For our wedding 11 1/2 years ago, we received a gift. An nonreturnable gift.
It was a crocheted blanket: handmade, thick and very ugly. Someone my parents knew had made it for us (no doubt spending quite a long time on it), but it looked as if she had used the end of about 25 different skeins of yarn. There is no rhyme to this blanket; nothing matched within it and because of this, it matched nothing else in my house or my bedroom or my living room or closet. In it are navy blue, pale pink, florescent yellow, light brown, creamy white, dark red, light green, forest green, and baby blue, among other indistinguishable shades and hues.
What was I going to do with it? No one else wanted it, no one else would take it, we had other blankets (even though we were 21 and very poor), so it sat in the corner of our tiny apartment’s living room folded and waiting for somebody to get cold.
Since then, we’ve moved 3 times and this ugly blanket has ALWAYS moved with us. We’ve gotten new tables, new sofas, new beds and shelves, and many new quilts and blankets, but this wretched multi-colored thing has always remained either by our bed or by our sofa. We reach for it to cuddle under several times a week.
As I napped underneath it this afternoon, I thought about how much I hated it when I first got it as a new, young wife. I thought about how ugly it was, and still is, but how much I really like to nap under it.
It is the perfect thickness, and the perfect weight (you know what I mean: the perfect weight of a blanket that lies in a unique and indescribable way on your body during a nap) with the perfect balance of warmth and coolness. It is also the perfect size: wide enough to cover my whole body without feeling it stretch and long enough to pull up comfortably under my chin and cover my feet as well.
When I first opened that gift almost 12 years ago and remarked to myself how strange and ugly it looked, I hadn’t fallen in love with it yet. I hadn’t yet pulled it up over my shoulders, closed my eyes, and curled on my side. I hadn’t given it a chance.
I wouldn’t return it today even if I could.
Finding the perfect blankie to nap with is a treasure. I am under mine any chance I get!
I am dieing to see this ugly blanket. Any chance we can see a picture??
That’s awesome. Ugly things do have their place
My son and I fight over our favorite handmade blankie…”giraffie blankie”.
Currently animal print is popular, but I suppose in a few years it will be “ugly”.
Enjoy your nap!
There is nothing better than the perfect blanket to nap under! I have two tied quilts made by my grandmother that are not pretty but they are my favorites to snuggle up with for a nap, movie, or to read. My kids love them too! Sometimes there are great things in those ugly packages we just have to give them time to show their beauty!
We received an ugly blanket like that, too. Only it was when Richie was born. I never latched onto it, but I never gave it a chance. Maybe I’m missing out?
Of course now I have THE BLANKIE and I would have no other so I guess it’s a lost cause.
When my daughter was born my mom gave me two blankies that were mine when I was born. It shocked me because I didn’t even know she had them! Keilani did sleep with them, and now wraps her babies in them. There is just something special about a blankie.
You have such a talent for writing. I really loved this post and can relate. Who knew a blanket could have such inner beauty.
Sometimes treasures are hidden in ugliness and it takes a pure heart to find the deeper meaning of what lies beneath. What a treasure & pure heart you have….
What a thoughtful post, Sarah. Thanks for making me think deeper today!
Yay for ugly blankets!
Do you know my mom has made us the same blanket you describe!?
She has no rhyme or reason—-I think she just used whatever she had and the blankets looks hideous! I suppose it’ll grow on me like yours did.
god’s grace often appears ugly at first glimpse…but we find that it covers us completely. beautifully said, Sarah…all my love, daddy
Love this post. xoxoxoxooo