Memory Quilts by Big Wes

June 22, 2025

How AI Is Changing Quilt Design

A digital photograph showcases a quilting and tech workspace. A computer monitor displays colorful quilt block designs, with a white sewing machine, fabric swatches, and a Raspberry Pi nearby. Finished quilts hang on the wall in the background.

Quiltmaking has long been an art form rooted in tradition, but today it is also evolving into a space for innovation. One of the most exciting developments in recent years is the role of artificial intelligence in quilt design. While quilting remains a profoundly personal and hands-on craft, AI is opening new doors for creativity, enabling quilters to visualize patterns, explore color palettes, and design with greater freedom than ever before.

June 21, 2025June 21, 2025

Why Your First Quilt Should Be a T-Shirt Quilt

A stack of neatly folded colorful t-shirts sits on a wooden table next to a white sewing machine. In front of the machine, various cut fabric squares from t-shirts are arranged in rows, suggesting the beginning of a quilt project. Natural light streams in from a nearby window, creating a warm and inviting workspace.

If you’ve ever thought about making a quilt but felt overwhelmed, I have good news for you. Your first quilt doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to be meaningful. Starting with a t-shirt quilt is a great way to begin your quilting journey.

June 19, 2025June 19, 2025

How a Pile of Old Clothes Becomes a Quilt Full of Stories

At first glance, it might just look like a pile of old clothes: worn t-shirts, faded jeans, maybe a baby blanket or two. But to me, it’s something more. Each piece holds a memory. A moment. A story. And when those pieces are stitched together, they become something powerful: a memory quilt.

June 8, 2025June 8, 2025

5 Surprising Things You Can Use to Make a Memory Quilt (Besides Clothes)

A neatly stacked pile of folded blankets and towels sits on a wooden table in a quilting studio.

Are you looking for a creative way to upcycle keepsakes and preserve memories? I help people turn meaningful items into custom memory quilts that tell their story. If you’ve been holding onto old linens, baby items, or household fabrics and wondering what to do with them, this post is for you.

May 18, 2025May 18, 2025

Why Prewashing Clothes Is Important for Your Memory Quilt

A middle-aged woman in a blue shirt stands in a bright laundry room, holding a neatly folded stack of t-shirts in front of an open washing machine, with sunlight streaming through a nearby window.

If you plan to send me clothing for a memory quilt, I want to say a heartfelt thank you. These quilts are deeply personal, and I consider it an honor to work with the items that mean so much to you and your family. One crucial step in preparing your clothing is to wash the items before you give them to me.

April 4, 2025April 4, 2025

Why T-Shirt Quilts Are More Than Just Blankets

A colorful t-shirt quilt displayed on a bed, featuring a variety of t-shirts with different colors, logos, and designs. The quilt is neatly arranged in a well-lit, neutral-toned room, highlighting its patchwork of personal memories and unique patterns.

At Quilts by Big Wes, we turn old t-shirts into something new and meaningful. T-shirt quilts aren’t just cozy keepsakes. They’re memory maps. Every shirt in your quilt tells a story; together, they become a visual timeline of your life.

March 14, 2025March 14, 2025

Turning Memories into Masterpieces: The Art of Upcycling Clothes into Quilts

A rustic wooden table in a cozy quilting studio displays colorful quilt patches made from upcycled clothing. The fabric pieces include denim, flannel, and vibrant t-shirts, each with visible stitching. A warm light from a nearby lamp highlights the textures. In the background, a wooden shelf holds neatly stacked fabric rolls, spools of thread, and a vintage sewing machine, creating an inviting and creative atmosphere.

In the world of quilting, every stitch tells a story. At Quilts by Big Wes, I’ve had the privilege of transforming cherished memories into lasting keepsakes. By upcycling old clothes and T-shirts into custom quilts, each creation becomes more than just a warm covering—it’s a piece of history, stitched with love.

January 26, 2025January 26, 2025

The Emotional Impact of Memory Quilts: Stories Behind the Stitches

Quilts are more than fabric and thread—they are storytellers, connecting us to the people and memories we hold dear. At Quilts by Big Wes, I specialize in creating memory quilts that capture those moments, transforming cherished garments and textiles into timeless pieces of comfort and remembrance.

January 4, 2025January 4, 2025

Quilts by Big Wes: Upcycling Memories into Comfort

A cozy, handcrafted quilt made from upcycled fabrics draped over a wooden rocking chair near a sunlit window. The quilt features a patchwork of sentimental clothing, including old t-shirts and baby blankets. A modern sewing machine sits on a sturdy wooden table nearby, surrounded by colorful fabric scraps and sewing tools. The warm and inviting atmosphere is highlighted by soft natural lighting, showcasing the textures and colors of the quilt. In the background, a sewing workspace adds to the scene, emphasizing the craftsmanship and care behind quilt-making.

In a world dominated by fast fashion and disposable goods, Quilts by Big Wes offers something deeply personal and sustainable—quilts that carry stories, warmth, and history. I take your cherished fabrics and transform them into unique, handmade quilts that preserve memories while promoting sustainability.

January 2, 2025January 2, 2025

Repurposing Denim: Ideas for a Durable Quilt

Denim quilt made from repurposed jeans, displayed on a rustic wooden bench outdoors. The quilt features a mix of light and dark denim patches in geometric and patchwork patterns, surrounded by lush greenery, evoking a cozy and sustainable aesthetic.

Denim has always been a symbol of durability and style, and there’s no better way to repurpose those well-loved jeans than by turning them into a quilt. As someone who has spent years transforming old clothes into unique and meaningful quilts, I can tell you that denim offers endless possibilities for creating a rugged and stylish piece.