Sarah's Afghan

Years ago, when I was teaching myself to crochet, I made a tiny pink and white afghan.  I was early in my pregnancy and hoping for a girl.  I had some scrap yarn on hand, so the stage was set.

After the afghan was complete, I met Daniel for the first time on the ultrasound.  I knew then the pink wouldn't do.  As sentimental (or is it just mental?) as I am, I still had to use the afghan.  It became padding under the thin mattress of the bassinet (which we didn't get until Nathan was on his way).

All the babies from then on slept on the comfort of the afghan without knowing it was there.

Eventually Sarah, the last baby, outgrew the bassinet and we emptied it to pass on to family.  Somehow, the afghan hung around long enough for Sarah to notice and claim for her very own.  I had made her a blanket to love just as I had for all the other babies, as well as other blankets.  But the afghan remained her favorite. 

At the height of Sarah's obsession with blankets, I was covering her with every blanket she owned, or claimed as hers...6 total, all made by me at some point.  The afghan always had to go on first, followed by a certain blue blanket and then the rest could be added in any order (if she was in an agreeable mood).

Added to the order and attachment was her need to weave her fingers and/or toes through the holes of the crocheted yarn.  It would drive me crazy to have yarn between my toes, but it soothes Sarah somehow.

Now that she is 3, Sarah's dependency on her afghan has waned just a little.  She can take a nap without it, but usually doesn't. And her habit of grabbing it with her fingers and toes is as strong as ever.


Thirteen years ago, when I was crocheting an afghan for my baby, I never expected it would become the best friend to my child born 10 years later!  I guess I was just prepared with that project a little early!