In 1980, there were no social service agencies or nonprofits providing one-on-one peer support for cancer patients. Diane (Byrnes) Paul, working as an oncology nurse, heard many of her patients asking whether anyone getting their same treatment had similar side effects and fears – with many of them saying that the treatment was worse than the disease. They needed the reassurance of speaking with someone who’d walked the same path. Their experiences solidified Diane’s observations that a survivor could help patients better understand their treatment and be less fearful of the possible side effects. But those connections and the accompanying comfort were ad-hoc, without consistency or oversight. At that time, the only support programs being offered were in group settings.

The need for individual care inspired a revolutionary idea – to provide one-on-one peer support for patients facing chemotherapy. Diane presented the project to the Junior League of Elizabeth-Plainfield (JLEP), a women’s volunteer organization aimed at improving communities and the social, cultural and political fabric of society. A committee including Diane, co-founder and fellow nurse Kris Luka, and other dynamic women of the JLEP, was formed. The group gathered medical professionals, cancer survivors, clergy members and community volunteers to develop and form CHEMOcare, now Cancer Hope Network. In the first year, the organization served 14 patients.

Since those early days, the organization has provided support for more than 50,000 patients, caregivers, and survivors in search of hope. Our growing cohort of nearly 500 volunteers have faced more than 80 cancer types – more than 98% of the cancer that are diagnosed each year – can provide support in 15 languages and range in age from 19-94.

Cancer Hope Network will recognize Diane Paul and Kris Luka and celebrate the group’s anniversary at their annual Chrysalis Gala on Saturday, October 16, 2021. The event will be held at Black Oak Golf Club.

(TICKET, AUCTION, DONATION AND AD JOURNAL INFORMATION HERE.)

“As a longtime member of the Cancer Hope Network team now charged with leading the organization, I’m grateful to Kris and Diane for their forward-thinking vision in developing our program and their ongoing commitment to ensuring no one faces cancer alone,” said CHN Executive Director Cynthia Gutierrez Bernstein.

Once seen as revolutionary, the need for peer support is now recognized as a critical piece of full-patient care for people facing cancer.

“For patients facing a devastating illness like cancer, there is a need for support from all modalities – professional, family, and friends. A survivor mentor brings value to the mix. There is nothing quite like hearing the words, ‘I’ve been there,’ to inspire hope,” said founder Diane Paul. “Speaking with a cancer survivor or caregiver who has walked the same road brings a layer of lived experience that is emotionally beneficial for patients’ sense of well-being. Such connections may make all the difference in how someone lives through the challenge of cancer.

“What began as a group of dedicated volunteers balancing young families and long hours has grown into a still-dedicated army of mentors receiving professional training and support as they provide hope and care for cancer patients and caregivers across the nation,” said co-founder Kris Luka. “CHEMOcare, now known as Cancer Hope Network, was built with a focus on connection, with a commitment to creating hope. I’m gratified to see that commitment continue to pay dividends of improved lives.”

To learn more about Cancer Hope Network or the Chrysalis Gala, please contact Randibeth Gallant, .Director of Events and Fundraising Campaigns – rgallant@cancerhopenetwork.org.

About Cancer Hope Network

Cancer Hope Network provides free one-on-one peer support to adult cancer patients and their loved ones. Our 400+ survivor and caregiver volunteers provide support from diagnosis, through treatment and into survivorship and beyond.

Support Volunteers have faced more than 80 types of cancer. (More than 98% of the cancers that will be diagnosed this year.) They speak 15 languages, are located across the country, and are prepared to offer hope and guidance through a wide variety of challenges that accompany a cancer diagnosis.

All volunteer and client matches are overseen from beginning to end by a team of healthcare and social work professionals.

The post Cancer Hope Network celebrates 40 years of service; honors co-founders Diane Paul, RN, MS and Kris Luka, RN, BS appeared first on Cancer Hope Network.

