A Secret Blanket No More

I have just participated in one of the most lovely and meaningful communal projects I have ever had the honor to participate in. Cheryl, a friend of our Elann group, has been met with some health challenges recently.  A handful of us got together to knit a surprise blanket for her, made out of Elann's Devon yarn.  It is made with 16 squares lovingly embraced by chocolate lace edging with mitered borders.  The patterns were chosen by each participant, and most were indicative of their knitting affinities.  The colors remind me of Neapolitan ice cream.  Although I had never knit with Devon, I found it to behave quite well.  It has nice stitch definition, and blocked beautifully.

The yarn and the squares were well traveled, all over the United States, finally coming to rest here in Michigan, where Libby and I had a ball piecing them together, and taunting Bets over the phone with our admission that we had sewn her square in backwards (she didn't believe it for a minute, drats!).  Bets compiled Blankie Tales, a synopsis of the events of each piece told by the person who knit it, accompanied with a picture of each square or edge. 

Thanks to Libby for her square, miters, edges, and general knitting expertise,  Bets for the compilation of Blankie Tales, her 2 squares, (and her general two cents :) ), Chris for her border, and for the beautiful squares from Amy, Barbara,  Benne, Bri, Daryl, Lisa, Jamie, Joan, Marie, Michelle, Sandra, Shui, and Suzann.  This was a national collaborative effort, enhanced by plenty of secret e-mails and phone calls.  Check out Libby's blog for more pictures of her little angels wrapped in the finished product of all this love.

 

 

I think I can speak for Libby, when I say that both of us became quite attached to this blanket as we were working on it. I can honestly attest that waves of emotion washed over me when I had to send it back to Libby so she could miter the corners.  This blanket truly was a work of art.  To behold the work of such talented knitters and designers whom I admire, all in one place in the form of one project was awe inspiring.  Infused with love, positive vibrations, and prayers for Cheryl, this blanket is a powerful attestment to the sisterhood of women.

 

Comments

[Connie]

What a beautiful labor of love! Thank you for sharing...

Oh, and I love the new look of your blog!

[Marie]

Yay, I finally get a really good look at all the squares in detail. Thank you (and Libby) so much for all your effort in putting all the pieces together, that is monumental work. It was fun working on the project. Hope you don't mind that I borrowed your photos.

[grace]

love it, very very pretty combo and variety of colors and textures. what a labor of love!!! And I love that cookie recipe too!!!