Last week, the Fiasco and I drove up to Boston to spend New Year’s Eve with a couple of our closest friends and their adorable toddler. (My apologies for the lack of photos, she’s seriously the cutest thing.) We had what has turned into our typical, relaxed NYE celebration: yummy food, some champagne, knitting, board games, and barely staying awake long enough to watch the ball drop (all the while wondering who the heck all those newfangled pop stars are). This year, though, we were also surprised with a wonderful gift.
A whole group of our friends coordinated to knit us this gorgeous blanket as a wedding present. They each contributed a few squares, even ones who learned to knit in the past but don’t regularly do it anymore, and sent them to Bridgit for sewing up.
I adore the pattern and color palette they chose. Apparently, I made the choice of pattern easy by gushing about the Vivid blanket designed by tincanknits right around the time that my friends were coming up with this secret plan.
As you can see, the colors of yarn they used (Vally Yarns Colrain) coordinate perfectly with our couch and the tencel in the blend gives the fabric a lovely sheen. The project took a bit longer than they had expected and I can only imagine all the plotting and scheming that went on behind my back! I was wondering why everybody’s knitting production appeared to have halted. Whenever I asked them what they were working on I got such vague responses as “Oh, that alpaca sweater still” or “Some baby stuff” or “School’s been so busy I’ve barely knit at all” etc.
Dudes, we totally love it.
We love it so, so much. I don’t know if we can ever properly thank them. Handmade gifts are the best, as are our friends, and we’ll think of them every time we snuggle up under this blanket, and I love that.
What’s the best handmade gift you’ve ever given or received?
Woolen Diversions 
What a special gift! Kudos to your friends and their stealthy moves during the creation of this project.
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Oh yes, handmade gifts are DEFINITELY the best. The most fantastic handmade things I’ve received are from my brother-in-law, a very skilled and talented cabinetmaker. He’s made me gorgeous engraved wooden pens, a whole set of spindles and special box to keep them in, even a handmade spinning wheel! I can never quite believe how lucky I am 🙂
That blanket is so lovely, you have excellent friends!
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An afghan made my great aunt who lost her eyesight to macular degeneration.
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so amazing!! what a fabulous gift.
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Beautiful! What a thoughtful, loving gift. The best gift I ever received was also handmade.
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Oh that is such a wonderful gift!
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That’s an amazing gift. I always wonder how they get everyone’s square to be the same size — due to gauge. They did a great job.
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Oh my gosh. That is the nicest gift ever. Really. Hmmm The best handmade gift I ever received? My mom has crocheted me a few scarves over the years, and sometimes my sister draws me pictures. So I guess that counts 🙂
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That’s a fantastic blanket! Lucky you!
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That’s a beautiful blanket from some beautiful friends. Makes it easy to count your blessings, right? Just count the squares!
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You have good mates clearly…enough for a blanket! That is a gift in itself and a gift that gives is a wonder. Enjoy your wonder blankie.
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What a fabulous blanket & wonderful friends!
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The blanket is beautiful! Some ladies I knit with during my commute and I are knitting a similar blanket for a train buddy of ours who is retiring in a couple months. I think it’s a really great way to give a gift as a group.
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What a special and beautiful gift to be treasured forever. Your friends are fabulous! I love all of the artwork that my little guy makes me.
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You guys are definitely blessed with some wonderful friends!! How thoughtful and such a beautiful blanket! The best hand made gift I’ve received has to be the zombie quilt my grandmother made me recently 🙂
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