What to Make From a Loved One's Shirts

A shirt holds a lot. The collar, the cuffs, a favorite pocket, the buttons your dad did up every morning. If you have a few of a loved one's shirts and are not sure what to do with them, turning them into a keepsake lets you keep the part you love most close. What you can make mostly comes down to how many shirts you have.

One or two shirts: a memory bear

A single flannel or button-down is enough for a memory bear. We can place a pocket on the chest, use the buttons down the front, or work in the collar, so the bear really reads as his shirt. A second shirt lets us add contrast or make a matching pair.

A few shirts: a pillow or a set of bears

Three to six shirts open up a memory pillow or two, or a small set of bears if more than one person wants to keep something. Pillows are a gentle option for a couch or a bed, and they use a favorite shirt front beautifully.

A dozen or more: a memory quilt

When you have a wardrobe to work with, a memory quilt is the piece that holds the most. A lap or throw quilt often uses around a dozen shirts, and a larger quilt uses more. We can mix flannels, dress shirts, and tees so the whole quilt tells the story of how he dressed.

What we can feature

Pockets, buttons, collars, cuffs, embroidered logos, and monograms can all be worked into the finished piece. If there is a specific detail you want kept, just tell us. Soft, stable fabrics like cotton, flannel, and jersey work best, and we can sew around stains, thin spots, and well-loved wear.

How to start

Begin with our custom order form or email hello@kraftybandit.com with a few photos. Mail your clean, dry shirts to Krafty Bandit, 127 Speer Street, Belle Vernon, PA 15012, from anywhere in the United States. Custom pieces take about two to four weeks, and we confirm your timeline when you order. For help choosing, read our guide to choosing and preparing clothing or browse our memorial keepsakes.