Purl About Town
LAURA ‘PURL PRINCESS’ PARKINSON TA K E S ON
AN UNFINISHED KNIT FOR A FRIEND
When a loved one
passes away, it’s
difficult at the best
of times. But since
the pandemic, its
restrictions have
limited the act of
gathering to mourn
and celebrate
someone’s life, which isn’t natural to us
humans. When a friend’s mum sadly
passed away last year, all we wanted was
to rush to their side to support them and
their family, but of course we couldn’t.
Phone calls, texts, Zoom chats and cards
were the best we could manage. I’m sure
many of you reading this have sadly had
a similar experience in the past year and
a half – either of a loved one passing, or
struggling to
meaningfully
be there for
a mourningFOR MORE RAMBLINGS OF A PURL ABOUT TOWN CLICK ON DOWN TO
INSTAGRAM.COM/PURLABOUTTOWNMU S T B U Y:
Chenille yarn was really not my thing,
but this blanket may have converted
me. Cygnet Chenille Chunky comes in
classy colours and may be making an
appearance on a sofa near me soon.
Available from woolwarehouse.co.ukMUST KNIT:
Ok, so it’s not exactly blanket weather
at the moment but, for a perfect, small,
warm weather knit, check out the Shorty
Sock Set by the aptly named Summer
Lee. Trainer socks with pompoms? I’m in.
Available from ravelry.comfriend or family member. It has been a
heartbreaking time for so many.
During her last few months of battling
cancer, my friend’s mum had been
knitting a blanket for her granddaughter.
It was everything a little person could
want in a blanket from their beloved nan:
big, soft, squishy – and of course, bright
pink. The perfect blanket for cuddling
up. Although her kind hands had worked
diligently on it, the blanket sadly was not
finished before she died, and my friend
asked if I would finish it for their daughter
to have as intended. I was really honoured
to be asked. What a wonderful way of
connecting with someone and preserving
their memory. Her hands had made each
of these stitches, her thoughts of her
granddaughter had been poured into this
piece as she worked and now, I was able
to add those final rows and pass it on to its
intended recipient, hopefully to be used
for many years to come.
As restrictions
eased and I was
finally able to go
and pick up the
blanket, I was
surprised by how
big it already was.
I lifted it out of
the bag to take
a look at what
stitch pattern I
would need to
continue on with
and was relieved
to see that it was
a simple garter
stitch border with
a stocking stitch
centre. I had been
a little concerned
that there might
be a complicated
cable maze to
follow, without a
written pattern.
Phew! There were
three balls left in
the bottom of the
bag and I have to
admit that I wasinitially a little snooty about the fluffy
acrylic yarn choice, but quickly banished
those thoughts as I felt the intense squishy
softness of the fabric. Back home, I laid
the blanket across my lap to begin working
on it and – I’m not kidding – everyone in
my house, including the cat, gravitated
towards its cloud-like scrumptiousness,
snuggling in as I began to work on
the stitches.
Thanks to the thick yarn and chunky
needles, I flew through the final three
balls in a few evenings and, before I
knew it, I was sewing in the ends. As I
prepared to hand it over, I realised that
I was essentially wrapping up a hug
from a nan to a granddaughter in a bow.
When I handed the bundle to my friend
it was an emotional moment. I did not
realise, but their mum had mentioned
her disappointment at not finishing the
blanket several times during her last few
weeks. But the family had reassured her
that they would get it finished and now
that promise was fulfilled. Seeing how
much it meant to them in that moment
was wonderful – I could barely hold
back the tears. Of course, when the
granddaughter laid eyes on the pink
fluffiness, she couldn’t wait to unwrap it
and promptly called a sleepover on the
front room floor. I’m sure her nan would
be delighted to know that the blanket
was finished and exactly where it was
supposed to be, wrapping up her family
in her love.