From Caps to Keepsakes: Graduation Quilts That Tell a Story

Graduation is an exciting time for everyone. For the graduates transitioning out of high school or college onto their next great adventures, it’s an opportunity to look forward to what the future has in store. And for the family and friends of the grad, graduation is a moment to look back at the memories made along the way.

During this transition, we want to support the graduates as much as possible and help them preserve memories. For this, we can turn to all of the school t-shirts and memorabilia gathered over the years. Instead of letting these clothes gather dust in the back of a closet or in a basement, let’s look at how we can transform them into a meaningful graduation memory quilt.

WHY A GRADUATION MEMORY QUILT IS PERFECT FOR THE BIG DAY

When it comes to graduation keepsakes, we want to create something for the grad that ties together all of their memories of school––and their years before, too. How can we best do this? Well, a memory quilt is your answer! A memory quilt––or t-shirt quilt––organizes t-shirts and other clothes from over the years into a collage of memories. The designs, patterns and prints on t-shirts are preserved together, incorporating all the information about special events that these shirts communicate. On graduation day, nothing is more impactful than showing the story of your school journey through the t-shirts and memories collected along the way.

WHAT TO DO WITH A LIFETIME OF SHIRTS

Collected from your closets and storage, you probably can find not only shirts from school but also shirts from your entire life. Although school shirts may be your first choice to put on a graduation quilt, remember that graduation is also a celebration of every life event that has led to here. Learning happens out of the classroom as much as it happens in the classroom––and that should be honored on your graduation memory quilt. Your favorite childhood memories, family vacations, competitions, birthday parties and everything else from your lifetime will add to your personalized t-shirt quilt and make it uniquely yours.

WHAT TO INCLUDE ON A GRADUATION MEMORY QUILT

 Deciding what t-shirts to include from a lifetime of memories can be quite the challenge, so to assist with your graduation quilt ideas, here are a few key shirt categories to hit:

·   Athletics: From star athletes to #1 fans and anything in between, shirts collected from a graduate’s favorite sports to compete in or to cheer on are must-haves on a t-shirt quilt for graduation. For some graduates, these may fill up a whole quilt (or two)!

·   Art & Theatre: On the stage, in front of the canvas or on the computer may have been your graduate’s favorite way to express themselves in art. If that sounds like your graduate, make sure their quilt features their favorite stage productions, art clubs and anything else that expresses their favorite art to make.

·   Band & Music: Whether their instrument was brass, woodwind, string or voice, music is a major part of many graduates’ academic journey. Shirts from the school pep band, special honor bands/choirs and other important music milestones will harmonize beautifully with their other school shirts.

·   Dances & Events: Homecoming, prom and other formals or banquets hold special memories for graduates––either from time spent at these events or time spent preparing for them.

·   Other Clubs: There are so many clubs and extra curriculars students can get involved in, and a t-shirt quilt can showcase the diverse interests of your student. Perhaps your student spearheaded their own club for a very specific interest––celebrate that massive achievement on their quilt!

·   Anything else: A custom t-shirt quilt can include any and all shirts that are important to a graduate. Memories are contained in every article of clothing we wear, so even a simple single-color shirt can carry important emotional weight. Think outside the box and tell the best story for graduation possible.

HOW TO GET STARTED

Before selecting what shirts to include on your graduation memory quilt, start with choosing the layout and size of quilt that’s right for you. Different layouts and sizes require different amounts of shirts, so starting here ensures you’re gathering an appropriate amount of shirts. Here are a few examples of different layout styles MemoryStitch customers have chosen for graduation:

A small standard t-shirt quilt with 16 shirts.

A larger standard t-shirt quilt with 30 shirts.

An ultra-cozy Fuzz Monsta® quilt with 20 shirts.

A premium t-shirt quilt with long-arm stitching.

Find the perfect style of t-shirt quilt for your graduate and discover more options on our collection page. And once you have your style decided, it’s time to start gathering those t-shirts! After that, you can find additional instructions for the MemoryStitch process at our How It Works page.

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS ABOUT T-SHIRT MEMORY QUILTS 

• How many shirts do I need for a graduation memory quilt?

• You have many size options of quilts to choose from, and each size will specify how many shirts are needed. For example, our Fuzz Monsta quilt has two size options with either 12 shirts or 20 shirts. Or, our standard t-shirt quilt goes from 16 shirts to 64 shirts with other sizes in-between.

• What types of shirts or clothing can be included? 

• Any top made from materials such as cotton, sweatshirt, fleece, flannel, polyester and moisture-wicking materials can be included. Common acceptable clothing items beyond t-shirts include polos, scrubs, jerseys, tank-tops and v-necks. Button-down shirts and shirts with zippers can also be included on most quilts.

• Do I need to cut or prepare my shirts before sending them in?

• Please give your shirts one final wash before they are sent in. Then, you can cut your shirts along the side seams to separate the front and back panel––or you can request we handle the cutting for you for a small fee. Find more about the preparation process here.

• How do I decide which shirts to include?

• It’s a tough decision what shirts to include or leave off, but ultimately it’s your choice. Get inspired by shirts others have chosen to show off on their quilts at our online gallery to help you make this big decision.

• What size graduation quilt should I choose? 

• The best size for your quilt depends on what it will be used for. For a dorm room, you may want a smaller quilt sized Lap, Twin or Full. To make the best wall hanging, compare the dimensions of wall space you want to fill with the size of the quilt. If size is a major consideration, consider a more compact t-shirt pillow or pillow case that contains precious memories at a fraction of the size.

• How long does it take to complete a memory quilt and how far in advance should I start before graduation?

• Once your shirts arrive and enter production, your quilt will ship back to you within 14 days. However, for peak times such as graduation season and Christmas, we may experience delays. In these cases, we recommend sending your shirts to us at least one month in advance.

• Can I include more shirts than needed, and will you send unused shirts back to me?

• Please only include the shirts you wish to include in your quilt. Extra shirts––and any paperwork you include in your package shipped to us––cannot have a guaranteed return.

• Can I choose or preview the quilt layout? Can design changes be made if I change my mind about anything?

• When you place your order, you’ll have an option to submit a photo of how you want your shirts laid out––which we recommend. Take the photo after neatly laying out your shirts on a large patch of floor with logos and designs exactly where you want them. Unfortunately, we cannot accept changes to the order once it’s placed, but if you realize something was ordered wrong within 60 days of placing it, get in contact with our team to sort everything out.

For more details and frequently asked questions, check out our FAQ page.

PRESERVE THEIR SCHOOL MEMORIES TODAY

Tell the story of everything that has led to graduation with a personalized t-shirt quilt filled with memories from school, clubs and everything else that has shaped their journey so far. Get started preserving memories for years to come today and make sure you follow us on Instagram and Facebook to stay up-to-date on all the latest news, discounts and all things MemoryStitch.

Blog written by Zander Gibney