Today it's a bit of colour and prettiness. Crochet. Where would I be without it? These are two of my favourite blankets. The bottom one is my Happy Blanket, it has magical powers you know. If you are feeling even the tiniest bit blue, as soon as you put it over you, all that blue is replaced by happy colour. I made this blanket not long after I'd started to crochet. It did me the power of good when things were very difficult. I say I crochet, but I don't really crochet, not like some of you. I'm a bit of a fraud, crochet doesn't come naturally to me, and I can't follow any difficult patterns. I'm happy however, with what I can do so it's ok.
The top blanket is my Mothers Love Blanket. Now this one has my tears within its threads. I had started to make it for my mum. She loved all things crafty, it's where I get it from. She also had Alzheimer's. My hope was that as she watched me make it for her, on my visits, it would somehow reignite some of her old memories. She was certainly very interested in it, and would look intently at the colours. (Actually if ever she had managed to used it, it would have cooked her...its blooming hot, and we all know how warm care homes are!)
Sadly, when I was about 3/4 of the way through Mum became seriously ill, I finished the last few stitches just before she died. Those hours I sat beside her bed, were filled with huge amounts of love, and buckets of tears, many of them fell into this blanket. I've one photo of her with it, but she was too ill to see it. I believe she can see it now though, and she knows just how much of my love went into it.
Have a beautiful day, see you tomorrow.
Amanda :) xxx
Posted with Blogsy
so colourful and good to know that Mum got pleasure from seeing yo making it, I wonder if she saw it completed or did you not finish it before you lost her. I am sure she would have loved it of she did not see it.
ReplyDeleteI finished it a few days before she died, she was very weak though so didn't really see it. Like I said, it's very warm, it would have cooked her, bless her ;) xxx
DeleteI love that you think your mum can see the blanket now. Do you know, I honestly believe that with long term projects we weave a piece of ourselves into our work. Take care xx
ReplyDeleteVery true Jo, we do :) xxx
DeleteI "found" your blog by accident and have been following it for a while. Reading your back story I realised that we had so many things in common, though very different. You have MS, I have RA. I lost my dearest Dad 3 years 2 months ago. My Mum and Dad lived 300 miles away and he had been so clever in hiding from me that my Mum had dementia. I battled alone with all the dreadful things that happen when someone is on a downward spiral from this awful disease, together with travelling to and fro her home and having my rhuematologist saying .. you can't continue like this, your health must come first. Eventually a lovely doctor persuaded my Mum that a care home would be best and she agreed. That was a year ago. Since then I have sorted the house, emptied it, done removals (fell over in the process and damaged my knee badly!) and in January sold the house. This will now fund her care fees. There are times when you think all these things are only happening to you. But if you lift your eyes and look around there are lots of us in a similar situation. This gives me comfort. Like you, my garden (which suffered and became overgrown over the last 3 years) has given me a purpose again, plus I have started my embroidery projects once more. When I saw your picture a day I thought ... what a brilliant idea. Something to focus on everyday, I read your page with new pic. each morning. Well done to you! I'm sorry to have rambled with too much info. but be sure that I, along with so many other kind souls, really do care and understand. Lots of love to you on a lovely sunny morning.
ReplyDeleteFrom Paddi X
Thank you for sharing your story with me Paddi, it's really what this blog is all about. I've had, and hope I've given, so much support during the past few years. You're right, you aren't on your own but unless you reach out to others it can very much feel that way. Crochet is great, check out Attic 24 blog, Lucy has some fab beginners guides. Have a lovely day and cuddle your mum as much as possible :) xxx
DeleteYour blankets are glorious, and as you say they are more than just what they are. I think when we make gifts of love like that, we crochet or knit or sew all our hopes and wishes into them, and imbue them with their essence. And yours are so joyful!
ReplyDeleteI think we really do imprint something of us onto the things we create :) xxx
DeleteLove the stories revolving round your blankets, they are beautiful. I agree with what you say I have just finished a single blanket (cupcake selection from attic 24) for myself a rare occurrence and this has been done while I have been unwell and it really cheered me up each day crocheting it. I am on the mend now thankfully and my craft/garden keep me going.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy the sunshine.
Hazel c uk
thats lovely, I'm glad making your blanket really cheered you up! :) xxx
DeleteHow good of you to share this with us. The most beautiful things are the things that were made with love. And your blankets are gorgeous. I do believe the bottom blanket makes you happy instantly and your Mothers Love Blanket is absolutely pretty. The stories behind are what makes them even more beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI also crochet and right now I am doing the last rows on a triangle shawl fot the late summer evenings when you still want to sit outside, but it is a little bit chilly. But last year I made a blanket, with 8 other ladies, for my lifelong best friend, who was dying from cancer. We called this the Friendship Blanket, since we made it together in just 3 weeks. The blanket was on her bed, the last days of her life and on her coffin during the funeral ceremony. I never realized you can put so much feelings in a crochet project...
Have a great evening,
love,
Mirjam
Mirjam, what a lovely, if heartbreaking story to share. Your friend must have got so much comfort, knowing just how much her friends loved her :) xxx
DeleteReading back my words and than your reply, brings tears to my eyes again... 40 years of friendship never goes away, even if she did...
DeleteLove,
Mirjam
Beer, and aren't we lucky to have know such great people :) xxx
DeleteMy eyes prickled when I read about you mum even though I knew it at the time she passed. Was she a crocheter? My daughter loves her rainbow ripple blanket, it lifts her when she feels low. She says I am wrapped in a rainbow. I think it is lovely all the thousands of different colours we can buy.
ReplyDeleteMy was a knitter Alison, in the war, when yarn wasn't that accessible she used to knit false jumpers. She'd knit a collar, the chest front and that would be it- pop on a coat and no one would know! We are very lucky with the choices we have today. Your daughter is very lucky! :) xxx
DeleteYou are a wonderful crocheter and make beautiful things. These blankets are both beautiful to look at and in their meanings too. I am sure that your Mum would love to know that you have her special blanket and will keep it with you as you keep her love with you. xx
ReplyDeleteThank you Amy, she was such an amazing woman :) xxx
DeleteMaking a blanket for your Mum and actually with her at your side watching, was a lovely thing to do. Alzheimer's is so awful but we have to believe there is still the person inside somewhere, and I'm sure she loved watching you crochet, and that it brought her comfort. Such lovely memories for you.
ReplyDeleteMuch love,
Jillxo
There was a definite respons from mum, some memories from deep down were touched, she loved making things :) xxx
DeleteA beautiful blanket and im sure your mum loved what you where making x
ReplyDeleteThank you, I'm sure she did, she would have been amazed that I'd actually learnt hope to crochet! ;) xxx
DeleteI love this post. You are the best kind of crocheter :)
ReplyDeleteThank you Lynne ;) xxx
DeleteI love the Ercol chair as well!
ReplyDeleteThanks Stephanie, I was looking years for these! :) xxx
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