Crocheted Bedspread Squares - An Heirloom Treasure
My Grandmother has crocheted a beautiful bedspread for each of her children. I don’t have a picture yet of one of her completed crocheted bedspreads, but when I take a photo, I will add it to this post. She started the first crocheted bedspread when her oldest son was a baby and was hospitalized after surgery. She wanted something to do while she was in the hospital with him. Because her neighbor, Mary Lineweaver, was crocheting a bedspread, she got the pattern from her and started making squares. But then as a busy mom of two (her oldest child, my mom, was seven at the time), she set it aside. Grandmother had two more sons and didn’t pick the crocheted bedspread project back up for over 30 years, finishing it when her oldest son was 34 years old. Over the course of 30 years, her tension had changed so much that she couldn’t make squares of the same size. She said that she must have learned to relax in that time because the first squares she made were really tight. Instead of discarding the squares she had made, she pulled each of them out and reused the yarn to make the bedspread again. And then she made three more bedspreads so that each of her children would have one…
A few years ago, I asked her if she would make a crocheted bedspread for me if I bought her the cotton thread. She said that she would start, but that she didn’t know if she would be able to finish. Considering that she crochets daily, I was hoping that she would be able to accomplish at least one more bedspread. However, during one of our visits recently, she gave me a bag of 20 completed squares, a partial ball of yarn, a partially-finished square, and the crochet hook she was using. She said that working with yarn that fine has become too difficult and that she will not be able to make a crocheted bedspread for me. Of course, I am disappointed; however, I am grateful for the squares that I do have. I took pictures of them to share with you. Eventually, I will make two wall-hangings so that my girls each have one as an heirloom. Ideally, I need 4 more squares, and she said that she will make those for me. Her work is art, and I can’t wait to display it.
To see more of my Grandmother’s beautiful handiwork, you can find more blog posts here:
A Gift to Treasure - Crazy Quilt Squares
Also, to see a quilt embroidered by my mother, enjoy this post:
Next week, I plan to begin a series on how to design and make a tote bag. My husband gave me some down-time this weekend, and I embroidered the fabric that I plan to use in making my own bag.
Also, I will be making a couple of items to use inside of the tote bag…stay tuned!