QHB: The Great Blanket-gate

Thank you all for your kind words of support after my first post. For a long time I’ve felt so alone, so vulnerable; but, now I see that there are others who have lost loved ones to BATIQuE. I only hope that my experiences can help others on their journey…

I left off my last post saying that I’d explain about Blanket-gate.

Well, my first mistake was assuming that a quilt had ‘a reason’. I naively assumed that you made a quilt because you felt cold, or that you were planning to give it to someone who felt cold. When I would catch my wife sneaking off to work on yet another quilt, I became terribly confused. I checked the heating in the house: no problems there. I bought her some nice new slippers. You guessed it… the quilts kept coming.

Finally, in desperation, I confronted her.

‘Why are you making another blanket?’

‘It’s NOT a blanket! It’s a Quilt.’

‘Whatever. We’ve got plenty of blankets already; and, it’s the middle of summer.’

‘Whatever? It’s not a blanket! I’m making a Quilt.’

‘Who is it for? What is it for?’

‘It’s not FOR anybody! It’s not FOR anything!’

‘Then why are you making another blanket!’

‘It’s a Quilt!’

‘Why should quilt start with a capital letter?’ I called after her somewhat weakly as she stormed off. I wasn’t sure if the look she gave me over her shoulder on the way out the door was one of pity at my ignorance, or confusion at how I knew she said it with a capital Q. As any man would, I headed straight for the dictionary to prove that I was right. But, it turns out we were both right, that I wasn’t as right as I assumed that I was wrong.

Blanket (noun): A large piece of woollen or similar material used as a covering on a bed or elsewhere for warmth

Quilt (noun): A warm covering made of padding enclosed between layers of fabric and kept in place by lines of stitching, typically applied in a decorative design.

So, technically… a quilt and a blanket aren’t the same thing. But, a little bit more research helped me to come to better understand my wife’s condition. BATIQuE sufferers need to make quilts. It is a compulsion, an addiction even. She probably doesn’t even realise that she’s doing it. While normal, healthy people think that you make a quilt because you need one, they just quilt. They need our help, and our compassion. So, I’ve learnt to embrace the constant supply of Quilts. They can be oven mitts, table runners, wall hangings, wall insulation, lumbar support, packing for moving trucks, giant boards for playing gnome chess, sound proofing or workout mats: the list is endless.

I’ve learnt not to ask ‘why?’ Now I just nod and smile as I peer between the towers of quilts that keep my family warm and well-cushioned. Next time, I want to share about the problem of quilters and colour. If someone you love has BATIQuE, don’t despair. Start thinking of all the things you can use your never-ending supply of quilts for. Why not share your ideas with me here?