Help me please find a great pattern...
 

My younger sister has just been diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer. She will have to have five years of chemotherapy. I want to make a special quilt for her to keep warm during the infusion treatments. I don't want to use the typical "Cancer" fabrics or "Hope" ribbons to remind her. I want to make it positive and colorful. I need suggestions. The whole thing is a bit overwhelming right now. Any help is most appreciated.

Thanks, Elizabeth

How bout hearts you can't go wrong with them

You could even stuff them with alittle batting so they puff up

I like floral quilts as they speak to "new" beginnings. I know you "both" are on a tough road ahead. I lost my mom to breast cancer & my sister to colon cancer. They have so many new treatments & meds now than when my mother lost her battle in 1984. Try to say as positive as possible & I hope you live near your sister. I did not get to spend much time with my sister as we lived too far apart & I was still working. Hugs!

My reaction for any person in need of a lap quilt is to make it cheerful, so I am inagreement with you. I would suggest that you plan a quickie for right now, and possibly a 2nd later. I would suggest something like the field of diamonds or the QAYG I posted recently. For the QAYG, and fairly large scale focus fabric would do nicely. I am posting 4 recent lap quilts to give you some suggestions, but really, quick and colorful is the key.

Go with colours she likes ... and fabrics that have some significance and meaning to her!
If she's a horse lover, or cat lover, or gardener or ?????????? then go with what she loves!

I am so sorry. I agree that you should go with colors or themes that she likes, whether soft tones or warm ones, home-style or modern, etc. I completely understand not wanting to make a quilt that reminds her of the cancer. There are some beautiful bargello patterns. Hunter's Star is a beautiful pattern. Perhaps back it with Minkee, flannel, or fleece for extra softness and warmth?

What about a D9patch in florals? It would be a quick quilt to make.

Look up Happy daisies on this board. It's one of the happiest quilts I have seen.

Warm wishes is also a nice quick pattern. You could use a fabric with one of her favorite things on it for the focus fabric and then bright happy colors for the rail fence block. Whatever you make will be loved.

I made a small quilt for my sister for same reason. I used jelly rolls and made a big heart. Its a free pattern posted somewhere on line. I will try to find it. Very easy,very fast.

Here it is
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=...31&FORM=IDFRIR

can you find some way to get pictures of you and her family on it with hearts too. This way she will have love ones near her always. Good luck to her and love and God bless.

I agree with backing whatever you decide on with kinky...my sister was always cold. Best wishes for easy treatment sessions.

I saw a really cool idea - a quilted shawl with pockets
http://www.mccallsquilting.com/articles/A_Gift_for_Mom

I like Warm Wishes quilt pattern. The design is good for everyone.

http://www.quiltmaker.com/content_do...DoubleSize.pdf

I am so sorry to hear about your sister. A free pattern from Red Rooster fabrics is called Heart and Soul (it is one pg 5 or 6 of their retired patterns). I have done this quilt a few times, twice as a baby quilt in brights and three times in soft pastels for adults. The last one I made was for a friend who was going through chemo and it was done in puples and violets because that was her favorite colours. http://www.redroosterfabrics.com/qui...rns.php?page=6

Our prayers for your sister. Any quilt will be made with love so go with what YOUR heart is telling you. I've made a number of them and alway back them with minky or fleece. The skin gets so tender during chemo and the softness and warmth is extra comforting.

My heart and prayers go out to you and your sister. One of my favorites is a whimsical theme, whether garden flowers, animals, ocean and ocean life. Something that will help her and you through the days to come.

Sounds like a winner! There are so many heart patterns, you might even do a quilt with a dozen or so different patterns, using her favorite colors in each.

I am sorry for your sisters diagnosis, and pray all will go well for her. As for a quilt pattern, may I suggest "Happy Daisies" It is such a colorful, happy quilt. There are several photos here on the board, and I believe one of the kind people here offered her pattern. Best wished to you and your sister.

