The Super Summer Holiday Memories Blanket

This is the closest to a ta dah I have right now!!  *whispers* it's still not finished!!  Whoops!

Working as a teacher, one of the many advantages are the long summer holidays (yes, there are actually others but perhaps I'll go on to those some other time.)  This year I was particularly lucky as we had a week longer due to working in a host Olympic borough.  I had a few things to do over the summer but hadn't made any big plans due to the fact that I had to write up my dissertation for my MA in Professional Studies in Education for submission in September. 
I didn't want my holidays to be all about work though, I work darn hard during term time and knew my batteries would need recharging before starting the new year in September.  I was keen to use the time to catch up with good friends and spend plenty of time making stuff. 
I love to craft and up until recently had given away everything I had made.  I wanted to set aside some time this summer to rectify that and my number one crafting priority was to make a blanket for myself.  I LOVE making blankets.  I read a fantabulous post by Pip in which she explored why she loves making blankets so much (sorry can't find the actual post now, rats!) It really rang true with me and summed up everything I love about making blankets.  The memories and emotions connected with each one.  Thus my "me" blanket was born.  The name The Super Sumer Holidays Memories Blanket is somewhat wordy but it works for me.  I wanted a blanket that would remind me of a wonderful summer which was full of not much in particular but very wonderful things at the same time.  I decided to make a Starburst Blanket by Jane Brocket from this book.  Over my seven week holiday I took a little basket of yarn with me EVERYWHERE!!  I think everyone who I met up with saw at least four squares produced.  As a result I have squares which hold an array of wonderful memories.  I have squares that were made while I enjoyed the freedom of being able to do exactly what I wanted to, sitting in coffee shops and parks along with a drink and my crochet, squares made in a Cambridgeshire orchard while having lunch with a friend, squares made in Hackney while enjoying coffee and cake with a friend, squares by the canal while catching up with a friend I hadn't seen for too long, squares made on the Eurostar on my way to visit good friends and their new baby, sneaky squares made in the garden in France while the baby and the other adults in the house slept.  So many happy but simple memories.  Everywhere I went, my little green plastic basket full of yarn came too.  Friends who saw me several times began to expect it (I have deleted the pictures of me carrying said basket of yarn!)

such a happy sight - the pleasure in making this came from knowing that it was all mine!!

Early morning crochet in France in my friends' garden before anyone else was awake

Early morning crochet at home after waking up without an alarm (RIP poor Pip mug!!! boo!!)

Millie taking a bit of a fancy to the blanket

Packing squares away from eager paws and claws

Admiring colour combinations

Really enjoying the fact that this blanket is all mine

 

 



 

This blanket is also filled with a mixture of emotions.  It is full of happiness and sunshine and super lovely times but it also represents a stress relief in a time of dissertation writing.  Also, as I'm being completely honest here, it represents a slight feeling of "why did I spend so much time crocheting when I have so many thousands of words to write and now I'm running out of time" despair feeling.  I don't mind that, I'll happily accept those memories too as they were all part of the summer of 2012!

This blanket is still awaiting the ends being sewn in and the final few rows of the border.  I think I was prolonging finishing it as I had told myself that the ta dah moment would happen on my blog, therefore, finishing the blanket represented getting my blogging started.  I don't know why I was so scared and why I put it off.  I will still of course give this blanket the proper ta dah moment that it so truly deserves but only when I'm good and ready.  The intended home for this blanket is draped over a sofa in a living room.  My living room which as of yet doesn't exist.  When I move in a couple of weeks time and my blanket has it's new home too then I will give it it's moment in the full spotlight again.

Thanks for reading! (and thanks to Cuckoo for telling me to stop being such a wuss about the whole blogging thang!)

Erin x