Monday, December 8, 2014

100 blocks

I learned the week before Thanksgiving that my cousin has cancer. He is 10 years older than me and has a loving family of five kids and five little grandkids. Besides that he is the kind of guy who spends his early retirement (he was successful) visiting prisoners. The concurrent chemo-radiation therapy he will be undergoing starting tomorrow is said to be a knockout punch but potentially effective. So I've been sewing him a quilt to hang around the house with.

Today I finished it.


I totally cribbed the design from a Pinterest pin that traces back to Dr. Linda at Sew E. T.


I loved the simplicity, rhythm, and use of different solids in her quilt. I went cool with my neutrals, using a parchment white (has everyone been reading the wonderful discussion of neutrals by Freshly Pieced here and here?) and grays more than tan. I thought the cools would set off the primary colors I was using better (including Connecting Threads' beautiful "Patriot blue").


The idea behind the quilt is: 100 blocks for 100% recovery. And, while Linda called her quilt "Which Direction?" I interpreted the design as sorting out the good cells from the bad. Out with the bad, in with the good.

The quilt contains a bunch of patches from my husband's Hawaiian camp-style shirts. My cousin, who lives far away in California, also loves to sport a good Hawaiian print.

The back is simple. There will be good days and bad.


It's in the mail now. If only a person could do more.

UPDATE: My cousin is cancer free! The family celebrated his complete recovery with a big bash. I could not go, but my brother and family, who lives a couple of hours from them in California, did. Yay!

4 comments:

  1. Sorry to hear about your cousin. Treatment is harsh, but I pray it's effective. He will love hanging around w/this lovely creation. You amaze me Greta!

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  2. What a wonderful gift for your cousin as he goes through treatment for his cancer. He can wrap himself in this beautiful quilt, knowing there are loving arms surrounding him and providing warmth during this difficult time. I, too, pray for a complete cure.

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  3. Love the triangles! I hope it will be a great comfort and encouragement to your cousin!

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