Over 35 people in 3 different countries participated in this comfortghan for our friend who is going through something we wish nobody ever would. We love you Kathy! Each block is a floral motif, some flat, some heavier 3D flowers. This blanket was made with love, prayers, and positive thoughts for our friend.

Join Used: Margaret MacInnis’ flat braid 3-ch join

Border: I basically designed this. Someone recently noted that the right frame is very important for a picture, and this is very true in an afghan. It is very important that the border both flow out from the piece and frames it to accentuate the piece … it needs to be the right stitches, colors, and width. And it’s not that hard to do, use the same colors as in the join, and if possible use some of the same stitches/shapes that are showcased in the afghan itself.

Since the JAYG used a 3-ch, I incorporated this right into the border, inspired by a stitch pattern in Priscilla Hewitt’s Lille Matelasse - the link takes you to my project page where you can see the stitch pattern in the first picture I took of that project. Basically, you ch-3, then you work a DC row behind it, then you do another ch-3 row and at the same time anchor the previous ch-3 row down to the previous DC row. After you’ve done several rows the pattern comes out quite pretty.

For Kathy’s comfortghan’s border I used two of her favorite colors: Sweet Pea and Lamb. the Sweet Pea (green) was also used for the join so it flows right on out, bringing the entire afghan together in harmony, and the lamb is used for the DC row behind it.

For the last and finishing row, I worked sc into the last ch-3 row (some in the loop only, some through the loop and back DC row) thus: In the ch-3 loop, 1sc, then insert hook through ch-3 loop and top of DC row (sc, ch-1, sc) in same stitch, then sc in the ch-3 loop only. In the next ch-3 loop, insert hook through the loop and top of DC row, 1sc. Repeat across. (Note: I came up uneven, so I improvised after the last shell with ch1, sc through loop and back row, ch1, sc through the next loop and back row, ch1, corner) - it’s barely noticeable. Adding the extra ch1 keeps it from pulling and curling inwards

The corners consist of the ch1, 1sc in the loop, 2hdc through loop and back row, ch-1, 2hdc through loop and back row, 1sc in loop, ch1.

Note: Doing a sc in the ch-3 loop, then doing the two stitches anchoring it to the row behind it, then another sc in the loop only helps keep it from pulling in, it allows it to stretch over to the next ch-3 loop/anchor stitch.

Note: With the exception of the corners, and the sides where I had to improvise, there are no ch1 spaces between loops. You go straight from the last sc in loop to the sc in the next loop.

This border is a little thicker than some borders we work on afghans, but for this blanket full of 3D flowers it’s really the perfect weight.