Sunday, February 14, 2010

If You Wait Long Enough




Many many years ago, around 1975, I took a knitting class. My mom had taught me how to knit when I was a young girl. However, I didn't know how to cast on or bind off or anything else. So that's why I took the class. That was so long ago I don't remember much about it but I know I did enjoy taking the class and learned a lot. My project was an afghan with each square a different pattern. I choose the olive green and light green colors that were very popular during that time. Oh!! I couldn't wait to see how beautiful it would look laying over the back of my couch. I worked on it and worked on it and worked on it. I put it down for months and then I would pick it back up and work on it some more. Life goes on.... I did other things....different projects etc. but had put away my afghan and never finished it. One day my Aunt Nora and cousin Lynn from New Jersey came to visit and I was showing it to them. My aunt suggested that I just finish it and not keep making the squares...just finish it with as many as I had already made. So I did as she suggested and with the help of a co worker who sewed all 42 ....8x8 squares together, I had at last my finished afghan.!!! 30 years later and the colors were once more back in style. So I guess if you wait long enough most things truly do cycle back with time.

56 comments:

CiCi said...

This is a great color!! I have a green chenille throw on the couch and I use over my legs when I am sitting on the couch reading. I really like yours better though. I like the squares. Nice job.

Kathy said...

Oh good for you! I have some cross stitch things that I started ages ago. I always think about pulling them out and finishing them. Just might have to do that....

Jeanie said...

This post really made me laugh...at
myself mostly. I knitted blankets for my first 2 grandchildren before they were born. I started one for my 3rd grandchild and he is now 6 and I haven't finished his blanket yet. I keep saying I want to start knitting again, but I have a lot of make-up blankets to do for kids who wouldn't really appreciate them.

Bev said...

Great post Gayle! Love the afgan and the story. Guess it really never is too late!

Carol said...

I love the colors! OK, I don't feel so bad about my son's quilt that has been in the making for 10 years now!

Ms Hen's said...

Oh .. I clicked on each of the picture and it enlarged them. I could see the details. Wow, amazing..the textural patterns.. And the color is gorgeous.

Beautiful. And you can use it to cover yourself, like a small throw blanket .. very nice. Congratulations...!!!!
woot.

Brian Miller said...

ha. i like green...matches my eyes. nice job!

Tracie said...

I knew that I'd get back to that closet full of un-finished craft projects - eventually.

I love the colors! They would go great in my living room.

Matty said...

Patience is a virtue, as they say. It looks good, and would fit perfectly on our sofa.

Chapters From My Life said...

You will always feel so proud of it ...
In India it is very funny how the dress fashion keep coming back after every 25-30 yrs... People regret throwing out the clothes that went out of fashion LOL.

Cindy said...

You know years ago I made one when I left home the first time, it took me forever, loved it though I have no idea. I made one beautiful pink sweater and gayle, you and me could fit in it together, maybe your grandson with us. Eventually I ripped it out....Maybe next winter I will take it up again. I hope you had a great day today/ and that all are well. Take care my friend.

Anonymous said...

That is a great afghan! I keep meaning to make one but baby blankets take me long enough :) I can't believe you (and your co-worker) sewed together that many squares!!!! It really is awesome.

Nancy/BLissed-Out Grandma said...

It's beautiful. I like all the different patterns/textures. I have a complicated Christmas counted cross-stitch that I've been working on periodically for about 10 years now. And now that I'm blogging, who knows when I'll get back to it!

Cindy (Applestone Cottage) said...

That is a neat story Gayle~ lovely afghan too! You asked about my phlox. Actually, I live in Wisconsin and right now were up to our eyeballs in snow. I am having a bad case of spring fever! Cindy

DJan said...

I think it's lovely, and it must have been fun to make all those different patterns. Which it seems you learned to do quite well! I could not find any weird looking stitches, which only seem to turn up on my projects. Great job!

Anonymous said...

Beautiful quilt! I love the colors!

Liz Mays said...

