Quilting in the Black Community: A Legacy of Love, Resistance, and Creativity

A realistic oil painting of an African American woman in a rustic wooden room, sewing a colorful patchwork quilt by hand. She wears a faded rust-colored dress and a white headscarf, sitting near a window that lets in soft natural light. A fireplace and wooden chair add to the historical atmosphere.

Quilting runs deep in the Black community. Long before I picked up a rotary cutter or fired up a longarm machine, I was surrounded by fabric, faith, and stories stitched into every corner of our homes. Quilts weren’t just blankets. They were history books, acts of resistance, and expressions of love passed from one generation to the next.

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 28, 2025May 28, 2025

The Meaning Behind Popular Quilt Blocks

A photograph captures two elderly women working together to hand sew a colorful patchwork quilt. One is a Black woman with glasses wearing a tan sweater, and the other is a white woman with white hair wearing a light blue shirt. They are sitting at a table near a window in a bright, cozy room.

Quilting isn’t just stitching fabric together. It’s storytelling. Every block, every shape, every fabric choice can hold a deeper meaning, especially in traditional quilts passed down through generations.

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 26, 2025April 26, 2025

What is Longarm Quilting?

Close-up of a longarm quilting machine stitching a colorful patchwork quilt, with shelves of folded quilts and fabrics in the background.

When you hear the word “quilting,” you might think of sewing small fabric pieces together. But the final step — stitching the quilt top, batting, and backing into one finished piece — is just as important. That’s where longarm quilting comes in.

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 9, 2025January 9, 2025

How Color Theory Shapes Quilt Design

An artistic quilt featuring distinct sections of warm, cool, and high-contrast colors, illustrating different color harmonies. The warm tones of reds, oranges, and yellows convey warmth and energy, while the cool blues, greens, and purples create a calming effect. High-contrast black and white patterns add excitement and movement. The quilt is laid out on a soft fabric surface with gentle lighting, emphasizing the emotional depth of color choices in quilt design.

Color is one of the most powerful tools in quilt design. It dictates mood, balance, and even the emotional impact of a piece. Whether you prefer bold, high-contrast designs or soft, harmonious palettes, understanding color theory can help you create quilts that are both visually striking and deeply meaningful.

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.