Frequently Asked Questions!
1. What is a Clothing Keepsake?
Clothing keepsakes provide parents with a way to creatively preserve memories of their children’s milestones, whilst also providing people with a way to remember loved ones who have passed on. I transform your most treasured items of clothing, filled with memories, into a beautiful, handcrafted keepsake to be held, cuddled, or wrapped around you, rather than stashed away in the attic.
2. What type of clothing can I use for my Keepsake?
All clothing must be clean and in good condition. Most clothing items can be used except very bulky/heavyweight items, or items that can't be ironed, such as PVC, leather, chainmail... If there is an item you would really like included, but you are unsure if it is possible, just drop me a message at melissa@honeystitches.ie and I will try to make your vision a reality!
Also, please ensure clothes are clean and dry before sending them to me. No need to worry about ironing them though!
3. How many items of clothing do you need to create my Keepsake?
The number of items varies depending on size of blanket or quilt and whether you have adult clothing or baby clothing. We have made a chart so you can work out how much you will need. The guide for children's clothing is based on 0-6 month baby-gros, you may need fewer items for older children's clothing. Any items not used will be returned to you with the finished quilt. However please do not send an excessive amount of clothing as this may incur an additional postage charge when returning them.
Keepsake Bears:
| Style | Baby’s Clothing | Adult's Clothing |
| Classic Bear 12" | 6-10 | 1+ |
| Lge Classic Bear 15" | 10-16 | 2+ |
| Small Button-Jointed Bear 9.5" | 3-6 | 1+ |
| Medium Button-Jointed Bear 12" | 6-10 | 1+ |
| Large Button-Jointed Bear 14" | 8-14 | 1+ |
Blankets & Quilts
| Size | Baby’s Clothing | Adult's Clothing |
| Lap (28” x 36”) | 14-25 | 4-8 |
| Cotbed (36” x 48”) | 25-40 | 6-10 |
| Comforter (48” x 48”) | 35-50 | 8-12 |
| Single Runner (24” x 52”) | 20-40 | 5-10 |
| Double Runner (24” x 76”) | 35-50 | 8-12 |
| Full Single (52” 76”) | 45-60 | 15-25 |
| Full Double (76” x 76”) | 60+ | 25+ |
Cushions:
| Style | Baby’s Clothing | Adult's Clothing |
| Single Item (16” x 16”) | n/a | 1 |
| Patchwork (16” x 16” | 4-8 | 2-4 |
4. What happens after I place my order?
Once you place your order through our website, you will immediately receive a confirmation email which will include the address you need to send your clothing package to us. We recommend sending this via a trackable postal service and we will let you know once we have received it via the email you entered when placing your order. If you do not receive a confirmation email from us, please get in touch to check it has arrived.
Please include your name and order number with your package so we can easily identify it on arrival. You can also include a note with any specific instructions or requests you may have.
Once we receive your clothing, your keepsake will be created with great care and attention, and returned to you within approximately 16 weeks (this is our current timeframe and may change according to demand) tracked via An Post.
5. How much do you charge for shipping?
Your completed keepsake will be returned to you as a tracked package at a cost of €10 (Ireland) and €15 (UK). If you are local to me (Letterkenny, Co. Donegal) you can collect your completed keepsake from me, though we will need to agree a day and time for collection of your completed keepsake.
6. How do I get my clothes to you?
Details of where to send your clothing will be included in your order confirmation email. I recommend packaging your clothes in a secure and waterproof parcel and sending via a tracked postal service.
If you would prefer to drop off your clothes to us in Letterkenny, Co. Donegal, then please just let me know. Most customers send their items by post, but it’s always lovely to meet you.
7. Can my child play with the Keepsake Bear?
Your keepsake bear is something to love and treasure. However as it is created from worn clothing items it cannot be CE tested, and therefore is NOT A TOY.
Your child may like to give it a gentle cuddle, but we advise that they be supervised by an adult while doing so.
8. How can I care for my keepsake?
Should your Keepsake Bear get dirty, DO NOT put it in the washing machine. You can spot clean it with a damp cloth, or if it gets dusty, run over it with a lint roller.
Cushions, quilts and blankets may be washed occasionally on a delicate cycle, provided the clothing used to create the keepsake is washable.
Please keep in mind your keepsake is one of a kind made from worn clothing and therefore is likely to be very delicate and require gentle handling.