My First Blanket

 When I was 8 years old my Grandmother taught me how to crochet.  My Grandfather had recently passed away so my sister and I were staying with my Grandmother to help her with the transition.  I'm not sure two little girls were a big help, but at least we were a distraction.  My Grandmother was always crocheting and quilting.  By the time I came around crochet was her favorite hobby.   

 So I learned how to crochet by making my beloved rabbit Peter, a blanket.  I loved Peter so much growing up.  You can see that I loved the fur, and ears right off of him.  No one deserved a blanket more than Peter.

 I remember how patient my Grandmother was with me.  We looked through her scrap yarn and found all these wonderful acrylic yarns, (just joking here).  I think that acrylic from the local variety store, is all they really had in those days.  My color combining skills may have not quite emerged yet.  My Grandmother made all of us blankets.  I had a orange, avocado and cream colored blanket for my bed.  She made me a brown and cream colored blanket for when I got older, I still have that blanket in a closet.

 I didn't crochet again after I made this blanket for Peter, until I was an adult with my own kids.  My sister Claudia taught me, well she actually taught me twice because I couldn't remember after the first time.  I turned to knitting in early adulthood, and really never even thought about crochet until just a couple of years ago.  I wish my Grandmother could see me now.  I never understood her love of creating something with her own hands, and surrounding herself with yarn.  I wish she could see all the wonderful creative yarns available now, and all the amazing things that people create with a hook, or  two needles and some yarn.  I have taught many, many people to knit, and even a few to crochet.  I am so blessed that someone took the time to teach me, what would eventually be a life long love and passion.