When you say chemo quilt...
 

does that mean just a quilt you give someone while they go through chemo....or do you use a certain pattern or do things a certain way? My sister in law will be going through chemo and I'm thinking about something for her.

I would do whatever would comfort her most. Some go for the cancer ribbon motif but that would just make me think more about the illness- personal thing.

I make my quilts with angels appliqued on them. I have made many and give them away as soon as I hear of someone with cancer going thru chemo. I usually make them 45 x 60.

You might make it very soft and not too small. I personally would make q quilt that is comforting both in materials and design. I agree on the pink ribbon. I can't handle it either because it reminds me of the disease. I think a happy quilt or something that the person enjoys would be my choice to make.

I think it's a quilt (maybe sort of lap-sized) that is to be used while the person is going thru chemo. I know when my BFF was going thru her rounds of chemo, she always remarked onhow cold the rooms were & how cold the chemo made her feel.

Here are a couple of links I found re this:

http://www.bjsquiltbasket.com/ChemoQuilts.html


http://quiltstory.blogspot.com/2012/...and-years.html

I made one for my mom while she was going through her chemo. She requested bright daisies, so that is what I did. I did do pink ribbon as part of the backing.

I plan to make a "chemo" quilt for a co-worker's sister. I made one for a little girl who is battling the disease. I didn't go by any pattern, just some strips of pretty bright cheery colors. The good healing thoughts that go into the quilt speaks volumes and your SIL is gonna feel that love!

Soft, cuddly, washable, and in a color scheme and pattern that would be comforting to the recipient. :)

I'm in the camp of don't even think of giving me one that is
... pink
...... or with the ribbon logo
......... or with angels
............ or with anything even remotely connected to what I am dealing with.

Not to worry, I will not be oblivious to what I am fighting ... and will certainly not be ignoring it.
I just know I will want something that is all about me, and something that would give me strength in ways beyond what I have. Something that will strengthen me and build on that inner strength, guts, gumption and glory that I have.

Sorry for those who think those symbols are wonderful ... it just shows the diversity of what some would want ... and what some would not want.

If making one ... choose wisely, hopefully knowing whom will be receiving, well enough, to choose what they would want.
If not ......... Simply ASK!

I agree.

Personally, I wouldn't want the ribbons either. Nothing against those who do, it's just not something that I would want for myself. I would just want something very comforting, so that is what I give. I did bright happy colors for my great-nephew (Laurel Burch Jungle theme) and soft blues/greens/yellows floral D9P for my neice's quilt. Fortunately, they are both cancer free now! :)

I agree ...as cute as the ribbons are....I want something that does not put the disease in my face all the time. I.. recently made a pink ribbon quilt with some embroidery....but I will be donating it for an auction.

I agree with all of you who said steer away from the pink ribbons. One - it is too much "in your face" (or mine) and two, it is all over the place now, as is pink this and pink that it becomes almost meaningless, at least to me. anything cozy sounds good to me.

Perhaps instead of using the ribbon of the cancer, use the color in some way in the quilt, in pieced blocks or among the strips/sashing/borders.

Jan in VA

OOOOOOOOOO Pleeeeeeease Noooooooooooooooo!!!!
At least I pray that no one does that for me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I do not do pink now .... and will not do pink if and when!
(or whatever colour for the symbolic token)


Please accept this with no disrespect to those who would appreciate the pink, or ribbons or angels etc.

This is totally JIMHO and hopefully portraying a message for others of the same opinion.

How about dragons breathing fire? I've seen a great VIP print - gold dragons breathing red fire on a black background!

Destroy those bad cells!

Have red flannel on the back!

Oh I am so with you on this. The ribbon and the color pink have become cheap marketing gimmicks. The same with all the othe colors. Don't bring near me either! IMHO of course.

The marketing gimmick I can appreciate and respect, as yes, they need to raise funds.

What I would not want is the 'in my face" reminder ........... I will know enough about THAT without further reminders.
I want reminders about life ........ not dis-ease and potentially non-life.

