This is a project that has been in the works for over four years. When my youngest was just a little baby, I found this adorable pattern and thought it would be a great addition to my Thanksgiving décor. I started it just a month prior, and obviously didn’t get too far before Thanksgiving came. That’s all right, I decided. I’d put it away and bring it out next fall to finish. Next fall came, and I brought it out again and started to work on it. The year had improved my crochet skills, and there were quite a few areas that looked a little beginner-ish to me, but I had no desire to start from scratch so I fixed what I could and continued along. But it was a busy year and although I finished the turkey squares, I was still far from done. I put it away again for the next year.
The next year was last Thanksgiving, and I worked on it quite a bit earlier this time. I made some minor adjustments … and then I changed the entire pattern. The original pattern, called Turkey Talk Afghan, can be found on the Red Heart website. It calls for quite a few rows of variegated yarn. And while it looks pretty, I prefer the more traditional checkered pattern of granny squares. So I searched the Ravelry database for a simple-ish square that wouldn’t be overwhelmed by using a variegated yarn and found this Big June Square pattern (at the bottom of the link under 12” squares). And I made enough corresponding variegated squares to compliment the turkeys. By this time, Thanksgiving was well over and I needed to get started on my Christmas projects, so I put it away for one more year.
But this year, my Thanksgiving Crochet Blanket will finally make its completed appearance. With a few weeks left to go, I did a once over of the squares that I started so many years ago, and whipstitched them all together. Then I added a simple border and called my four-years-in-progress Thanksgiving Crochet Afghan finished. Hooray! For more details about this, you can check out my project page on Ravelry or you can view it in my crochet gallery.
And I certainly plan to put this afghan away at the end of Thanksgiving this year, too. But next year when I take it out, there will be no more work to do on it, except to use it to celebrate the holiday. Happy Thanksgiving!
Your version far surpasses the original, Mellie. Lovely job! Way to stick with it and get it finished. :) You are an inspriation. (You give me hope that I’ll pull out my adobe blocks and get that baby finished. Maybe even this winter!)
Thank you! Yes, I hear you on those unfinished works! It takes me years apparently to get the job done :)