By Greg, plus Trenna’s iPad document
2007
This story has it’s origin in 2007, or maybe earlier.
In the 2000s Trenna became part of a group of women from around the area – mainly in our street – who had formed a craft group. Trenna hadn’t been much of a craft person, but she was keen to be part of the community.
She had met most of the women before, but because of the group she developed a friendship with Terry, who lived two door up the road. Terry had a husband, Neil and an adult son, Jason.
As you would imagine, Trenna was very upset when in 2006 or 2007 Terry was diagnosed with an advanced brain tumor. It developed very quickly, and she passed away in 2007. There is a totally different story I shall tell about Trenna’s role in caring for Terry in those last months.
2014
Fast forward 7 years and Jason is now about 31 years old and has a partner, Raquel.
And Trenna had heard that they had just had a baby.
And Trenna had been thinking. *
It was Saturday, 17 May 2014 and all over our sofa was wool of all descriptions and colours, crochet hooks, patterns and 3 pink, blue and white crocheted squares.
As it was about lunch time I came in from being outside and saw it all.
“Having a bit of a clean-up, Sweet?” I said, hopefully.
“Not exactly … “, she replied.
Trenna explained that all the stuff on the sofa had been Terry’s, and that Neil had given it to her several years earlier. Trenna knew that within that bag there were the 3 pink, blue and white crocheted squares.
When Terry knew that she might not be around to see her first grandchild she had stared on a rug. She had no idea of the gender of the child so she made it both pink, and blue (and white).
And then, it just came spilling out of Trenna’s mouth …
As it turned out, Terry only ever crocheted the 3 squares.
Trenna felt a strong urge to pay tribute to Terry and her last craft project. But on the other hand, knew it would be physically taxing. Trenna also felt her crochet skills weren’t as good as Terry’s, so maybe it wasn’t such a good idea after all.
We went and had lunch, and had just finished when the door bell rang. It was Jason, Raquel and baby Zara – one week old.
Well, we invited them into the lounge room and were making a suitable fuss when Trenna noticed Jason was staring at the sofa. Trenna looked there, and then looked back to Jason.
“Oh, that stuff was your Mum’s, Jase”.
“Yes, I thought so, I recognised that little wallet thing with the crochet hooks in it. Mum used to use that.”
And then, it just came spilling out of Trenna’s mouth … “I thought I’d use her stuff and crochet you a baby rug…”
Both Jason and Raquel thought that was a great idea, so that decision was made!
The Concept
To my way of thinking, if I was going to use the 3 squares I would put them in middle of the rug and work outwards from there. Obviously, I don’t think as much as Trenna!
She first did a fourth square, trying to emulate the other three. It took Trenna several attempts as Terry was a much tighter and neater (according to Trenna) crocheter than Tren.
She then decided that the four squares would form the corners of the rug so that when the baby was placed in the middle, and the sides folded over, Terry’s squares would be visible.
After a mere 4,195 minutes, not counting planning, thinking and shopping time, the rug was completed.
The Reaction
When next Jason and his family visited, five weeks later Trenna showed him the rug and explained the symbolism of it and it’s connection to his Mum.
Understandably, Jase got quite emotional, thanking Trenna profusely and instantly declaring that it would be a family heirloom. He was very, very appreciative, as was Raquel.
Trenna summed up the experience in the iPad document below. “PAINFUL and fulfilling”.
A few months later, Trenna commenced another rug. For the story of “A Rug for Jack and Jade” click here.
* A small aside… when Trenna had her open heart surgery she spent a long time at home convalescing. So that I could return to work my parents came over every day to sit with Trenna and help her. Obviously they talked a lot and got to know Trenna well. They did it for weeks and weeks and Trenna and I were eternally grateful to them for it.
Anyway, after that period Dad pulled me aside one day and he said “You know, that woman of yours, she thinks a lot”.
Trenna and I mentioned it many times in future years. We both had to agree with Dad’s astute analysis!
This post is dedicated to Terry Morrison who died 8 August 2007.
One reply on “BABY ZARA HEIRLOOM BLANKET”
That’s a brilliant story! Well done, Tren. I’ll have to send you a photo of rug Jan & Trenna created.