DIY Memory Square Using My Dad's Recycled Clothing

I lost my dad suddenly in February this year. It was totally unexpected and a very sad and hard time for my family.

I have a very large and very close family. When Father’s day came around, we were all very mindful of him and each of us remembered him in our own ways.

My sister Judy had an especially poignant way of remembering dad.

She made each of us a memory square using pieces of dad’s old shirts (and shhhh don’t tell…his boxer shorts!)

I have it hanging in my kitchen and look at it often. I remember most of the pieces of clothing used in the memory square and it makes me smile when I see them all stitched together.

I thought it would be nice to give details of how you could do this sentimental DIY project so that you can, perhaps, remember a gone but not forgotten member of your family.

To make the project you will need the following:

old shirts that were worn often
piece of dark colored printed material to use as edging material
large piece of plain colored fabric that matches the shirts to use as the border
piece from a striped shirt for the heart backing with date of death
Light colored fabric to line the back
small piece of striped fabric with red hearts on it (mine were from some boxer shorts that mom bought for dad which makes them especially sweet in the corners.)
two 12 x 1/4 inch wooden dowels
light fiberfill backing
sewing machine
thread to match

Directions: (Please bear in mind that my sister made this memory square so my directions are approximate but should give you a good idea of how to make this project.)

1. Cut the shirts into even sized squares. My sister made the squares of her project about 1 1/2 inch each when stitched so should be a bit larger when cut.

2. Arrange the squares so that the shirts form a large heart in the center of the bolder material. (see the pattern below the actual photo of our project)

The size of the front section before edging measures about 12 x 12 inches. You will also need some half squares to make get the heart shape correctly.

See the close up below of the actual project and pattern below it as well.

*Special note: The material on the bottom left of the heart has special significance. My sister purchased it for two reasons.

There are buildings in each of the blocks (my father was a builder) and also the Eiffel Tower (dad is of French descent.) Very appropriate Judy.

3. This is the pattern my sister used for the front section:

4. Cut the dark plain colored fabric in 12 x 1 1/2 inch pieces. Attach a square of the striped fabric with hearts at each end of the long strips.

These are then joined to the large memory square front section to form a sleeve. Our hearts came from boxer shorts my mother bought my father.

How sweet to have these to place in the corners of the memory square!

5. Using the light colored solid material, cut a large square about 15 x 15″. This will form the backing piece. (it will be larger than the front at this stage.)

6. Place fiberfill between the front and back sections and stitch them together. Use the dark purchased material and stitch to the front section to form the border.

Turn it over and hand stitch it to the back after attaching the rod pockets (see below).

7. Use the sewing machine stitch two heart shapes, one on the edge of the large heart section and the other inside it. (leave enough room in the center for the heart shaped date of birth that will be stitched to the back.

It will make the third heart shape on the front after stitching.)

**For quilters, the stitching to create the lines of the two hearts on the front is called “stitching in the ditch.” It’s when you follow exactly the edges of your blocks, in this case in a heart pattern.

8. Take the small piece of striped fabric and cut it into a heart shape.

Stitch the date of your relation’s death in a darker color and attach light fiberfill to the back and stitch it on the edges using a fancy stitching on the edge so that it will not fray.

9. Stitch the small heart to the back of the memory square in the center. It will form the third row of heart stitching on the front.

10. The back of the memory cloth has four rod pockets, one in each corner. They are attached under the edges of the dark edging before hand stitching to the back. These hold the dowels in place.

It can be hung from these at the top and the bottom dowel will help it to lay flat on the wall and not curl.

Display with pride in memory of your lost relative. I hope that you enjoy making this project as much as my sister did.

I will treasure mine always.

I have my memory square hanging in my kitchen. So many thanks to my caring sister, Judy, for giving me this loving memory of my dad that I will always cherish!