Make Your Initial List of Recipients

Start by writing down every person who might want something — a quilt, a pillow, or even a small keepsake panel. Don't worry about whether you have enough clothing yet. Just get everyone on paper. You can narrow the list once you know how much you're working with. A full adult wardrobe can typically yield enough fabric for five to eight lap-size quilts, or a combination of larger quilts and smaller pillows.

Decide Between Quilts and Pillows

Not everyone on your list needs a full quilt. Pillows require fewer garments and cost less, making them a thoughtful option for extended family members, close friends, or anyone on a tighter budget. A pillow made from a favorite shirt can be just as meaningful as a full quilt — and it means more people can receive something tangible. Consider giving quilts to immediate family and pillows to grandparents, aunts, uncles, or close friends.

Remember to Include Yourself

This one is easy to overlook when you're focused on everyone else. If you're the one coordinating this process — a spouse, a parent, a sibling — it's natural to put your own needs last. But please don't. Set aside a group of items for yourself before you begin distributing clothing to other quilts. Even if you're not ready to place your own order right now, keeping those items separate ensures you'll have them when the time comes.

Take Stock of What You Have

Lay everything out or count what's in the closet and drawers. This gives you a realistic picture of how many quilts and pillows are possible. As a general guide:

• A lap-size quilt typically uses 8–20 shirts or garments
• A larger throw or queen quilt may use 20–30+ items
• A pillow generally needs 4–8 items
• One garment can contribute panels to multiple quilts if cut carefully

Keep in mind that Project Repat can cut multiple panels from a single garment, so one well-loved flannel shirt might appear in three different quilts.

Set Up a Labeled Bag or Box for Each Recipient

Get a bag, bin, or box for every quilt and pillow on your list. Label each one with the recipient's name. As you go through the wardrobe, you'll place each item — or note which items should be shared — into the appropriate container. This physical separation makes the sorting process concrete and prevents confusion later. Include a slip of paper inside each bag listing any special notes, such as which side of a shirt to feature or whether a photo should be included.

Assign Items Thoughtfully

Think about what each person remembers most. Did one child always associate their parent with a particular team jersey? Did a sibling share a special memory tied to a specific vacation shirt? Start by placing each person's most meaningful item in their bag first, then fill in around it. This approach ensures the most important pieces end up in the right quilts — and makes the remaining sorting feel more straightforward.

Review Each Grouping for Color and Cohesion

Once you've done an initial sort, open each bag and lay the items out side by side. Step back and look at the overall palette. Does the combination feel cohesive? Are there any items that clash badly with the rest of the group? It's fine to shuffle pieces between bags at this stage — the goal is for each quilt to have a visual identity that feels intentional, not random.

Handle Items That Belong in Multiple Quilts

Some garments are so central to a person's identity that every family member wants a piece of them. That's completely workable. Create a separate "shared items" pile and use a piece of painter's tape on each garment to note which quilts should receive a panel from it. When you ship to Project Repat, include a note explaining which items are shared and which quilts each shared item should appear in. Our team will cut and distribute those panels accordingly.