Cactus Embroidery Patch
If you have gone through chemotherapy, how quickly did your hair start to fall out? Mine started falling out almost immediately. It was such a crazy experience, one that I felt like I would be prepared for, but I was not.
One of my dear friends, and talented artist, came into town to help me after my second chemotherapy treatment. She brought two embroidery kits that we could each do together over the course of her stay. With my sister and friend by my side, they gave me my first buzz cut.
I felt glad to have the patchy, Tyler the Creator, leopard print hairstyle gone and was feeling more emboldened, like GI Jane, camo yoga pants included.
After my sister headed back home, we broke out the kits, sat in my shaded backyard, and began to stitch. I was a little overwhelmed with all of the stitches I would have to learn and execute within this small canvas, but with the cool air blowing over my newly trimmed head, I felt comfort knowing that I was surrounded by love and support.
There was something about stitching with my friend by my side that told me that everything was going to be okay. This is all temporary—my hair will grow back, I will get over this bump in the road, and I will learn all the stitches.
Yesterday, my mom, with her expertise as a quilter, helped me iron out the last few steps to bring the patch to completion. As I have now finished my last chemotherapy treatment, I continue to realize the power in a supportive community. There have been days where I have felt completely overwhelmed, where I have felt like this treatment and disease was all too much to take on. However, much like the number of stitches I had to learn, I didn’t have to take it all on at once — nor alone. I could take it one stitch at a time, one day at a time.
After learning many stitches, I decided the French Knot is my favorite stitch. Do you have a favorite?
If you want to create your own cactus embroidery patch, check out Antiquaria.