Handmade Memory Bears, made from the sentimental clothes you saved
Send us meaningful clothing and we'll turn it into a handmade Memory Bear you can hold, gift, and remember.
Not sure which bear to choose?
Watch this 2-minute video from Jen, founder of The Patchwork Bear and find out.
Looking for something specific?
We also make Baby Clothes Bears, Bereavement Bears, Necktie Bears, Wedding Bears and more.
What is a memory bear?
We all have them: special clothes saved that hold memories from when they were worn. Baby clothes, team jersey, concert t-shirt, wedding dress, even clothes from a lost loved one.
A memory bear is a keepsake made from these sentimental clothes, so you can save the memories, not the clothes.
Your clothes have memories. We help save them.
What sentimental clothes do you have saved away?
(Swipe the image to see how we can transform your clothes into an instant heirloom)
We create your keepsake: How it works
Creating a keepsake with The Patchwork Bear is easy. Our caring, professional team guides your clothes through each step, so you can feel confident your memories are in the best hands.
Choose your bear & place your order
Send us your clothes
After you order, we’ll email shipping instructions & order form to include with your clothes. We’ll guide you on what works best.
We create your keepsake
Our talented makers turn your clothes into a one-of-a-kind keepsake, with attention to detail and respect for your memories.
Meet the team making your memory bear
A small group of makers in our studio, working by hand on every bear we make.
Trusted for over 20 years to turn clothes into keepsakes
read our reviews
These are more beautiful than I imagined. I knew they would be amazing … but they are stunning. Makes me so happy to have my husbands special shirts turned into beautiful memory bears. What treasures they are.
I absolutely love my keepsake bears from The Patchwork Bear. They were lovingly made from my mom’s favorite pajamas, making them an incredibly special way to honor her memory. The craftsmanship is exceptional, and every detail was created with such care and precision. These bears bring me so much comfort and will be treasured by my family for generations. Thank you for creating such a beautiful and meaningful keepsake that I will cherish forever.
Memory Tote Bag
This Bear is a perfect memory of my son that tragically passed away at 18. Used the last 4 sweatshirts that belonged to him. Bear was made exactly as I asked. I will cherish this forever.
I absolutely love my bear made from my Grandpa’s flannel shirt!! It is so well made and packed full of memories. Thank you so much for this physical gift representing previous memories.
I am absolutely thrilled with my beautiful quilt, made with my late son’s clothes he wore from about ages 2-7. Patchwork Bear’s care and craftsmanship are evident in every stitch, and I am so happy to add this lovely quilt to the other memory keepsakes I’ve ordered. Every one is a treasure!
I purchased quite a few Two-Shirt Memory Bears, and they are all beautifully sewn and adorable with the artistic design from the two shirts. I highly recommend Patchwork Bear.
The three Bitty Bears and one Simple Memory Bear were lovingly made from my late son's clothing. Each bear is beautifully crafted and exceeded my expectations. I will be gifting the Bitty Bears to my three granddaughters on the first anniversary of their father's passing, and I know they will cherish them dearly.
The fourth bear was made especially for me, and it means more than words can express. These bears are not only beautifully made, but they also carry precious memories and provide a tangible connection to someone we love and miss every day.
The sentiment behind these keepsakes is truly heartwarming. They are a priceless gift that our family will treasure forever. Thank you for creating something so meaningful during such a difficult journey.
The 2 tote bags I had made from Jeans came out amazingly well. Your team does outstanding work. The detention to details is amazing. These bags will used for many years to come. Every time I use them I will be reminded of all the hard work I put into losing 65lbs this year!
I have received my 2 weekend duffle bags that I had made from jeans. These bags came out amazing . I love them. They will be a great reminder for all the work I did on losing 65 lbs in the last year!
Your team have a great eye for putting everything together that it all fits together so well.
Beautiful Memory Bears. When I received my memory bears I started to cry. Thank you for taking my Dad’s shirts and giving me such a wonderful memory to hold and to look at.
3 adorable bears beautifully made from Dads t shirts! Just in time for Dads Day !
It was absolutely perfect! My daughter cried! Thank-you for keeping a memory alive!
Our bears arrived yesterday with perfect timing as Father’s Day is today. My Mom passed in 2020 after being in hospice for over a year. My Dad - my hero - passed in February 2026 in a house fire. For Patchwork Bears to create such wonderful memories from their clothes was truly beyond my wildest expectations. They were communicative along the way with some updates, changes, and add ons. Thank you for helping make my grief a “Beary” bit better.
I am already planning to place another order.
My mom was the number one fan of her Las Vegas Golden Knights ! I had a memory bear for my father made a few years back and decided this is what I wanted with one of her jerseys… each bear is thoughtfully done and creative I might add.. it is so different from my daddy’s flannel bear but so cute
They now sit together on my father’s recliner in my home ! Love them
Thank you Patchwork for your care in making them
Common questions we’re often asked before getting started
How many clothes should I send?
It depends on the bear you choose. Our Simple Memory Bear uses one shirt, the Two-Shirt Bear uses two shirts, and our Original Memory Bear is made from 3-5 clothing items.
Can I make more than one memory bear from the same clothing item?
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 4–6 weeks to create your memory bear. During busy seasons and holidays, please allow a little extra time, closer to 5–7 weeks.
Can you work with worn or well-loved clothes?
Yes. Meaning matters more than perfection. We carefully work with well-loved items and add a stabilizing fabric to the back of all clothes to help with durability and shape.
