Suggestions for a cancer quilt
 

My daughter's BFF (who is late 30s) has been diagnosed with late stage breast cancer and is facing chemo, radiation and a double mastectomy and I wanted to make her a quilt to take to the chemo treatments. Does anyone have any suggestions on a pattern, etc. I have a nice pattern of a pink ribbon but not sure if someone going through this would like to be reminded of the disease.

The first one I made I did a garden trellis pattern (looks like intertwined circles) with alternating pink and green and used a pretty floral back ground with a pieced twisted ribbon border. And, I used a green fern print flannel for the back. She loved it, she took it to every treatment and spent many recovery days cuddled up in it. I made it almost twin sized so she would get good coverage. She said she loved the flannel on the back, as she got cold during the treatments.
I can't figure out how to load pics from my iPad, I will try and add one tomorrow.

Since she is your daughters BFF, your daughter might be able to help the most. I'd ask her what her friend would like.

Let's see if this works!


[ATTACH=CONFIG]355987[/ATTACH]

Well color me embarrassed, I could have sworn the circles were green and pink, not just the ribbons...hmmmm. Sometimers has struck again!!

Suze9395, I like this one it represents the pink ribbon without saying it like the breast cancer pink ribbon. Good Choice.

My thoughts too. Everyone has their own feelings on such a personal thing. Personally, I wouldn't want the standard pink ribbons. Just something pretty and comforting. :)

I agree... I personally wouldn't want the pink ribbon deal on a quilt.
For sure I'd want it soft and cuddly.
**Suze9395 = your quilt is beautiful!

Thank you. I didn't want to use the actual ribbon pattern. But, at the same time, the pink ribbon is such a great symbol of strength and hope I wanted that powerful feeling to be included, tomsurround her. I feel it is important for these quilts to be beautiful and feminine. And cozy!:)

My avatar can be found at quilterscache.com,the pattern is pink ribbon quilt. I also think that this pattern would be nice also and goes together quilckly... http://charismascorner.com/?page_id=2652

IMHO, I would not use the symbol for cancer. (You gotta go through it to understand why.) If she's a "feminine" type, make something nice and pretty in her favorite colors If she prefers tailored things, there are nice patterns for that too. I suggest Warm Wishes. I made a D9P with a paisley print for the focus fabric. She loved it. She was tiny so I made it to fit her size on the "chemo chair."

And Suze, I love your quilt.

What about a variation of an "I Spy" kind of quilt showing pictures of things that she likes to do (hobbies, etc) or places that she has visited or would like to visit. If I was going for regular chemo treatments, I would be more comforted by something that would truly put me in my happy place. A quilt containing pictures from "happy" moments in my life would give me comfort and joy during such a difficult time. If she enjoys gardening or cooking, you could use fabric the represents those hobbies. Maybe her family could help by providing some "fun" pictures to use in a quilt.

Ditto! Very nice quilt. I agree that reminding her of the disease with a quilt that has too much of a specific breast cancer theme is not a very pleasant idea. Why not just find out what her tastes are and try for something that would fit in for years to come? She can look at it and think of the comfort brought by you, and of the triumph we all hope she will have over this terrible disease.

Thank you all so much - I knew you'd be of guidance. I have a Watermelon Bali Pops and will look for a quick quilt to use those and it will be bright and cheery. She would like a modern one, I think.

There was a thread about this same topic a few days back - interesting responses - and now I can't find the thread!

I agree with some of the replies re: using a lot of pink.

Here is one I made for my niece that had both breasts removed last November.

I think any pattern would do How about a D9P or Magic square or anything but one that screams hey I've got cancer! Missouri Quilt Company has some great ideas for quick quilts with charms and layer cakes on youtube.

I suggest keeping your daughter's friend's personality in mind when choosing the patten and material.

Suze, this one is so beautiful.

Why not use that yummy Bali Pops & make a Jelly Roll Race quilt? It's modern-looking. I think that would be perfect! Please post again & let us know what you decide on.

Wow! What a gorgeous quilt! What pattern is this made from? I love, love, love it!!!

We made a warm wishes pattern quilt for a cancer patient, she requested some white for signatures of all who helped her on her journey to recovery. We presented her with a pigma pen with the quilt.

That's a lovely idea. Thought about giving our daughter some fabric and pen that her friends could write encouragements on then put it on the quilt somewhere in small pieces. Still throwing ideas around in my head.

ive made 3 cancer quilts with the pattern and panels from block party studios i made one for my dmil to take to chemo and she hung it in her bedroom so she could see it from the bed while she recooperated to lift her spirits. i also make one every year for the bowl for the cure tournament to be auctioned off and the proceeds go to the komen breast cancer fund. its usually one of the most popular auction items. the one i made for my dmil was in purples and violets as she had non hodgkins lymphoma but the other 2 were pink for breast cancer.
carla

How about Using a beautiful floral fabric that does not remind her of having cancer? I am sure she will love what ever you decide.

I made one using the Yellow Brick Road pattern and had her co-workers write words of encouragement on the largest squares. It was in her favorite colors of lavenders and purples.

Ask your daughter what she will want. Maybe she does want lots of cuddling and support, maybe she wants something stark and modern that she perceives as helping her to be brave and strong. It is a very personal thing. What type of quilt would she have liked if she didn't have breast cancer? Has she changed?

I make a lot of flannel quilts and give to people going through chemo and they love them. One of the people was a great friend and a male and he wouldnt let anyone touch his quilt and when he passed his wife said it was the best thing anyone could have done for him. It makes me feel so good to see friends and family receive these and love them so much.

When my husband was going through chemo treatments, the last thing he wanted to be reminded of was his illness. He’d concentrate on his cars, new tools, fishing, anything to keep his mind off the bag.

So you might consider fabrics with a maze, or jungle print, dogs, cats, shoes, cannibis, squirrels. There are so many understated fabric patterns available. A floral would indeed by nice. It all depends on her personality, your daughter would know.

The quilt is a great idea, some of the blankets they pass out are clean but can be stinky. Best wishes.

what are her most favorite colors....thats where I would go.....and not be reminded of my fight....I know what it is....do not have to see it every time I go in....would rather have happy thoughts.......dogs, cats....purple, red.....whatever puts a smile on the face...............................:p

I made a quilt for my cousin who is 33 and was diagnosed with breast cancer in March. She is having a double mastectomy and a hysterectomy. I decided to ask her what she wanted, and she said she wanted something bright and cheerful. After a bit of discussion, we decided she should pick out the fabric she wanted and the pattern. (I gave her four or five patterns to select from, as I didn't want her to pick one I couldn't do.)

It ended up being beautiful. She loved it. She chose blues and yellows, with daisies, in a pattern called Take Five.

She told me she did not want pink ribbons, as she didn't want to be reminded. It was already something she couldn't forget, but she wanted a quilt that she felt was good for then and later. She had chemotherapy 8 times and the surgery is in two weeks. My quilt has been with her the whole time. (Don't ask me why the chemo was before the surgery...that is what the doctors decided.)

You might consider involving your daughter's friend. My cousin lives in Kansas and I am in Texas, so we did it all through email. I even sent pictures of the quilt "in process."

Dina