And just like that, Fall is back, and Gala season is here!  Which means it’s time to get into holiday spirit – whether it’s Halloween, Thanksgiving, or one of the many December holidays we enjoy!
I thought for this project we’d prioritize two things that make lives easier during holiday craziness:  1) a quick project – one you can do in 1-2 hours; and 2) a project that uses scraps or reasonably modest-sized pieces of fabric.  Throw in a third bonus:  3) a project that makes for an insanely popular gift –HOLIDAY STOCKINGS!

Before we start, I want to make sure anyone out there reading this who does not celebrate Christmas knows that there are so many variations you can do for this project.  For example, if you want to do a non-denominational version, you can cut/quilt/piece this into the shape of a snowman or snowflake.  Additionally, with Halloween approaching, you could design a pumpkin-shaped project, cut/quilt/piece the same way as I will show you below, and then fill the thing up with candy!  So many options – I am just happening to do a stocking shape for this!  So let’s get started.

Here’s what you will need:

• Fabric (outer fabric, inner fabric, “cuff” fabric, and “hook” fabric”)
  • My stocking is about 18 inches top to bottom and I’d recommend giving yourself 12-inches in width so you have plenty of room to cut your width from heel to toe.
• Quilt batting (same 18×12 measurements for each of your two pieces)
• A 1.5 inch D-ring hook (you can find these at any craft store)
• Thick brown wrapping paper (or something similar to trace out your stocking shape)
• Sewing machine with both a regular and quilting foot
• Thread (ideally that matches/works well with your outer fabric)
• Scissors (Fabric and Regular)
• Fabric Pencil
• Ruler
• Rotary Cutter
• Iron/Ironing Board
• Cutting mat

It also might be helpful to understand what you are ultimately piecing together.  The stocking is comprised of TWO identically shaped quilted pieces that get sewn “right sides” together:  1) the front piece (outer fabric, batting, and inner fabric); and 2) the back piece (same three pieces).  Once they are sewn together and turned right sides out, the only other two things to do are 1) cut and sew a “cuff” piece onto the top; and 2) cut and sew a “hook”/D-Ring to the top of the stocking so you can hang it.  That’s it – FOUR total pieces.

Part One:  Draw and Cut
THIS will be the most complicated part of the project, as it involves some drawing skills.  Or at least that is my opinion, as my drawing skills are terrible.   If you can find a template online to draw your ideal stocking shape, then great.  Otherwise, do your best to draw a stocking onto the thick brown paper, as this will be your guide to ensure that all of the stocking shapes you cut will be identical.  You will cut SIX of these pieces in total – three front (outer, batting, and inner fabrics) and three back (outer, batting, and inner fabrics).

*TIP:  when you draw your stocking, however wide you draw your top opening (I like to do somewhere between 7 and 8 inches) – keep that width the same from the top of the stocking to about three inches down.  In other words, let the top of your stocking look like a rectangle before it starts angling inwards.  This will make installing your cuff a LOT easier.  Like this (see the rectangle I’ve drawn with a Sharpie on top?).

Once you’ve drawn/cut your stocking shape, use that to trace/cut your six pieces.

***Important:  If you are using a SOLID color for your outer/inner pieces, it does not matter how you trace/cut the pieces.  You can trace/cut side by side pieces and they will line up inverted just fine.  Same for your batting pieces.  However, if you are cutting a patterned fabric (like we are here), you need to make sure that you cut them so that the “right sides” face compatible directions when you are ready to piece them.

My suggestion is fold the fabric in half right sides together, trace, and cut two boots at the same time.  Like this (this is my “inner” fabric):


To explain it a different way, after you cut your pieces, you must be able to face both pieces “right side” up, toes together – like they’re “pigeon-toed.”  You shouldn’t have the equivalent of “two left feet” or “two right feet.”  See this picture of my “outer” fabric?  This is what you want.

Now you have six pieces (two “outers,” two “inners,” and two “battings,”) to quilt/piece.

Part Two:  Quilt and Piece
Make your two quilt sandwiches (outer, batting, inner fabrics), pick your thread, and quilt these feet however you like.  And when you finish both, admire them!

