Crochet Pattern Launch – Memory Throw

It’s been a big week for me! Yesterday I launched the Berry Smash Cowl, and Scheepjes also released their latest YARN, the After Party issue, which is the pattern for my Memory Throw.

Where to buy?

After Party patterns retail for a euro/pound, and Scheepjes has a list of all their fantastic stockists here. They also have loads of info about the pattern on their website.

Wool Warehouse stocks the English version*
My local yarn store Caro’s Atelier stocks the Dutch version*
Caro’s also stocks yarn packs to make the blanket*! If you buy from Caro’s and want the pattern in a different language, email me @ missnerisscrochet@gmail.com and I’ll gift it to you via Ravelry.

You can get your hands on the digital version in both Dutch and English, plus French, German, Spanish and Swedish on Ravelry here.

This pattern is one of the most special that I’ve made in my crocheting career.  You see, I made this quite a while ago actually.  While I was home in Australia last helping my mum sort all her stuff as she was dying, I found a vintage crochet blanket in a box in the shed.  I remember it being draped over our couch as a kid, but hadn’t seen it for years.

The OG inspiration, circa 1988. That’s my mum there, second from the right.

The brightly coloured motifs and immediately inspired me to use my Scheepjes Stone Washed XL colour pack!

I started working on the blanket in the short two weeks between returning to the Netherlands and when my mum died.  I can still see myself sitting on the couch, working away, waiting to speak to her one more time, praying it wouldn’t be the last, then suddenly she was gone.

The next weeks were spent going through the motions, putting on a face for the outside world so as to not make others feel uncomfortable while I was drowning in my grief, and in that time those motifs were my safe place. I could pick up a ball and disappear for a few minutes, and just be in the moment. I was cast adrift, and working on this throw anchored me again.

When it was finished, packing it up and shipping it off to its new home at Scheepjes HQ was cathartic.  So much of my heart and soul was poured into that blanket and it helped me to move through the stages of grief.

Now, the beautiful styling and photographers from the wonderful team at Scheepjes really hits me in the feels.  I’m transported to that time, but instead of feeling the same sorrow, I feel what can almost be described as joy.  To be cliched, out of darkness comes light.

The throw embodies my mum.  She was colour personified. I like to think she would have happily draped this over the back of her couch and snuggled under it on chilly nights.

Thank you to the creative team at Scheepjes for publishing this pattern and for their ongoing support in my creative journey. I feel nurtured and love that I’m given the space to grow as a designer, especially as I spent the first 30 years of my life believing I wasn’t a creative person.  Now I know better!

*This post contains affiliate links, which support my designs, at no extra cost to you, my valued audience.