A friend was recently diagnosed with cancer and facing a round of chemotherapy. What could my sewing machine and I do to help her through the process? In browsing the interwebs, I had seen a number of postings about making quilts for chemotherapy patients; a body gets cold sitting for hours during infusions of below body temperature fluids. So, a quilt it would be. Since I can spend an inordinate amount of time surfing the web, I thought I would share some of what I learned.
use good quality fabrics The finished quilt must be able to withstand hot washing, repeated hot washings. Try to find yourself a store with high quality goods … chain stores (especially one that rhymes with FoAnn) can have some nice fabrics, but you do have to “interview” the fabrics well. Look for densely woven fabric, you shouldn’t be able to see through it. The individual threads should be fairly smooth, if they are not, the fabric may be woven from inferior cotton that will fuzz and break down. Feel the fabric with your eyes closed, it should be smooth and supple … stiff or rough fabrics may soften with washing, but that means the threads are breaking down and will not last. And yes, better quality fabric can be more expensive. However, many quilt stores have bargain basements and there are some very good online sales. (Check out some online quilting boards for ideas, quilters love to talk fabric!)
the quilt should be large enough to go from chin to toes Even with socks, hands and feet get cold. Mine ended up 57 x 76 inches.
back it with flannel Instead of batting, use high quality flannel for the backing. This provides a cozy layer that does not weigh too heavily on sensitive skin. Make sure you pre-wash and dry the flannel … it will shrink, and then shrink some more. (And you did pre-wash the top fabric, too, right?)
don’t get fussy Save the intricate piecing for wall hangings. Make this quilt to be used. Use bright cheerful fabrics and let them do the design heavy lifting. Quilting batiks are gorgeous, interesting, and blend beautifully.
machine quilt for sturdiness Hand-quilting is lovely, but not best for repeated washings.
personalize it Make a tote bag out of leftover fabric. Gather some books. Download some iTunes. Add a label … another friend made a label for our quilt and our book club all signed it!
If you would like to make a quilt like this, just email me and I can give you the measurements and cutting sizes. If you are interested in making a quilt to donate to a local hospital, contact them first to see if they have any guidelines. Or contact a local quilt guild, they are a wonderful source of information … for experts and newbies alike.