Piece them right sides together and sew around the entire stocking with about a ¼ to a half inch seam allowance – except, of course, for the top!  Don’t sew your stocking shut like I did the first time I made one.

*TWO TIPS: 
First, you may want to secure the stitching at the top left and right of the stocking top with some extra backstitching when you start/finish.  This will prevent unraveling down the road.

Second, before turning the stocking right side out, you can also use fabric scissors (with a scalloped edge) to cut the raw edges around your finished seam.  Be careful not to cut the seam itself.  It makes for a much nicer finish on the inside (and gives you less bulk).  Like so…

Now comes the most fun part:  turn your stocking right side out!!!  How cool is that?

Part Three:  The Cuff
Because we have to put something on the rough edge of the stocking top to make it nice.

Create Your Cuff

2. Measure the width of the top of your stocking. You want your cuff fabric to measure TWICE that width plus another inch (for seam allowance).  The width of my stocking is 7 inches.  Doubling that = 14 inches, and then my extra inch seam allowance calls for a 15-inch-wide cuff piece.  For length (top to bottom), I like to give myself between 7 and 8 inches for my cuff – so let’s go 7.5 inches for this one.  So I’m cutting a 15 x 7.5 inch piece.
3. Take your piece and fold it in half the 7.5 inch way (so it’s still 15 inches wide). Take the folded piece to your ironing board and iron it in half so you have a visible crease.  Unfold it.

3. Now fold the cuff the 15 inch way right sides together – you’re going to sew this using a seam allowance that gives you a cuff to match the width of the top of your stocking.

Remember how the width of your stocking is 7 inches?  Mark whichever spot you plan to sew your seam that will make your cuff that same 7 inches.  Like this.

4. Sew that seam. Make sure to secure both ends by backstitching a bit when you start/stop.

5. Now (here’s a slightly tricky part), you are going to unfold your cuff right sides out, but only halfway. If you do this correctly, the bottom of the cuff will look like the cuff on a pant leg, and the top part will be four separate pieces of fabric all lined up.

And this is what the cuff looks like next to the top of the stocking.

Install Your Cuff

1. Slide the cuff “right sides out” and “cuffed pant leg side” down into your stocking. The four “loose” pieces of fabric I mentioned before should be lined up with the top of the stocking.  When you clip/pin the cuff to the stocking top for sewing purposes, these four pieces should be split “two and two” per side leaving a natural hole, so you don’t end up sewing your stocking closed by accident.  You will also want to line up the seam of the cuff with the side seam of the stocking.  Like this…

2. Take it to the sewing machine and set your foot/needle up to sew your cuff to the inner stocking with about a ½ inch seam allowance. Sew around the whole inner top to secure.  As I mentioned before, when you finish sewing your cuff the whole way around, you should still be looking down a hole towards the bottom of your stocking.

3. Fold the now attached cuff up over the top and around the sides. You’ll have to do some finger pressing to get it fully situated, but be gentle and you will get there…see?

Part Four:  Hook and FINISH!
Honestly, this is the least important part of the stocking, since everyone’s home/hanging setup is going to be different.  But here’s how I generally do it.

I take a piece of fabric that matches my cuff (I start with a piece that’s about 8 inches x 6 inches), and I fold/iron it down (outsides into middle, then fold in half again) into about a 1 inch rectangle.  I sew an “inner rectangle” on the piece, and then I cut it with my scalloped scissors to a length that allows me to do three things:  1) slide on my D-ring hook; 2) fold/iron down half inch pieces on both ends; and 3) let me maneuver it into my sewing machine in a way that is workable and doesn’t force any “pulling” or stress when I sew/attach the hook piece.

Take the hook fabric, slide your D-ring over one end until it’s centered, and fold the fabric in half so that the ironed half-inch creases (a/k/a the “legs”) are pressed “right sides together” (to be clear, if you look at the above picture, the “right side” is the side facing the camera – the “legs” are pointing down).

