Six years ago I pulled out a dusty sewing machine. I gathered some of my favorite pieces of fabric and tossed in the duvet I had when I first moved out into my own place. I had no pattern, just a pair of fabric scissors and a vision – I wanted to make a quilt. Ever so lovingly I pieced it together, though the seams are no where near those of my mother-in-law’s.
It ended up being a bit smaller than I’d hoped, and certainly wouldn’t win an award, but it was mine. I snuggled with it during the chilly winter evenings, and it accompanied me on various outdoor adventures. Little did I know, that many years later it would become a certain little someone’s best friend.
“Brown & White” as he lovingly calls it, is his best friend (sometimes he refers to it as his other brother). He now snuggles with it on the couch while watching TV or playing with his Star Wars toys. Brown & White goes with him to bed, and sometimes on a cold morning drive to Starbucks – you guessed it, Brown & White comes along. Many washings later, this sad heap of fabric is nothing to be praised. There are torn seams and you’d have to feel hard to try and find any batting left… but the boy doesn’t seem to mind.
Even through the imperfections – a simple creation I put so much heart and time into is bringing joy to a little boy’s life. I couldn’t ask for anything more.
{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
What a sweet surprise , just catching up on some reading, and as always your words and of course pictures(art) warmed my heart.
I love making blankets, one of my first was a Noah’s Ark one , and the older kids still get it out for movie watching cuddles sometimes.
You are an amazing mother.
Beautiful! Thank you for sharing! Mine would of fell apart a longgg time ago, so you have done good! LOL ;)
What a sweet story! And to know that all that love stays so close to him. I have a similar story. My oldest attached on to a blanket that I made. Not great but cute. As soon as I noticed that she was lovin’ it I went out to find more of the fabric so that I could make a back up. Coudn’t find anymore. It’s pretty much in pieces now, 8 years later. Sometimes it comforted her better than I could.
Thanks for the post, it pulled at my heartstrings. The little things in life can mean so much.
such a sweet story!
we still have a “BaBa” (he’s 11) and a YaYa (she’s three) and they are a part of this family…(my other child gave up his pup pup long ago)
I sometimes wonder if my 11 year old will take BaBa to college…
Love your site Angie!!
This is the way quilts should be! It always breaks my heart to see a quilt I made for someone “put up” for safe keeping. They’re meant to be used and loved. Yes, eventually they will fall apart. But I didn’t spend hours making it so that it lives its life in a closet or chest. Use ‘em, love ‘em, and they can always be repaired later.
I’m glad your little one has found a treasure in yours.
That is awesome! Things are really just things until they are loved.
“brown and white”…just an extension of Mommy’s hugs!!! I Love it! Such an inspiration… makes me want to get out my sewing machine!
Love ya, girl! T :)
Two of my brothers still have their blankies (or parts of them) and they\’re 30 and 19! At one point, my mom had part of the older brothers\’ blankie framed as a keepsake (which he loved!). I am thrilled to still have a baby quilt made for me by my Great Great Grandma; it\’s a crooked patchwork done all by hand.
Yes, Brown and White, often comes to visit Nana’s house with D! Sometimes, he is a blanket and sometimes he is a people :)
i love this post…i mean, i LOVE this post! i am such a sentimental schmuck and this just absolutely melted me. (not admitting to crying, but there was some blurry vision toward the end.) and i agree with a previous poster…you are an amazing mom for reason just as this.
such a sweet story. perfect or not, that’s the best part of something handmade–that it is the work of our own hands. that is truly what makes it special.
thank you for sharing this story and reminding me of this important lesson.