Have you ever had a quilt that seemed like it needed to be made. right. NOW?!? This quilt definitely falls into that category. It clearly is not my typical style, but I am oh so glad I had the ball rolling on this one because the timing ended up working out perfectly. In fact, I was in such a rush to get the quilt done, photos taken, and then the quilt washed so that I could gift it *just in time*, that my photos are not that crisp and definitely not artistically taken.
My good friend lost her job at the end of October. I have been a member of a gym in my town for about 7 years, and we got less than a week’s notice that it was closing. She is a fitness instructor and personal trainer, and in the span of a few days she was unemployed. What was worse about that situation is that she has been traveling to doctors and hospitals with her husband a lot recently as they have been quite concerned about his health. So the day the general news became public knowledge, she was out of town and I felt like she needed to hear it from me instead of finding out when she went to work the next day.
We transferred to a new gym, and she has continued to work out with me and a small group of friends. I cannot afford to pay her appropriately as a personal trainer, and it really is out of habit that she continues to “teach” her normal routine of classes and exercise with the group of us. I decided to order some fabric for her favorite sports team, the Seattle Seahawks, and make a whole cloth lap quilt for her. The fabric arrived while I was away at the Quilt Bliss retreat, and my plan was to have the quilt made and gifted to her in time for her Thanksgiving trip to Seattle, where she plans to see a Seahawks game in person and meet her newest granddaughter.
Seahawks Quilt
On Tuesday morning, my friend and her husband learned that he has lung cancer (probably related to asbestos from his time in the military and early in his construction career). I had the quilt loaded on my long arm, and suddenly time seemed of the essence. I hustled to get the quilt complete to gift to her on Wednesday before they drove down to the VA in Los Angeles for yet another round of testing so that they can get the all clear to travel over Thanksgiving.
Seahawks Quilt – Fleece Backing
As you can see in the photo above, the fleece was a bit tricky to work with on my long arm. The fleece was supposed to be 60-inches wide, and when I pinned it to my longarm, it was about 58-inches across where I pinned it. When loaded with the top, the sides of the fleece scooped in, and while I did my best to keep the sides as straight as possible, you can see the curve along the edges. It caused a bit of warp when the binding went on, but fortunately everything seemed to work out pretty well after the first wash.
I did choose to use batting in the quilt even with a fleece backing. I used a lightweight cotton batting that I inherited with my long arm when I purchased it last year, but I do not know the origins of that batting. The fabric on the top of the quilt is slightly heavier weight than a typical quilting cotton and is about 56-inches wide.
I used 2 yards of the fleece and 2.5 yards of the cotton (to have enough for binding). I did a very fast horizontal quilting using 50wt Aurifil 2021. I though the lines worked well to be reminiscent of the yard lines on a football field, and it helped the quilt come together quickly enough for me to gift it in time. The quilt finished somewhere in the neighborhood of 56-inches wide by 66-inches long.
Seahawks Quilt
“I don’t know what to say! Thank you so much I love it! You made me cry! You are a good friend thank you for being in my life!”
And that right there is why I quilt. It might not be the most beautiful quilt in the world, but it came together just when it was needed, and I know my love, care, and friendship will be felt every time she pulls it out to use.
I lived in Seattle for a while and it was all about the Huskies. I love the seahawks logo and did buy a cap! I didn’t know you could get fabric like that – a very thoughtful gift.
I went on a shop hop in Washington state this summer and bought several types of Seahawks fabric…they had a lot with huskies too! It made for a very festive quilt. Too bad it’s not bringing me more luck on game day!
I bet it is the most beautiful quilt in the world to your friend! I really did not see that the quilt is not square and when I went back to look after you said it wasn’t, still didn’t see it! I have used Minky for backing but have yet to use fleece. Do you know if fleece is stretchier?
How awesome that you were able to finish it so quickly and gift it to your friend and gift it at such a difficult time. Her response says it all 🙂
You have such a big heart!
I love to hear about your good works.
Thank you!