Take that to your sewing machine, then center the piece over the inner back seam of the stocking – making sure that the “legs” remain pressed “right sides together.”  Sew the piece to the stocking, a) making sure your seam secures the legs down, and b) you may also want to backstitch the seam an extra time for extra fastening.  PS:  this may be a bit bulky, so just be careful with your needle.

And there you have it!

Again, you can design any shape or symbol you want for the next three months of the holiday season.  Just have fun, pick some crazy colorful fabrics, and give them to someone who will love them (or keep them for yourself if you love them more).

Thanks again for staying creative with me, and I hope to see you at the Gala on Saturday November 2 at the Westminster Hotel in Livingston, NJ, where a lucky silent auction winner will get to take home this set of four holiday stockings I have made!

Lindsay xoxo

The post Quilting Hope: HOLIDAY ROAD! appeared first on Cancer Hope Network.

Randy and Lori were drawn to CHN by chance. Randy’s sister Wendy started work at CHN and recruited them to serve as volunteers at our Chrysalis Gala in 2004. Nearly two decades later, their tireless work on behalf of adults facing cancer is still creating hope for patients across the nation.

“The gala is a fantastic event that brings together so many people and so many resources to help provide for what Cancer Hope does for the whole year,” Lori says with characteristic modesty. “It’s one of the biggest fundraisers of the year and I feel like it’s the wind beneath their sails. It’s also a perfect way for me to help. Maybe I can’t do all the things that other volunteers in the organization do, but I can help them to fund their work. Randy and I are pleased to do whatever we can to make sure that all the people that are doing good can do that good.”

“Lori and Randy have been some of CHN’s staunchest supporters through the years,” says Executive Director Cynthia Gutierrez Bernstein. “Their passion for CHN and their dedication to providing support and encouragement to people facing cancer is nothing short of inspiring. We are enormously grateful for their generosity, dedication and unwavering commitment.”
That commitment was born of personal pain. “Cancer has been a big part of our life,” Lori says. “When Wendy first came to Cancer Hope and we first began volunteering, Randy’s mother was experiencing a cancer recurrence and she passed away soon after. I had lost my father 1996 to multiple myeloma when he was 61.”

Randy has successfully completed treatment and surgery for high grade upper tract urothelial carcinoma. He’s begun the process to become a CHN Support Volunteer.

What might have caused others to run from reminders of painful times has inspired Randy and Lori to marshal their time, treasure and relationships on behalf of others.

“Cancer can consume you. It takes over your life. It’s a helpless feeling,” Lori says thoughtfully. “Despite our painful losses, we always knew that we’d done everything we could for my dad and Randy’s mom. To see an organization that was helping people who aren’t as fortunate as we are….how could we not be involved?”

It’s an outlook the two share. Lori vividly remembers Randy looking at her as he was going through treatment, saying “I know that this sounds crazy but I feel lucky. I’m lucky I have you, that we have the doctors we have and thankful that we were able to lead our lives in the way we wanted to.”

“Through the years, we’ve heard the stories of so many patients who were helped by a match with a Support Volunteer,” Randy recalls. “Wanda (Diak, former Executive Director, current Support Volunteer) has always been fantastic. At last year’s gala, when Diane Bongiorno shared her own cancer journey I was just beginning mine. I knew I had a mass and had a biopsy scheduled, but hadn’t been officially diagnosed. The work the gala makes possible was even more personal, more meaningful. We were in tears.”

While in treatment, Randy discovered that he has a hereditary genetic mutation called Lynch Syndrome. Rather than bemoan his fate, he’s lept into action with the same, nurturing, giving, “how can I help others” energy that he brings to his volunteerism. Their whole family has been tested and he and Lori have become champions for awareness and testing. (Learn more about Lynch Syndrome HERE.)

“It’s not about what happens to you,” Randy says. “It’s about how you react to what happens. CHN can help make how you deal and how you react, a positive thing. You’re going through something difficult and trying to do what you can to find the positive.”

