I want to tell you the story of the Kimono.

A long time ago, we, three quilting friends, decided to make a kimono.

Everyone in their own way. I had started a hexagon project and was looking for a purpose for it. Lummie, who loved tulips very much, found a suitable pattern.

Truke decided to use a Log Cabin pattern, and so we all set to work.

Every now and then, we would get together to check on everyone’s progress.

It was always a pleasant gathering.

I soon decided to use the kimono as a shroud. I spent many vacations sewing the hexagons together by hand. In total, it took me 10 years from the first hexagon to the last stitch.

Lummie was also well on her way to putting it together. Unfortunately, she became ill, and her illness allowed her to finish the kimono only in small increments.

One day, I received a quantity of batik fabrics from her. As a thank you, I suggested finishing her kimono. I learned that she could no longer do it. She was very happy with the proposal.

On the subsequent vacation, I took all the parts of her kimono with me. It was indeed a project for advanced sewers. But on a few rainy days, I set up my small sewing machine on the camper table. Thinking of my sick quilting friend Lummie, it seemed as if everything went smoothly. With the experience of my own kimono, I had no trouble completing this one as well.

During this vacation, I received a phone call saying that Lummie was dying. We spoke on the phone a few times, with tears playing a dominant role.

I decided to say goodbye to her and boarded the plane. A day later, I sat by her bedside with the kimono in my bag. How happy she was that it was finished. We talked for a long time. She decided to use the kimono as a shroud, and that is exactly what happened.

I look back on my dear quilting friend Lummie with fond memories.