Chemo Quilt?
 

A family member is undergoing a mastectomy next week and at will be followed by 3 months of chemo. I want to make her a quilt to keep her warm for chemo. For those of you who have made chemo quilts, I'm wondering what size is best, should I use a flannel backing, and can anyone recommend a quick, easy and pretty pattern? I want to get this to her as soon as possible. Any other suggestions welcome. Many, many thanks for your help!

I'd use a disappearing nine patch, it is fast but looks interesting. Make it a throw size. Mine are typically 60 x72 or so. Big enough to cover up when she needs to get warm, but not too big.

That is so sweet of you. I would look at the pattern Falling Charms from MSQC. So many companies have come out with cute fabrics with the pink ribbons representing the fight on breast cancer. Charm squares are used for this pattern.

I had a mastectomy in November and followed it with 3 months of chemo. I had made a pinwheel top and I asked a friend of mine to quilt it with no batting, just a fleece back. Fleece stretches and she had difficulty with it but did an amazing job. I pieced the quilt to use up some scrap fabrics - little did I know it would be my recovery quilt. But it's bright fun colors and cheered me up. The blocks are 10" and the border is 5". There are 4 blocks across and 6 down. Hope this helps. Oh, by the way, there is an easy way to make pinwheels. Missouri Star Quilting shows it as well as many others. You cut the fabric into squares and then stitch all the way around the four out side edges. Then you cut the square in a big X and you have the 4 components to make your first pinwheel. I even made a pillowcase with the border fabric for my daily afternoon naps.
Tell your friend that I said, "You can go this!" It's not easy but it's worth it to beat this monster.

The one I made was pretty large but she liked it large. I did a rail fence and everyone in the bible study group signed the center pieces. Then I made her a matching pillowcase to carry it back and forth to chemo. It matched her living room so it could be left out for display if she wasn't using it.

Just advice, but avoid the pink ribbon fabric. I had a friend who was so sick of pink during her treatment that she packed it all away when she completed chemo. Just make it bright and colorful with interesting patterns.

Mostly what I sew are comfort quilts for chemo patients. Pictured is one I designed to use up larger scraps. Size is 42 x 62, which is normally the size I use. Guild buys the batting and backing, which are both 48 inches wide. The 42 width is just close enough so I can do my QAYG method.

Also, for chemo quilts make sure to wash your fabric before sewing. The chemicals in the fabric making process are not good for chemo patients.

During my treatments, I used a quilt that was a large square. Large enough to cover me on the recliner and hang over the sides. The ones that I have made since have been 60x65 or there about depending on the pattern. I have used the slk/bamboo batting and minky on the back. The best think I can tell you is BIG, LIGHT and WARM. I think that is why I have started using the silk/bamboo batting - so light but, by itself, it can be cool or warm as needed. The minky just makes it really soft and warm. HTH

i agree with this... but add your encouragement and maybe a ribbon on the label

I agree. I am a two-time breast cancer survivor and would not make a quilt using the pink ribbon fabric. Just my opinion. I received so may items with pink ribbons on them during my treatment and recovery, and I know they were all given with the best intentions so I appreciated them, but really got tired of the same thing over and over again.
I would suggest the warm wishes pattern. Easy and fast but looks good.

I made my cousin a twin size quilt when she was going thru Chemo, she said it kept her real warm an comfy!

Here is an idea with encouraging sayings about what cancer cannot do.
http://www.blockpartystudios.com/sho...asp?itemID=680

I've made several chemo blankets and they are very much appreciated. I usually use a good fleece backing for the men and minky for the gals. I have found that no batting is needed because the lap blanket w/o batting folds up easily and they carry it with them to the hospital for the chemo treatment. I've used jelly rolls quite often because there are so many patterns that can be made quickly. The Missouri Star Quilt Co website has lots of good easy patterns. Your efforts will be appreciated so much.

Whatever pattern you decide will be great. Bless you for doing this for her. Surely much appreciated!

ditto to from me - still on treatment. I have managed to avoid the pink ribbon and would not want a quilt with any of them - label included.

Two time breast cancer survivor here, too. I never liked pink and after going thru this whole ordeal, I wouldn't mind if I EVER saw pink ribbons or anything pink for that matter. JMHO.

I agree. My cousin who was only 33 when she went through this, wanted a bright cheerful quilt and no pink ribbons on anything. She had radiation, chemo, and a double mastectomy and the blue and yellow quilt I made her was with her all the way. Now it is her "picnic" quilt. I made a Take Five pattern and it went together really quickly.

Dina

A friend of my aunt's made a quilt like this for her. I don't recall how big it was, I think maybe throw size. That way it could be brought to the hospital for treatment too. Then she had friends and family members sign it or write messages of encouragement. As others have said, I'd go with things the recipient likes, or happy cheerful colors, staying away from the traditional pink and so forth. I'd also go with materials that will wash well. I wonder if maybe flannel/minky for the back and just traditional cotton on the front so if she is feeling warmer or colder she will have a choice about which fabric she wants against her skin.

You are so sweet to do this. If you have any extra fabric, you may want to also make a bag so she can carry it to treatments if she wants. It's always nice to have a bag for storage!

How about Minky on the back? That is really soft.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]480625[/ATTACH]Thank you so very much for all the wonderful suggestions and advice, especially those of you who have made this journey:

I'm taking a pass on the pink ribbon fabric, so here is the fabric I've chosen with the help of a nice lady at the LQS. I wanted bright and cheery, but not juvenile. The green at top will be the border, the mauve a smaller inner border, and I'm going to do simple 4" blocks in a pattern so that the blocks follow the color flow above, then offset by one block on the next and each subsequent row (if you catch my drift). It will end up at about 56"X66". I will make a pillow case with the scraps and some plain fabric so she can haul it with her.

