I just found out my piano teacher has cancer and so I want to make her something quick. Do you have any ideas that would come in handy during her chemo?
Thanks in advance.

I quilt she can take with her to treatment.

last winter, I donated 31 fleece blankets to our local cancer treatment center. I got the idea from a friend who had cancer and he complained of being cold. I made him 2 fleece blankets and he loved them! I just buy fleece, lots of time from the remnant bin at JoAnn's - round off the corners and do a blanket stitch with my machine. I like to get between 48" and 1 & a half yards for each blanket as they are 58" wide.

Yes, a comfy fleece blanket. They get so cold.....

A fleece blanket would be great or a simple quilt top backed with fleece.

After my brother had brain cancer and was always cold during chemo, my mom made quilts to donate to cancer patients. She made sizes for kids and adults and donated them anonymously. She made easy patterns so she could make more but the colors were always beautiful. She made quite a few out of flannel.

A fleece "rag quilt" would work up really fast and be cozy warm and not heavy to drag around. She'll love anything you give her because she'll know you cared enough to make it for her.

How about make her a big bag to take things to occupy her during treatments.

I think a simple top with fleece back would be perfect! But as tj said, anything you make for her will be appreciated.

I agree with Wolfkitty. A simple pattern like Warm Wishes with a fleece back would be great. You could do it in black and white and use some music/piano fabrics.

Darren

My friend had lung cancer and went through several stints of chemo everytime she asked me to make her several lap quilts to take with her bright colors and interesting prints when she died last year she had 21 lap quilts that her family donated in her name to the cancer unit that had taken such great care of her fleece ones were warmest without placing alot of weight on frail bodies

I made a quilt with my sheep batting inside for a friend who had cancer - she has since passed on but she told me several times it was the only thing she could stay both comfortable and warm in. Sheep wool batting is available - check around - place in MI - Zeilinger's I think - I have some if you need it. But don't use the hard somewhat felted stuff I've seen in some stores. Good luck and God bless... I used a flannel back and a designed cotton top.

I volunteer at the quilt ministry at my church. We make quilts for church members (or their friends and family) that have a serious life threatening illness. We place ties in the quilt in place of binding and quilting. As we tie the ties we pray for the person. We make lap quilts that are typically 48 x 60.

Blessings,
Kim

I went thru chemo last year. I wasn't cold during treatments, but sure was after. Each type of chemo causes different side effects. Some are cold during treatment, some after. After each treatment I would freeze to the point my whole body would shake. Thankfully I had a nice fleece snuglet. I had made myself one with the arms. Fleece is nice & soft, very cuddly & not too heavy. I made mine nice & long so I could wrap my feet in it as well. I could stay wrapped up, but yet reach for things without uncovering. It was great. If you make one I'd get non-pill fleece. This is a pdf instruction for making one:
http://www.sissonfamily.com/Sewingro...thesnuglet.pdf

Quilt with fleece as backing and no other batting. Or a quilt with polly batting and flannel on the back. Make the qulit atleast 50x60. I have not heard of this but how about those lap quilts that can be folded into a pillow shape. they have a pocket center bottom that people can also use to stick their feet in when the blanket is unfolded.

A Fleece Quilt is the way to go, it is warm and cosy. And being a piano teacher she might want something to do with her hands, so maybe a patchwork project that she can start and finish through her treatment, it will keep her mind occuppied and her hands busy. :)

I agree with Wolfkitty.

Fleece - either alone or as backing on a quilt. I was just at Joanne's (super store) and all their fleece is 50% off - They appear to have several different qualities of fleece with a large variety of patterns on it.

A fleece quilt is fast and easy and it'll keep her warm physically and mentally because you made it for her from your heart!

colour is important--note what she is into --rainbow colours can work--not too busy soothing calming is the way to go

how about a quillow. a quilt that folds up to a pillow.

I like the idea of the snuggie ( fleece with arms), and if you are in a hurry, you can purchase one ready made and then add some appliques to it to personalize it.

I am not having chemo - thank God - but I do have infusions at the Oncologist's office. Everyone chats while there. Most say that they really appreciate having a blanket of their own. The practice has blankets but they are just the loose-weave cotton blankets that the hospital has.

