HUG Quilt Finished

The wife of one of my co-workers suffers from a debilitating disease and has been in a wheel chair for quite some time. Until about a year ago, she was able to drive and pretty much get around on her own, but she then was diagnosed as having melanoma for the second time. It's been a difficult time for her as they tried to regulate her medications and treatments for both diseases.

Several weeks ago, she went in for a follow-up on the second round of melanoma, and they told her it had returned. She could go through chemo, but it wouldn't give her much more time than if she goes without treatment, and she opted to not go through it. My co-worker told me she probably has less than a year to live. I have met this woman only once and I wouldn't know her if I met her on the street, but for whatever reason, her situation touched my heart, and I found myself asking her husband what her favorite color is. He grinned and told me purple, and I knew I had to do something for her.

I went shopping two days later, bought fabric, and created a HUG for her. I finished binding it Wednesday of this past week, boxed it and wrapped it on Thursday, and took it to her husband to deliver to her. The note that I enclosed paraphrased part of Sairey's description of a HUG. When I came in to work today, my co-worker told me that his wife loved the quilt, particularly the note that I had sent along. Sarah, if you happen to be able to read this, thank you so much for putting into words what I had a difficult time saying myself!

I've put pics on Webshots (see below) in the Quilts 2008 folder if you'd like to take a look at my purple HUG for Becky.

Reply to
Louise in Iowa
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Beautiful!! Just beautiful!! Both the workmanship and intent. My favorite color is also Purple and I just love this!! Your thoughtfulness brought a tear to my eye... very nice work Louise!! Debi

Reply to
DLW

It is just amazing that you have made such a gorgeous quilt for someone you don't even know. The spirit certainly moved you, that is certain, the quilt is beautiful, just beautiful. And sure to be treasured by Becky and her family.

-Irene

Reply to
IMS

What a lovely, warm quilt. A wonderful Hug! Great job, Louise!

Karen, Queen of Squishies

Reply to
Karen, Queen of Squishies

it's gorgeous - good work!

Musicmaker

Reply to
Musicmaker

Reply to
Estelle Gallagher

I hate to confess this in front of so many poiple lovers here but my purple stash is just about gone. No helping it, I'm going to have to do some shopping. Louise's beauty tells me I need to make a purple quilt. What a happy, wonderful quilt. Polly

Reply to
Polly Esther

This one was a happy accident! I originally had pictured in my mind a large-scale purple floral for the dark part of each square, with a nice complimentary green sashing. I went to a LQS that I don't frequent often (it takes at least five minutes longer to get to it instead of the one I usually go to!), because they were having a really great sale. Well, darn them, they didn't have a large-scale purple floral, so I had to rethink my plan. I found a substitute - although I didn't like it nearly as much as what I thought I wanted - and then tried to find something that would play nicely with it for the other half. Found a purple batik with just a hint of gold in it (maybe it was just the lighting!), so that was good. Then the gold for the sashing jumped off the shelf and into my hands, so I figured that had to be fate. The owner of the store was standing there and said, "I love it when people make unconventional choices!" Me??? Unconventional? I don't think I've ever been called THAT before. But I took it as a compliment, and bought it all anyway! I was pretty happy with the way it turned out, and because I made it smaller than planned (after I started, I figured it needed to be a size more appropriate for someone in a chair), I have enough fabric to make another one out of the same fabrics.

I'm a wash-the-fabric-before-you-use-it kinda' gal, and I'm glad I am. I threw all three pieces of fabric in the wash, and when it came out of the dryer, the batik looked much darker and grayer than I remembered it being. Wasn't at all attractive. I ran very hot water into the sink and added some bleach and dishwashing powder (no specific amounts, but not a lot), and added the batik to it. Started swishing it around, and sure enough, there was excess dye from the dark purple that had transferred to it that started coming out. In just a couple of minutes, my batik was back to normal. I ran the dark fabric through the wash at least six times before the color catcher came out almost white.

Reply to
Louise in Iowa

Louise, The quilt is absolutely wonderful. It is sophisticated, cheerful, and very well constructed. For however long Becky has use of the quilt, I am sure it will comfort her; later it will offer solace to her family. I will put them on my prayer list.

PAT in VIRGINIA

Reply to
Pat in Virginia

Louise, I love the quilt, and I also love the fact that you did this for someone you didn't even know. What a wonderful person you are!

Reply to
Sandy

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