From ok what you're telling me, minky would be nice on the back and maybe silk batting for the sake of weight. Is that right? If so, how is minky to work with? I've never used it before and I don't want to mess this up. Will silk batting wash well? I can imagine that this will be washed frequently.

I will choose an encouraging expression and machine embroider it on the back. Is there anything I'm forgetting? Hopefully, I can get this done by early next week.

Toverly made the correct assumption about avoiding the pink ribbon fabric, having gone thru it twice..it's a tough reminder of chemo and while it's a sweet gesture, would be appreciated til later. Anything else is safe and more useable as all others, shown here, by the way is very nice!

I did the same for my sister. She was a tiny person so I didn't make it quite as large, probably 50 x 60. Not too wide because of the size of the chair. She didn't get to use if for very long but she said it was the right size.

I agree with the X on pink and the pink ribbon.

Your quilt will be beautiful...bright and cheery...just what she needs. Perfect fabric choice.

Dina

I used fleece for backing...nice and soft on the skin. FLannel would work, too. I made it big enough to cover a person from neck to a bit below the hips. Not too bulky to carry to treatments that way. Next time, i would add some kind of tie/strap so it could be folded and held together sort of sleeping bag/camping style.
Edited to add: I didn't use batting. Fleece was enough and helped keep it lightweight.

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I made this quilt for a friend to take to her chemo treatments. (If you have an embroidery machine I can email you the quotes) if not you can get the stamped panel and cut them out. I sandwiched them with batting, used my machine with a small ziz zag then fringed. I sewed them on after it was quilted. Backed it with white flanel and she absolutely loves it. Carried it to every a treatment.

Your fabrics remind me of a desert sunset. Very nice fabric choices and good for you to avoid the cliche pink ribbon theme. I'm sure this person will greatly appreciate what you've done.

This "WHAT CANCER CANNOT DO" quilt was easy to put together. Each color represents a type of cancer and it may encourage someone else taking treatments. The purple border represents the caretakers.[ATTACH=CONFIG]480721[/ATTACH] The back was made with minky fabric.

I definitely would not make a "pink" quilt but an Irish chain is super easy. Here is one I made for a cousin.
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What is found most helpful when I underwent chemo was my Kindle Fire. I downloaded free movies, used my head phones, and before I knew it I was done! Best of luck to your family member and prayers for swift recovery.

I, too, had a double mastectomy, followed by 6 months of chemo and 28 days of radiation. You are very sweet to do this for her, and she will treasure it. However, I agree completely with the above comment. Avoid pink altogether unless she has a particular passion for pink. I, along with other breast cancer patients, do not want a constant reminder in a quilt of my bout with cancer. I would much prefer something in the colors I like, or perhaps a scrap quilt that makes me feel good when I look at it. That is my preference, and I have heard others express the same sentiment. But your loving gesture will be much appreciated, I'm sure.
Marcia

I used just different pinks and purples in my SIL's chemo quilt and wound up making a couple just like it out of flannel for my daughter and I in the cool evenings here. It was a simple pattern that was large squares with a narrow cord like strip lengthwise down each one. Very simple and fun. Didn't have a pattern, but, it sure was fun

I made a quick, easy quilt for someone using flannel for the front and minkee back using the Missouri Star method of making self-binding receiving blankets http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqwdNqMZ8Ro

Instead of making it square I made it as wide as the width of the minkee would allow and used about two yards of the flannel (maybe less but it was rectangular, not square). That means the minkee was about 9 or 10 inches longer and wider than the flannel. It made a nice sized, but light and cozy cover. It all went together in a couple hours and my friend loved it.

It was for a man with bile duct cancer. I found a white flannel with sail boats because I thought he would rather be sailing than doing chemo. The minkee was white, also.

I think the suggestions about NOT using pink are spot on.

Your fabric choices are wonderful. Instead of putting a saying on the quilt back why not write it to her on a card when you give her the quilt so she read it whenever she wants and her quilt will stay generic.

thank you you everyone for the great advice and kind comments. I can't make things better, but I can do this for her. I think this is a good idea, stitchnripper, I will give her a card with it. I need to get out tomorrow and look for some minky or flannel for the back.

Thank your for saying this. I know several people who are survivors and who do not want the constant reminder of their ordeal with chemo. froggyintexas

This past winter my friend had her bladder removed because of cancer. She was also on chemo. I made her a lap quilt. I'm sorry, I don't remember the name of it. When I gave it to her I told her that she doesn't have a teddy bear to cuddle, but could cuddle with a quilt and keep warm with it. It made her day! I spent some time with her last week and she still tells me how much she enjoys her special quilt.

I am in a Yahoo quilt group, we're all very attached to each other. A couple of years ago, one of our members announced that she was terminal, and had a very short time left. I organized (unknown to her, which was hard to do, considering it was a Yahoo group) a Friendship Block plan, where anyone who was interested could make as many block(s) as they wanted, inscribe the block(s) with words of hope and inspiration, and send them to me for assembling into the top, then I quilted it, and sent it to one group member who lived close to the patient. She was thrilled and COMPLETELY surprised.
Her husband told us later that he put it in her casket with her, but that it was an absolute comfort to her in her last days.
BTW, there was NO pink ribbon fabric in the entire quilt.
It was about 50x70 in size. We didn't "assign" colors or anything, just had everyone use the same pattern. It was wonderful seeing all the inscriptions everyone put on their blocks.
Good luck, and blessing on both you and your friend!!

Chemo Quilt
 

I made a rag quilt for my sister because she had to go thru Chemo. I used Warm and Natural batting. I also made a bag for her to carry it in.