So earlier in the year when I got the news that my Grandad had died I got the urge to do something with my hands. I believe this is a common occurrence for many of us, the need for our hands to be busy when we hit a crisis of some variety. I find that it occupies enough of my brain to stop it spiralling down a rabbit hole but has to be something that doesn’t require too much concentration.
Recently a colleague of mine had expressed an interest in learning to crochet granny squares, I agreed that I would be able to show her how, because well, in theory, I know the idea of how to make them. But I felt that I needed to relearn before teaching someone else. So my Grandad square blanket was born…
When I was in town the day he died (thank heavens for pre-arranged dinner dates to keep me occupied) I picked up 3 balls of coordinating yarn and some cream to pull them all together, and a crochet hook. I had initially planned to give these to my colleague but when waiting for my friend I needed something to do. I will have to pick up some more colours for her instead.
I didn’t really have much of a plan when I started but decided that I would just start with one square of each possible colour combination of C1 (two rounds), cream, C2; and go on from there…
![grandad square blanket (3)](https://i0.wp.com/farm2.staticflickr.com/1956/45247791272_f14e9a3ebf_n.jpg?resize=283%2C293&ssl=1)
![grandad square blanket (2)](https://i0.wp.com/farm2.staticflickr.com/1978/45247793552_8780fa3f8e.jpg?resize=500%2C258&ssl=1)
Each row would have one square of each possible colour combination in it. They were joined in a way which made it look like there was another round of cream, but these are actually the seam. And I devised a pattern which would have each row being different from each other.
Although I could have added another row onto the blanket I think it looks good at this size. I think it is better this way round and not being square.
After I put the squares together I thought it needed an outer border to it. Partly to bring the blanket together visually and partly because I thought it would be better strength wise. I also decided that the outer layer of the blanket needed to be a colour and not white as this is the part that is most likely to pick up dirt. Especially from little hands!
![grandad square blanket (13)](https://i0.wp.com/farm2.staticflickr.com/1961/45247796882_f76e62e8c9.jpg?resize=471%2C471&ssl=1)
![grandad square blanket (14)](https://i0.wp.com/farm2.staticflickr.com/1904/45247796372_369609ddca.jpg?resize=446%2C446&ssl=1)
![grandad square blanket (12)](https://i0.wp.com/farm2.staticflickr.com/1962/45297305531_8eda4f6558.jpg?resize=360%2C360&ssl=1)
The blanket is not the densest banket in the world but I think that that could be a good thing as sometimes you just need a light but snuggly layer. (At least that is what I’m saying and I’m sticking to it!)
Once the blanket was finished it was gifted to a friend from Uni who had just had a baby, it felt nice that this “thing” that I had created after the death of a family member would go on to (hopefully) bring comfort to a new life in this world. The whole circle of life thing…
It was a little hard giving this blanket away as I love the colour scheme. Although I have some wool left over that I will have to use in another blanket I think. Whether I get to keep that one or not is another matter. But at least I will enjoy the colours whilst making it 🙂
I find it difficult to part with things too. I think Granny style blankets are good. The holes make it lighter as you say and trap air like thermal blankets.
Yes that’s one way to look at it. Although I think the holes in this one don’t trap the air quite so well as some. ☺
It must have been hard to give the blanket away but your ‘circle of life’ analogy is a nice way of thinking about it.
Yeah. But I can’t keep hold of everything I make… no matter how much I would like to ☺