The cat is out of the bag

I can finally unveil the secret project.

Just before Mom started chemo a few months ago, I reached out to several of our Ravelry friends to see if they would be interested in helping me make Mom a giant yarny hug for the days we couldn't be with her.

I'm all about blankies - when life's got you down, there's nothing better than curling up with a blankie, a cup of tea and just veggin' out. And what's better than one that's been made by all your friends?

So, I asked our Rav friends, if they had the time and inclination, to contribute an eight inch afghan square in pink or purple (Mom's favourite colours right now).

The response to my plea was overwhelming. For about three straight weeks, I was receiving several packages each day from all over the world. (I'm sure my mail carrier hates me now). Many of them had notes for Mom tucked in with the squares - and many people made more than one square.

I made a Hello Kitty square out of some leftover Fat Cat.

And earlier this week I set to organizing them all

The new dining table came in handy for that (Rocky was not much help). Then I set to work sewing them up.

Peno kept the waiting squares warm.

Tux kept the blanket anchored and checked my stitches as I attached a new row. And by Saturday afternoon the blanket was done.

It's a fabulous size - 40 inches wide by 72 inches long!

I thought Mother's Day was the perfect day to surprise her with it.

And naturally I got yelled at for making her cry! But it was worth it - and I totally couldn't have done it without our Ravelry friends. (I've put a formal thank-you in our Ravelry group to all the contributors!)