I agree with several already who recommend fabric designs or patterns of thngs that maker her feel safe, connected, "filled" with things that make her happy or centered. In the period of three and a half months our guild had eight members diagnosed with breast cancer; our guild also has breast cancer survivors who were an immeasurable source of strength and hope and recovery to these ladies, my friends, our "sisters of the cloth." All of the survivors shared they wanted nothing to do with pink ribbons until their first anniversary of survival - I'd keep that in mind for sure.

Another thought - since the process is five years, I'd think about five borders (or six, for that 1st anniversary) and maybe think about appliqueing little things in each border as that year-in-progress is happening, maybe it could be appliqued while the chemo is going on as you sit with her. I am a firm believer in holding the space for what can be, and creating a quilt with five or six borders does that. BUT each recovery and patient is different, so I offer these ideas with many prayers for your sister's success in the years to come.

Why not make it of things she loved as a child? Reminders of things like that could very well bring back happy, wonderful memories for her. Add in some things you fought over as sisters maybe, or fabrics of things to remind her of things you did together? My sister and I used to fight over doing the dishes, so I'd include some fabric like that. It's what I would do if she was my sister!

My prayers are with both of you. :)

I just made one for a dear friend and used the idea of those who make up her support system - faith, family, and friends. I used a stained glass looking panel for Faith, pictures of her family for Family, and had her students and other friends tie the quilt. Best of luck to both of you. I love to tell people about my 82 year old mother who survived breast cancer 33 years ago - she's trucking along just great - playing with her great-grandchildren. She had the radical surgery everyone did at the time and lymph node removal because the cancer had spread there. Here's where I talked about it. http://www.quiltingboard.com/picture...s-t182141.html

I agree Happy Daisies would be perfect!

too much white for me, but it would be simple to make the white stripes within the quilt using more jelly rolls.

After going through breast cancer, chemo and radiation this last year - I agree, go with colors and maybe a theme she loves. I happened to be one of those who got an adversion to pink and did not want anything pink. Still have a hard time wearing pink. I'll be remembering your sister in my prayers and also your family. She will need your support through this difficult time.

The Seattle Streets pattern makes a beautiful floral quilt. There are so many. I agree with others - find a fabric line that speaks to what she enjoys! Prayers going her way!!

Ok, first, breathe. Ask her - or her significant other etc what her favorite colors are. Take your favorite block, and "blow it up" - so the bock is 40 in square etc. Then you need a strip across the top and bottom. You can add her name on the bottom. Across the top, I would add some squares of clear vinyl, sewed on 3 sides, leaving the top open. She can slip in and change her favorite photos to have and look at during her treatments. I love to design using EQ7. If you want, feel free to PM me with a block, colors and size and I can draft a pattern for you in a matter of minutes. You will get a cutting chart, directions, yardage, and PDF of pattern showing colors you suggest - no charge, happy to do it. God bless you and your family.
Johanna in WI

Prayers for a complete recovery. Pick colors etc that she likes for starters. If she loves cats...get cat prints, roses...rose prints, etc then base pattern on what you are using.

What about an envelope quilt in fabrics she will love --- or seasonal envelopes. If she chooses, she can put notes to herself in various envelopes.

I agree make it cheerfull and use colours and a theme that she likes, I do hope she is able to beat this cancer, My thoughts will be with you both.
QM I just love the second and third quilt, thanks for sharing

Any cheerful quilt will help especially when it is from a person that loves her. I wish her the best in her treatment and recovery.

Possible Ideas for you
 

First off my prayers and love to you and your sister. I have some possible ideas for you to look at. I made the first one the Angel with ribbon and leaves for my future-sister-in-law on an apron, I'll attach a picture for you to see how it turned out.

Another angel idea and maybe a flower bud in a heart templates. I personally would make different blocks with vibrant happy colors and designs, but that's just me.

Hope this gives you some ideas. Let me know if I can help in any way. Good luck. Please share the final outcome.

Again, prayers and get well soons for your sister.

My heart goes out to you and your sister during this time. Bright colors would be wonderful in any pattern but if it's possible try to incorporate some minkee into the quilt...like the backing. It's such a comforting fabric because it feels soft and it's so warm. The best to you!

