When we lose a loved one, holding on to their memory is one of the first things we look to do. To keep them with us and hold them in our hearts, we must work to preserve the person that they were and the love that they shared with everyone around them. We can share stories with friends and families, we can collect photos and videos and also turn to their other cherished belongings. Their favorite knickknacks, collectibles and clothes tell the story of who they were from a new perspective, and these collections can help us honor loved ones in brand new ways.
A collection of clothes can tell the story of your loved one’s life.
To honor your loved ones who have passed, transform their well-loved belongings into a keepsake for you and your family to cherish for generations to come. Take the therapeutic time to sort through their memories and make new discoveries about their life and interests. After taking that time, you can find a meaningful way to carry your loved one with you and your family forever.
Today, let’s look at how a memorial t-shirt quilt can be the perfect way to honor your loved ones and cherish their memory for generations.
PRESERVE THEIR MEMORY
The clothing a person wore carries so much emotional weight of who that person was to the people around them. First, this comes from what the clothing said about their personality. What types of t-shirts did they own? They may have sported their favorite band, tv show or movie logos on their shirts. Or perhaps their shirts came from school and community events they took part in, such as festivals or competitions. Also, what other kinds of clothes did they wear? Did they love a comfy flannel or pair of sweatpants? Did they cherish their favorite dresses? All sorts of clothes can be transformed into memorial quilts–not just t-shirts!
Another side of the emotions tied to clothing comes from the close tie between clothing and our perception of our loved ones. Everyone has outfits they wear constantly or outfits they wear for special occasions. Either way, clothes carry the essence of those who pass away. Their spirit through the clothes they wear continues on after they are gone. Gathering the memories found in these pieces of clothing is the first step on the path to preserve your loved ones and honor their legacy.
Learn more about your loved one from the clothes they wore and cherished.
CRAFT THEIR KEEPSAKE
With the preserved clothing of your departed loved one, it’s now time to transform their memory into an honorable keepsake. This can be a daunting task. How do you choose which pieces of clothing will best display the story and memories of someone so dear? To do this, bring focus back to their memories and essence. Select t-shirts, dresses or anything else that was their favorites or carried importance to them. Their story will be told best through their clothes when considering what was special and memorable to them.
In addition to including your loved one’s favorite clothes, consider also clothes from important events and milestones. Special clothes may not have been worn constantly. A collection of t-shirts may contain mementos from family reunions, retirement parties, wedding receptions and any other significant milestone from their life. Let their memorial display a collage of all of the most important pieces of their story, from the essence of their day-to-day life to the special moments that make life that much sweeter.
SHARE THEIR STORIES
Every memorial t-shirt quilt tells a story of a loved one. Here are the stories cherished by people who have brought new life to the keepsakes of their loved ones:
“This was a gift for my Dad in remembrance of my mother who passed back in August. He cried tears of joy and pride! This was a great way to keep her memory alive as well as to keep their memories together close to his heart! So happy I did it and so happy with the results!” - Mary W.
“I lost my 26 year old son in September, and I saw Memory Stitch on Facebook. It was as if Greg said, ’Here is what you need to do with my shirts.’ I divided them between two blankets, one for me and one for my husband. We were truly overjoyed with the finished product. Quality work, fast turn around. Can't sing your praises enough! Thank you for such lovely blankets.” - Laura F.
“My husband passed away suddenly. He loved music of all kinds and t-shirts. I had this done for his daughter because it's a lot when you lose your daddy. We both cried over this and agreed this was the best gift ever. Thank you all for taking such care of the shirts, some were very old. I stressed over this a lot but was so very pleased with the way it came out. You all will never know how much this truly meant to us both.” - Sandra M.
“My blanket is better than I ever could’ve imagined. One thing I'll always remember about my grandma is her beautiful floral (and sometimes silly) shirts, and now I can keep that memory alive. The quality is perfect. The blanket is ultra soft and not the type to get ruined when washed. Once I shipped it, I expected multiple weeks before I got it back, but within 2 weeks it was back in my arms! Thank you MemoryStitch!” - Elizabeth S.
WRAP UP
Creating a memorial keepsake for a loved one who has passed is a celebration of their life. Preserving the essence of a person who meant so much to you and their friends and family can seem like a difficult task, but if you focus on how to best tell their story and honor who they strove to be every day, then they will know that they are loved.
Preserve the story and honor the life of your loved one with a memorial t-shirt quilt.
With MemoryStitch, you can transform the t-shirts, dresses and other clothing of departed loved ones into keepsakes that will last for generations to come. Give new meaning to their garments and begin your journey to preserve their memory at our how it works page. Then, select the perfect t-shirt quilt for you and your family, and let us handle the rest.
Every person deserves to have their story told. Stitch together the memories of your loved one today with MemoryStitch.
