Lap quilt size?

[Mary K.]

:?: I am making a lap quilt and am not sure of the final size that I should aim for. My goal is to make a quilt for my uncle that is small enough that it is easy to transport for chemo treatments at the hospital, and also large enough the it provide some warmth and comfort. The top I am working on is currently 54" by 42" (without a border).

I normally look in my basic quilt books for the recommended size, but I have loaned them out to a new quilter and thought I would reach out and ask for your thoughts :idea: on the right size for this quilt.

Thanks so much for your help! :!:

Mary Kay

[Carla G.]

Mary Kay,

What you have is certainly large enough for a lap quilt. Finish it up however u like and call it good!

Carla

[Annette R.]

Mary Kay, this may not be conventional for sizing for a lap quilt but understanding what you are trying to do, I would recommend that the quilt be almost twin size or at least a large crib size. Most of the time the chemo patients are sitting in leg lounger type chairs (recliners) with their feet up and have IV hookups in their arm or in a chemo port in their upper chest. (At least that is what I have seen in the places where I have had my iron infusions which are usually the same rooms with the chemo pts.) The rooms are cold so what I take with me is a quilt that is long enough to cover from my shoulders to my feet and cover my feet. It needs to be wide enough to tuck in around yourself. I wouldn't make it heavy but you want it to be warm. It is easier to stay cool in those rooms than it is to stay warm and I have NEVER been too warm. Sometimes the center will have warm flannel blankets available and I have seen many a patient use two or three and a quilt besides. I get cold and I am not really sick so I can imagine how cold the chemo patients get. Good luck with your quilt and your uncle is in my prayers. Ann

[Mary K.]

Thanks, Ann and Carla! Some good advice! Since I am going for a warm quilt, what batting would you recommend? Thanks again! MK

[Eileen K.]

Mary Kay,
You might want to think about using wool batting for your uncle's quilt. I just quilted one for a lady who's always cold and her husband's a furnace. This is the only batt that will work for both without weighing a ton.
eileenkny

[Eileen K.]

Another thought might be to make him a quillow so that it is easy to transport and can also be used as a pillow. Just a thought...I'm on a quillow kick right now and am aiming to make one for each of my five grandchildren before Christmas.
Good luck on whatever you do. I'm sure it will be appreciated and well loved.

[Judy M.]

MaryKay, a twin is 63x87, according to Quilter's Newsletter info. I would just adjust it according to his height and how much he needs to cover his arms. He will reallly appreciate the love you're putting into this quilt. Judy in Torrance

[Judy M.]

Just to throw in a different opinion, my Mom has been in Chemo all spring (as she was also 4 years ago) and the center had fleece throws for all the patients, and my Mom really liked the size they used, and asked me to make one for her at home (nevermind that I made her a BEAUTIFUL quilt the last time, but I think she likes to keep that one on display :roll: )
Anyway, they are long enough to cover her from chest to feet (she's not tall) but NARROW enough that they don't get hung up in the mechanism of the recliners... really just barely over the width of the seat of the chair. There's not so much width or bulk that it's easy when they need to get up to go to the rest room or see the doc, which can be a challenge w/ all of the tubing and IV pole, etc. (note: many times a fleece throw will be made w/ fringe... DON'T go there...)
so, my 2 cents (or my Mom's!!)
Any FYI, in 8 days she will have a Bone-Marrow Transplant. Please think good thoughts for her/us over the next several weeks/months! Hugs,
Florence

[Mary K.]

Just to throw in a different opinion, my Mom has been in Chemo all spring (as she was also 4 years ago) and the center had fleece throws for all the patients, and my Mom really liked the size they used, and asked me to make one for her at home (nevermind that I made her a BEAUTIFUL quilt the last time, but I think she likes to keep that one on display :roll: )
Anyway, they are long enough to cover her from chest to feet (she's not tall) but NARROW enough that they don't get hung up in the mechanism of the recliners... really just barely over the width of the seat of the chair. There's not so much width or bulk that it's easy when they need to get up to go to the rest room or see the doc, which can be a challenge w/ all of the tubing and IV pole, etc. (note: many times a fleece throw will be made w/ fringe... DON'T go there...)
so, my 2 cents (or my Mom's!!)
Any FYI, in 8 days she will have a Bone-Marrow Transplant. Please think good thoughts for her/us over the next several weeks/months! Hugs,
Florence

Thanks for the idea, Florence! You and your mom are in my thoughts and prayers as she goes through the transplant! Mary Kay

[Mary K.]

Florence, hope your Mom does well.

As for the Quillow, another good feature with them is that the owner can tuck his/her feet into the pocket part for extra warmth.

Pat in Rockport, TX, getting ready to go to quilt guild meeting.

[Teri L.]

I would add a bit of length, for me at 60" tall 54" would be perfect. Adjust the length to be 6 to 10" shorter than you're uncle. I like the idea of the narrower width as well, it won't be quite so heavy when your uncle carries the quilt.
Will keep your uncle in prayer, cancer isn't any fun to deal with at all.

Teri

[Patti P.]

Wow Florence your mom's been through alot. Will be praying.

[Patti P.]

I dug out one of my quillow patterns to see the dimensions. Open, it is 40" by 70" and folded into a pillow it is 20" by 20". It is a great pattern if you have theme fabrid.

[Mary K.]

Thank you, All, for your thoughts and ideas! I am going to go with the narrow quilt that was suggested.

I spoke with my uncle this afternoon, and found out that he is 5 inches shorter than ~6 months ago.... with the cancer that he has, his vertebrae are breaking (so far 5 vertebrae). So a quilt long enough to cover him, but narrow enough to allow the chemo equipment to easily reach him sounds like the right combo!

I am also sending him an Amazon Kindle (it's a 10.3 ounce wireless "book"); can hold up to 200 titles/newspapers/etc, downloads books wirelessly through Amazon.com. I thought it would be a great handy "book" for my Uncle to carry around and have during treatments, or trips to the doctor. Nice and light!....

and a quilt to keep him warm!

[karen f.]

I am also sending him an Amazon Kindle (it's a 10.3 ounce wireless "book"); can hold up to 200 titles/newspapers/etc, downloads books wirelessly through Amazon.com. I thought it would be a great handy "book" for my Uncle to carry around and have during treatments, or trips to the doctor. Nice and light!....

and a quilt to keep him warm!

What a thoughtful and generous idea. He'll be so cozy and distracted by explaining his techno book to everybody hopefully the time will pass quickly for him. I hope his treatment is successful.
Karen