Wednesday, August 14, 2013

The Close Knit Family

By Andrea Boeshaar


This is what the Guernsey Wrap is SUPPOSED to look like...
I won't show you what mine looks like!
I'm a novice when it comes to knitting and crocheting. I did, however, manage to knit and crochet scarves for my grandchildren, my daughter-in-law, and a son's girlfriend for gifts last Christmas. But when it came to creating a Guernsey Wrap from a pattern last February, I struggled -- and it's just knitting and purling! But it's enough to get me turned inside out. So I put that project aside for now and decided to make my newly-born granddaughter, Ashelee, a blanket. It's a single crochet stitch -- and crochet goes much faster than knitting, at least for me.

And just as some handmade projects pose challenges, family dynamics can be taxing too. I adore my grandchildren. But....well, you know the old adage: A son is a son till he takes a wife but a daughter's a daughter the rest of her life. I gave birth to three sons and raised them to be independent, hard-working men not mama's boys. A pity in a sense bcause I don't see my "guys" as often as I'd like to -- which means I don't get to see my grandbabies enough either! The fact caused me a lot of pain. But as I knitted the scarves for the grandkids last year, and now as I crochet baby Ashlee's blanket, I realize that my family is just a stitch away. 


The beginning of Ashlee's blanket.
With each single crochet stitch, I think about Ashlee being snug and warm under the multicolored blanket I'm making her. I think about which songs I'll sing to her as I rock her to sleep. Maybe "I Can Sing A Rainbow" -- my mom used to sing that song to my sons when they were little.

 I think about last year's scarves keeping little pink cheeks from frostbite. With each stitch I pray my precious grandchildren will all come to know the Lord Jesus and will live to glorify Him.

Through knitting and crocheting, I've discovered a way to stitch my family and loved ones close to my heart. Then they're never too far away.

  

11 comments:

  1. What a beautiful post, Andrea! Thank you for sharing. Makes me wish I could knit or crochet!!

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  2. I love your beautiful hand work. And I love that is poured in to every stitch you make. Your gifts will be treasures always.

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  3. Beautiful post, Andrea. Thank you for the sweet reminder as a mother of grown sons as well. :)

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  4. Hi, Britney -- if you really want to learn there are free YouTube videos that can help you. I'll admit to watching them occasionally. LOL

    And thanks Melanie and Jodie for your complimentary replies. I appreciate it.

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  5. What a wonderful post and wonderful way of looking at things. Thanks for sharing, Andrea. :)

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  6. Enjoyed your post and how you turned it into a teaching moment for you and others. I, too, have knitted and crocheted gifts. One mom told me after her child had the blanket for a while, the little girl fell in love with it. She said, "I had to take the blanket away at night just so I could wash it." Love it!!!!

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  7. Such a nice post, Andrea! I can relate to raising strong independent sons. Thanks for sharing.

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  8. My daughter-in-law, who is expecting our first grandchild in November, recently learned from her mother to crochet. She has already made a couple of baby afghans, and is working on booties. Hopefully, this is an art that she will teach to her children before they are grown and gone from the nest. I'll have to show her your picture of Ashlee's blanket.

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  9. What a great post Andrea! This makes ,me want to learn to crochet/knit! Thanks for this amazing post!! :)

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  10. I know your story well. I have three sons and I wished I could see them more. I made Christmas ornaments for a time. But I am not a crocheter or knitter.

    Tina Pinson

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  11. Nice post. I tried knitting waaaaay a long time ago and jumped in to the deep end of the pool. I made a sweater for my husband. It was beautiful except it wouldn't fit anyone except Magilla Gorilla. It never occurred to me to measure his arms! I appreciated your life lesson.

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