Johanna, that is so sweet of you. I love the idea of vinyl slide ins for pictures. You're a genius.

My friend made me a heart quilt and it is simple to make, I will post a picture if you would like. I'm making one with a double heart.

Cookie64

Elizabeth, another idea. If you decide to do a block style quilt. If you have other family members or friends of yours and your sisters who sew, maybe you could ask them to make up a block or two to assist you in making the quilt. I know I would need the help and this way others get to contribute on such a wonderful gift.

How about 'I Spy" for her. Using things that she likes or remember her of memories. You could have some blocks with photos in them. Making the blocks bigger. Make it colorful and use some fabric or garments of her family, Mother's dress or Daddy's shirts. Backing such be soft like flannel or polar. Good Luck. What ever way you go. She will be comforted by the quilts. My prays and thoughts are with your family. Let us know what going on.
God Bless

You've received a lot of good advice in this post. Take time to digest it. Put it to good use. If I were you, I'd let that lovely woman from Wisconsin design a quilt for you, and I'd let family members help you by adding quilt blocks. Now is not the time to be a hero. You need help in order to help your sister, and you weren't shy about asking for it here, rightfully so. You can't shoulder it alone. Others will want to help, so let them.

As an NP who has worked with cancer patients, I can tell you that 5 years is a very long time. Then there will be the follow-ups which will go on for years longer. You must not exhaust yourself. Your sister will have many needs, and you don't have to fulfill every one. You can coordinate. If you love to quilt and sew, that it great, because I can tell you that one lap quilt won't last 5 years under these circumstances, and she will need other things as well. A quilt to lie under on the couch at home would be lovely. Put that on your longer term "to do" list, and perhaps you can work on blocks while you wait for your sister in chemo. Perhaps that's another thing where other family members can add blocks. You'll have more time. You could incorporate picture blocks, do embroidery work, use pieces from the clothes of loved ones, that sort of thing.

She will also need head scarves. Even if her hair does not fall out, and I'm not saying it will. Not everyone experiences that side effect. It will depend on the chemo. If it does, she will REALLY need head scarves, lots of them, to coordinate with her clothes. They're easy to make, so make them bright and pretty and flattering to her skin. Even if her hair does not fall out, it is so nice to just throw a scarf over one's hair before you go to chemo. That way you don't have to fuss with your hair, you look neat, your "getting ready" time is reduced, and it's nice to know you look as good as you can without a lot of fuss. It's so important to these people to look as good as possible, really lifts their spirits. Fancy scarves around the neck in summer can do the same thing. Warm neck scarves in winter are wonderful for helping to keep people warm, and to help them look good. Does anyone in your family knit or crochet? Can you work out doing coordinated head and neck scarves. It's always awesome when you see that! And slippers and socks! Lovely to keep their feet warm, but don't forget to put those "grippers" on the bottom or the nurses will have to take them away (not that they want to) and give them those flimsy slippers with grips on the bottom. It's a safety issue. And if she still gets cold in chemo, because they are often done in big, open rooms that tend to get cold, get her some long underwear. It really helps. Keeping her cozy, especially in winter or air conditioning, and surrounding her with reminders of loving family, will do more to help her get through this than any medication the nurses could give her.

And check on the food situation. If she's there over lunch, but doesn't spend "X" hours in the outpatient setting, she may not get lunch from the hospital. (Talk about dumbest rules. . . ) Just warning you! Still, a little something from home may be the best thing for her, along with her favorite beverage. Take something she likes and her favorite beverage in any case. It will take you a while to figure out if there's any where you could buy a little lunch (or dinner) for her if she doesn't get hospital food (which is yucky anyway -- have eaten enough of it myself). And don't forget about yourself! You'll need to eat and drink while you're there! At the very least, take food and beverages with you the first couple of times, until you know the score. There's nothing worse than starving your way through chemo, and it doesn't usually give you nausea during the first treatments.

Make friends with the nurses there. They really are on your side.

Best of luck! You and your sister are in my prayers.