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When I graduated from high school, my mom made me a t-shirt quilt from all my old t-shirts from family trips, swim meets, summer camp and school trips. I love my t-shirt quilt. It is a warm and cuddly reminder of my childhood and it is functional too. It looks a lot like this:
When deciding on our guest book for the wedding I really wanted something that was functional. This eliminated traditional guest books, photo scrapbooks, wishing pots, etc. I love the sentiment behind these projects, but I didn’t want something that could end up on our bookshelf. I decided to do something similar to the t-shirt quilt, but unfortunately I don’t quilt! Luckily for me, my friend’s stepson does and after I mentioned the quilt idea to her, she told me that her son would be happy to make the quilt for us for the cost of the supplies!
This is how it will work. We sent our preferred dimensions for a lap quilt (approximately 50″x50″) and told him that we would need at least 40 squares and he will do the rest. We left the design and color scheme up to him to make it as easy and enjoyable as possible (bonus suprise for us). He will cut and prepare the squares and then my friend will bring them from Baltimore (where she lives) to the wedding in California. We will display the squares with a sign asking guests to write a message on them.
The sign will look something like this:
And the fabric squares would be displayed with permanent fabric markers and look something like this:
She will take the signed squares back to Baltimore and her stepson will magically sew them together and they will look something like this:
A few other items we considered before our quilt maker materialized…
Photo Frame Signature Mat, like this one from WeDoWed.com.
Guests can sign the mat and then replace the engagement picture with a wedding picture after the wedding.
Guest Book Platter, like this one from Guestbookplatters.com.
Have guests sign a personalized platter with special pens. This keepsake can be used to serve home cooked meals (or Chinese takeout).
Does your guestbook have an alternative function?
Our family has a special table cloth for Thanksgiving. Every year, every one in attendance at Thanksgiving writes on the table cloth what they are thankful for and signs it with their name and year - it is so much fun to read and reminisce. But we’ve learned something - be careful using colored fabric pens. We have it carefully dry cleaned once a year, and the oranges, yellows, some browns and reds have begun to fade. This means my sister and I spend Thanksgiving morning touching up the old faded entries every year (which is a lot of fun too) - but I’d recommend you stick with black fabric markers.
We are taking a oair of oars, painted whie and having everyone sign them. It goes with our nautical theme and makes a great decoration on the wall of our living room once we coat them with a varnish for preservation.
We are super excited to have soemthing that we can see everyday and not just when we pull out the album or the guest book.
That’s awesome! Plus, now I want a t-shirt quilt! What a great way to hold onto the memories attached to old t-shirts.
@enmoore66: Thanks for the advice! We will stick with black pens!
make sure your sign mentions the seam allowances - you don’t want anyones message getting sewn into the edge!
We’re doing a guitar guestbook…can be seen on my blog. I went to a wedding a couple weeks ago too (also can be seen on my blog) where they used a quilt that was already made up…I loooove the idea!!
I think this is a lovely idea. How about taping the edges of the fabric pieces with some masking tape or something like that so that your guests don’t accidentally write on the edges. Not everyone will read the signs carefully!
I think this is a beautiful idea. It’s really unique and fun and something you will treasure.
My sister did this for her guestbook a few years ago but I don’t think she ever had the quilt assembled. The sign you included in your post would be important to give your guests an idea of what the finished project might look like and how you’d like the squares to be filled out.
I think it will be something that can be passed down within your family over the years.
i would totally do the quilt, since mr. 122’s mom is a quilting queen, but she’s already making us one as a wedding present, so… i think we’re going to go with a blurb book. 
I adore the t-shirt quilt and plan on doing that with some of my late-father’s t-shirts (he was a t-shirt lover).
A recent bride of mine did the quilt thing in OSU colors and it went over really well! I LOVE that idea!!!
I can’t wait to see your final product!
I love this idea too — I was just thinking, why not have the quilt assembled already? Does he have enough time? Then have it laid out with pens for people to sign when it’s already complete. Like in the photos here:
http://bp0.blogger.com/_cqfW4EWM_a0/SI5gqAY8WjI/AAAAAAAAAeM/flSNTHAaQ5Q/s1600-h/IMG_5708.JPG
Miss Pinot Noir — great idea! My mother quilts and I have thought of this too!
I’ve been contemplating purchasing a sewing machine for years just to make myself a ginormous t-shirt quilt out of all my old swimming/soccer/random high-school & college-activity t-shirts (which I have saved in a box just for this purpose)! I think it’s a lovely idea for a wedding keepsake. Not sure how many guests you are having, but you could embroider over the signatures to make them even more permanent, if all-black writing doesn’t appeal.
Excellent idea! My Mom also made me a t-shirt quilt after I graduated from college, and I still use it almost daily. She didn’t even quilt it, just FYI for anyone else who might use this idea. She basically cut the t-shirts into square, sewed them all together, then sewed the whole thing onto a backing fabric and stuffed it. He he, I say it like its that easy…I had nothing to do with it 
Wow, a guy who can quilt?! I am suddenly feeling inadequate.
thats a great idea! i think we are going the boring photobook/guest book route though.
There is also a t-shirt quilt set with all the parts needed save for the t-shirts at Uncommon Goods for those that want to make one of their own that don’t have the quilting know-how!
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Mrs. Pinot Noir, New York/Napa Valley Age and Occupation: 24, Health Educator Fiance's Age and Occupation: 31, Market Researcher Engagement Date: November 10, 2007 Wedding Date: October, 2008 Blogging Since: June 25, 2008 Venue: Auberge du Soleil About Me: I am a Minnesota raised, NYC transplant planning a destination wedding in Napa. I'm balancing my love for the environment and my hubby-to-be's love for tradition to create our "green wedding in disguise." Our wedding will include local food and wine, antique touches and lots of love and laughter. When wedding planning isn't taking up my free time (and money) I love to read, cook, workout, watch baseball and travel! Follow along in my adventure as I attempt to plan an eco-friendly and socially responsible wedding (with eco-oblivious Mr. Pinot Noir).
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