, ask us before you rule it out. We have used a lot of odd things over the years, and odd is not always a problem.
Not sure if something can be used? Read more about what can go into a T-shirt quilt.
There is not one set number of clothing items needed for a memorial quilt. The number depends on the size of the quilt, how many items you have, and how you want those items used.
Clothing can give us more options than T-shirts because we can often cut several pieces from one item. For example, a small memorial quilt might be made from 6 to 9 clothing items. For a large lap size quilt, we generally suggest no fewer than 6 items and no more than 25 items. But this is flexible.
If you only have a few clothing items, we will cut more pieces from each item, and some of those pieces may be larger. If you have a lot of clothing, we will usually cut fewer and smaller pieces from each item. The goal is to use the clothing in a way that fits the quilt size and still looks balanced.
If you are planning more than one quilt, one clothing item may be able to be used in several quilts. Depending on the size of the pieces we cut, the same shirt may be included in 5 to 8 quilts.
For memorial pillows, we suggest about 4 to 8 clothing items per pillow. Much easier.
Learn more about how many clothing items are needed for a memorial quilt.
Many families want more than one memorial quilt or pillow made from the same person’s clothing. This is very common. A spouse, children, grandchildren, parents, siblings, or close friends may each want something made from the clothing.
Start by making a list of who you would like to include. Then decide whether each person should receive a quilt, a pillow, or whether a mix of both makes the most sense. This decision usually depends on your budget, how many clothing items you have, and how many people are on your list.
A quilt is usually a better choice for someone very close to the person who died, such as a spouse, child, parent, or sibling. Pillows can be a good option when there are more people to include, such as grandchildren, nieces, nephews, close friends, or extended family. For example, one person might receive a quilt while several others receive pillows.
If you know you may want something made later, set clothing aside now. You do not have to make every quilt or pillow at the same time. But saving a group of clothing items for the future gives you more options when you are ready.
The price of your memorial quilt includes a finished Too Cool style quilt made from your clothing. This means your clothing pieces are cut into different sizes and shapes, then puzzled together into a one-of-a-kind layout.
The price also includes the backing fabric, batting, thread, and binding. The binding is the fabric that goes around the outside edge of the quilt. You choose the binding color.
Our individualized quilting is also included. Each block is quilted separately, which is one of the details that makes a Too Cool T-shirt Quilt different from a simple rows-and-columns quilt.
Return shipping is included in the price for most orders. Additional shipping charges may apply for Alaska, Hawaii, international orders, or if you want us to return scraps or a large amount of unused clothing.
When you compare memorial quilt prices, make sure you are comparing the same type of product.
Quilt vs Blanket
A memorial quilt and a memorial blanket are not the same thing. A quilt has three layers: the clothing on top, batting in the middle, and backing fabric on the back. Those layers are held together with quilting stitches. A blanket usually has two layers and no quilting. Blankets cost less because they use fewer materials and take less time to make.
Design
Design also matters. Many blankets and traditional clothing quilts are made with one standard block size in rows and columns. That is faster and less expensive, but it can mean important parts of the clothing are cut off or surrounded by too much empty space. Our puzzle style uses different size and shape blocks so the clothing can guide the design.
Quality
Quality is the third part of the price. A Too Cool memorial quilt includes quality backing fabric, batting, binding, and individualized quilting. Those details affect how the quilt feels, how it looks, and how well it holds up over time.
If you are comparing prices, ask whether the company is making a blanket or a quilt, what types of clothing they can use, how the clothing will be designed, and what quality of materials are included.
T-shirts, Sweatshirts, Jerseys, Tank Tops
Backing colors - we have over 350 colors to choose from.