The Blanket Book Project--Second Round

At some of the hospitals where I have worked, I was known as the “blanket” chaplain. I come from a long line of knitters, crocheters and quilters, and these skills are part of my heritage and identity. When I first read about prayer shawls, I was intrigued. I had made a few of my own, but now I was too busy to knit. Several hospital departments had sources for blankets that were to be given to patients at the end of their lives. My question became 'Why not give a blanket to anyone who needs to know they are loved?' 

Since that time, I am now a retired chaplain but have had many requests for a copy of this book, written about the patients who received a blanket. Individuals want to give them as gifts to those who make them. Most of the knitters, crocheters and quilters who donate to this cause have no idea to whom the blankets are given and how much they are treasured.

Imagine the impact of knowing that a blanket fashioned out of brightly colored pieces went to a young woman getting chemo for breast cancer or to a woman who misses her grandfather, and her clearest memory is of the two of them going fishing. A fleece blanket appears in her room while she is sleeping, covered with pictures of fish! Some of these stories are about grief and longing. Other stories are about those who feel they just don’t deserve something so nice and offer to pay for it. Some patients asked, “You mean, I get to keep this beautiful quilt?”

My goal was to fashion a written record of the history of blankets, the meaning behind them and how love blankets have impacted the lives of patients at the hospitals in which I have served. The book includes some of these stories and has been written in honor of those who have donated their time, love and skill.

Please consider donating to this project. Your support will make it possible for us to share this book with those who most deserve it - the creators of our blankets.

We anticipate needing approximately 250 books, and to do this, we will need approximately $2500.