How Do I Turn Memorial Shirts Into a Quilt or Keepsake Pillow?

To turn memorial shirts into a quilt, cut a square block from the front of each shirt around the photo or design, back every block with lightweight fusible interfacing so the knit does not stretch, then sew the blocks together with sashing, batting and a backing fabric. If sewing is not your thing, a local quilter can do it for you, and a single photo tribute shirt makes a simple keepsake pillow. This guide walks families through planning, preparing the shirts, protecting the print, and deciding between a quilt, a pillow or both.

Why families turn memorial shirts into a quilt

After a funeral or celebration of life, many families end up with a stack of memorial shirts. Some get worn again on birthdays and anniversaries. Others sit folded in a drawer because wearing them feels like too much. A quilt or pillow gives those shirts a new purpose. Instead of being put away, the portrait and the words you chose stay out where you can see them, wrap up in them, and pass them down.

A memory quilt also brings the whole family into one piece. Each person can give a shirt, from the one a grandchild wore at the balloon release to the one a brother wore on the memorial ride. Put together, they tell the story of how many people showed up to remember someone. If you are still choosing the wording for the shirts themselves, our complete guide to custom memorial shirts is a good place to start.

Quilt, pillow, or both?

Before you cut anything, decide what you want to make. Each option suits a different number of shirts and a different amount of time.

Memory quilt

A quilt works best when you have a dozen or more shirts. A lap or throw quilt is the most popular size because it fits on a couch or the foot of a bed and does not take as long to make. Larger quilts need more blocks, so families often mix shirt blocks with plain cotton fabric in a matching color.

Keepsake pillow

A pillow needs just one shirt. It is the easiest project for a first-time sewer and a lovely gift for a parent, spouse or child. A photo tribute shirt with the portrait centered on the front fills a square pillow well. Families often make several pillows so each household gets one.

Wall hanging or framed shirt

If you want to keep the shirt whole, a small wall hanging or a shadow box frame is another option. We cover that in how to frame a t-shirt in a shadow box.

How to plan a memorial t-shirt quilt

1. Gather the shirts. Ask family members which shirts they are willing to give. Some people will want to keep the one they wore to the service, and that is completely fine.
2. Pick a size. Measure a blanket you already like. A throw is often around 50 by 60 inches, which works with about twelve 12-inch blocks plus borders, or more blocks if they are smaller.
3. Choose a block size. Lay the shirts out and find the largest square that fits the photo or design on each one. Use that size for every block so the quilt lines up neatly.
4. Plan the layout. Put the portrait shirt, or the one that means the most, in the center. Arrange the other blocks around it, balancing dark and light colors.
5. Pick your fabrics. Choose a sashing color that frames each block, a soft batting, and a backing fabric. Many families pick a color the person loved.

How to prepare and cut the shirts

T-shirts are made of knit fabric, which stretches. Quilting cotton does not. The key to a flat, long-lasting quilt is keeping the knit from stretching while you sew.

1. Wash the shirts first. Turn them inside out, wash in cold water, and skip fabric softener, since softener can keep the interfacing from bonding. If a shirt was worn by your loved one and you do not want to wash it, set it aside for a pillow or frame instead.
2. Cut the shirt open. Cut up both side seams and across the shoulders so the front lays flat as one piece. Cut a little bigger than your final block size.
3. Fuse interfacing to the back. Use a lightweight fusible woven or knit interfacing. Lay the shirt face down on a towel, place the interfacing glue side down, and press with a dry iron. This is what keeps each block from stretching or puckering.
4. Trim to size. Once cooled, use a ruler and rotary cutter to trim each block to the exact same square, keeping the design centered.

Protecting the photo print

Memorial shirts from LuxPort are printed with DTF transfers, which hold up well in a quilt. Still, a hot iron should never touch the print directly. Iron from the back side of the block, or place a pressing cloth or a sheet of parchment paper over the front. Our article on whether you can iron a custom printed shirt explains why.

