Has anyone made a photo memory quilt?

[Krischaser]

Hi I want to really make a photo memory quilt but really don't know how. Can anyone give me some instructions on how to go about doing this. I have a little basic concept. Thanks

 

[sarahkaiserdse]

I can help if you give me alittle more info.
Do you know how to get your pictures on fabric already?
Do you know how large you want the quilt to be?
Do you have any favorite quilt patterns already?
Have you ever made a quilt?
Sarah

 

[Krischaser]

Hi Sarah thanks for responding--no I've never made a quilt before. I have put logos on material before but not pictures. I want to make a simple quilt with picture squares surrounded by fabric stips then attached to another fabric square. I would like the quilt to be the size of a two person throw blanket or smaller. I think it would be a great gift for my mother in law and my mother for christmas. Any good programs to use to transfer the photos or any other tips would be great. Thanks!!!!

 

[sarahkaiserdse]

Do you have a fabric shop near you? I have used several different methods but I suggest you try a few and see which one works the best.
1) a product called bubble jet 2000 in my opinion the best product on the market....however not the quickest or easiest.
2) Milliken Printed Treasures fabric sheets this is the easiest as the sheet are ready to go right into your printer. Everyone I know who has used them has been happy.
You don't have to have anything to special to do this. You will need some way of getting the pictures to your computer and some program that will allow you to edit or crop your photos to a pleasing design. Then any inkjet printer should allow you to print. Printing on the fabric isn't any different the printing on paper.
The next thing would be to determine how many photos you have to put in the quilt and the maximum size of your pictures. Once you know that I can help you design the size of your blocks and how many you would need.

 

[Krischaser]

Yes--Jo Ann fabric store is 10 mins up the road. I will see if they have the fabric sheets you mentioned. I am leaving to go to disney but will be in touch when I get back. Thanks again--I am so excited to do this.

 

[ocd4disney]

I started a memory quilt for my mom. The pictures do not really do the colors justice.

I found a book with a pattern I liked and then just adapted it to accommodate the photos.

I found fabric sheets that I could run through my printer. I bought them from Jo-anns.com since I could get a pack of 50 for much less than I could have in the stores (I used an online coupon) .

I printed the pictures, cut around them, added borders with the red accent fabric I had picked for the stars, and then pieced it all together (well.....I am still working on that part) I have several projects started at the moment.

Good luck with your project. Post a picture so we can see how it turned out.

 

[Krischaser]

Hi thanks for responding. What brand of fabric sheets did you get from jo-anns? Do you like how they came out? Was the picture easy to transfer on and was it stiff? Thanks--your pattern is great!!

 

[ocd4disney]

Thanks!

I'm not sure if this link will work but I am going to post it anyway.
http://www.joann.com/joann/catalog.jsp?CATID=cat3823&PRODID=prd49063

Every once and a while they have a 50% off coupon. After tax and shipping, I paid 102.55 grand total. My sister is helping me and we want to make a couple others. Mom's quilt will take 13 pictures.

Some of the pictures I printed as 5 by 7s and put 2 on each page. Then I trimmed them and am in the process of putting borders. There were a couple of pictures that were darker than the others and I had to print them one to a sheet.

I think they turned out nice. Follow the printing directions found in the fabric sheets. My pictures, after soaking them, were a little on the pinkish side....but that is probably due to my printer not the fabric sheets. Overall I am very pleased.

You can also find pictures of memory quilts by just google searching memory quilts.

 

[ocd4disney]

The sheets are on a paper backing that you peel off before you sew with it. The pictures weren't stiff at all.......they felt like regular fabric.