When a loved one faces a huge medical challenge, to make them a small, personal quilt is a great gesture. It's a lasting hug and a reminder just how special they are to you. How they chose to use it, be it at home for comfort, or to take along to treatments leave to their own option. It's important that whatever you chose for fabric and color, you just keep in mind what the recipient would love. Later, they can look at the quilt, still enjoy it and remember the comfort it gave them through tough times, but not necessarily represent the "disease". Just my opinion.

I make quilts for the kemo patients at my oncologist office. I was fortunate enough not to need kemo, but feel for the people there hooked up to the machine. I make different types and patterns, but always "happy" quilts. They tell me that when they give one of my quilts to their patients, it makes them very happy. Usually they are lap size.

I am fighting Melanoma... and so far, have been cleared as far as not having to haver chemo. That being said, I would prefer something warm and cuddly, and cheery. I know what I am fighting, and would rather ignore it when I am snuggling under it.

I so agree!

I make mine depending on the person it is for. If they have a special interest or love a certain color, I go for that. If they are involved in such things as relay for life, etc. I might go for the ribbons and like that. I make it a little bigger than a regular throw, to be sure it doesn't leave them exposed to the cold room.
I use fleece for the backing to make it extra snuggly.
For a nice touch, I sometimes make an extra block and make a bag for them to carry the quilt in, too. Just a simple one, but it's a nice touch.

QuiltE, I agree 100%. When I was in Chemo, my favorite cover was a fleece fringe, long lap blanket that had multiple light colors on a brown background. I actually made it myself as none of my friends or family are crafty. I still wag it around just like a kid with his nighty night. :>) But as mentioned earlier, it all depends on the person and so just make something that she would feel warm and comfy with.

Now that I am almost 2 years cancer free, I am more ok with the ribbons. At first I didn't want anything to do with them either! Like I needed another reminder. I think everyone is different when it comes to the "pink" My goal this year is to make quilts for my local chemo place. Just to give back a little! My thoughts and prayers to the ladies who are dealing with cancer right now.

I definitely wouldn't do anything that would make the recipient more conscious of her illness. I'd do something bright and cheery. I make mine a little bigger than most, about 60 x 72, because I know how good it feels to be "wrapped in love."

I have made a couple and I used pre-shrunk flannel for the backing. It was soft & cozy.

You are TOTALLY ON the mark with this!!! Funny how many of us can see through the gimmicks!

When DH had chemo I was the one that got cold; usually not him. Nurses gave me a warmed blanket that felt wonderful. Don't know if all chemo centers/hospitals have a blanket warmer though.
When BFF had breast cancer a friend gave her an engineer's cap made from a pillow ticking type print with one pink ribbon on it. She loved it(she was quirky type dresser). But when she had stage IV lung cancer, she didn't like pink or any other color ribbons any more.
Also, did you know pink ribbons are only to symbolize breast cancer? There are many other colors for different types of cancers, and one color that stands for any type of cancer. Don't remember which is "for" what type. The chemo or doctor's office or Google could tell you what color stands for that particular cancer.
As for me if I had to have chemo I think I would like a cheerful light weight Minkee backed quilt.

I agree with the poster that said,"no pink ribbons". Use something bright and cheerful or warm and cuddley.

Do make the quilt, in whatever color you choose, at least 45 x 60 so it will tuck around the feet and shoulders to keep the patient warm; they get so cold during treatment. I like fleece on one side and soft cotton on the back. Usually I tack them with my heart design on my machine.

I just made a chemo quilt for a coworker using the 1600 inch pattern (1 - moda jelly roll [Butterfly garden]) with borders and wrote comforting words of the quilt. She loves it and is displaying it when not using it.

Since it was a surprise, I just observed her to see what colors to use, but asking is always good. I did it large lap with a 50/50 bamboo and cotton batting, which made is lighter.

I too think of a chemo quilt as a comfort during chemo. Some people do not want to be reminded any more than they have to of their disease so they would not like the special cancer fabrics. Others would not mind. Play it by ear and I wish for a speedy remission.

I was on the receiving end of a cancer cuddle quilt from Bonnie Hunter's on-line mystery quilt group, totally knocked my socks off with surprise. They have done several others and always use this heart pattern which is sewn in two half units, but choose different colorways. One was batiks, one was pastels, etc. So as a suggestion, hearts are always good :)

I have pink ribbon pins on all my sweaters, I blinged 'em up with rhinestones though.
And I'm looking for a Singer 91 clone in pink.
Wouldn't have been caught dead in pink before. I'll probably grow out of it, but for now I find the ribbons comforting.

wonderful quilt. what a way to dress it up your pink ribbons..... with bling. i like your attitude. the cancer ribbons are to show support and to celebrate being a survivor. i also have red dress pins to show support for women's heart health. never thought to bling them out. i will need to look into that.:) btw, do you mean a singer 15 pink clone? i am not familiar with a singer 91 clone. i do have a real singer that you can have and paint it pink. lol:D

it is interesting to see what others are saying about cancer ribbons. not one person has mentioned that the cancer ribbons can represent being a survivor or a way for a family member or friend to show support but many are saying it just reminds them they have the disease. i know for sure there are more prevalent things that can remind a survivor that they have this disease than a small colored ribbon (not just pink ribbons either). i am finding this fascinating that sentiments are focusing on something more negative with cancer ribbons than focusing on the positive of this symbol, being a survivor.

the glass really is half full to some and half empty to others. i'm so glad i see the half full image.:thumbup:

I have not have and do not anticipate, in the near future, chemo but I believe I would love something bright and cheerful and not in any way a constant reminder of my illness, but a thought of hope and the future. Sorry about the run on sentence.