The one point that every one seems to make is that their feet are cold. The office asks that you take off your shoes while having a treatment. They say that that is because shoes can be constricting on blood flow. So my suggestions would be to add a foot pocket to what ever kind of quilt/cover you make. HTH

Fleece really is a good way to go. My DH goes for dialysis and gets cold during treatments. I made a "double" fleece, using the tied all around method. He really likes it. Light weight, but warm. He can fold it up quite small, so it fits in his little locker. AND, it is sooo washable!

I think a light (to carry) and easily washable blanket is a good idea, so fleece would be great! The bag (for a blanket, book, bottle of water) is a great idea, too!

My sister lost her hair during her chemo, she wore turbans and scarves to keep her head warm. Here is a link to an easy pattern.
http://www.sewing.org/html/turban.html

That's an idea I would have never thought of...thanks.

Just make the quilt/blanket a little longer and fold it up and sew along the edges. Simple

Yes, make the fleece blanket. Use the width (60") for the length and make it about 45" for the width. I am just finishing my cancer treatment and the fleece blanket I made and used was great. I got cold sitting there for all those hours and dozing of so it was a help.

I agree with this. Chemo rooms always have blankets (well, unless they're so busy they run out), but since you have to stay at chemo treatment for hours, it's nice to have something to put goodies in, like a book, snacks, etc.

Also flannel pillowcases are very nice. They are so soft to the feel. I like the idea of the fleece blankets too.

Knitting,crocheting or making caps out of fleece are always welcome for a cancer patient. Knots of Love has patterns for knitting and knotting, which the writer of the web site calls crocheting. I just made three for a friend and another friend made her some out of fleece. There is a pattern available for the fleece caps. The recipient was so grateful.

Carol J.

I agree - a fleece blanket would be quick, washable and warm - Nancy Zieman on Sewing with Nancy just had a video on doing quick fleece blankets - she was demonstrating tools - one was like a rotary cutter that made the holes equal distance apart for blanket stitching and another was just like a decorative cutter - I am sorry to hear about your friend but we will keep her in our prayers.

A fleece blanket with tied edges is quick to make, very attractive, and lightweight. You need 2 fleece fabrics - contrasting fabrics look best. One fabric is for the top, and one is for the back which makes them reversible. Make 4-5" cuts into the fleece along the edges on both fabrics. Align them and make a knotted tie (make sure it lies flat) with each set of strips. Experiment with length of strips to get the size correct for the look you want to achieve.

Lap quilt or tote. Iam a cancer survivor of 3 years, the chemo sometimes makes you cold, my onc. office had blankets but your own lapquilt would be so nice. A tote to carry book, snacks water would also be nice since I never went without those things. Usually with all the anti nausea stuff you don't get too sick, but I always had an uneasy stomach and so took crackers and chocolate, they helped to settle tummy.
Head covers are good for when the hairloss starts usually about 17 days after start of chemo, although not everyone does lose hair, depends on the type of chemo.
Your are very thoughtful and I am sure your friend will appreciate any gesture you offer. Sometimes just being a good listener and not avoiding your "cancer" friend means a lot. I was very fortunate to have a large support group of family and friends.

Great idea!

Hope you are doing well.

My suggestion is to make her a quillow (a blanket that folds into a pocket that you sew on the front centre of the blanket at the bottom). I made one for my sister out of fleece when she had cancer and she absolutely love it. It only takes about an afternoon to make and is very easy to take along when she goes for treatments.

When my niece was going through chemo etc. I did a flannel quilt for her. (wool batting) She said it was wonderful to cuddle up in, as she was always very cold after a treatment.

I am also in a quilt ministry at Saddleback Church and we make quilts for babies in the hospital and many for our missionaries to take on trips and for the sick. They really seem to be enjoyed. Bless you for what you do through your church too.

I know my quilt has made and contributed what they call Chemo blankets to be used dring the therapy. Apparently, it's just a pretty cotton width of about 2yds enveloped with flannel for the back - very quick and easy - no batting just a litttle fun stitching, shouldn't even need binding. I would just topstitch the edge after turning. I am going to make one for myself with flannel ad fleece.