In the spring of 2020, shortly after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, I wanted to do some pure comfort sewing in the form of a quick project. It so happened that Suzy Quilts was having a sale to benefit, New Moms Chicago a great organization local to both of us. I also had a little stack of fabrics from The Economy Shop, an iconic resale shop nearby that exists to support even more local charities. It seemed like a perfect fit. I bought several patterns in the sale but reached first for Triangle Jitters. I had seen and loved Suzy’s neutral striped version and wanted to try stripes in mine too.

I ran out of the skinny blue and red striped fabric, and since it was secondhand there was no way to buy more. I thought about bringing in a third fabric but instead decided to make some of my own stripes. See if you can find them. :) These colors don’t feel like what I’d normally be drawn to but I love these for some reason. I love how soft and worn-in they look.

I quilted this with a simple grid, and then added ties. This was the first time I had ever tied a quit and it cured me of the notion that tying is an “easier” way to quilt. My fingers begged to differ. But I do love the look and feel of ties. So it was worth it. I made the throw size of this pattern, and it measures 54”x60”. Mitch Hopper took final photos for me.

A year and a half ago, my dad's mom, my last living grandparent, moved out of her home and into a small apartment attached to a nursing home. We had been wanting her to move closer to family for a long time. So while we were happy she was finally living closer to my parents, so they could look in on her from time to time, the move was very hard on her. I wanted to provide a bit of comfort, if I could.

I chose colors and floral prints I thought Grandma would like. I included quite a bit of double gauze in the quilt which made it extra soft. I worked from a pattern called Bows and Braids by Jocelyn Ueng. The final quilt measures 58"x68". I had it quilted by Sarah Wilson of crinklelove.

My grandma was 89 and healthy when I started this quilt, and she was 90, hospitalized, and rapidly declining when I finished it. When she unwrapped it, with help, from her hospital bed, she said, "I don't think anyone has ever spent so much time on me before." This from a woman who had knitted and crocheted countless items for others through the years. I regret that we only had three more weeks with my grandma after that moment. I wish I had given her a quilt earlier, that she could have used and enjoyed longer. But I'm glad she had it for a time, for warmth and comfort in unfamiliar beds, and to know how much she was loved.

My grandma has been gone for almost a year. Her quilt now lives at my mom's house. I love seeing it when we go home to visit.

my grandma's high school yearbook.  I love her quote. — my grandma's high school yearbook. I love her quote.

Secondhand Triangle Jitters

Soft Geese for Grandma