How to Make a Memory Quilt With Photo Transfer Paper

Photographs add sentimental value to a quilt.

Quilts are used fundamentally for warmth and comfort but are designed in a way to be decorative. It's not uncommon for quilts to be passed down generations for sentimental reasons. Combining the comfort and beauty of a traditional quilt with memory-invoking photographs produces a quilt that is all the more valuable in the eye of the beholder. Memory quilts revolve around a theme, a person, or an event, highlighting related photographs on each block of fabric.

Things You'll Need

• Digital photographs
• Computer
• Printer
• Photo Transfer Paper
• Iron
• White Cotton Fabric
• Quilting Pattern
• Fabric
• Batting
• Needle
• Thread

Instructions

1. Choose your quilting pattern, fabric, and block sizes. The block sizes will determine the sizing of the photographs. Determine whether you want the photos to be in the center of each block or whether the photos will spread across over seams of pre-sewn blocks.

2. Use printer settings or photo imaging software to make a mirror or reverse image of each digital photograph. This is especially important if there are any letters or words in the photograph.

3. Print out photographs on copier paper. Use this as a rough draft to confirm how the pictures will fit onto each block. Blocks that are six inches squared will be able to fit a single 4x6 photograph whereas blocks that are 8.5 by 11 inches will be able to fit 2 photographs on each block.

4. Choose photo transfer paper designed for t-shirts since a quilt will be stretched and pulled in the same fashion as a shirt. Decide if the photograph will be ironed directly on the fabric block or will be ironed onto white cotton fabric. Ironing onto white fabric gives the quilter extra insurance in the event the transfer fails so that expensive fabric isn't wasted.

5. Print the images onto the photo transfer paper. Cut the images out of the transfer paper, cutting as closely to the image as possible.

6. Preheat iron. Check the paper's packaging, as guidelines for heating the iron vary depending on the brand of photo transfer paper. Place the image face down on pre-cut fabric. Iron the backing by moving in slow circles starting on the outer edges of the transfer and working the iron into the middle.

7. Peel away the backing carefully while peeking at the image underneath. If the image is partly sticking on the backing and not fully on the fabric, iron for another 30 seconds before removing the backing. Let the images cool on the fabric before sewing blocks together according to the chosen quilt pattern.

8. Flip over the finished block pattern and sandwich together the batting and the contrasting bottom fabric. Sew together according to the quilting pattern.

References

• Old Fashioned Living
• Soft Expressions
• CompuQuilt
• Connie's Memory Quilt