Welcome to a journey of memories…

Knitting has been proven to be a therapeutic hobby. It has been used to release stress and anxiety. Recently, I lost my Dad and my nephew within 2 weeks of each other. It was a difficult time. It has really made me ponder how knitting has helped in my grief. My dad was a great advocate in my knitting business. He was always interested in how my knitting was going. He even had me design and knit a sweater and a hat for a gift to his friend in Ukraine. So, many times while I knit, I think of my dad. I have been wanting to knit a memory afghan for some time. But, I haven’t been ready to knit it yet. It has been almost 5 years, and now my heart is ready to knit this afghan.

During this time, I have noticed that the journey of grief is similar between people, but in many ways is different. Everyone has their own journey. We all grieve in our own time and in our own way. I debated how to design a memory blanket that would be beneficial to everyone and be very personal. I thought a lot about this. I decided to combine knitting and writing to create a very personal knitting journey. This pattern comes with 12 unique sections. Also included is a memory journal. Each section has a theme and a corresponding journal entry. You are invited to think about the theme and write memories in your journal for each section.

This blanket/afghan is intended to be knit for yourself. In each section you will work through some of those memories of your loved one. When you are finished, your memory blanket can be used when you are missing your loved one and help you remember those special moments.

I hope by combining knitting and writing, you will be comforted in your grief. This isn’t a race to finish. Work on this memory blanket as you are able to. You may find you need to put it aside for a while, only to come back when you are ready. This is your memory blanket and your trip down memory lane.

This afghan/lap blanket is designed to be knit in one colour. However, it can be knit in multicolours as well. We have chosen Knit Picks Swish worsted weight yarn to design this blanket with. You can choose a colour that makes you think of your loved one. Does the colour remind you of their personality? Or maybe, you want to choose a calming colour to help you feel at ease. Or maybe you want a bright colour to bring sunshine into your life. This is your afghan, your memories. Choose the colour that is a best fit for you. You may also wish to choose more than one colour.

I choose a deep yellow for my memory blanket. My dad was a drama teacher and an english major. This yellow reminds me of his zest for life and his jubilant spirit. He brought sunshine into the room with his great conversational skills and interest in many topics. But, underneath his extroverted personality, he was sensitive and often thought of others. I found this yellow to be a perfect fit!

The finished size is a lap blanket. It is 36” x 50” (92 cm x 127 cm), perfect for snuggling with.

When you are finished, you will have a journal of memories and a wonderful afghan to use. You will be able to wrap yourself up in memories of love whenever you need. Have a wonderful knitting journey and I hope this memory afghan will give you comfort on those difficult days.

This pattern consists of lace and cables stitches. Every section is unique and interesting to knit! It is also completely seamless. There is NO sewing required.

This pattern is fully written and charted. You can use either to knit this blanket.

The theme of the sections are as follows:

1. Missing my loved one
2. My favourite memory
3. Little Windows
4. Uniqueness
5. Shine from within
6. Memory Triggers
7. Joyful Memory
8. Shared Sorrow
9. Shared Moments
10. Special Conversations
11. One last Good-bye
12. Memories Wrapped in Love

Remember to knit this at your own pace and when you are ready. I hope it will bring you some comfort in your grief. You are not alone.