Memories in Making: Three Knitting Patterns Inspired by Happy Memories & Finishing the Projects Left Behind
Last weekend, we had lots of family in town. Everyone came to our house on Sunday morning for a casual brunch. As so often happens with my family, the conversation turned to reminiscing about those we miss and days gone by. Passing around a stack of old family photos brought back memories from decades ago.
Many of my knitting patterns are named for favorite family memories. We’re lucky to have many handmade items throughout our home that were made by members of our family. Whether the memories inspired the project or the project brings back memories... I treasure those memories in making.
Today, I’m sharing some memories in making including: a blanket design inspired by a memorable color, a new organization that is helping finish deceased maker’s unfinished projects, a blanket knitting pattern that is woven together with places from my childhood, and a blanket knitting pattern inspired by joyful memories of gathering together again. And, I recently finished reading a book of more than 20 essays featuring the memories connected to collections of yarn. More details below!
A YARN COLOR BRINGS BACK MEMORIES
Sometimes simply a color… in this case a yarn color… can bring back vivid memories. That’s what happened when I discovered Malabrigo Rios yarn in the gorgeous ‘Azul Profundo' colorway. This rich, dark navy blue reminded me of evenings at my grandparents’ house. The window seat at their house stretched across the entire width of the living room. In the evenings, as the sky grew darker, the old windows over the window seat were transformed into a wall of glistening, inky dark blue. I remember playing cards in that room with my sweet grandmother.
Window Seat blanket knitting pattern for worsted weight yarn. Click here to get more details and purchase the PDF knitting pattern.
Window Seat blanket knitting pattern is very easy to knit with worsted weight yarn.
The knitting pattern includes instructions for six blanket sizes from baby blanket up to XXL afghan.
WINDOW SEAT BLANKET - GET DETAILS & BUY THE PDF KNITTING PATTERN: FiftyFourTenStudio.com, Ravelry or from my Etsy shop.
WHO WILL FINISH THE UNFINISHED PROJECTS?
It is a common dilemma… a maker passes away and the family is left with unfinished knitting or crochet projects. No one in the family has the skills to knit the sleeves of the sweater, crochet the last two inches of the baby blanket, hand stitch the delicate floral embroidery, or piece together the quilt blocks for a large afghan. What can be done with the unfinished knitting project? How can we find someone to complete the unfinished crochet project?
Two experienced crafters, Jennifer Simonic and Masey Kaplan, came up with a clever and caring idea to match up makers who would like to help… with people who have a precious handmade project that was left unfinished. Loose Ends is dedicated to helping finish projects that loved ones left behind. They have recruited makers from around the world who have knitting, crochet, quilting, cross stitch and other crafting skills and who are enthusiastic about finishing the unfinished projects.
Go to LooseEnds.org and submit a project that you would like help finishing. (The maker who started the project must be deceased, or no longer able to finish the project due to illness or disability. And, the project must be partially begun.) If a project qualifies, the wonderful people at LooseEnds.org will find a maker who can help complete the project. It’s sure to be a meaningful experience for all involved to preserve the memories represented in the completed project.
Get more details on how to volunteer and get help with an unfinished project at LooseEnds.org. Follow on Instagram: @thelooseendsproject.
Help spread the word by sharing the Loose Ends information flyer in your community.
A BLANKET KNITTING PATTERN WOVEN TOGETHER WITH MEMORIES
Many years ago, my dad restored a wicker table I found on the side of the road. It was destined for the trash but I happened to discover the table before the trash truck arrived. My dad cut a new top for the table, added a new braided edge and gave it a fresh coat of paint. This ‘trash to treasure’, from more than 20 years ago, is one of many DIY project memories in our home.
The perfect combination of knit and purl stitches in the All These Places blanket knitting pattern creates the illusion of basket weaving... just like the weaving in the old wicker table.
The name for my All These Places blanket knitting pattern is inspired by all these places that bring back memories from my childhood…woven together with love for the people who were there: my grandparents’ home that inspired the name Fifty Four Ten Studio; the living room where we gathered for holiday celebrations; the kitchen where we baked cookies and banana bread; the room where I used my mother’s sewing machine; and the store in our neighborhood where we shopped for school supplies, toys and Halloween costumes.
The All These Places blanket knitting pattern works well with a light, medium or dark colored yarn. Click here to get more details and purchase the pattern.
All These Places blanket is fun to knit with bulky weight yarn. The yarn I used for the gray blanket in the photos has been discontinued. However, the pattern will work well with many bulky weight yarns. See lots of yarn options in my blog post about 15 bulky yarn suggestions for blanket knitting.
The PDF knitting pattern includes instructions for six blanket sizes so you can pick the size that suits your project needs.
ALL THESE PLACES BLANKET - GET DETAILS & BUY THE PDF KNITTING PATTERN: FiftyFourTenStudio.com, on Ravelry or from my Etsy shop.
JOYFUL MEMORIES OF GATHERING TOGETHER AGAIN
When I published the Together Again blanket knitting pattern in November 2019, the name was inspired by annual holiday gatherings and cherished memories of time with friends and family. The stitch pattern design reminds me of sitting side-by-side with the people we care about… squeezed around the dining room table reminiscing, carrying on traditions and laughing. I’m so thankful that we were able to be together again this past weekend!
Together Again blanket knitting pattern for bulky weight yarn. This interesting stitch pattern is completely reversible! Click here to get more details and purchase the PDF knitting pattern.
The Together Again blanket knitting pattern is designed for bulky weight yarn. A 24-row repeat stitch pattern is fun to knit. The interesting geometric design is reversible. It looks exactly the same on both sides of the blanket.
The PDF knitting pattern includes instructions for six blanket sizes.
See lots of yarn options in my blog post about 15 bulky yarn suggestions for blanket knitting.
TOGETHER AGAIN BLANKET - GET DETAILS & BUY THE PDF KNITTING PATTERN: FiftyFourTenStudio.com, Ravelry, or from my Etsy shop.
A STASH OF ONE’S OWN - MEMORIES REPRESENTED IN OUR COLLECTION OF YARN
I recently finished reading A Stash of One’s Own: Knitters on Loving, Living with, and Letting Go of Yarn by Clara Parkes. The book is an anthology of essays written by more than 20 people who are lovers of knitting and yarn. A common theme throughout the collections of stories is memories of buying, collecting, and using yarn. I enjoyed reading the yarn experiences of many well known knitters including Susan B. Anderson, Meg Swansen, Ann Shayne, and Kay Gardiner. Available in paperback from local book stores, Bookshop.org and Amazon.
I’m making lots of progress on my temperature blanket knitting project! Last night, I cast on Panel #3. You can see the latest updates on the project in this blog post and get all the details on how I’m knitting a temperature blanket in three panels in this blog post.
Hope you have some time to knit today!
FIFTY FOUR TEN STUDIO NEWSLETTER:
In case you are interested… here are links to some of my newsletters:
January 2023 - Knitting a temperature blanket.
December 2022 - Best selling knitting patterns of the year.
February 2022 - Knitting for little ones.
If you would like to receive the Fifty Four Ten Studio newsletter, which includes notifications on new pattern designs... click here to sign up. Expect to receive one or two newsletter emails per month.
