The types of picture doesn’t really matter.  They can all be different sizes and color.  I have used black and white with color pictures, as well as a few sepia tone photos.  They can be portrait pictures or landscape ones.  Just find photos you like.  After all,  it must be a pretty nice and warm memory  for you to have a photo of it.  I try to keep a balance to my photos.  In other words I try not to have an odd number of photos that are color or black and white.  There is always a place on your quilt where you can place 2 sepia tone photos and have it look balanced.  But not quite so easy when you have 3 to place.

You can also make a memory quilt for a  youth or crib bed as your template.  A standard crib mattress is approximately 54 1/2″ x 30 1/2″.  I would only make is just a few inches bigger if I was making it for a crib.  On the other hand if you are making a youth bed memory quilt, then by all means add the 12″ for your over hang. Two sides to a bed would have you adding 24″ to the  30 1/2″=54 1/2 ” by 12″ to 54 1/2=67 1/2 “.  So your finished size would be 54 1/2″ x 67 1/2″    A memory wall hanging quilt can be how ever big you want it.  A nice size to work with for a memory wall hanging is the finished  youth bed size 54 1/2″ x 67 1/2″.  It is large enough to not look like it is lost on the wall, but at the same time, it doesn’t over power the wall either.

If you need the measurements for a king size memory quilt, you have landed on the right page.  A king size bed is 76×80 inches.   That is just the bare mattress size.  A blanket or memory quilt usually hangs about 12 inches over the side and the end of a bed.  So the finished size of your king size memory quilt would be  100″ (76″ +24″ =100 and (80″+ 12 “ ) =92″, so your finished size will be 100″x92″.  Remember that this is just a “suggested” over hang.  If you want your king size memory quilt to hang all the way to the floor, then measure from the floor up to the top of the bed, double the amount ( for the 2 sides of the bed ) and add the inches at the foot also.

When you want to make a queen size memory quilt, the measurement you need to know is “exactly how big is a queen bed?”  Well the answer to that is 60×80 inches.  This is the mattress size.  To have your quilt  hang over the side and the foot of the bed you need to add extra inches.  A normal quilt hangs 12 inches over on the sides and the foot of your bed.  So if you are making a memory quilt that is for a queen size bed, your finished queen memory quilt size will be 84″x92 inches.  The formula is 60″+24″ ( the over hang on each side of the bed ) = 84 inches by 80″ + 12″ ( the over hang at the foot of the bed ).  If you have an extra deep mattress you may want to adjust the size accordingly.

If your goal is to make a double or full size memory quilt, then you are on the right page.  The measurements of a full or double bed is 54×75 inches.  Remember this is the size of the “bed” not the size of a quilt.  The average memory quilt or blanket hangs off the sides and the end of the bed about 12 inchs.  So if you are making a double or full size memory quilt, your finished size would be 78×87 inches, (54+24=78, and 75+12=87).  If you want your quilt to hang over even more, just add more inches.  Just be sure to add the side inches twice since there are two sides to a bed.

The measurement for a twin size bed is 39×70 inches.  Bear in mind that is the ‘bed” size.  You’ll want your twin size memory quilt to hang over the sides and the end of the bed.  The standard is 12 inches but it can hang over as much as you want.  Assuming, you are making a twin size memory quilt, the finished size of your memory quilt would be 63×82 (39 +24 (12 inches for each side of the bed)  x 70+12 (the 12 inches hanging over at the foot of your twin bedbed).

The first thing we need to do is to determine the size of your memory quilt.  When you know the size of your memory quilt, we are a step ahead.   Whether it is a twin, double or full, queen, king, extra-long twin or even a lap quilt or a wall hanging.  They are all memory quilts just different sizes.   What about doing one for a soldier stationed away from home.   I am sure  they would love having their loved ones with them in photo, if not in person.   Or maybe a Mother’s Day gift, a work of love for a person who is afflicted with the horrible disease Alzheimer’s.  Hopefully it will keep them grounded to the present, if just for a few more months.   One for a new grand-baby, who maybe doesn’t have their loved ones near, but will still be able to see all the important people in their lives every day.   Or one just for yourself.  I can guarantee,  every time you look at it you will remember and smile!  These captured memories will last a lifetime.