Everyone has their own way of capturing, cataloguing, and celebrating their memories. Some people like to film everything onto home videos to watch years later. Others enjoy scrapbooking or journaling. But one way to relive your memories is a bit different from these traditional methods. Think of all the t-shirts that you have gotten throughout your life, and the memories that are attached to each one. Making a custom t-shirt quilt to either display or snuggle up to your years of memories is a fun and unique way to celebrate everything that you have been through. And who doesn’t love handmade quilts!
Designing your custom t-shirt quilt
A lot of people might like the idea of making a custom t-shirt quilt, but not everyone knows the details of putting something like that together, or at least in a way that looks good and is made with enough quality that it will not fall apart the first time that it is moved for admiration or warming purposes. But not to worry. One study showed that there are over 21 million people today quilt in some capacity, whether as a hobby or as a profession. Either way, it should not be exceptionally difficult to find someone to help you create the perfect custom memory quilt. There are bound to be t-shirt quilt makers in your vicinity.
A long history of quilting
Those 21 million modern day quilters are not alone in their skill. Throughout history, quilting has been a major element of many cultures. Handmade quilts were functional, but it was also a chance to incorporate personal styles and perhaps even sentimental attachment by way of using fabric that was important to the quilter or recipient of the finished quilt.
There has been evidence found of the earliest quilting occurring as far back as 3400 BC. The oldest known quilt in existence today does not date back quite that far, but its age is impressive all the same. The Tristan Quilt, also known as the Guicciardini Quilt, was created at some point between 1360 and 1400 AD in Sicily. The pattern on the quilt depicts a scene from the romantic tragedy Tristan and Isolde, proving that even back then, quilting served as a form of expression and a tribute to stories and memory. More evidence of quilting has been linked to ancient China and Egypt, where fabrics were found stitched together, holding each layer in place.
Finding the right design
Whether you are using t-shirts or other fabrics and materials with sentimental attachment, or you are hoping for a quilt that displays more of your color preferences and personal style choices, your custom quilt will surely turn out to be something that you will treasure for years. The versatility of a memory or style quilt is one of the main draws. Hang it as a tapestry, put it on your bed to keep you warm, or drape it on a sofa so that it can be a combination of an impressive conversation starter and piece to admire, and something to snuggle with for the sake of warmth and comfort. Who knows, maybe by the end of the process of your quilt being made, your interest will have been piqued enough to attempt the activity on your own, so that you can make another memory quilt on your own!
