I made this commissioned quilt with great tenderness, using my friend Alana’s baby blanket and handkerchiefs that belonged to her grandparents. The quilt blocks are composed of the hankies, and Alana’s blanket is the sashing (borders) between them. Her blanket was loved to the point of unraveling, so I layered it with translucent silk chiffon in order to protect and preserve it.
I often think about this work as a way to offer comfort to people who are grieving. What’s also true is that it helps me with my own grief. In this case, sitting and hand-quilting for hours gave me a way to be still and sit with sadness about losing Alana, as well as my affection for her and her family. And in the end I lovingly presented this quilt to Alana’s parents. They display it over their bed.