“There’s not a lot of tools in the box that can help you do that,” Lori agrees. “Cancer Hope Network helps you realize that you’re not alone, that there are other people with you. Cancer doesn’t come with instructions. People don’t even know what they need to ask for. That’s what makes spreading the word and helping people find out that they can come to CHN and get help is so very important.”

The Chrysalis Gala: Colors of Hope will be held Saturday, November 2 at Westminster Hotel in Livingston NJ. For more information or to purchase tickets, please contact Randibeth Gallant, Associate Director of Special Events (908.879.4039 ex 110) or visit cancerhopenetwork.org/Gala.

About Cancer Hope Network
Cancer Hope Network provides free one-on-one emotional peer support to adult cancer patients and their loved ones. Each of CHN’s 400+ volunteers is at least one year post-treatment or successfully undergoing maintenance therapies. They have faced more than 80 cancer types and speak 15 languages. Our volunteers offer support from diagnosis, through treatment and into recovery. Cancer Hope Network serves cancer patients in the United States and Canada.

The post Longtime volunteers Lori Roth and Randy Cohen honored by Cancer Hope Network appeared first on Cancer Hope Network.

“We first met Chuck and Randi through his father, Chuck McGivney, Sr.,” Executive Director Wanda Diak recalls. “Chuck Sr. was trained as a Support Volunteer in 2007 and he has been helping ever since, providing comfort to patients and caregivers going through the ordeal of lung cancer diagnosis and treatment. He has had some of the most difficult cases brought to him and he keeps offering to help.”

Diagnosed with Stage 3 non-small cell lung cancer in 2004, Chuck Sr. completed treatment and began helping others almost immediately as a volunteer with the American Cancer Society. When his chapter of ACS closed, their executive director pointed Chuck Sr. in our direction. And he’s never looked back. In his time as a Support Volunteer, he has been matched with 137 patients and family members facing lung cancer, creating hope and providing comfort through hundreds of conversations.

He was honored with the Cancer Hope Network Flame of Courage Award in 2010. “He is promptly available to patients for that first phone call, and he diligently follows through, checking in after a scan or a chemotherapy treatment, providing local resources he has researched or just calling with a friendly hello.”As he became involved with CHN, Chuck Sr. soon marshaled his family to the cause. Chuck Jr. joined the CHN board in 2014 and began their efforts to raise funds and awareness. “Chuck recognizes how fortunate he is, and he can’t help but share that good fortune with others,” Diak said.Chuck and Randi’s work isn’t limited to their support of Cancer Hope Network. Together with the senior partners at McGivney, Kluger and Cook, they created the Nothing Is Impossible Foundation. Thanks to their firm-wide commitment to paying success forward, Nothing Is Impossible has helped hundreds of individuals and families in the past two decades.

Their goal is simple, but profound: to provide temporary help that creates permanent change. Nothing is Impossible provides small grants to Northern New Jersey individuals who are facing a short-term crisis – underwriting temporary shelter for a MS Patient facing homelessness, providing in-home nursing care for a father of 8 while he recovered from a stroke, paying travel expenses for a father as his daughter battled cancer and more.

“It’s easy to see that Chuck follows in his father’s footsteps,” Diak continued. “He and Randi have such big hearts to recognize that there are many ways to help others facing cancer or other catastrophes. Their efforts on behalf of CHN and through Nothing Is Impossible are nothing short of remarkable.”

“Randi and I are honored to receive the Philanthropic Leadership Award,” Chuck said. “Cancer Hope Network has helped my father make his life after lung cancer more meaningful. We’re proud to join him in creating hope as a family.

For more information about the Chrysalis Gala, to reserve your place or make a donation, please visit cancerhopenetwork.org/gala or contact Randibeth Gallant – 908.879.4039 ext 110 | rgallant@cancerhopenetwork.org. 

The post A family focus on hope. appeared first on Cancer Hope Network.

“I was about a year past treatment from my first cancer diagnosis and my friend put a CHN brochure in my lap during one of our every-Monday lunches,” Diane recalled. “To this day, I don’t know what her intention was, to get help for me or to have me help others. But my first thought was, ‘I want to help!’”
And help she has! Professionally, she’s spoken with countless people impacted by cancer as a member of the Patient Services team. In her role as Support Volunteer, she’s had match conversations with 226 patients and caregivers, providing a listening ear, steadfast encouragement, and most of all – she did her best to provide hope.

