As a break from knitting garter stitch 8″ squares I have been mostly knitting…bigger garter stitch squares. I came across a request from SANDS, the charity for stillbirth and neonatal deaths, who have an urgent need for small blankets for the memory boxes that they put together. They have a simple pattern to follow, using any soft, white DK wool, to produce a simple garter stitch square, with an optional lace border.
Being inherently lazy, I am attempting to knit the lace border on, rather than doing it separately and then sewing it on. Well, partly laziness and partly because I would hate for my duff sewing skills to ruin the finished item.
This little blanket has been the perfect knitting project for relaxing after my two little boys have finally exhausted every avenue of: “I need a drink of water”, “you have to kiss all my bears goodnight” and “these pyjamas are not the right ones”. Once they are finally, blissfully asleep then I can put my feet up and out comes the knitting.
Working on this blanket has been a way of trying to give something back for the care and love we received when our boys were born. Both needed intensive/SCBU care and it was a scarey and frightening time for us. Particularly in the case of DS2 I think it is fair to say that without the skill and dedication of a great bunch of people, things could have worked out very differently for us. But, we were lucky. They are both with us and they make our family what it is. Life without them is unthinkable and my heart goes out to anyone who wasn’t so lucky. I can’t offer much practical help in person but a blanket is just my way of trying to offer some support and comfort at what must be the worst of times.
June 18, 2010 at 8:44 pm |
It’s a wonderdul thing to do. I’ve printed off the pattern too, and hope to be able to make a blanket over the summer holidays. Will knit a few squares too!
June 20, 2010 at 6:00 pm |
Thank you – the knitted on border isn’t going terribly well. Next time I’ll remember to do a slip stitch edge as I’m knitting the square. I’m trying to guess where to pick up along the garter stitch ridges and it is just looking messy – very frustrating.