Sunday, August 21, 2011

Sacred Work

A friend and colleague had a tragedy this summer.  Her husband died suddenly in a freak accident.  I asked if I could make her a quilt from her husband's shirts, and she was glad to let me.



She gave me a dozen of his shirts.  A few other colleagues came to help.  All were new to me and new to quilt-making.  I wanted to cry most of the weekend.  It felt like very important, sacred work. 

Here's what we made.  Pretty good for mostly new quilt makers! 



 I'll make the quilt back from the shirt backs, arranging them something like this.

From the scraps, I'll make quilts for her two teenage daughters as Christmas gifts.  

Aren't you glad to have a skill that can provide such comfort?  I'm feeling very fortunate today.

35 comments:

Julie Fukuda said...

You are a blessing to your friend, her children, and her friends. God has given you a gift for just this purpose at this time. The quilt will be a lovely comfort to all.

Unknown said...

What a fabulous thing that you did! I am sure that she will cherish this quilt forever. And more for her daughters, they will definitely be comforted for a long time to come.

Pinkadot Quilts said...

What a wonderful thing to do! They will cherish them forever.

MB in MI said...

May God bless you. What a wonderful way to use your hands and your heart.

Theodora quilts said...

what special quilts they will be for the family,your offer is truly one of a true friend,how lucky your friend is!! and I also read your previous post and I also follow marits blog and also love her work,we have built a small quilt community in this big world of ours ,and have managed to somehow tie ourselves into a small circle through the net ,it is amaizing.xoxo theodora

Bonnie said...

What a wonderful thing to do for someone. Indeed, these quilts will be a treasure.

Chris said...

There are many places, besides a house of worship, where we can stand on holy ground - which you found out this weekend. Thank you for sharing.

Anita said...

What a wonderful way to remember a loved one!

smazoochie said...

Bless their hearts and yours too.

Pokey said...

You really ARE using your love of quilting to give more love here. The quilt is really nice looking, great stars! Your title is so precious ~
:-}pokey

sallgood said...

A beautiful treasure, made with love.

fiberchick said...

What a lovely way to memorialize their father. They can be comforted visually by thoughts of him everyday...

Miki Willa said...

Brilliant. This is so very kind of you to do. What a wonderful way you have provided for the family to continue to celebrate the life of the husband and father.

Vicki W said...

I agree. I've made 2 memorial quilts for the sons of a friend. It's the most meaningful thing I've ever made and I know that the teenagers treasure the quilts made all from their Dad's clothes.

Sujata Shah said...

A really beautiful thing to do.. They are going to love it and treasure their memories forever through these gifts.
It is the most rewarding and humbling experience at the same time.

~Niki~ said...

my friend also lost her husband 2 years ago. i got all his shirts and made her a chinese coin variation quilt. she loved it. cried. i can say, i was happy to do it, but cutting all those shirts were harder than i thought. he actually worse some pretty funky pinks/oranges as well, so it came out great. i'm going to try to get a pic of it to post on my blog if you wanna come by this week and see it! love yours!

Sharon said...

How kind. I'm working on a comfort quilt for someoen right now, it needs quilted and bound. I feel so lucky to be able to do this for her. This is lovely, and great that others came to help out. It will make the quilt that much more special.

regan said...

What a wonderful quilt you have made for her family....it will surely be loved and inspire wonderful memories for them for many years. What a blessing!

Angie said...

That is such a special gift from your heart, to take his shirts, and together with other quilters, make a memory quilt. Such a treasure for all of you.

antique quilter said...

I agree nothing better then being able to use our passion and make quilts to comfort others.
I am so glad your making the daughters quilts too.
they will treasure those quilts forever.
what a wonderful thing you are doing.

Kathie

pat sloan said...

wow... what a special project... big hugs to all

Janet said...

These quilts will be so cherished just as you have all sewn so much comfort into them. Well done to all involved, it's wonderful.

Victoria Findlay Wolfe said...

Beautiful, heartfelt and fabulous...what a beautiful gift to her.

Barb said...

what a blessing and comfort it will be for her. I've made several mourning quilts from clothing. It's always sad making them, but finishing and gifting them is a joy.
How lovely of you!

Sew Create It - Jane said...

What a wonderful gift you are giving your friend and her children...((hugs))

Em said...

You are amazing! I have tears in my eyes and what a gift....Cannot put into text what I am feeling. This hobby is such a gift! Love, EM

Kim said...

Oh yes and what a productive way to grieve with friends making a tangible keepsake for your friend to have and hold.
Life is so unpredictable and fragile, handle with prayer.

Bless you all that worked on the gift

Cheryl's Teapots2Quilting said...

Great job. This quilt will be cherished for years to come.

Anonymous said...

To make a quilt is the best way of mourning for us.

As the african american quilters say: the quilts made with old clothes keep the spirit of the people alive and they give us confort when feeling pain.
Your friend wil find that confort in this quilt in the harderst moments.

Sorry for the lost of your friend.

Michele Bilyeu said...

A lovely blessing. I am always so deeply touched by the sacred giving that I participate in. You can feel the energy flow in the circle from them to you and back into the universe again and it is deeply moving. Bless you for knowing and feeling this. They are further bless by this gift from you heart and your hands.

Andrea, the little collector said...

Truly one of the best parts of quilting! The quilt is lovely and will be so CHERISHED! Thanks for sharing it.

meli B said...

What a beautiful gift. I have been eying my dad's shirts for a while now and I know Mum would love something like this.

Tonya Ricucci said...

it's a beautiful quilt and so very sweet of you all to make it. hope it provides a great deal of comfort to your friend.

Quilter Kathy said...

Absolutely sacred work...what a privilege and a joy to make these quilts.

Suzanne said...

I made a quilt for a friend who lost her husband to brain cancer. I know just what you mean on so many levels about the process and its sacredness. It is truly good work.