If you have ever wondered what happens after you send us your treasured clothing, we will take you behind the scenes and show you exactly how a memory bear is made.
Whether the clothing belongs to a baby, a loved one, a child leaving school or even a wedding day, every memory bear is handmade with care in our workshop. We know how precious these items are, which is why we take time to plan every detail so that your keepsake feels as special as the memories behind it.
Many people feel nervous about posting sentimental clothing, especially if it is something they cannot replace. We completely understand. Our aim is always to make sure the most important details are included, whether that is a favourite pocket, a school logo, a tiny baby grow print or a special piece of fabric from a loved one’s shirt.
Before we explain each stage, watch our short workshop video to see how treasured clothing is transformed into a handmade memory bear.
Every memory bear is handmade in our workshop using your treasured clothing.
Choosing the Clothing for a Memory Bear
The first step is choosing which clothing you would like to use. Memory bears can be made from many different items including:
- Baby clothes
- School uniform
- Shirts and jumpers
- Dresses and skirts
- Wedding clothing
- Sports clothes
- Pyjamas
- Uniforms
Usually we recommend sending a minimum of 1 adult item or 5 baby items for a standard size bear. Unsure whether you have enough clothing or which items would work best? Just get in touch and we will be happy to help before you send anything.
For keepsakes made from little ones’ outfits, take a look at our baby clothes memory bear range here.
School uniform, leavers’ hoodies and other special clothing can also be transformed into a keepsake, and you can see our school uniform memory bear options here.
Planning and Designing Your Bear
Before we start cutting any fabric, we carefully plan how your memory bear will look.
This is one of the most important parts of the process. We look at the clothing you have sent and decide where the most meaningful details should go. A pocket might become part of the tummy, a logo could be placed on the foot, or a favourite pattern may work beautifully on the ears. Every memory bear is completely unique.
We always try to make the most of the features that matter most to you. If there is something you definitely want included, such as a button, embroidery, collar or pocket, just let us know when you place your order.
Cutting Out the Bear
Once the design has been planned, we carefully mark out each piece of the memory bear pattern onto the clothing.
This stage takes time because we want to make sure every part of the fabric is used in the best possible way. We double-check where important details are sitting before any cutting begins.
After that, each piece is cut by hand, ready to be sewn together.
Sewing the Memory Bear Together
The next step is where the memory bear really starts to come to life.
Each piece is sewn together carefully in our workshop. The body, arms, legs and ears are all stitched individually before being assembled into the finished bear.
This is also the stage where extra details can be added, such as:
- Embroidered names or dates
- Heart embroidered tags
- Pockets
- School logos
- Tie, bowtie or scarf details
- Pieces of lace or wedding fabric
Adding the Final Details
Once the memory bear has been sewn together, we add the finishing touches. The bear is stuffed, shaped and checked carefully before being finished with its face and any personalised details. This is often the moment when the original clothing becomes instantly recognisable again, perhaps through a favourite pattern, a tiny baby grow print or a shirt pocket that means so much.
Many customers choose to add extra keepsakes at the same time, such as matching memory cushions or memory blankets made from leftover clothing.
Receiving Your Finished Memory Bear
When your memory bear is finished, it is wrapped carefully and posted back to you ready to treasure.
For many people, this is the most emotional part of the whole process. There is something very special about seeing treasured clothing transformed into a keepsake that can be held and displayed for years to come.
Some customers choose to order more than one memory bear so that different family members can each have their own special keepsake.
Ready to Create Your Own Memory Bear?
If you would like to turn treasured clothing into a handmade keepsake, view our full range of memory bears.
We also create keepsake cushions, blankets and other gifts from treasured clothing if you would like matching keepsakes for the whole family.
