A Cozy Send-Off: Give Your College Student a T-Shirt Quilt Full of Memories

We’re quickly approaching the back-to-school season! Parents and students are stocking up on notebooks, pens and pencils and building up the courage to jump into the new school year. For some families, this is a school year not much different than any other. But for those families who were just celebrating their high schooler’s graduation at the end of the spring, this is a very special year: this is the year their student finally leaves the nest.

First-year college move-in is a huge shift for students and parents alike. Students take their first major step towards independence and adulthood. We all can remember the mix of emotions we felt when we left our parents’ homes for the first time––a mixture of excitement and anxiety. And for the parents, the emotions aren’t entirely dissimilar. Letting go of the way you’ve lived as a family unit for so long and transitioning into this new era is as exciting as it is disruptive.

To ease the transition as students leave the nest, give your student a keepsake that will always remind them of home, their family and their favorite memories. Creating such a keepsake can help parents as well as they process and come to accept these major changes. The perfect keepsake to create the best college send-off is your student’s very own t-shirt quilt, and in today’s blog we’re going to look at the impact this t-shirt quilt will have.

THE PERFECT COLLEGE GIFT

First, let’s discuss a little bit more why a t-shirt quilt is perfect for your student during college move-in. Starting college is a massive transition in life, and some students handle their newfound independence a lot better than others. All major life changes are going to be difficult in some way, no matter how close or far your student’s college happens to be away from home. Having items from home that are sentimental and carry emotional weight go a long way toward making these transitions easier. Your student’s t-shirt quilt will carry sentimental value of not just a single moment, but it will have a tapestry of their favorite memories that they can take with them.

Stitched into every seam of your student’s t-shirt quilt can be their proudest moments of high school, their hobbies, their favorite places they’ve traveled to and so much more. Bringing all of their well-loved shirts together into a collage of designs means that these memories are well-preserved and easier to transport, too. Looking at a t-shirt quilt, you can see the essence of who wore those shirts, and new college students can use this as a reminder of how far they’ve come and how proud they should be of their accomplishments. The emotional and physical warmth brought out by a t-shirt quilt is truly unparalleled.

THE T-SHIRT MEMORIES TO INCLUDE

Often, with the amount of t-shirts that find their ways into closets, drawers and attics, choosing which t-shirts to include on such an important keepsake can be a challenge in and of itself! To help you through this decision process, here are a few ideas on what kinds of shirts you can include:

• Clubs and Hobbies: Years of being active in one or many clubs, sports and extracurriculars in high school can lead to a pile of t-shirts. Filling out a t-shirt quilt with what your student is passionate about will make the quilt meaningful for them to look back on while also being a great motivator today.
• Special Events: Prom, competitions, conferences and other events are major accolades and milestones of a student’s life. T-shirts that they received at these events can be added to their quilt to bring back memories of their greatest accomplishments to date and remind them that the best is still on the horizon.
• Family Memories: Vacations, reunions and anything else your family has done together that you’ve collected t-shirts from are also perfect memories to build into the t-shirt quilt.

Every time they look at their quilt will be a reminder of the support and love you have for them.

Have fun picking out shirts with your student and seeing what they want to add as well! Designing the quilt together is just another wonderful reason why t-shirt quilts bring so many families so much joy and comfort.

THE WAYS THEY’LL LOVE USING THEIR QUILT

Finally, beyond the sentimental value of a t-shirt quilt, there’s also very practical uses for the quilt that shouldn’t be overlooked. First and foremost, t-shirt quilts are the coziest companions a student could ask for in the dorms––especially our Premium T-Shirt Quilts and Fuzz Monsta Quilts. As a blanket, a t-shirt quilt will keep your student warm at their desk or in their lounge during long nights of studying. 

Also, as a decoration there’s nothing better than a t-shirt quilt for your student to show off their personality in the dorms. As they meet people and make lifelong friends, they can share their favorite hobbies, accomplishments and memories all from their quilt. When people come over and visit their dorm, the quilt’s the perfect conversation starter to find like-minded friends that share the same niche interests, no matter how obscure. 

And above all else, their t-shirt quilt is the perfect reminder of home. Not only is the quilt stitched together from their favorite memories, but it will also be lovingly gifted by their biggest #1 fan––you!

GIVE THEM A PIECE OF HOME

Making the transition from high school to college can be a challenge for students and parents alike. Parents, finding the right gift for your student before they leave the nest is crucial to the process of navigating the transition. Your student will be forever grateful that they have something to bring them comfort even after their hardest days or when they’re feeling homesick. Giving your student a t-shirt quilt of high school and childhood memories for your student’s college send-off is something special they’ll never forget.

Before the big day, you can get started on crafting the perfect t-shirt quilt with your student today! MemoryStitch is here to help transform your student’s memories into a lasting keepsake, and you can learn more about our process on the How It Works page. Then, you can browse our collection of t-shirt quilts and pillows to find the keepsake that’s best for their dorm. Finally, make sure you follow us on Instagram and Facebook to keep updated on discounts, deals and everything else MemoryStitch.

Written by Zander Gibney.