AlisonH
A few weeks ago, a customer at Purlescence asked me how I liked the afghan.
Afghan?
Apparently, uh, oops.
And then a few people on KnitTalk started mentioning it: Elizabeth had been gathering knitted squares from folks who wanted to wish me well and a speedy recovery, starting back in January when things were so very bad. Elizabeth told me last week the result was now finally on its way.
I promised not to peek at her blog.
(Did you peek?)Â That was really hard! (I didn’t, though.)
Today, the mailman went past. No box. Just like yesterday. Just like the day before. The UPS guy let me be disappointed just long enough, and then, tadaaah!
Wow.
And just, wow.
Sitting on top inside was a large ball of silk yarn from purlsyarnemporium.com, a lavendar pillow, and, wrapped in gray silk, a stack of cards and notes offering hopes for my return to good health and expressing a great deal of love, over and over, as I opened the envelopes.
There are ninety squares in this afghan. Some knitters wrote; some let their stitches state plainly and clearly what they were feeling.  Some squares came with stories, some of them were the stories.
All the yarns are soft. They match up beautifully together, and if you’ve ever tried to knit squares of different yarns to the same size, even just one knitter working alone, you know how hard it is to get the sizes to match. And yet, in Elizabeth’s hands and everybody else’s, these all came together just so.
Elizabeth’s mother did a square that I’m sorry to say the post office has yet to find. The afghan came up one short. Elizabeth’s husband knitted his first item to make the last square. I don’t need to tell her this, but he’s a keeper.
This last photo is a shout-out to Robinfre, who’s been signing her emails with these words for all the years I’ve known her: she gave me my best laugh of the day!
And now I’m off to Purlescense for Knit Night–and where 37 of the 90 squares were knitted and contributed when I wasn’t looking.
(p.s. Ed. to add: Jasmin and Gigi with their Knitmore Girls podcast got the word out for the squares being collected at Purlescence. Thank you!)
33 Comments so far
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Yay! It made it! Thanks to Elizabeth for putting the whole thing together (in more ways than one)! Lots of love and hugs.
Comment by Niki 04.02.09 @ 6:58 pmHooray, the blanket is finally HOME! I’m so glad you like it, and I hope it brings you much joy & comfort knowing that there are many, many people in the world who care for you. You are one very special woman, and I’m happy to have helped orchestrate this project for those of us who felt helpless to help you!
I’m wishing for you continued better health, and I look forward to reading more of your wonderful stories. BIG HUGS from NC.
Comment by Elizabeth 04.02.09 @ 7:00 pmWOW! What a gift of love and compassion. May the love it was made from comfort you in all days – good or bad. :0)
Comment by TripletMom 04.02.09 @ 7:51 pmI have been waiting for you to receive it. I am honored to have knit a square for your blanket.
May the love and comfort it holds keep you warm forever.
Sorry that I couldn’t be there tonight at the shop, but I’m delighted that you are enjoying the afghan!
Comment by Kathy in San Jose 04.02.09 @ 8:31 pmWOW! Isn’t it wonderful to have such loving friends! All I can say, Alison, is you deserve it.
Fun time:
A Sunday school teacher was telling her class the story of the Good Samaritan, in which a man was beaten, robbed and left for dead. She described the situation in vivid detail so her students would catch the drama. Then, she asked the class, “If you saw a person lying on the roadside, all wounded and bleeding, what would you do?” A thoughtful little girl broke the hushed silence, “I think I’d throw up.”
I’m in there a few times!
If it is Dream in Color!
Hope it feels like a big hug!
Comment by Mari 04.02.09 @ 9:09 pmWhat a lovely afghan!
But I think the last square belongs to someone else- another Robin perhaps? I know I’ve seen another Robin commenting here.
Comment by RobinH 04.03.09 @ 2:43 amBeautiful!
Comment by Danielle from SW MO 04.03.09 @ 3:51 amI’m so glad I was able to see a large version of that beautiful afghan on Elizabeth’s blog. It definitely deserves an embiggened view!
Comment by LynnM 04.03.09 @ 4:39 amSo glad you are happy with the afghan. Elizabeth certainly put in a lot of hard work assembling the squares. My contribution is the blue heather square.
Comment by Joansie 04.03.09 @ 5:01 amOh, how utterly gorgeous! So glad it came together as beautifully as it did… enjoy it, and the love that goes with it!
Comment by Pegi 04.03.09 @ 6:41 amThat brought tears to my eyes… around the time of her husband knitting his first square!
Comment by Channon 04.03.09 @ 6:45 amIt’s me! Robin of Yorktown Heights, NY! “Same as it ever was!” I’m so glad you knew it was me (or someone named Robin) Enjoy!
Robin of Yorktown Heights, NY
Comment by Robin 04.03.09 @ 7:25 amIf I had known, I’d have sent a square for you. What a lovely gift.
Comment by amy 04.03.09 @ 7:42 amWish I had known, too. My function must be the one to stand back and admiringly say, Wow! Consider yourself loved!
Comment by Barbara-Kay 04.03.09 @ 8:50 amWish I’d known. WOW!! It is truly a labor of love for a wonderful woman. Have a great day.
Comment by Carol Garnier 04.03.09 @ 8:52 amI would have loved to have knit you a square such a sweet and tender gift of hugs:)Darcy
Comment by Darcy 04.03.09 @ 9:26 amRobinH and Robin of Yorktown Heights, pardon my brain blip, you’re right–and thank you for the nudge. I fixed it. Thanks!
Comment by AlisonH 04.03.09 @ 9:31 amWhat an awesome gift! I’m sure you’ll treasure it, just as everyone treasures your knit gifts. ::hugs::
Comment by Alicia 04.03.09 @ 9:58 amI’m so glad you like it! I didn’t think to label mine, but they’re the pale pink ones.
Comment by Jasmin 04.03.09 @ 10:07 amWow! So beautiful and so much love was done in each square — you are definitely a loved and special person in so many people’s hearts and lives. Thank you for being you, Hugs, Nancy W.
Comment by Nancy 04.03.09 @ 11:58 amAlison, I’m so glad you’re enjoying your blankie! I “know” you only through KnitTalk and your book, and you were so sick and there wasn’t a #$%& thing I could do. My mistake! I could knit a square to let you know I’m thinking about you and wish you well (in every sense of that word).
Many thanks to Elizabeth for showing all of us how to feel less helpless!
Carol in MA
It’s very pretty Alison. I wish I’d known about it.
So glad you are better.
Comment by Tiny Tyrant 04.03.09 @ 3:12 pmThat is a wonderful story. Not a bad afgan, either! Friends are a wonderful blessing.
Comment by Ruth 04.03.09 @ 3:24 pmBeautiful blanket. Wish I had known I’d have done a square gladly. Use it in good health.
Comment by Eileen 04.03.09 @ 7:18 pmSuch goodness, kindness, and beauty in you, the knitters, and the afghan.
Comment by Madeline 04.04.09 @ 6:48 amWhat a beautiful blanket, filled with so much love! And yes, how difficult it is to assemble all those blocks evenly, but it worked! The Chicks made a wedding afghan for one of the other Chicks and while it turned out very nicely, it was a bit of a challenge. Enjoy yours in great health!
Comment by Jody M 04.04.09 @ 7:37 amWow, Alison. I was recovering from my own surgery so my thoughts have to be virtual. The afghan is lovely and I know you’ll feel those hugs multiplied every time you cuddle up in it.
Comment by sjanova 04.04.09 @ 10:19 amLeave a comment
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