Comfort and Joy

 Dear Readers,

When my adult children got home from visiting their father's people for Thanksgiving they said their Uncle Dwight, who was battling cancer, was always cold.  Well, even though we are not legally bound, those are my people, and none of my people should be cold since I can make them a quilt.  

So I went to my stash and started looking at what I have that I could quickly turn into a recliner sized  quilt.  I found a flannel layer cake in manly colors that I bought,  years ago, then did not really have a plan for it at the time... so I got online and found the company does not make layer cakes of flannel anymore, but I found someone on Etsy that had some of the same fabric brand.  I had decided that I would make a circle magic quilt like I did for Sue when she was battling cancer.  But I didn't have enough squares in the layer cake to make it big enough to be a man-sized recliner quilt. So I bought the only color that had enough yardage to give me enough circles to make the size I needed from that Etsy store.  BTW Missouri Star has bought the rights to the template, so if decide to make one, check their website. 

So once the fabric arrived I cut it and all of the neutral sides using the circle template.   Once the edges of the circles are folded over it makes a square, and since Dwight was cold a lot, I cut scrap batting into squares to go in the center of each circle.  

I then went to making circles, and turning them inside out.  

Once I got the circles made, I sketched out a pattern for the brown yardage circles and the layer cake circles.  Then I put them out on the bed to see if I liked the color arrangement.  I played with the color arrangement a bit and when I found one I was satisfied with, I moved to the next step.

Next it was time to sew the circles into rows.

Finally I got all the rows together.  The cool thing about this quilt is it looks totally different on both sides.  

For the "white" side I used quilting cottons that I cut no more than two out of each of the neutrals.  I wanted it to give it some movement.  

Got it all done and mailed, but before it could arrive, Dwight went home to meet his Heavenly Father.  I hope either Kathy or one of his kids enjoy it.  

I am posting a link to his obituary.  You can click here if you want to read it.  I will miss Dwight, I considered him a kindred spirit.  Kathy, his wife, is also an amazing woman.  Please keep her in your prayers.  It is not an easy transition to make after 45 years of marriage.   Hug your loved ones a little tighter tonight and every chance you get.  

Sew on, 

Terry