I agree with everybody. It's best to ask your SIL what color she would want. Personally, I would not want pink at all. One more thought, don't use a weighty batting. When my Mom was being treated for cancer, she sometimes couldn't stand anything heavy on her skin even though it was very cold during the infusions and she needed a blanket. So maybe a poly rather than a cotton batting or a very lightweight cotton. Anybody else have the same problem?

EXACTLY!!! It doesn't matter the pattern, or the price of the fabric, what matters is that you took the time to make something personal for the person you are giving it too.

I'm a cancer patient. Stage 4 Breast Cancer, I've been fighting for the last 4 years. That's what matters most to me about the quilt my friend and her daughters made for me. I taught them all to quilt one summer when the girls were in elementary school. The oldest is now a freshman in college. The quilt is just your basic string quilt using scraps from all the different quilts we have made together since that first summer. The backing and batting is are old cotton sheets.

YOU matter. The feelings you have for your SIL MATTER. Being there when things get ruff MATTER

Nothing else does.

It's not breast cancer, so pink ribbon wouldn't be the one anyway. I hadn't really thought about how you wouldnt want a huge reminder in your face, since you already know what you're dealing with. Thanks for all the suggestions. I'll be thinking about the colors she likes. I just really want one more way to make her more comfortable and feel as much love as I can give.

I receive infusions every eight weeks in the chemo room, although, thankfully, I don't have cancer. I've been going to the same place for the last five years and I do see that a lot of the cancer patients are just plain cold! They have hospital blankets in the room, and although they do the job, it is a lot nicer when they have something a bit more cuddly and cozy. I would think your sister-in-law would appreciate a lap size quilt, maybe with its own bag so she can easily bring it to her chemo. Most patients I see have a ton of appointments to manage, along with blood work results, and medication names, and I think it would be helpful to have some pockets in the bag and maybe even a pocket appointment book or some sort of notebook along with a pen.

If you're stuck on a design, you should think about what you might have made her before she got this diagnosis. She's still who she is, even with cancer.

I'll keep her in my thoughts.

This is a quilt that I made for our niece when she was under going chemo!!!QUOTE=beckyboo1;5373365]does that mean just a quilt you give someone while they go through chemo....or do you use a certain pattern or do things a certain way? My sister in law will be going through chemo and I'm thinking about something for her.[/QUOTE]

When one of my dearest friends was going through chemo, the LAST thing she wanted was a reminder. She just wanted normalcy, in her life. She was always cold and her skin was extremely sensitive. Just think pretty, soft, and cuddly warm.

it is interesting that some are saying not to use caner ribbons in quilts because it will remind the person of having the disease. what i know about cancer survivors in my life (my family and friends) is that they will always have some reminder of the disease, they will always be survivors and they are not attempting to shy away from the fact that they have this disease.

my uncle proudly tells you that he beat his prostate cancer, or my uncle who has bladder cancer will discuss it with you, one of my good friends became an ambassador for the susan komen foundation, one of the young women i mentored (and a friend) now runs marathons to raise money for hodgkins lyphoma, my sil in now in her battle with cancer and wears her ribbons (given by co-workers) proudly and i am designing quilts for 2 of the above and it will have cancer ribbon fabric in it.

my friend who became an ambassador for the komen foundation has produced 2 fashion shows (she is a clothing designer) with all pink ensembles to celebrate breast cancer survivors that she has modeling in her shows. someone at work gave her pink boxing gloves when she was going through treatment that she proudly displays (and wears) when she goes back to the treatment center to encourage others who are going through.

i don't understand this "in your face" sentiment with the cancer ribbon fabrics because the disease is already in your face. the survivors will always need to be checked and keep an eye on their situations, it will not go away. the many cancer survivors around me and in my life (at church also) have never expressed any sentiments (to me) that they did not want anything given to them with cancer ribbon items in or on it. several have become advocates due to their situations. i guess it is all about perspectives.

Wow, good idea. On mine I'd do fleece or Minkee

in reference to the dragons.

Your questions about what it is seem to have been answered.

Consider making a photo quilt or at least some of the blocks with photos of family, friends (including the furry kind if
she has special pets.

