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An elderly man stitches a patchwork quilt while a red and white husky sleeps curled up on the quilt and piles of fabric. 9 / 32

Grandpa Kenji Had Three Squares Left to Stitch. Maple Had Other Plans for the Quilt.

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Needle, thread, and a lap full of patchwork: Grandpa Kenji is deep into his quilt, carefully stitching squares of blue, pink, and floral cotton together. The only problem is that a large portion of the project is currently occupied. Maple has curled up right on top of the quilt and the fabric scraps around it, tail tucked, eyes closed, completely at peace. Spools, a pair of glasses, and a basket of folded material crowd the couch, and soft window light falls across the whole cozy mess.

Dogs love to sleep on fabric that smells like their people, and a quilt in progress is basically a giant pile of comfort. Huskies, with their thick coats, often prefer cooler spots, but plenty of them happily curl up in the classic 'husky curl,' tail wrapped over their nose, wherever their person happens to be. When sewing around pets, a few precautions matter. Needles, pins, and thread can be dangerous if swallowed, and thread in particular can cause serious internal problems. Keep a pincushion or magnetic dish handy, count your needles, and tidy up loose ends before you walk away. If you ever suspect your dog swallowed a needle or string, talk to your vet right away rather than waiting.

Quilting is a wonderful hobby for older adults, too. It keeps the hands busy, rewards patience, and turns old shirts and scraps into something that holds family memories.

Maple may not be much help with the stitching, but she's doing an excellent job of testing the finished product. By the look of it, Grandpa Kenji's quilt has already passed inspection.

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