The Original Memory Bear, made from clothes you can't part with
Turn a meaningful shirt, uniform, baby outfit, or clothing from someone you love into a handmade Memory Bear you can see, hold, and share.
Some clothes feel too meaningful to give away
Some clothes are hard to part with because they still feel connected to a person, a season of life, or a memory you don’t want to lose.
We turn those meaningful pieces into a Memory Bear you can hold, display, and share, instead of keeping them tucked away in a closet, drawer, or storage bin.
Your clothes have memories. We help you hold onto them.
Slide the image to see how a meaningful shirt becomes a Memory Bear you can hold onto.
We know it can be hard to let go of meaningful clothes. We make the next step simple.
Place your order, then choose the clothes you want to send after checkout. We’ll email clear instructions and help guide you on which clothes will work best for your Memory Bear.
Place your order
Begin your Memory Bear order here, then choose the clothes you want to send after checkout.
Send us your clothes
We’ll email clear instructions for what to send, where to send it, and which types of clothing work best.
We make your bear
Our sewing team carefully transforms your clothing into a one-of-a-kind Memory Bear, handmade in our studio.
WHAT CLOTHES CAN I SEND?
Made from the clothes that still mean something
From a favorite shirt to team uniforms, pjs, t-shirts, dresses, or a loved one’s well-worn flannel, your Memory Bear can be made from the pieces you’ve been saving because they feel too meaningful to let go.
The clothes don't have to be perfect.
The best pieces are often the ones that were worn, loved, and remembered.
THE CLOTHES YOU REMEMBER
Some clothes bring back a person, a place, or a moment
Like a favorite song or an old photo, some clothes bring you back to a person, a place, or a moment you want to hold onto.
- Dad’s shirt he wore every holiday.
- Your favorite concert t-shirt.
- Mom’s sweatshirt that still feels like her.
- Grandpa’s flannel from every family photo.
They’re the clothes you’ve been holding onto because they still mean something.
We turn them into Memory Bears made to be held, shared, and remembered.
TRUSTED SINCE 2003
Selected as one of Oprah’s Favorite Things. Trusted by families for over 20 years.
The Patchwork Bear has turned meaningful clothes into handmade keepsakes since 2003.
Selected as one of Oprah’s Favorite Things, our small studio is trusted by families to transform irreplaceable clothes into Memory Bears made with care.
Your clothes are handled with care through every step, from the day they arrive in our studio to the day your finished bear is sent home.
CUSTOMER STORIES
Same clothes. Same memories. Remade and remembered.
Every Memory Bear starts with clothes someone saved for a reason. These are a few of the moments customers have shared after receiving theirs.
“I felt completely safe placing something so irreplaceable into their hands.
”
Every single bear was crafted with extraordinary detail. The quality is exceptional, truly heirloom level.”
“One of the kids carried that bear around all weekend.
”
After my husband died, I sent shirts to have bears made for our grandchildren. The timing and arrival were perfect and the adult kids really loved them too.”
“Best. Gift. Ever.
”
The bears are spectacular, even better than I could have imagined. The detail and thought that went into creating these is just incredible.”
THE ORIGINAL MEMORY BEAR
A handmade bear made from the clothes you’ve been saving
The Original Memory Bear is made from the meaningful clothes you send us, like shirts, pajamas, uniforms, dresses, sweatshirts, or lightweight denim.
Our sewing team uses your clothes to create a one-of-a-kind bear that keeps the colors, patterns, and memories of the original pieces.
Each bear is handmade in our studio, so no two are exactly alike.
After checkout, we’ll email clear instructions for sending your clothes.
Common questions we’re often asked before getting started
How many clothes should I send?
We can make your Original Memory Bear from 3-5 adult size clothes.
We offer other memory bears based on the type and number of clothes you have:
- Simple Memory Bear (just one shirt)
- Two-Shirt Bear (made with 2 shirts)
- Baby Clothes Bear (8-12 baby clothes)
- Necktie Bear (made with 12-15 ties)
What clothes work best?
Most everyday clothes work well, including shirts, pajamas, uniforms, dresses, sweatshirts, T-shirts, flannels, and lightweight denim. Well-loved clothes are okay too. We add a stabilizing fabric to the back of all clothes to help with durability and shape.
Very thick, bulky, slippery, stretchy, or fragile fabrics can be harder to work with. After you order, we’ll help guide you on which pieces are best for your Memory Bear.
Can I request certain parts of the clothes to be used?
Yes. Feel free to pin notes to your clothes with requests like “use as much of this as possible,” “please use this logo,” or “only use this if needed.”
We’ll do our best to follow your notes when designing your Memory Bear. Large T-shirt graphics may be cropped to fit our bear pattern pieces, especially if the design is larger than the size of your hand.
Can I make more than one memory bear from the same clothes?
In some cases, yes. Larger items like adult long-sleeved shirts or dresses can typically be used to make two bears.
If you’re hoping to create multiple bears, it’s easiest to order them together so we can plan the best use of the fabric from the start.
What happens to any leftover fabric?
After you order, we’ll email an order form to include with your clothes. There’s a place to let us know if you’d like any remaining fabric returned with your finished bear.
How long does it take?
Once we receive your clothes in our studio, it typically takes 5 to 7 weeks to create your memory bear.
September through December is our busiest time of year, so orders may take up to 8 weeks during that season. Please order early and plan ahead, especially for holiday gifts.
Holiday deadline: Clothes must be received by October 31 for holiday delivery.
The clothes are already meaningful. Let’s turn them into something you can hold onto.
Your Memory Bear starts with the clothes you’ve been saving. We’ll help guide you on what to send, then our sewing team will carefully turn those pieces into a one-of-a-kind keepsake.
After checkout, we’ll email clear instructions for sending your clothes. There's no rush to send them right away, but we do ask that clothes are sent within 1 year of purchase.