That's kinda cool that the colors came back around! It turned out so great!!!

Ann said...

That's really nice. I like the colors. Your story reminds me of a box of unfinished projects that I have. I really should go through it and clear it out.

lynette355 said...

gosh i wish i had half that talent! can do a chain stitch for crochet on my fingers....does that count.

Living Life said...

So cool that it is finally finished! It is a nice keepsake/heirloom and something you should be very proud of!

Anonymous said...

I DO love the colors! very pretty!

Jen said...

You did a great job. The afghan is beautiful.

Lee said...

I am so jealous!! I just taught myself to knit and have started a scarf that I have ripped out at least 100 times!!

Hissyfits & Halos said...

My MIL can knit like I've never seen before! But, she never does it! I'm so jealous. I can sew (please, don't tell anyone-my Mamaw will make me sew the girls' clothes!) but I can't knit worth a flip!

Your throw is gorgeous! You should sell them!

Tina said...

Looks great and congrats on finishing it!

Our Favorite Things said...

That blanket is beautiful! I wish I could do that.

Joanna Jenkins said...

30 years in the making and well worth it. It's gorgeous!!!! Good for you.

jj

Anonymous said...

What else in the world takes thirty years, nothing I know.

It looks good, and you have the memories that go with it too.

Secretia

Ms Sparrow said...

Here's to finishing old business!
Now, if I could only get on the ball and do the same...

Linda Medrano said...

Very pretty! How funny that you put it off for so long! Isn't it strange how we do that sometimes? My husband is the worst. Almost all of his his projects get about a quarter done and then he puts them aside for (ever?) weeks, months, years, decades! Oy vey!

Unknown said...

that is a beautiful afghan and i love the colors! stopping in to say hi and wish you a wonderful day...hugz!

Kimberly said...

That is really pretty! I can make a straight line, and that is it. I admire your crafty work!

Unknown said...

The best things are those that take the longest coming to us!

Anonymous said...

Gayle I'm so proud of you!!! I remember you've been working on this practically since I've known you! Now you'll have to start another one for Bryson!

jules said...

That is so cool. And the colors are awesome!

Mike said...

30 Years! You have the only recently completed afghan that could go on the Antiques Roadshow! LOL

Menopausal New Mom said...

OMG 30 years!!! Well it took me around 10 years to finish my first quilt and as it turned out, my mom took it from me and had her aunt who belonged to a quilting group finish it.

Nice now since that aunt has passed away but I still have this quilt that I made the top for and she and her friends actually quilted.

It never is too late and like afghans, quilts are never out of fashion or style.

Nancy said...

LOL! I can relate - I've been working on an afghan for my daughter since May.

Kitty Moore said...

That looks lovely!

Kelly L said...

My favorite color green... Very nice.

Love to you
Kelly

Debbie said...

It's beautiful! Good for you for just enjoying it as it is and not trying to add on to it.

Anonymous said...

I love those colors! It's beautiful. Wish I had time to do something like that. Maybe when the kids are grown. LOL

Closer to Lucy said...

Lol, Totally true! The same goes with clothes!

Menopausal New Mom said...

I have an award for you :)

Betty Manousos said...

So lovely!I just love the colours!
It would go great in my bedroom.
:)
Betty xx

Jenny said...

That is such a lovely shade of green! Good for you getting it done! It is lovely.

Iva Messy said...

great shades!!

LeeAnn said...

It's a very beautiful afghan! My mother used to knit too and tried to teach me. Ilove the color of green. GREAT JOB!!

adrienzgirl said...

At least with a blanket it can come back in style. My clothes from the 80s could come back in style, but I would never fit back into them. :D

It's quite lovely on your couch!

Donna B. said...

Hi Gayle, please stop over at my blog, I have something for you!

Unknown said...

What a great post.. and so true how things always eventually come back in style.

It's absolutely beautiful!! Well done, you!!!! ;)

Aunt Juicebox said...

I love it! All the different squares are so pretty together!

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