by Joyce Livingston                        Click here to see the Shortie Jacket pattern I used for this jacket.

My family is the most important thing in my life. And it's a large one, as you can see by the pictures
on Mom's Memory Jacket--six child and their spouses, 20 grandchildren and one great-greatson.
Needless to say, when we're all together, out comes my camera.  I love to share their pictures with everyone.

Since I'm always looking for ideas to make unusual, original jackets to include in my Jackets & Embellishments Program (which I present to quilt guilds across the country), I was excited when I saw a quilt made with blocks containing transferred photographs.  The idea hit me!  "A jacket!  I'll make a jacket with pictures of
my family on both the front and back!"

Transferring the photos to fabric was a fairly simple process.
And, Mom's Memory Jacket became my walking photo album!

To make your own Memory Jacket...

Purchase and/or assemble these supplies

• Photocopies of pictures
• A bottle of transfer medium for fabrics (a product like Picture This and others) available at craft stores
• White cotton fabric (good quality)--amount depends of how many pictures to transfer and how large they are
• Sponge-type brush applicator
• Several sponges (any size) or old washclothes for soaking
• Scissors

• Tape your photos to 8 1/2" x 11" sheets of paper, so you'll be able to get several on sheet for copying.  These can be color or black and white photos.  The color copies are more expensive to copy, but the quality is excellent.  Have them done at any copy center.
• Once copied, cut the pictures apart.
• Cut white cotton fabric into pieces a little larger than each photo copy, to allow for seams.
• Spread the transfer medium onto the face of each photocopy with a sponge-type brush.  Cover it so you can barely see the picture.
• Place the photocopy on the fabric face-down, and gently roll a rolling pin over the top.  Don't press too hard; you're only working out any air bubbles.
• Allow to dry for 24 hours--no less.
• Turn a few photocopies at a time, face-up, and lay either a very wet sponge or a folded wet washcloth on top of each photo.  Allow this to sit and soak for at least 5 minutes.
• Using a small wet sponge and starting in the center, begin pushing outward to the edges.  Peel the paper off, working it with the sponge and your fingertips, until all paper is off, and clear images remain.  You may soak them again, if necessary.

The first thing I like to do in designing a jacket is cut out my lining fabric, to use a temporary base for my layout.
Place the pictures on the lining as a guide to determine where you'll want them in the finished jacket.
When you're happy with the placement, it's time to begin sewing it all together (removing the lining base first).

Your pictures will probably be all sizes, which can present a problem, but that's OK.  It's easily resolved.
Think of your pictures in units, like quilt blocks.  See where you can join several together with little strips
of fabric between them to create a block.  You may have to sew some strips wider or longer than others to
make everything fit.

Lay each section onto the lining to check the size and placement.  By studying the picture placement on
Mom's Memory Jacket, you'll be able to see how I've combined different-size pictures together.
The strips of fabric containing words were handled in the same way.

Selecting the Feature Fabric

It was easy to select the fabric for my Mom's Memory Jacket.  The stars of my life are my family, so the royal blue fabric with its gold stars was a natural.  You may be able to find a fabric that represents your family's interest such a sailing, flying, hunting, horseback riding, hot-air ballooning, skiing, etc. Most anything (within reason) can be used for your lining.  Cut your pattern pieces from these sections.

Variations

Your Memory Jacket doesn't have to contain family photos. You could make it with pictures of your family pets, vacations, wedding, homes you've lived in, your childhood, friends, photos of quilt you've made, etc.  You probably have a good idea whirling around in your head right now.

  Click here for Joyce's Jacket Patterns: Jacket Patterns

Refuse to put linings in your jackets?  Not with this method.
For making a fully-jacket, without actually putting a lining into it, you must see the instructions in my patterns.
It's not magic--but, almost!  I use a very simple, easy-to-do unit construction method for making all my
quilts and clothing, it takes the pain out of sewing.  I've worked very hard at making the directions easy
to read and easy to follow.  Makes the making of jackets a snap!  You'll love it!

It's fun!  Use your imagination to personalize your very own Memory Jacket.

 Click here to see the Shortie Jacket pattern I used for this jacket.