As of Thursday I was 12 weeks Post Surgery. Physical Therapy is continuing. Reaching into the Microwave over my stove is still not possible, but I can tell my shoulder is improving  — Slowly, but making progress.

While I see a Physical Therapist 2 times a week, I have a number of exercises I do at home several times a week.

I find opportunities during the day that include additional chances to exercise. It may be rotating my arm to reach a water bottle beside my chair, or folding laundry or just walking down the hall & raising my arm up along the wall.

Then in my sewing room I slide my arm on my cutting mat reaching to the back of the table. When ironing yardage I move my arm side to side with weight (aka iron).

But sewing/quilting is more then physical therapy, it also helps mentally & emotionally.

Mentally – Before I was able to actively be in my sewing room, I was able to keep connected by reading patterns, following other quilters on blogs & Facebook and imagining what I’d soon be making. Once in the sewing room I was involved with measuring, ironing & stitching but very limited cutting.  I also helped a friend with the mathematics of setting triangles for her quilt set on point.

Emotionally – There is the satisfaction of making progress or completing a block or a quilt top or finishing the binding on a quilt. Post Surgery I’m still needing help doing quite a few things but in the sewing room there is a feeling of independence & the satisfaction of making something by myself.

Bottom line quilting & sewing are good for your overall health & well being anytime but especially helpful when recovering from surgery!

Post Surgery Quilt of Valor Progress

This week my Physical Therapy was on Monday and Wednesday. On those days there isn’t much time to sew before I go and after I come home I need to rest.

The pre-cut Blocks were finished last weekend and this week was focused on assembling the rows.

Quilt of Valor 2026 – Rows

There are 6 Blocks in a row and a total of 8 rows.

Earlier I had made Row #1. I had the blocks made that were necessary and I was anxious to see it take form.

I did a bit of multitasking this week. The border requires 4 corner blocks so I cut the pieces for 2 nine-patch blocks and 2 smaller star blocks. I then alternated making the corner blocks and assembling the rows.

On Wednesday, I assembled Rows #2-4 and then pieced Rows # 1, 2 and 3 together.

Row #4 was assembled then pinned & ready to stitch to the rest of the rows but I stopped for the day. I do a lot of ironing-as-I-go and by the end of the afternoon I had enough “weightlifting” and arm swings.

Hope you are making progress on whatever you are stitching this week!

Happy Stitching!

Quilt Mouse