How to sew the memory quilt

1. Add sashing. Sew strips of cotton between blocks and around the edges. Sashing frames each shirt and makes small size differences easier to hide.
2. Join the rows. Sew the blocks into rows, then sew the rows together. Press seams gently from the back.
3. Make the quilt sandwich. Layer the backing face down, then the batting, then the quilt top face up. Pin or baste the layers together.
4. Quilt the layers. Stitch in the ditch along the seams, or stitch around each block. Avoid stitching straight through the portrait so the face stays clear and smooth.
5. Bind the edges. Finish with binding around the outside edge. A hand-stitched label on the back with the person's name and dates makes the quilt an heirloom.

How to make a keepsake pillow from one memorial shirt

1. Cut the front of the shirt into a square about one inch bigger than your pillow form on each side.
2. Fuse lightweight interfacing to the back of the square.
3. Cut a matching square from the back of the shirt or a sturdy cotton fabric.
4. Place the pieces right sides together and sew around three sides and part of the fourth.
5. Turn it right side out, insert the pillow form, and stitch the opening closed by hand.

For a pillow you can wash, make an envelope back with two overlapping pieces instead of sewing it shut. Families who want a pillow made directly from a design can read can DTF transfers go on throw pillow covers.

Hiring a quilter instead

If you do not sew, a quilter can turn the shirts into a finished quilt. Many San Antonio quilt shops and guilds know people who take this kind of work. Before you hand over shirts that cannot be replaced, ask to see photos of past t-shirt quilts, ask how they handle knit fabric and printed designs, and get the size, timeline and cost in writing. Take a photo of every shirt before you drop them off.

Planning ahead when you order memorial shirts

If your family already knows it wants a quilt, a little planning at the start helps:

• Order a few extra shirts. Extra shirts in two or three colors give the quilter matching blocks without asking anyone to give up theirs.
• Keep the portrait centered. A centered front print is easy to cut into a clean square block.
• Use a high-quality photo. A clear portrait looks better on a shirt and on a quilt block. See how to scan an old printed photo for a memorial shirt.
• Late orders are fine. Relatives who want shirts later can still order. Read how families order memorial shirts weeks after the service.

Browse our memorial and celebration of life shirts for ideas, or learn more about our custom memorial shirts. A team member will follow up by phone call or text, whichever you prefer, to talk through the photo, the wording and the colors. Orders ship by USPS, UPS, or FedEx, or go out by Uber to local San Antonio addresses.

Frequently asked questions

How many memorial shirts do I need to make a quilt?

It depends on the size you want. A lap or throw quilt usually takes about 12 to 20 shirts when each shirt gives one large block. A twin-size quilt often needs 25 to 35 blocks. If you only have a few shirts, a pillow, a small wall hanging, or a quilt that mixes shirt blocks with plain fabric works well.

Can you put a printed shirt in a quilt without ruining the print?

Yes. Printed shirts, including DTF printed shirts, go into quilts all the time. The quilter backs each block with lightweight fusible interfacing so the knit fabric does not stretch, and they avoid pressing a hot iron directly on the print. A pressing cloth or parchment paper between the iron and the design protects it.

Should I wash memorial shirts before making a quilt?

Most quilters ask for clean shirts. Wash them inside out in cold water and skip fabric softener so the interfacing bonds well. Some families choose not to wash a shirt their loved one wore. Tell your quilter, and they can work with it as is or use that shirt only for a pillow or framed piece.

Can I make a keepsake pillow from a single memorial shirt?

Yes. One shirt with a photo tribute print on the front makes a very nice square pillow. Center the portrait, back the fabric with interfacing, and use the back of the shirt or a sturdy fabric for the pillow back. Many families make one pillow for each child or grandchild.

Can I order extra memorial shirts just for a quilt?

Yes. Some families order a few extra photo tribute shirts in plain colors so the quilt has matching blocks and nobody has to give up the shirt they wore to the service. Mention it when you request a quote and our team can help you plan the colors.

Where can I find someone to make a memorial t-shirt quilt in San Antonio?

Local quilt shops and quilting guilds are a great place to start, and many of them know quilters who take custom t-shirt quilt work. Ask to see past t-shirt quilts, ask how they back knit fabric, and get the size, timeline and price in writing before you hand over the shirts.

LuxPort Print Co, 10730 Potranco Rd Suite 122-507, San Antonio, TX 78251.