This is a tutorial for printing pictures on fabric. http://www.instructables.com/id/Inkj...bric/?ALLSTEPS

I have had cancer twice and had chemo both times. I would not want a quilt that reminded me of my cancer. I already have a constant reminder and that would compound it. Soft, cuddly and over quilted. Big enough to cover me from neck to toe as they keep the rooms cool to cold. Often you fall asleep while getting the IV's as it kind of sedates you so a quilt is great. I was actually making other quilts while I sat there for all those hours so they kept me warm. These are real thoughtful gifts for the patients.

I can hardly see to type this. This thread saddens me so. I just found out Sunday that my best friend from childhood has just found out out she has stage four lung cancer and it is inoperable. I don't think she has much time. I have started to make a windows quilt for her. In those windows I am putting pics of little girls and those things we have done together all our lives. Playing as small children thru being in each others wedding's and since then. We are 72 years old. She is a dear sweet person and has always been the life of the party. I am going to miss her. I hope I can get this quilt to her very soon.

Mollie'sMom ... I'm sad for you too! I hope that in those windows that you are including some "real" pics of the two of you and your life story together ... and not just fabrics symbolic of how your lives have been intertwined.

Just remember, tears are good for both of you, and help with the acceptance of what's to come. Bless you for doing such a thoughtful gift for your friend. Be sure to continue to share some special times together and not just live with the memories!!


HavPlenty ... Each person faces the reality of what "is" in different ways. In my earlier comments, I tried to emphasize it was JIMHO, the way I wanted to be treated if/when, although I was also trying to represent those who felt the same, and were not part of the discussion. I felt I was going into dangerous territory with my first comment, though it seems there are several others here that are of like minds.

Too, I said my comments were with no disrespect for others of the opposite thinkings. It's important we remember we may all face challenges in different ways. I did suggest to be sure to take into account the recipient's wishes, mindset, etc. and yes, if they want the symbolisms by all means do it!

I too know many who have been ambassadors before, during and after treatments, doing so for various reasons. I also know some that were more like me and were not interested in the symbolic representations ... and later became ambassadors, etc. Not to worry, they are good friends, and I have not rejected them.

No, I have not been inflicted, though I have walked the journey side-by-side with many. And shared in the many different emotions and thoughts on this issue. So I somewhat have been there.

We each need to remember that we are all unique individuals, with our own individual ideas and ideals. Thank goodness!!!

We each need to ensure that those who are suffering with any diseases and the treatments, that it is all done, handled, managed in "their" way and not the way we ourselves think it should be!! Let us not lose sight of that!

mollie's mom my father and his wife both had end stage cancers and i was caregiver to both. his wife had lung cancer and because she refused to give up though her prognosis was in 6 months, she lived approximately 15 months past what time she was given and didn't have treatments until the last 6 months of her life. she lived her life in the time she had. my father's cancer came back 3 times, each after some treatment. he too pressed on and l decided to make the most of the time he had. so i spent our time talking, taking walks and i took him on a bahamian cruise so that we could watch the sunsets together. though he was very sick when we went on the cruise, he just getting out of the hospital after a 2 month stay, he enjoyed the cruise and the walks along the florida beach we took. he told me thank you very much for doing this for him. you see i could do nothing about him leaving me but i could make the most of the time we had.

i know it is a difficult time you are going through but whatever you feel your friend is feeling 100 times more. i kept this at the front of my mind every time i thought to stop and feel sorry for the situations my dad, his wife and my emotions were in and it kept me pressing forward for them. my sil was diagnosed 2 months ago with stage iv ovarian cancer with mestastasis to other vital organs. her prognosis is well.... not very good, dire even. but if you talked with her and my db brother right now you would not hear that from them. they have decided to look forward and her doc is encouraging them along with our family. you cannot help but do so because while they know what they are facing (they have 3 young children), they have refused to give up without a fight. so the rest of us fight with them.

i encourage you to press forward with your best friend. there will be plenty of moments that she will feel the weight of what she is going through so you may need to be a wind beneath her wings. enjoy the time you have with her, perhaps watch sunrises or sunsets, enjoy some of her favorite activities, have long talks and long walks, go to chemo sessions with her. while you may not be able to do anything about her possibly leaving, there may be plenty you can do now to celebrate your long friendship together. i know is may be difficult but think about it along with the quilt you are making her. i have been on both sides of this and when i went through my time, my family and friends rallied around me so tightly, i know their love and prayers and deeds paved a smooth road for me to travel. i could not have imagined walking it without them.

