A Prayer Quilt for Dad

The last time I posted was in May, because right after that my Dad was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Right away I spoke to my sister DeAnna at Georgia-Girl Quilter, about making a prayer quilt for Dad. She agreed and was ready to be involved. I ask Dad if he would like to have a prayer quilt, and he said yes. 

DeAnna and I began brainstorming for a design idea. She had the idea of using novelty fabrics of his life interest. We started a list: boats, motorcycle's, newspaper print, dance/square dance, music, western (for his love of western movies), gun motifs, patriotic, LSU, Fluer De Lis (for Louisiana/Saints), clocks, etc. After we came up with fabric motif ideas, the search was on to find the fabric.

I suggested we use the snowball block for a couple of reasons. One; it's a good block to showcase the novelty fabric and the second reason has more meaning that I will explain. Living in south Louisiana we don't get a lot of snow. One time when we were little, it snowed but only as far south as McComb, MS, so Dad took us to the snow. We all piled in our yellow station wagon with the wood grain panels and he drove us about 45 miles north to McComb, MS, for us to play in the snow. DeAnna thought it was a great idea because of the memory we had. She said it would be like us throwing snowballs at him.

After weeks of searching for fabric with the motif's we were looking for, we finally found as many as we could find. All of my siblings were going to be at my parents house the week of July 30th thru August 4th. We planned to make the quilt that week. We would involve everyone in the making. DeAnna brought 3 of her sewing machines and I brought my machine. I brought 2 card tables to use for cutting and ironing stations, and between the 2 of us we had all the necessary supplies.

Here are pictures to help tell the story:

DeAnna (sister) cutting fabric

Simone (sister) ironing fabric

Bryan (brother) sewing

Catrinel (sister-in-law) sewing

DeAnna (sister) sewing on her antique Singer sewing machine made October 26, 1950. She got the machine from Cathy Lynn Forcino, who creates mohair Teddy Bears but also collects and sells Vintage Singer Featherweight sewing machines.

A picture of me sewing

DeAnna and Simone (sisters) checking seams

Mom sewing

I'm watching the master (Mom). I learned to sew from her!

Rhunell (sister) sewing

Simone (sister) and I pinning the quilt

I'm quilting

Simone (sister) quilting

 The reveal

Each square represents an interest in Dad's life. I know it's hard to see but here are the novelty fabrics and their meanings.
Starting at the top left: Newspaper print with car ads has two meanings. He delivered the Baton Rouge newspaper for 64 years! He owned many vehicles throughout the years due to his newspaper delivery business and he knew a lot about them. Fleur de lis for Louisiana and The Saints. Western fabric with guns for his love of western movies and guns. Boats because he enjoyed boating. Dance and record motif for his love of dancing and music.
Second row from the left: Clocks because they have many. Red, White and Blue for being patriotic. Music notes for his love of music. Sillouette cowboys for his love of western movies. Motorcycle's because he had one and enjoyed riding.
Third row from the left: Coffee because he liked drinking it. The Preamble for his love of history. LSU because he was a fan. Coffe cups to go because he liked drinking coffee. Square dance calls for his love of dancing and square dancing.
The blocks repeat in the quilt but in a different order.

Dad enjoying his prayer quilt, with prayers already tied into it.

On August 23, 2012 Jesus came and reached out his hand for Dad, and Dad took it. We will always miss you Dad, and have comfort in knowing we will be together again. We love you! You were the best Dad!

Well all find peace in being covered with Dad's prayer quilt.

Blessings to you and your family,
Gina