Grandma’s blanket – finished

Knitted cabled blanket 17 years in the making

It is done. My Grandma (according to her notes on her laminated pattern) started this project on 4/22/2006, then restarted it on 4/18/2013 (I’m not sure on the reason for the restart). I picked it up in January 2022 and finished it August 10, 2022. My Mom remembers the project sitting in Grandma’s room in the nursing home, so it was one of the last things she was working on before she passed in November of 2013. If I am reading her notes correctly, she made this particular pattern 10 times. She would write down the start date, the color, and sometimes for whom it was intended and the finish date. She finished one of the afghans in three months. She was a true knitter.

The pattern is by Mary Maxim, no. 8048 Cable Afghan. The yarn Grandma picked out was Mary Maxim Starlette 100% Acrylic 4 ply Knitting Worsted Weight Yarn. She used size 11US circular needles. I did change out needles to Prym circular needles, and I made a copy of the pattern rather than write on her pattern, but I used the same pencil she used, with a new eraser.

The blanket came out well, soft and stretchy. The finished measurements, without tassels, is 45 by 70 inches. The left over yarn is less than a quarter skein.

I should probably have some emotional comment here, something profound and inspiring. I don’t usually roll that way. I’m glad I was able to complete this project, and tie up loose ends.