Touch Hearts: A Quilt Block Pattern for Coronavirus

I've been wondering what I can do in the midst of the chaos that’s going on in my country…the chaos going on in the world. It’s a crazy time and for better or for worse, it’s real. In the United States, you could feel the shift when reality hit. The hand-sanitizer frenzy was almost comical at first…that is… until more items started disappearing from shelves, schools started closing, travel bans starting appearing, sporting events, conventions and concerts started being cancelled, and my Mom was literally body-slammed by a lady running through our local store to grab up tubs of biscotti cookies…not even kidding (sometimes in the midst of craziness you have to laugh just a little). 

The impact of coronavirus (COVID-19) on lives, economies, media, and everyday life is real. Maybe it will last a few days, maybe weeks, maybe months. Let’s be honest…we just don’t know. And the “not knowing” is where many people are fearful. Some of the best advice we’ve been given is to wash hands, self-quarantine, keep social distance, avoid crowds, etc. and I encourage everyone to do just that; not just to protect ourselves, but to protect others too. Be practical, not fearful. :)

In a time when the best thing we can do to help is distance ourselves from others and touch as little with our hands as possible, I am reminded that in our simple words and actions and attitudes, we can still, even in this, touch the hearts of those around us. We can put each other first, carry each other’s burdens, encourage each other, share, and love one another. 

I’m a quilter. Quilters have a long history of taking their current circumstances and “making do”. The ladies during the great depression used simple feed sacks to make some of the most beautiful quilts in history. During the civil war, quilters used quilt blocks to contain secret messages. Quilts are diaries, maps, letters, and scrapbooks made of fabric. They chronical the lives, adventures, tragedies and victories of ordinary people like you and me. I wanted to design a block that represented this moment in history; something I could look back on and remember. Whether this situation lasts a short time or a long time, none of us will soon forget it. 

For now, we refrain from physically touching and holding to a degree, but we can still touch hearts, now and always and in every circumstance. “Touch Hearts” is a free quilt block pattern that is available here. NOTE: Cover picture contains 4 quilt blocks. Patten is for 1 hand.

“Carry one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2