A few months back Margery was coming up on a “birthday worth noting” and a few of us who love her wanted to mark the occasion by knitting a little something. Thus the idea for this afghan was born. Granted, it was a rather insane thing to take on in December, right before Christmas, and with our rather full schedules, but Adina Klein, Carla Scott and I each slaved over our 16″ x 60″ strips for weeks. Margery loves African textiles, so we made that the theme. I picked out the palette in ultra alpaca and then we were each on our own.
Taking the project very seriously, Adina carefully composed her strip of mitered squares and stripes:
Carla wowed us all with her interpretation of African textiles:
Meanwhile, I was going on the theory that the best tribute to Margery was to try to think like she would. M loves black and white stripes so I threw them in my strip with abandon. I changed colors when I felt like it and I changed the pattern stitch when I felt like it. When I ran out of black, I substituted dark grey…
I rather think Adina and Carla out did me, but I love the finished results and so does Margery. If only I had a movie of the look on her face when we gave it to her!
33 comments
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March 20, 2008 at 7:06 pm
Marjorie
In my opinion the 3 strips work beautifully together! I think if the center panel was too fussy it would not have looked so fantastic!
March 20, 2008 at 7:33 pm
Sarah R
That’s just stunning. Really beautiful.
And you could fold it in thirds and make it look three completely different ways!
March 20, 2008 at 8:31 pm
Deb
I really love how you each came up with a different interpretation of African textiles– yet, in the end I also sense a strong Prairie style design component in the finished blanket. I bet FLW would have ‘allowed’ this blanket into one of his many home designs in a flash.
–a great collaboration, and a lovely gift!
March 20, 2008 at 8:34 pm
Joy
A really amazing WOW! Happy birthday, Margery.
March 20, 2008 at 10:15 pm
marianne
WOW!!! Brava Ladies! Oooh I am LOVING what you each came up with and how they look together… and I can just imagine how wonderfully soft it is, the Ultra Alpaca is mighty fine yarn :^)
March 21, 2008 at 12:59 am
DEborah Newton
DEAR MARGERY! Happy Birthday! And what a gift– awesome! I have nothing to offer but wishes for decades of happy knitting!
Your Providence knitting pal,
Deborah
March 21, 2008 at 3:16 am
tina
It is well and truly smashing—— so pleasing on many levels! And good for Margery— I mean a girl turns 25 just once and all!
March 21, 2008 at 7:49 am
Candy
What a stunning blanket! I love the colours and the patterns and it all works so well. M is one lucky girl.
March 21, 2008 at 9:17 am
Eleanor
What a gorgeous blanket!! And a great idea! Where’s the pattern for it?
March 21, 2008 at 12:56 pm
Christine
OH MY G—! That is just breathtaking! when I first read, I thought “Oh…afghan….how nice”, but this is such an artful work.
Lucky you, Margery.
March 21, 2008 at 1:10 pm
Jenifer
I just sat a stared! What a stunning blanket. Margery you are a lucky woman to have such a beautiful present, but more lucky to have such wonderful friends. Treasure both always!
March 21, 2008 at 2:50 pm
Miriam
Wow! Wow! Wow! Thanks so much for letting us see it. It is filled with thought, skill, and creativity. Happy birthday, Margery.
March 21, 2008 at 3:34 pm
Kate G.
The palette is wonderful and the mix of patterns definitely works. It’s a mash-up of textile history. Any chance the three of you will publish the pattern, now that Margery (who is an original) has the original?
March 21, 2008 at 4:59 pm
Arlene
I love the blanket, amazing how the 3 work together, each made by a different person. Will you publish a pattern?
March 21, 2008 at 5:01 pm
Jo Nardi
Margery,
How wonderful to know you are so loved!
Would you be offended if I asked you to share the pattern. I have wanted to make an afghan for my youngest son for a few years and until now I have never seen anything that just says “that’s him”.
March 21, 2008 at 7:40 pm
Kathy
STUNNING! But one word can’t describe how all these complexities and simplicities work so well together. We all are fortunate Margery had a BD AND talented friends! Will this pattern or a variation be forthcoming? Normally I crochet afghans but this one I’d start knitting today.
March 21, 2008 at 8:14 pm
Alicia Barnes
Please add me to the list of those hoping you’ll share the pattern! Echo Margery’s comment…
March 21, 2008 at 8:29 pm
Bev Hearn
I’m in for a pattern of this! I love African textiles and I’ve never seen such a stunning combination. I love it!
March 21, 2008 at 9:14 pm
Patrice
The afghan is beautiful! Wish there was a crocheted version. Knit or crocheted, it would make a fabulous pattern.
March 22, 2008 at 7:43 pm
Laurel
What an incredible afghan! I’m completely obsessed–I’ve gone back online just to look at it about 10 times today.
I would love to have the pattern too!
March 22, 2008 at 8:19 pm
Susan
Happy Birthday to you! My wish is that you and your talented knitting friends can turn this into a pattern to share with us. This is indeed a beautiful work of art. You’re fortunate to own this AND to have such caring friends.
Suan
March 22, 2008 at 10:12 pm
Maureen
What a fantastic Birthday gift! It is absolutely beautiful. Margery is one lucky recipient!
March 22, 2008 at 11:07 pm
Cirilia
It is museum worthy! And this is just more proof that I’m on the right track to becoming Margery when I grow up…I too have a stripe fetish…
http://flickr.com/photos/43968257@N00/2352441945/
March 23, 2008 at 10:16 pm
Rose Metz
truly a beautiful afghan! would love to have the pattern. However I can understand that it was created with love and so artistically designed that you may want to keep it a secret.
March 24, 2008 at 8:08 am
mtmom
Is that some sort of shadow texture I see in the central ocre section?
March 24, 2008 at 5:59 pm
Carol
mmmm, that’s such a beautiful afghan. Very inspiring. I have a friend who loves animal prints who would love this too. Thank you for sharing - what a bunch of great friends you all are.
(mtmom - I think you are right - hadn’t noticed the texture before)
March 24, 2008 at 11:13 pm
portlandia
What a cool design exercise this turned out to be….it showcases the strength of a pre-determined palette and three creative clever brains.
March 28, 2008 at 11:00 pm
alexandra
That looks like it was fun to knit–very special.
March 30, 2008 at 6:03 am
missscarlett
What an incredible gift!
Stunning design elements that really work well together. Beautifully done - thank you for sharing it with us.
March 31, 2008 at 6:30 am
thiemchan
hmmm;I love it and i would have a pattern too….please
April 1, 2008 at 7:53 pm
woolcat
Gorgeous. I love the colours, and to have a blanket designed and executed by a who’s who of the knitting world is pretty cool!
April 3, 2008 at 4:34 pm
Gaile
I just found this blog, so I’m a first time commenter!
That blanket is simply stunning (and would be perfect for my living room). I love the idea that it was worked on by three friends for another, that makes it very special.
May 5, 2008 at 3:00 am
Mary
I just love this blanket, absolutely beautiful. In reading some of the comments, I agree, I would love it if this pattern were for sale. I guess I’ll check your site to see if it’s ever offered.