Thursday 1 October 2009

Blanket Stitch

Last week, whilst Bob was away, I did some work on the knitting machine. This week, I have been stitching up the things I made. I have a number of friends who are expecting babies at the minute, and I wanted to make some baby blankets.

Back in 1982 when I was expecting Liz, I hand-knitted a blanket from a pattern in Good Housekeeping Magazine. The design was based on the traditional Shetland "Robe of Glory". This was a knitted cloak presented to a boy reaching manhood - and the patterns used were all symbolic.

I subsequently made my own pattern, using variations of these ideas and symbols, adapting it for use on a punch-card knitting machine.

Last week I knitted five blankets, and this week I have sewn them up

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The amazing thing is that the same punchcard produces very different results dependent on the colours used. The first three were just cream background with one contrast colour [2 blue, 1 red]

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The fourth was a cream background, but a different contrast for each symbol

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Then I got a bit carried away and did various coloured stripes as the background with a cream contrast

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The different parts of the design represent these Biblical symbols;
The Water of Life - John 4v10
The Guiding Star - Matthew 2v2
The Anchor of Faith - Hebrews 6v19
The Crown of Glory - 1 Peter 5v4

I really cannot decide which one I like best! The backs of the blankets are plain cream [apart from the striped one - which is plain stripes on the reverse!]

It is lovely to give a gift for a new baby - and especially one like this, when the parents share faith in Jesus.

3 comments:

  1. OH wow, how many blankets in one week!!! I can see the usefulness of a machine now.

    ReplyDelete

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