Keeping it in the family – #QuarantineQuilt

When our Executive Director, Kate Shurety, began her Quarantine Quilt project, she had no idea how many people would want to get involved. Some of these people included three generations of the family of our Communications Officer, Lexy Matthews. She has written a blog about their contributions, and what being connected to others means to them.

“When lockdown started, I received a package in the post. It contained a needle, thread, a piece of fabric, and instructions to ‘choose the word that sums up what it means to be connected to others, for you’. This package was from our Executive Director, Kate Shurety, as part of a creative project she has started in her free time since lockdown – a collaborative ‘quarantine quilt’.

Keeping it in the family

I hadn’t sewn for years, but decided to give it a go. I also put it on my family WhatsApp group at my Granny’s request after one of our FaceTime catch-ups. My Granny, Mum, Aunt and cousin, all decided to participate as well.

“Communication is at the heart of connecting with others… And it’s important to make sure that everyone is heard.”

Seeing their contributions come in, it was lovely to see which words they’d chosen, and why that was what connection meant to them. Underlying influences of sport and their respective jobs really shone through, as did their personalities.

Shared interests

My Mum chose ‘shared interests’ to express what connection means to her. She included the definition in her explanatory note that “a ‘shared interest’ is a specific subject that brings people together in the community. It then structures interaction and exchange within that group of people.”

But when I spoke to her about it, she shared that she struggled to choose her word as her two main passions in life are music (her job) and tennis. The two parts of her life rarely intersect, despite both playing such a big part. But what connects her to the people in both worlds is their shared interests of sport (with her tennis friends), and music (in her job). Even if they sometimes have nothing else in common!  

Mutual Support

I chose to stitch ‘mutual support’ as, for me, connection is about being there for one another, and providing mutual emotional and/ or physical support, whether it’s friends, family or loved ones. I’ve written before about how much I value my friendships, and the importance of setting aside time to keep them up and show how much you care. Even if it’s just a 5-minute phone call and card on their birthday.

That’s why ‘mutual support’ was the perfect choice for me. There are so many moments in my life where I wouldn’t have coped without the support of my closest friends. And I’d like to think they’d say the same about me!

Communication

My Aunt chose ‘communication’, also stitching BSL (British Sign Language) onto the bottom of one of two hands representing the symbol for signing. This seemed so fitting for my Aunt, a teacher at a school for children who are deaf and hard of hearing. Since Covid, she has been signing books and putting them on Facebook. She also teaches simple signs each week as a key worker at a school in Crawley.Choosing the word ‘Communication’ was also particularly important for her because it represents how sign language is a crucial form of communication, despite not being part of the written or spoken word. She also wanted to show how sign language is different in every country (hence the flag). Communication is at the heart of connecting with others, not only from a practical perspective, but also on an emotional level. And it’s important to make sure that everyone is heard.

Team Spirit

My Granny is 87 (soon to be 88 in June 2020) and chose ‘Team spirit’ because ‘It is vital in a crisis’. But what struck me was the link with sport. Sport means a lot in my family. My Granny played junior Wimbledon, and my Papa (her husband) played squash for England. And I spent most of my childhood playing sport in my Grandparent’s garden with my cousins.

“‘Team spirit’ means so much more to me now. It means family supporting each other. Even if only through FaceTime for now.”

But four years ago, ‘team spirit’ took on a different meaning. My papa had a heart attack and the blood clot in his heart travelled down to his leg meaning he had to have it amputated to save his life. He was given a 10% chance of surviving the operation having just had a serious heart attack.

Amazingly, he survived, and celebrated his 90th birthday this year. But ‘team spirit’ means so much more to me now. It means family supporting each other. Even if only through FaceTime for now.

Love

Finally, I wanted to share my cousin’s contribution. My cousin is currently working for the NHS on a Covid ward. She chose the word ‘love’, because, in her own words, ‘we’re all connected to love in different ways and forms’.

But what my cousin’s choice of word also reminded me of was my deep love for my family. Although I may not be able to see them for now, the process of participating in the quarantine quilt has made me feel connected to them in a new and creative ways, and reminded me of the importance of making time for, and cherishing, my family.

Keeping connections alive

In a previous blog, our Executive Director, Kate Shurety, has spoken about the importance of making time for, and cherishing, your friendships, because your friends are not only ‘wonderful, important people, but we also need other.’

Our relationships with others: our friends, family, partners, can protect us against loneliness, and ensure that we all have the connections we need. And since Covid, it is even more important that we all work to keep those connections alive in a new and, sometimes, creative ways.”