“From the beginning, Diane has helped people navigate through their diagnoses – gently, with kindness, knowledge, empathy and care,” Executive Director Wanda Diak said. “Despite a recurrence of her cancer as well as another primary diagnosis, Diane never showed the angst she was experiencing as she dealt with her own health challenges.”

“Working at (and with) Cancer Hope Network satisfied my need to share my experience with others and gave me an opportunity to help people cope with their cancer diagnosis. This fit was what I needed,” Diane agreed. “From the moment I started, this was my “home away from home.”I loved the atmosphere in the office, the team approach, the camaraderie and the openness of sharing ideas. Working for CHN also became my support group. It’s an extremely supportive environment.  We practice what we preach – reaching out to people and helping others.”

It wasn’t just Diane being able to help others and being helped herself. Tom, always incredibly supportive of Diane, soon found his own perspective changed. “I’m a business person. My interests have always been very narrow (business, and the Yankees),” Tom laughed. “Diane would come home and tell me about her day in Patient Services. My head felt like it was exploding trying to comprehend how difficult her job was, speaking with people from all over the country, going through probably the worst time in their life, and Diane was there to listen and help them move forward – always giving hope. I give her so much credit for being able to do that, call after call, day after day. I could not do it.” His pride evident, he turned to her. “You helped a lot of people who were feeling defeated or going through almost impossible times.”
“I can’t do anything close to what Diane does, but I needed to help in my own way,” he continued. Tom’s “own way” soon meant marshalling friends, clients and colleagues to support Cancer Hope Network fundraisers. It meant bringing his talents to bear for the organization.  “I help people give,” he said thoughtfully. “Most people want to help, but they don’t always know how to help.  My goal is to find a way to make it easy for them to help Cancer Hope Network.”

For eighteen years, Tom and Diane have been finding ways to do what needs to be done.  “We watched their family grow with the marriages of Christen and Stephen – and then the birth of their three (almost 4) beloved grandchildren,” Diak reminisced. “They brought their immediate and extended family to events as guests and attendees. They’ve recruited associates and friends as volunteers. They’re not just part of the CHN family. It’s safe to say CHN has become part of their family.”

“Tom and I have a personal relationship with Hope. We became acquaintances when I was first diagnosed,” Diane said, “and that friendship has grown deeper and deeper through my work at CHN, and my own cancer challenges.  And now, I’d say Hope and I are best friends.”

Diane and Tom agree that having the opportunity to introduce Hope through their involvement with Cancer Hope Network, has been a blessing.  “It’s become a passion,” Diane finished. “Never underestimate the power of Hope.”

For more information about the Chrysalis Gala, to reserve your place or make a donation in Diane and Tom’s honor, please visit cancerhopenetwork.org/gala or contact Randibeth Gallant – 908.879.4039 ex 10 | rgallant@cancerhopenetwork.org. 

The post Becoming friends with hope. appeared first on Cancer Hope Network.

• Cut your binding strips. Pick a color/fabric that works with your quilt – in my case, I just used the fabric that remained when I downsized my backsheet to fit the surface area of the quilt.
• Width rule: You can cut your binding strips as widely or narrowly as you like.  Many quilters cut 2 to 2.5 inches wide.  I like my strips a little wider (4 inches) so that I don’t feel like I have to pull/yank on my binding when I “bring it around to the front” of the quilt to sew it down (this will make sense later).
• Length rule. Measure the diameter of your quilt:  (Length x 2) + (Width x 2) = Diameter, and then give yourself another 10-20 extra inches of binding, just to be safe.  You do NOT want to run out of binding (it is not by any means the end of the world, but it is neither a pleasant nor fun experience).  So for example, here my quilt length was 75 inches and my width was 62 inches.  That gives me a diameter of 274 inches + 20 extra inches.  Which means I need 294 inches of binding.
• What does that mean in terms cutting my fabric to make the strips? Measure the length of that fabric you are using to make your strips.  Let’s say it is 80 inches long.  Divide your total “length of necessary binding” (294 inches) by the length of the “binding strip fabric” (80 inches).  You get 3.675.  Round that up to 4.  That means you should cut FOUR binding strips, each 80 inches long, to be sure that you have enough.