My 33 year old cousin was diagnosed with breast cancer in April. I asked her if she wanted a quilt, and when she said yes, I had her select the fabric and pattern for her quilt. She wanted bright and cheerful. I live in Texas and she is in Kansas City, so all of the selecting of fabric and pattern was done online. I sent her pictures of quilts I had made, and she liked one of the patterns. Then she told me blue and yellow with daisies. I found appropriate fabric and took pictures of it before I bought it. It worked out quite well. She has a quilt I know she likes, and I got to make her a quilt!

I saw no reason for the quilt to be a surprise. If you don't either, this might work for you.

Dina

My husband has PINKED me nearly to death!! I do however wear purple and the ReLay for Life symbol. I understand that pink is for women and women get breast cancer, but guys get it too. Don't stone me ladies, but breast cancer gets most of the focus while lesser known cancers get none. I AM WOMAN! I AM a Rainbow of colors not just pink!

It is just a lap quilt intended for someone as they go through chemo. It does not need a particular pattern, color or fabric. I was part of a group making a bunch of blankees for those getting dialysis - these were crocheted and 45x60 was ideal. I would think a lap quilt of similar dimension would be perfect. Some prefer longer blankees, but it's pretty much a special request item. The two I donated are used only if the standard size blankee just isn't warm enough for someone. The rooms are kept cold for a couple of reasons - reduced bacteria growth, heat from the machines.

BTW, I do not make 'pink' quilts (or afghans). My Dad's cousin went through breast cancer treatment and chemo and was pinked to death. So, I feel free to use anything, but I try to have the final result be soothing rather than frenetic.

I've gone to chemo with several friends and it seems like there is a point where the meds take over and they just want to close their eyes and rest. That's when the chemo quilts come out. I've learned through trial and error that lap size is nice and instead of a backing and batting, I use a flannel sheet. It can be single layer or double layer. It is soft and comfy and there is no air space to deal with - it just molds to the body. I, too, like to avoid the pink ribbons. Instead I use a pattern that has appliqued butterflies on it -- a symbol of hope.

I just got diagnosed with cancer. I wouldn't want one with anything that reminded me of cancer. No ribbons, just something soft and comforting. Just my thoughts.

^^^passes QWkSilver a great big thick and cuddly but lightweight minkee quilt with lots of doggies (re your sigggie) in your favourite breed. All bedecked in your favourite colour(s)^^^

{{{{{HUGS}}}}}

So sorry about your sad news, QwkSilver ... I wish you an easy go with the treatments and that you send that beast running from your body.

I think it's just a quilt that you think the person would like to keep them warm during chemo. Lap size, maybe a little longer to cover completely. Maybe a matching bag to bring it with them.

I totally agree - I have made chemo quilts and I have also made Cancer quilts for raffles for the Susan G. Komen three day walk - Absolutely nothing reminding any one of any illness. Why am I so adamant about this? My husband has gone through Leukemia and Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma and I know he wouldn't want anything reminding him of what he is going through (was). Now he sleeps under a "Floating Star" Quilt made by Moi!!!!!!

Another thing, if you are or anyone is going to make cancer/chemo quilts for Infusion Departments (where they have chemo), check first with the department. I wanted to make some for the people where my husband had chemo and they said no because after each use they have to be washed. And that many washes are not conducive to a quilt. Same goes for Children's Hospitals (make one to take home) - but check to see if they allow the quilts. You also have to be super careful on the quilting or tying down - nothing to get in the way of the tubes, needles, clamps getting in the way.

I much prefer to give them as a "get out of the hospital" gift. Edie