Four Times a Star: A Quilt for Hope, Faith, and Friendship

 #SewPINK Blog Hop 2025 – October 21

In early 2025, I received an email from ByAnnie.com inviting me to join their annual #SewPINK Blog Hop, an event held every October to promote cancer awareness through creativity.

What makes this year’s initiative special is that ByAnnie expanded the focus beyond breast cancer alone. Instead, participants were encouraged to choose a cancer ribbon color that holds personal meaning. As the ByAnnie team shared, “Not everyone has a personal experience with breast cancer, but everyone has been affected by cancer in one way or another.”

When I read that, I knew exactly who I wanted to honor—and what story I wanted to tell.

 The Inspiration: Cheryl’s Story 📖

My dear friend Cheryl Hughes has faced cancer not once, but four different times—Kidney, Breast, Thyroid, and Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL). Through every challenge, Cheryl has met each diagnosis with grace, strength, and a faith-filled spirit that shines brighter than ever.  She once said to me, “I’m really a healthy person—I just keep getting cancer.”  We both laughed, but that moment perfectly captures her humor and resilience.

Cheryl has remained steadfast through treatments, doctor’s visits, and the exhaustion that comes from fighting four separate cancers while raising her children. She’s continued to be a source of encouragement to others, often offering comfort and wisdom to friends who were walking a similar path.

I love her deeply, and I wanted to find a meaningful way to celebrate her journey—a way to say, “You are light. You are strength. You are a star.”

Designing Four Times a Star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

That’s how Four Times a Star was born.
This quilt symbolizes Cheryl’s courage and the four battles she has fought—and won.

Each star represents one of those victories, and the colors were chosen to match the awareness ribbons for the cancers she’s faced:

• Orange – Kidney Cancer

• Pink – Breast Cancer

• Teal, Pink, and Blue – Thyroid Cancer

• Orange (again) – Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL)

Together, these colors form a bright, joyful tribute—a celebration of perseverance, hope, and faith through every storm.  The design features a combination of Star Blocks and Square-in-a-Square Blocks, with crisp points and balanced geometry that shine in harmony—much like the strength and grace Cheryl embodies.

You can see the quilt below:

A Gift and a Reminder

As quilters, we pour our hearts into fabric and thread. Four Times a Star is more than a pattern—it’s a reminder to take care of ourselves, to stay up-to-date with our health, and to keep shining even when life feels uncertain.

This pattern is available on my website at  www.joyfulandmerryquilting.com/four

Use the coupon code CHERYL for 20% off as my way of celebrating Cheryl’s story and spreading a little extra kindness.

Thank You, ByAnnie

I’m truly honored to be part of this year’s #SewPINK Blog Hop, hosted by ByAnnie.com.
Thank you, Annie and team, for creating a platform that allows makers everywhere to stitch stories of hope, courage, and love.

The #SewPink Initiative's mission is to raise awareness for cancer throughout the year.

Efforts culminate in an annual blog hop during October’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month to promote self-care, awareness, early detection and support for those affected by breast cancer.

To learn more and see the calendar of events visit: https://www.ByAnnie.com/SewPINK

In Closing

Cheryl, if you’re reading this—this quilt is for you.
You’ve faced cancer four times, and four times, you’ve come out a star.

May every stitch in this quilt bring you joy as it reflects on your faith, your courage, and the light you bring to the world. 

With love from your friend,

Mary

Trying to be joyful...but I'll always be Mary!