If you’ve been holding onto a bundle of tiny clothes or a loved one’s favourite shirt, wondering what to do with them, you’re in the right place.
So where do you start? Some of the first things people ask me:
“What should I send?”
“Will this item work?”
“How many do I need?”
So in this post, I’ve pulled together everything you need to know about choosing the right clothing for your keepsake, how many pieces to send, and how to make sure your finished bear, cushion or blanket looks just as beautiful as you imagined.
Which fabrics work well?
Some fabrics are just made to be transformed into keepsakes like:
✔️ Jersey (think babygrows and T-shirts)
✔️ Cotton
✔️ Polycottons
If you’re looking at a little pile of outgrown favourites or sentimental pieces and wondering, “Will this work?”...chances are, yes it will!
The secret is that every piece of clothing is carefully stabilised with interfacing before I even begin sewing. This helps the fabric hold its shape, gives a smooth finish, and makes it suitable for a wide variety of garments.
Even if the item feels a little thin, soft, or stretchy, I’ll support it in a way that gives the final keepsake a lovely clean finish. So go ahead, choose the pieces that mean the most to you 💕
A few helpful pointers when picking your clothing...
Your keepsake is completely unique to you, and the fabrics you choose will help shape the final design. Here are some simple things to think about:
🧸 Choose well-loved favourites, those items you can’t bear to part with but don’t quite know what to do with (I see you 👀 drawer full of tiny vests!).
🎨 Think about colours and patterns, mixing soft tones with pops of colour or fun details (like little animals, slogans or textures) can create something extra special.
✂️ Send a few extra bits if your really not sure, this gives me more flexibility when designing and helps me make the layout as beautiful as possible.
💌 Tell me if there’s a piece you’d love to feature front and centre, I’ll always try to place it somewhere special.
Do clothes need to be perfect? Nope!
Clothing doesn’t need to be ironed, folded or fancy, I’ll take care of that when I create your keepsake. As long as it’s clean and in fairly good condition, we’re good to go!
If anything ever looks a little too worn to include, I’ll gently set it aside and use the best bits of what you’ve sent. You can always pop in a few extras to give me options.
How many items do I need to send?
Here’s a simple guide to help you plan what to send, based on the size and type of keepsake you’re ordering.
🧸 Keepsake Bears & Animals
1–2 adult-sized items
2–3 older child-sized items
6–9 baby clothes (3+ months)
8–12 newborn clothes (0–3 months)
A mix of babygrows, vests, T-shirts and sleepsuits work beautifully and I’ll always try to include recognisable details like a collar, logo or special motif.
Memory Blankets (great for baby clothes or adult shirts)
If you’ve got a full drawer you’d love to see transformed, a blanket is a lovely option. Here’s what to send:
Small Blanket
🍼 18–20 newborn items
👶 12–15 baby items (3+ months)
👔 3–5 adult items
Medium Blanket
🍼 30–35 newborn items
👶 18–25 baby items
👔 5–7 adult items
Large Blanket
🍼 45–55 newborn items
👶 35–40 baby items
👔 7–9 adult items
Extra Large Blanket
🍼 60–70 newborn items
👶 45–55 baby items
👔 9–12 adult items
✨ Top tip: If you’d prefer not to include fastenings like poppers or plain squares, feel free to send a few extra bits so I have plenty to work with.
🪡 Keepsake Cushions
Single-shirt style: Just 1 adult item
Multi-patch cushion:
2–4 adult items
3–5 older child items
6–9 baby items (3+ months)
8–12 newborn items (0–3 months)
Want a variety of colours or textures? Pop in a few extras so I can blend them beautifully.
💛 Hanging Hearts (sweet, simple and perfect for gifting)
1–2 adult or child-sized items
2–4 baby items (3+ months)
3–4 newborn items
Still not sure what to send? Let’s chat!
I know it can feel like a big decision. These pieces hold so many memories, and I never take that lightly. Whether you’re choosing items for a memory bear, a cushion to sit on your sofa, or a baby clothes blanket to treasure forever, I’m here to help you every step of the way.
Feel free to drop me a message or send over a photo of what you’re thinking of including. I’ll always give honest, friendly advice to help you feel confident in your choices. x