Retro-inspired small lap blanket. Pattern includes instructions for knitting the blanket with or without borders.

I designed this feather and fan lap blanket as a holiday gift for my mom. The colors are old fashioned because I wanted it to look like the scratchy purple afghan my beloved grandmother knit in the 1970’s. That afghan was draped over the back of grandma’s couch for decades and is one of my most vivid memories of her needlecrafts.

While visiting my mom in the hospital last year when she was recovering from knee surgery, she asked me if I had a handknit blanket I could bring her. I didn’t have one, but the idea for this blanket came to me shortly thereafter. I was touched that she wanted something knit by me rather than any old blanket and it made me realize just how special handknits are.