SewPink - Project Bag

As you may know, October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, and By Annie hosts #SewPink , where a bunch of us quilters and makers come together and make projects to raise awareness and encourage you to get tested.

Last year, I followed the breast cancer theme in honor of my mom, who caught hers early and saw a full recovery. This year, the campaign has opened to talk about other types of cancer too, so I’m trading pink for teal and tackling cervical cancer in honor of my late sister.

There’s a lot to know about cervical cancer, so I’ll just give you the highlights and provide links so you can do some more reading. The long and the short of it is this: there’s a lot you can do to significantly reduce your risk of getting this form of cancer, especially today, things that I wish had been known and available before my sister got sick.

Consider the HPV vaccine, which can hugely lower the risk of cervical cancer, especially (but not exclusively) if administered before sexually active. So look into it, get tested, practice a healthy lifestyle, and even encourage the men in your life to do their part. Cancer really sucks, but catching it early or even taking preventative measures can make all the difference.

For my project this year, I made By Annie’s project bag. Basically, I went through every single piece of teal fabric I own, picked out my favorites (whether they were tiny scraps or pieces from untouched bundles), and made a smaller block version of my Heart Bits quilt to go on the back of the bag.

 I thought it was most fitting, a heart made of broken pieces, stitched together and holding strong.

I used pink accents on the bag as a nod back to breast cancer awareness, and though bags aren’t my usual craft, I’m actually really pleased with how it turned out!

I even gave my new Sashiko machine a test run, (see the teal line of quilting) but more on that another time.

To finish up, I’d like to say this. My sister Dani was “my person”, and I’d give anything to be making this for her, rather than “in her honor”.

I’m sure every one of you has a story of cancer affecting you or someone you know. It’s scary to talk about, it’s scary to even think about, but it’s even scarier to get, so be brave and do what you can to prevent it or catch it early, and have your friends and loved ones do the same.

The #SewPink Initiative's mission is to raise awareness for cancer throughout the year.

Efforts culminate in an annual blog hop during October’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month to promote self-care, awareness, early detection and support for those affected by breast cancer.

To learn more and see the calendar of events visit: https://www.ByAnnie.com/SewPINK

Wishing you the best,

Mariana


HEART BITS Regular Piecing Quilt Pattern

IN MY HEART Foundation Paper Piecing Block

IN MY HEART Regular Piecing Quilt Pattern