As I suspect many have felt over the past weeks watching the news unfold about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, I have felt helpless. I have purchased digital patterns via Etsy from Ukrainian sellers. You may have already seen it, but I really love the Rise of Freedom pattern by Sashas Quilts. I have donated money to care and aid organizations. If you are researching, here are a few articles I used to help determine which organizations to donate to:
- Want to support the people in Ukraine? Here’s how you can help (NPR article)
- What You Can Do to Help Ukraine: A List of Top-Rated Relief Organizations and Additional Resources (Entrepreneur.com)
Fabric Pull
And like many others, I felt compelled to make something. As I pulled yellow and blue prints from my stash, I tried to focus on finding colors that approximate the colors of the Flag of Ukraine (wikipedia).
Partial Seams Mini Quilt
The Partial Seams mini quilt top finished at 24 1/2″ square and after quilting shrunk down to about 24″ wide by 23 3/4″ tall.
Partial Seams Mini Quilt (Quilting Detail)
To further reinforce the connection to the Flag of Ukraine, I matchstick quilted the top half of the mini quilt with blue thread and the bottom half of the mini quilt with yellow thread. The blue boldly shows up against the yellow on the top half of the quilt, but the yellow stands out less against the blue in the lower half of the quilt (to my eye).
Partial Seams Mini Quilt (Quilt Back)
To keep from walking into heavy gauge wire, my husband and I ordered ethically sourced Tibetan prayer flags (wikipedia), and it seemed only appropriate to hang this little mini up with the prayer flags and offer my prayers for the people of Ukraine.
Partial Seams Mini Quilt
When I’m really struggling, one of my favorite meditations to use is the Loving-Kindness Meditation/Prayer (link to heartsong yoga that includes an expanded prayer):
“May all living beings everywhere, on all planes of existence, known and unknown, be happy, be peaceful, be free from suffering.”
Partial Seams Mini Quilt
Linking up with Needle and Thread Thursday, Finished (or not) Friday, TGIFF, Beauties Pageant 166, and March 2022 Favorite Finish.
This is lovely. I’m heartbroken over what’s being done to the Ukrainian people; thanks very much for the info on more ways to help them.
Wonderful quilt to show your support of the Ukranians. It is heartbreaking to listen to the news and hear of the loss of life. The loving kindness meditation is a perfect prayer for peace.
Your post is heartfelt and touching. Your quilt – stunning.
Nice mini! I think changing the thread color really works well.
Love this. What is the meaning of “partial seams”?
What Beautiful thoughts.
And a gorgeous quilt!
You’ve poured your heart into making this mini and what a perfect place for it to wave its peaceful corners (grin) in with the prayer flags (love them and the source too).
SO.
MUCH.
Over the past couple of years has made me and I know a lot of others, feel so helpless and depressed. Making, creating, adding beauty to our corners of the planet helps to heal, even if it’s our own aching hearts, I believe.
I hope you felt a little comfort while you were making this stunning quilt. It saddens my heart to see the devastion to the people and the destruction of a once thriving country.
Beautiful prayer quilt. Timely. Love the design. And the matchsticking, of course. Thanks for sharing the link to Rise of Freedom, too.