In your friends eye everything was perfect about the quilt. It was made and given out of love.
Sweetest quilt ever!
Yes it will Yvonne. Your friend will know how much you care each time she sees that quilt. So sorry for her troubles; you’ve done such a thoughtful thing for her. I’m glad you were able to finish it in time!
What an awful time for your friend! It’s so wonderful that you were able to give her such a special gift, and I know she’ll feel your love every time she uses it.
Also, the best quilts aren’t necessarily the most beautiful ones, but rather the ones the most thought and heart went into.
Simple, but very nice. Kudos for getting it finished on time.
You are a wonderful friend! There are so many reasons for making quilts, your reason is one of the best. It will be a well loved and appreciated quilt I’m sure!
Yvonne–your friend will treasure that quilt and your friendship! It is a perfect quilt because you gave it out of love, and it will be a warm hug as she and her husband go through his treatments and time of uncertainty. I have had that unexpected and shocking cancer diagnosis with my late husband. I’m sure that only you might notice that you hurried a bit and the fleece puckered… your friend sees only your caring. Best wishes to them and to you as you support your friend!
Yvonne, What a wonderful gift that she will treasure. I think it is amazing that the fabric arrived when it did and that you took the time and effort to get it quilted for their special trip and now it is providing so much more than warmth. Thank you for sharing and have a wonderful creative day!
And that’s pretty much why we all make quilts to gift to our friends in time of need. I hope it brings comfort to your friend and her husband.
That IS why we quilt! So glad you were able to finish and gift it in time.
I’m a Seahawks fan too and recently made a quilt for myself featuring Blitz the Hawk…it makes me so happy!! (My username on Instagram is the same as here if anyone wants to see it.)
What a thoughtful gift for your friend and a lovely blog post in general. It looks great!
What a thoughtful and heart felt gift for your friend. I’m sure it will be a wonderful reminder of your support for her, as she and her husband face this challenge–a grown up security blanket! Best wishes and energy to both of them.
Aww that is so sweet! So glad you got it finished in time and she loved it!
You are a wonderful friend! It surely means more than words.
My co-worker was recently diagnosed with breast cancer~I had the same response…I’ll make her a quilt! Hoping all goes well for your friend~
You are such a wonderful human being! The great example that there is much more good in this world.
This is a sad but beautiful story and it really touched my heart. it seems that bad things often cluster together and when that happens we just do what we can. Your quilt is beautiful in it’s simplicity and in it’s timing.
Great job, Yvonne. It sounds like your friend could use your really thoughtful gift right now.
Wow. That is exactly right about what your quilt will communicate to your friend. Yvonne you are just the best! Everyone should have someone like you in their corner!
That is the best type of quilt Yvonne x
making quilts – like giving one big hug to your friends that they can keep experiencing over an over again. Well done!
I liked very much reading about the story of this quilt. Really moving. I am sure it will bring some comfort to your friend.
A quilt is such a wonderful handmade hug, I am sure your friend loved it.
You need to cut yourself some slack girl! Only you would even notice that there was anything “wrong” with the quilt, and I use that term very loosely. I wouldn’t have noticed, had you not pointed it out. Fleece is tough to get perfectly and you did a great job. Yes, it is exactly moments and comments like those you received from your friend that makes it all worthwhile. What a good friend you are! Sending prayers for your friend and her husband and their families and friends.
Wonderful! This brought tears to my eyes, too. Its why we quilt!
Sometimes simple, quick finishes are the most rewarding. Especially when they are so appreciated. What a touching story. I wish her family the best.
Such a thoughtful gift and very timely in its delivery. Getting news like cancer is never easy (and I went through the exact thing of lung cancer with my mom). I know that quilt will get a lot of love out of it, and will even serve a secondary purpose (if they choose to) to keep your friend’s husband warm during chemo, which is always freezing. It’s like having a continual hug around someone during a trying ordeal.
Oh dear, your poor friend. I’m sure the quilt will mean so much to her, and yet always so hard still in such situations that there’s no way to solve the horrible problem itself.