I agree that you should make what they recipient would like. Personally, I LIKE pink. I liked pink before it was used as a breast cancer color. And I would would like a pink quilt - soft pink , dark pink, bright pink - whatever! It reminds me of being a little girl and being comforted. So,while I see the point about the ribbons, don't reject pink out of hand if the recipient would actually like pink!

I love the storyquilt story. I somewhat disagree with the Central Oregon Hospital plan. Why not give the quilt to each patient and let them wash it etc. They it doesn't need to be so serviceable. Fabric that is washed in the high temperature, sturdy machine doesn't stay nice no matter what it is. Ugh to their scratchy cotton "serviceable" quilts. I made one for a friend's mother with a lovely bright flannel front and a cuddly minkee on the back. She used it at home and took it to the hospital with her. I'm of the opinion that the pink ribbon is a great fund raising device but not needed on a quilt!

That's the size I made for my sister because, first of all she was very short, but also because it worked well on the chemo chair. I made a D9P in pinks and blues, paisleys. She loved it. Unfortunately she didn't get to enjoy it for very long.

:::::: sending cyber {{{{{ HUGS }}}}} and prayers for healing :::::::::::::

My husband has been undergoing treatment for 13 years. His favorite quilt is a "manly" quilt that I made out of shirting flannels in 1999 for his first round of chemo. It is warm, soft and full size. He used it in the infusion room during his first round of chemo. Yes, the infusion rooms and hospitals are usually cold. I have made him other quilts for other times of treatment but the flannel plaid one remains his favorite. He always seeks it out when he doesn't feel well. I just had to write to you because today he underwent his third bone marrow transplant and is tucked underneath a quilt of love in his hospital bed at this very moment. Quilts are great comforters..to the patient and the family.....so match the quilt to the one who is to receive it!!

::::: sending {{{{{ Hugs }}}}} and prayers, your way! :::::

Got to go with you on this! Too much "advertisement of other people's personal pain" for me. I do know that others like the symbols, colors, etc...just remember not everyone does.

i made this for my niece as she was going through chemo for breast/bone cancer. she loved it and when i found out she was terminal i managed to make it in 5 days to send it from arizona to nova scotia for her. she got to use it for 6 weeks before her passing. her only sister is now the proud owner of it and gives me such great joy that she can get comfort from it. the templates of phrases can be purchased at blockpartystudios.com [ATTACH=CONFIG]350187[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]350190[/ATTACH]

I've just made one for a girlfriend. She likes flowers and when she was first diagnosed two birds (doves) came to her bedroom window. her parents are both deceased but felt this was a sign they are watching over her. I found this small panel that had two birds and flowers and matched the charm pack I had. I put it together and she loved it. The colors were bright and cheery. I did label it with a verse. She loved it.

i hope your niece found some comfort under this wonderful quilt. i made one for my uncle which he got to enjoy for all of one week but he stayed covered with it the whole week he had it to use. he wouldn't let that quilt out of his sight. i felt so humbled that he found so much comfort in it. his wife has it now to enjoy.

I have made several what I call "Comfort Quilts", mine were no certain pattern,, I didn't do the pick ribbon,, just a lap size quilt for them to wrap in when they are taking chemo,,, the main thing is they know that you care.. I am making one now for a friend that has pancreatic cancer and it is a string quilt put together in a barn raising pattern... I will try and post a picture when it is done..

I am making one like this with the same sayings for a friend of mine. Her breast cancer was in remission after oral meds, then it came back in her bones. No pinks though. Just bright colored batiks. This one is really precious!

Thank you for this thread I have put the suggestions of size and a pocketed carry bag as a note in my iPad so I don't lose it. I also want to include the suggestions in our Quilt Guild Newsletter as we do a lot of charity quilts.

love to see it when your done. my thoughts and prayers to you and your friend. rachelle

You All Rock:thumbup::thumbup:

I have made a few and I make them using bright cheerful colours but one of the favourites is a Quillow backed with flannel with a handle, it makes is to more versatile and useful and easy for using and carrying. I NEVER put cancer ribbons on them, not tasteful IMO!

Flannel on the back to keep her warm, biography enough to cover her when she streches out. And all the love and prayers you can fit in it. :)

Suze

I have done several "chemo" quilts and don't do anything relating to their disease. Just find a pattern that I like, fab that may be good match for the person, and away I go. They quilts are always appreciated, used. Room for chemo are always so so cold and I encourage the person to please please take the quilt with them for treatment.

I have made several "Comfort Quilts". 2 of which were pinks, but no pink ribbons.

However, for something like a Relay for life quilt I have used ribbons.

2011 quilt

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2012 quilt
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The ribbons do bring in donations though