Here’s a fun shot of my binding strips.  They’re very exciting to look at, aren’t they?

Full disclosure:  at this point, I am going to refer you to the web or a class to really learn how to create your “attached set of binding strips” and sew them onto your quilt.  Two reasons.
First, because there are several different ways to do this (front to back, back to front, etc.), and it takes several quilts experimenting with your options to figure out one that works best for you.  I personally like to do “back to front.”  This means I sew my binding strip around the edges of the back diameter of my quilt, fold them over, and sew them down around the entire front diameter.  Like this:
 

Second, learning how to bind a quilt (and absorbing all the steps) is something you really need to see happening in front of you to appreciate fully.  My recommendation is go on YouTube and Google “binding a quilt” or variations of same.  There are hundreds of great videos that will show you all of your options.
Just keep this in mind:

• Every time you bind a quilt, you will get better. I promise.
• Yes, this is yet another opportunity to be creative, especially if you are binding your quilt from back to front. Why?  Because if you are binding with your sewing machine, the machines today come with fancy stitch designs that you can use to make your quilt diameter even more beautiful.
• After you finish your binding, you may need to do some touching up around the edges – mainly on the corners and possibly on the inner surface area of your quilt. That is 100% normal.
• Check the entire surface area of your quilt to make sure you don’t have loose threads hanging.

And finally, spread out your quilt and start taking pictures.

Better yet, find some tall people to hold it up for you and photograph the quilt that way.  Much easier, and much better photos!

Thank you all for joining me on this journey.  Hope to see everyone at the Gala on November 4^th.  And Happy Quilting (or whatever it is you enjoy doing that keeps your creative/inspirational side alive and well)!

The post Quilting Hope: episode three appeared first on Cancer Hope Network.

First thing’s first:  what does the “quilting” process mean?  It means this:

As I explained in my last post, there are three layers of a quilt:  the top (with your beautiful design), the batting (center) and the “backsheet” (bottom) (remember in my last post I referred to a quilt as a “sandwich”).  Something needs to secure all three of those layers together – you can’t just sew it all around the diameter and hope for the best.  The fabric/layers would inevitably bunch up, get crooked, shift around, etc.

In order to secure the layers, you “quilt” them – which means sewing the three layers together over the entire surface area of the project.  This can be done any way you like.  You can do straight lines (which is currently my preference), or you can do a free form design/pattern.  In other words:  you get to be creative TWICE when making a quilt – first when you design the top layer with all the fabrics, and second when you choose the design/thread colors to “quilt” your layers together.

Quilting can be done by hand (a method chosen by very brave, talented, and patient people) or via a special “quilting foot” that attaches to your machine.  For my straight-lined quilt, I just use the regular foot that came with the machine (only because the fabric/batting/backing are thin enough to allow for this.  You just want to be careful that you don’t damage your machine by shoving too much under a “foot” that cannot accommodate the bulk – I learned this the hard way when I made my first quilt out of flannel.

As you will see on the left hand side of the photo above (next to the pink ribbon), there are three evenly spaced straight pink seamlines.  Those are the “quilting” lines that I am using over the surface area to secure my three layers together.  Here’s a better view of a fully “quilted” square:

And so on and so forth.  Just a couple tips I’ve learned after several quilts:

• “Quilt” in quadrants (from your quilt’s center to the outside corners). In other words, divide your quilt into four parts and “quilt” one quarter of it at a time from the innermost part to the outermost edge.  This will prevent “bunching” because you will be able to keep your layers flat/smooth in smaller pieces – rather than “quilt” a line down or across the entire quilt at once.  “Inside to the Out” makes it easier to maintain an ongoing “smoothing” process that you’ll want to have.
• Use quilt rings to make the process less cumbersome. The bigger the quilt, the heavier it becomes (you’d be surprised how heavy they can be), and be careful not to let the weight of the quilt pull at your needle (that could break it or damage your machine).  The rings (as pictured above) will hold large portions of “rolled up” quilt in place and out of your way (including on the tray of your sewing machine).
• Make sure you overbuy on your thread, so you never have to worry that you won’t have enough. And you will use a LOT of thread to make a quilt.
• Take your time. If you’re getting tired and/or distracted, stop and pick up later or tomorrow.  Tired + distracted =  mistakes. However…
• Mistakes are OKAY. They happen.  Quilts are pieces art made by people.   I promise you there is not a single quilt in the history of the world that is 100% perfect (or at least I’m pretty sure of this).  You’ll get a little bunch in your fabric (either on the front or back), you’ll need to sew up a tiny seam that came loose (thus adding some extra stitches), and not every line will be exactly equidistant or perfectly straight.  But you have my word that your quilt will still be beautiful.
• Have fun. Take breaks.  Play music.  Take pictures.  Show people.  And don’t set deadlines for yourself – as I said before, it will get finished and be beautiful!

Stay tuned for one more post next week:  Binding your quilt, and THE FINAL PRODUCT!!!

The post Quilting Hope – Episode Two appeared first on Cancer Hope Network.

This year, a lucky auction winner at the Chrysalis Gala will take home a Hope Quilt made from this beautiful blue, pink, and white fabric.  For anyone who has never quilted before (which, as of a year ago, included me), it is one of the most rewarding, relaxing ways to be creative and, more importantly, give something incredibly special to a person who needs it.

Making this quilt, especially for an organization that means so much to my family and me, reminded me why Cancer Hope Network’s mission to provide hope and support is such an important one.  Having spent time with our amazing volunteers and staff over the years, these are people who inspire others every day – mainly by telling them they, too, will get through this, and providing advice and similar experiences.  And I hope that sharing this quilting process will provide some similar, even if small pieces of inspiration for anyone who needs it!

The Planning Process

Yes, there is a lot of planning.  You absolutely without a doubt have to plan for your quilt.  How big/small (in feet/inches), how much fabric you will need, and how involved the design will be.

Take your time.  It is okay to go slowly.  Draw lots of different designs.  Use different colors.  Have fun.  And you don’t have to set it all up in the same day.  Take breaks.  Talk to people and see what they like.  It will all get finished – don’t rush.  But you do need to draw out your map and your measurements, because without a gameplan, you won’t have a foundation to come back to when it’s time to cut and put all your pieces together.  And there will be a lot of pieces.  See?

The Layout Process

Enjoy your layout process.  It’s okay to treat your quilt like a big, fun puzzle.  It may be that you envision one way of setting up the pieces, but after a few “layouts” you want to go with a different one.  That is 100% more than okay – laid out plans don’t always go as you expected.  Roll with it.  Because is there is no “wrong” design for your quilt.  It’s yours.

And yes, it is always okay when no one is looking to stand on your dining room table to take the final picture of your layout.

The Pinning Process

This is actually my least favorite part of quilting.  But then again, there will always be those “least favorite” or even downright lousy days.  And you get through them.

This is quilt “batting,” by the way.

If you think of a quilt like a sandwich, the batting is the middle layer that goes between your designed beautiful top and the bottom layer (which is usually a bedsheet).  For my bottom layer, I generally find a nice queen-sized sheet and cut to fit accordingly.

And even if you don’t like the pinning process, there’s always a silver lining – like when you have the opportunity to take a photo that looks like this:

And here it is:  the pieced together, laid out, pinned quilt, ready for the fun part.

Stay tuned for Part II  – when we reveal the “quilting” process (you didn’t think we were going to give away the surprise all at once, did you?).

The post Quilting for Hope – A CHN board member gets creative appeared first on Cancer Hope Network.