Memory Lane Quilting helps you keep the memories closer
By Laura Briedis
I know I’m not the only mother who has saved every baseball jersey, tournament T-shirt and cap from my son’s little league teams all the way up to his high school team.
At last count I have 38, not including the old shirts he still wears. Other moms and dads have saved clothing from their children’s multiple sports, cheerleading, marching band, dance teams, ice skating shows and theater productions—even ribbons from horse shows.
While many of us have not parted with these clothing items for sentimental reasons, they often end up in a box in the corner of a closet.
But if you bring these cherished items to Memory Lane Quilting, this local business will take your shirts and turn them into beautiful quilts to wrap you and your loved ones in a lifetime of memories.
“Our quilts make the most unique gifts for graduations, birthdays, showers, weddings and other special occasions,” says Mike Holodnak, who owns the Brecksville-based business with his wife, Bonnie.
“When given as a high school graduation gift, it will comfort your child heading off to college by bringing a little piece of home with him or her.”
“And for those graduating from college, we also make quilts from sorority and fraternity T-shirts and other college logo shirts that will help ease the transition from school to the workplace,” mentions Bonnie.
“These quilts give kids that warm, fuzzy feel, just like a parent’s hug,” adds Mike. “They also help parents hold on to their own special memories, like going to a child’s many ball games, listening to them sing in the choir, watching them in a play or supporting them in other activities.”
Memory quilts are perfect gifts for parents and grandparents on Mother’s and Father’s Day, the couple notes.
To have a quilt made you need to bring in at least nine shirts—up to 49 for a larger quilt—and Memory Lane Quilting does the rest. In addition to T-shirts, you can also use jerseys, sweatpants, golf towels, sweaters and hats.
“We cut the material, lay it out, sew it together, add backing and batting and then quilt the entire piece,” explains Mike. “We can add borders and sashing, and even add printed photos to the quilt.”
“We generally lay out the quilt in a checkerboard pattern, alternating light and dark, so it is the most pleasing to the eye,” adds Bonnie. “If the customer requests chronological order or some other special sequence, we will go through each shirt with them to create a design that best tells their story.”
Depending on the size, they can make a lap quilt (53 by 62 inches), twin bed size (62 by 82 inches), wall hanging (44 by 53 inches) or other special requested size. They can also make stuffed teddy bears and decorative pillows.
On display in the store are quilts to inspire your own creativity. From a quilt featuring a collection of Crown Royal bottle bags to collectible Harley Davidson shirts, souvenir shirts from different vacation spots and a compilation of Cleveland sports teams, these personalized quilts epitomize what one-of-a-kind really means.
Memory Lane Quilting is located at 6950 Miller Road in Brecksville. Shop hours are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; and evenings by appointment. Call 330-468-2831 or visit MemoryLaneQuilting.com for more information.