Six Memory Bears, One Very Special Dad: Creating Keepsakes From John's Clothing
Updated: Aug 28
Six bears. Six different personalities. One very special dad.
When Alison contacted me about making six memory bears for her family, I knew from the very beginning that these were going to be incredibly special bears to make. Alison sent her clothing to me from Derby, trusting me with some of her dad John's most treasured and well-loved clothes. Among the clothing was a selection of his favourite shirts, his much-loved burgundy joggers, a green fleecy jacket and, rather fittingly, a pair of his "grumpy" boxers.
Her plan was to create six bears, one for each member of the family, with every bear being slightly different and having its own special meaning, and I absolutely loved the challenge of finding a way to bring all those memories into six individual bears.
Six bears, each with their own story
Rather than making six identical bears, each member of the family was able to choose the shirt they loved the most. That shirt became the main fabric for their bear, making each one personal to them, but Alison wanted each bear to have something that connected them all back to John too.
The burgundy joggers and green fleece were incorporated into every bear, creating a little piece of John in each one. And then there was the boxers...
When Alison told me about the "grumpy" boxers, I knew we had to find a way of including them!
I was carefully able to cut a foot pad for each bear from the boxer fabric, positioning it so that "grumpy" image could still be seen.
It's little details like this that I think can make a memory bear so incredibly special. It isn't just about making something that looks lovely; it's about finding those little pieces of clothing that carry a memory and making sure they don't disappear.
Blue paid shirt bear 
mint green paid shirt bear 
multi shirt paid short bear 
Blue plaid shirt bear 
Fleece and plaid shirt bear 
Making six bears from treasured clothing
One of the challenges with making memory bears from clothing is working out how to make the most of the fabric available. Some of John's shirts didn't have quite enough fabric to make a 2 full bears where 2 family members had chosen the same shirt, so I added beige polar fleece where needed. This meant I could make two bears from one shirt while still keeping the original shirt fabric as the main feature.
For Alison's mum, we did something a little different again, her bear was made using a mixture of the different shirts, bringing several of John's favourite clothes together into one very special keepsake.
I think that's one of the lovely things about creating memory bears made from clothing. There isn't one way of doing it. Every collection of clothing is different, and I can work with the fabrics and memories you've chosen to create something personal to you.
The care that goes into every memory bear
When I make a memory bear, I don't simply cut out a pattern and sew it together. Every bear takes approximately 6–8 hours to make, and I put a huge amount of care into every stage. It starts before I've even cut the first piece of fabric.
Preparing the fabric
I carefully trace and apply the interfacing needed to stabilise the clothing. This is particularly important when working with well-loved garments, as some fabrics can be soft, stretchy or delicate after years of wear.
Choosing the pattern placement
I then look carefully at each garment and decide which parts of the clothing should become which parts of the bear. This is one of my favourite parts of the process. I look for special details, patterns, buttons, seams, logos and little features that can be incorporated into the bear. With John's clothing, I was particularly conscious that each bear needed to retain something meaningful from his clothes.
Cutting every piece
Once I've decided on the layout, I carefully cut each pattern piece. There's no rushing this stage.
A small change in where I position a pattern piece can completely change which part of the original garment appears on the finished bear.
Sewing the bear together
Each piece is stitched carefully and the seams are double stitched to create a strong, durable finish. I want these bears to be keepsakes that can be enjoyed for many years, so strength and construction are just as important to me as how the finished bear looks.
Stuffing
The bears are filled with fire-retardant polyester toy stuffing. I take time to work the stuffing into every little crevice and make sure the bear is properly filled and supported. It's surprisingly easy to underestimate how much stuffing goes into a bear! I want them to feel cuddly but also have enough structure to stand and hold their shape.
Bringing the bear to life
And then comes my favourite bit. The final details.
The nose.
The smile.
The eyes.
The little indentations around the eyes.
This is the stage where the bear suddenly seems to develop a personality. It's amazing how adding a nose and a smile can completely change the expression of a bear. I think this is one of the things that really sets a handmade memory bear apart. Every bear I make has its own character.
Six bears, six personalities
Although all six bears were made from the same collection of John's clothing, they weren't identical. Each one had its own shirt, its own combination of fabrics and its own little details.
And because the family had each chosen the shirt they loved most, each bear represented a slightly different memory of John. I think that's what makes making multiple memory bears from one person's clothing so special. Rather than dividing the clothing into six identical pieces, I can create six individual keepsakes — each belonging to a different person, but all carrying a little piece of the same story.
From Derby to my North East studio
Alison sent John's clothing to me from Derby, and once the six bears were finished, I carefully packaged them and returned them using a tracked service. Although my studio is in the North East of England, I make memory bears for families across the UK. You don't need to live locally for me to create a bear from your treasured clothing. Your garments can be carefully packaged and sent to me, and I'll keep you updated throughout the process. For something as personal as the clothing of someone you love, I know how important it is to feel that it is being looked after properly.
A real privilege to be trusted with John's clothing
Making these six bears for Alison and her family was a real privilege. Whenever someone sends me clothing belonging to someone they love, I never forget that I'm not simply being sent fabric.
I'm being trusted with something that has memories attached to it.
A favourite shirt.
A jacket they've worn countless times.
Clothes that remind someone of a particular time in their life.
Sometimes it's the tiny details that mean the most.
For Alison and her family, it was the "grumpy" on John's boxers. For someone else, it might be a pocket, a button, a logo or simply the fabric of a favourite shirt. My job is to look at those clothes and work out how I can preserve those details within the finished bear. And that is something I take very seriously.
Six bears, six memories, all carrying a little piece of John.
I'm so grateful to Alison for trusting me with something so precious, and I hope these bears will become treasured keepsakes for her and her family for many years to come.
Want to turn treasured clothing into a memory bear?
If you have clothing belonging to someone special, I can create a personalised memory bear using the fabrics, details and memories that mean the most to you.
I work with shirts, jumpers, baby clothes, jackets, workwear and many other types of treasured clothing, and I can combine different garments to create something completely personal.
Comments