The process of making a CK Scarf

It all begins with buying cute fabric! 

This is probably my favorite step! How much fabric do you need to buy? This ultimately depends on how many scarves you'd like to make. Look for something you'd love to wear and chances are, someone else will love it too! Choose lightweight cotton polyester fabric, or lightweight quilting fabric. Wash and iron fabric before cutting and sewing. This helps with any shrinkage that may happen with the fabric before you turn it into scarves.

Fabric:
28 inches makes 2 chemo scarves and 2-3 JP drain bags.
1 Yard and 20 inches makes 4 chemo scarves and about 8 JP drain bags.
2 1/3 yards makes 6 scarves and 16-20 JP drain bags.

Thread:
I use tan for all my scarf sewing. The stitching is less obvious with tan than using white.

Now on to cutting the fabric into scarves.

In an earlier post I created a fabulous step-by-step tutorial with pictures on how to do this. If you're anything like me, and you're a visual learner, you'll like these instructions. You can find the link to 'How to cut out a chemo scarf 101' here.

LATER ON YOU'LL WANT TO USE THE EXCESS FABRIC TO MAKE JP DRAIN BAGS.

FOR INSTRUCTIONS GO HERE.

Once the fabric is cut you're ready to start sewing!

For a step by step instruction on 'How to sew a chemo scarf', follow this link.

If you've made it this far then that means you're finished sewing!

Give those scarves a final wash and iron. This insures that they are clean and ready to be packaged for delivery. I like to package my scarves in cute cellophane bags to keeps them from collecting dust and germs. I buy my bags off Amazon and they're pretty cheap for 100 bags.

This link will give you instructions on how to fold and package them fit in the cellophane bags.

'How to package a CK Scarf'

Deliver the scarves to a chemo center. You can ask at the reception desk what they want you to do with the donation. Most centers have a hat basket for donations like this. If not, leave the scarves with the receptionist. Don’t forget to take pictures of the scarves at the chemo center and share it on social media! Be sure to include the link to this blog post so others can make and donate chemo scarves too!

Because of your kind heart and efforts 'sew' many women will receive HOPE and ENCOURAGEMENT while battling cancer!

JP Drain Bag Instructions

Remember that fabric you set aside for JP Drain bags from my post about 'How to cut out a Chemo scarf 101'? This post explains the simplicity of how to sew the drain bags. 

But, first...

What is a JP Drain? And what are they used for?

A Jackson-Pratt (JP) drain is used to remove fluids that build up in an area of your body after surgery. The JP drain is a bulb-shaped device connected to a tube. One end of the tube is placed inside you during surgery. The other end comes out through a small cut in your skin.

Women with Breast Cancer who have a mastectomy will have one or two of these placed in each breast following surgery. These drain are NO FUN! There are quite a few options of how to secure them so you can move about, but my favorite way was to tie a drain bag around my waist and tuck all FOUR of my drains into the bag. It was worn under my loose fitting, button up shirts and most people had no idea the drains or the drain bag was even there. I even wore one while taking a shower. These drain bags make life more comfortable for the people dealing with something uncomfortable. Although I just explained how these drain affect breast cancer women, they also are used for other surgeries and are gender neutral.

Ok, now on to the 'How to' part of this post...

 

1) Cut fabric into a 9 inch X 15 inch rectangle. Depending on how much fabric you bought to make scarves will determine how many bags you'll be able to make. 

2) Fold 9 inch sides and iron at 1/4 in

3) Fold edge over to make a nice finished edge. Repeat for both sides.

4) Cut 2 strands of double sided ribbon to 36 inches each.

5) Put right sides of fabric together, placing ribbon at the top edge. Fold right sides back together and sew. Be sure to back stitch a few times over where the ribbon was placed.

6) Repeat for other side.

7) Turn right side out.

Finished JP Drain bag.

If you are making these to donate: A great place to donate is to local hospitals surgical centers. Another option is to find surgeons that specialize in mastectomies and donate directly to them to give to their patients following surgery.

Speaking as a recipient of a drain bag following my mastectomy I can tell you how appreciative the receiver will be to get one of your drain bags. Thank you for using your talents and skills to bless and support others!

Meet Merideth

I love seeing these scarves! And doesn't Meridith look great?!
Someone said this to me this past week and it absolutely fits this picture, 

"Everyday your beautiful scarves are bringing joy to the women who are wearing them."

 I met Meridith just yesterday and gave her this fun scarf. Meridith is a wife, a mother and an avid runner. She is an inspiration to many! Thank you for sharing your story with me Meridith!

This scarf is so perfect for her smiling, happy face! 

Today after her chemo appointment I got this message from her,

'Thank you so much! I love it and have gotten so many compliments on my cute scarf!' -Meridith

Idaho delivered!

Remember Alicia? 

She is in my #LiftingHeartsBreastCancerSupportGroup and was driving all the way from Idaho to Utah for chemo. She is currently going everyday for radiation in Idaho, which made her drop off kind of convenient, except that she kept forgetting them. (That darn chemo brain!!)
 

An interesting fact that we don't always think about is that most women going through treatment have jobs (and busy lives). Staying home and taking a leave of absence from work while undergoing chemo is a luxury that not all women get to experience!
 

Thank you Alicia for delivery scarves in Idaho! 

Big hug to you girl!

A moment of silence and a pause in my project.

Why has my blog been so quiet and void of mailings?

My life has been full of good and hard moments the past two weeks. One week we were welcoming a beautiful, healthy baby boy into our family and the next week we were saying our goodbyes as my husbands mother passed on to the next life. With my fingers tightly crossed that life will start to slow down I am happy to report that I've received several emails and letters in the mail from my delivery angels and one from a Chemo center in Ohio! Good things are continuing to happen with this project despite all that is happening in my personal life! I am excited to start sharing with you these recent stories from contacts!

So stay tuned....And don't forget to invite your friends to like my page and journey with me as I spread chemo scarves all across the United States!!

Idaho!

Meet Alicia in Idaho.
I met Alicia earlier this year when she was coming all the way to Salt Lake City, Utah for her chemo infusions! Alicia is spunky, super smart and as far as I can tell, she's kickin' cancer to the curb!

 Hope you have fun delivering these scarves in Idaho!

Thanks Alicia!

Michigan Delivered!

This is the face for Michigan! Isn't he a cutie?!

 

In an email this is what Natalie had to say: 

"We loved delivering your scarves! They were absolutely beautiful and my little guy just loved them. I promise no scarves were harmed in the taking of these photos!" -Natalie

 This is Natalie and her little guy! Natalie grew up in the same neighborhood as I did, but I didn't know her very well as she was just a toddler when I got married and moved away. 

Her sister is also participating in my project for Rhode Island.

 Thank you Natalie for being a part of this project!