A quilt "for all the wrong reasons"

Some people make quilts to celebrate the birth of a new baby. Others make quilts as gifts for newlyweds. Me? It seems I make quilts to thwart cancer.

Exactly one year ago I made my Fuck you, Lymphoma quilt as a gift for my friend, Angela who had cancer. Since then she has beaten cancer. I had hoped I was done with having friends with cancer. I was wrong.

A few months ago, another of our same group of friends found out she had cancer. She's a twenty-something single mom of an adorable four year old. And she's got stage four lung cancer. I've got to big, fat middle fingers for you, cancer. Go the fuck away.


Needless to say, I immediately set to work on making her a quilt. I used these purple and green fabrics I've been hording for a quilt and made some half square triangle blocks. I'm sort of in love with half square triangle quilts and sketch our designs in my classes. I went with a diagonal pennant looking design for this one. Sort of a festive, block party in the street kind of feel.


Just like my last cancer quilt, I had all of our friends email me messages for to put on the quilt. We're all so far away, covering various countries. The messages all went on to the back of the quilt so that Elaine can take her quilt to chemo and hopefully our words and well wishes give her the strength she needs to keep fighting. It's the least we can do. But we can't do any more. We're all tied by location, finances and circumstance. We can't make her dinner. We can't clean her house. We can't take her our to drinks or pedicures. All we have is our words. And this quilt.


Keep fighting the big fight, Elaine. The Gumdrops all love you dearly and wish we could do so much more than this. You are beautiful. You are strong. You are fierce. We all love you, and your quilt is on it's way to you.

And cancer? Pack your bags and get the hell out. I'd rather be making quilts for happy reasons.

Pre-School to Pre-Teens: Parcel #5 is here!

Our little girls. Our daughters. Our nieces. Our granddaughters. For most of us, they are the very reason we started sewing. They melt our hearts and make us tear our hair out all in the same five minutes. Girls. (shrugs) We're magical creatures.

Today I'm launching a special Pattern Parcel collection for our girls. The indie patterns in their Parcel were chosen for their versatility. They're modern styles that transcend time. They're Audrey. They're Marilyn. They're Hillary. This Parcel completely covers the size range from 4 years up to a 12 tween. Most of the patterns span even further, as small as newborn and 3 months, up to a 14, 16, 18 girl's tween sizing. We also chose these patterns because they were all styles we'd be proud to have our girls wear. But they're also still styles our girls want to wear. And I'm sure you all know what a fine line that is to walk.

We sew for our girls because we want them to have quality garments made with fine materials. Because store bought clothing for women these days is overpriced and poorly made. It's trash waiting to fall apart and accumulate in our landfills. Not only that, but let's be honest, today's store bought clothes are often styles that rush our little girls into an over sexualized womanhood or cram commercial garbage down their throats.

Let's make our girls clothes that are comfortable. That allow them to be the people they want to be and allow them the movement they need for all their activities. These patterns let our girls climb trees and build forts or get lost in books. They let our girls run and play. They can be athletes, artists, engineers and scientists. And even princesses. ;) Let's make our girls a wardrobe worth wearing.

Introducing, Pattern Parcel #5: Pre-School to Pre-Teen.


Click this image to learn more about the patterns and sizing.
Parcel #5 includes:
Lily Knit Blazer by Peek-a-Boo Patterns
Everyday Yoga Pant for Girls by Greenstyle
Asymmetrical Drape Top by EYMM
Playhouse Dress by Fishstick Designs
Mimi Dress and Shirt by Filles a Maman

BONUS PATTERN: Sunki Dress by Figgy’s

Choose your own price to support these independent digital pattern designers and to help us in our work with the charity DonorsChoose.org. Together, we've raised over $11,000 this year for classrooms in need!

Happy Friday, y'all!