I have the same "problem." The only thing I can think of is to go to a fabric store and see if someone can make one big "patchworkout quilt" out of them... then we could use it as an extra blanket for the bed, or whatever. I'm looking forward to the other responses to your question! Good luck.
if sewing isn't your thing and you don't want to quilt them together, then how about cutting swatches out of them and gluing or tacking them them patchwork style on colored poster board. then put the patchwork in a nice frame behind glass, and put it on the wall in his room. It probably will be fun to look at.
and keep in mind there are many needy children and families out there. In the long run, ALL of these blankets probably aren't going to mean that much to your son. But taking pictures of the blankets and donating them could later turn into a teaching experience with your son about the gratification of donating to others in need. He will feel good about himself knowing that his blankets are helping other cold girls and boys.
I would suggest taking digital photos of all the blankets and making some sort of quilted scrapbook page for him so he can see them as he gets older. It will allow you to save the precious memory and not have to take up space. As for what to do with the actual blankets--I am a foster parent and I know that your local social services agency would love to have them to send along with babies that come into care. It would be a lovely gift and security item for them to be able to take with them wherever they end up. That would also be something wonderful for your son to know that even as a baby he helped other kids feel better.
Hi Tara,
I know you said you may want to keep them, but the same thing happen to me. I received only a handful of handmade blankets, so I can store them. Before I had children, I used to make blankets for a non-profit called "Project Linus." You should check out this website for further info., http://www.projectlinus.org/ I found that it felt really great to provide a child with some sense of security when their lives were in the midst of trials or tribulations. It's just an idea.
Take care & God bless,
Dana
Why not keep some as baby blankets and take some and make a bigger afghan for a queen or king bed for when he gets married?
Hopefully this idea will help!
We take pictures of everything that has meaning to us, but is not necessary for us to keep, then put them in a on-line folder (later to be printed and placed in an album).
I suggest taking pictures of your baby with each blanket, or just the blanket alone, include the knitter's name and why it is special and create a photo album (or a book, if you want to pay the $$ for these through Creative Memories, Snapfish or other on-line organizations).
Then donate the blankets to an animal shelter or homeless shelter or organization that helps young families. There is always someone in need.
Keeping photos helps retain the memories without cluttering your home. You can always look back at the album and enjoy the thoughtfulness of the gifts and the moments you had with the blankets.
You couls actually sew the blankets together to make a large blanket that can be put on his bed when he gets older. It's very simple to sew the blankets together. All you need is a coordinating yarn (or even a contrasting yarn) and a yarn needle. Layout the blankets to make a "pattern" that you find appealing and then label each blanket as to their place in the layout. Use a piece of paper and draw out the layout and label that as well for a guide for when you start sewing them together. If you need help let me know!
Good Luck!
Katherine
Ha -- We have a ton of blankets too. It's nice on one hand because there is a never a rush to do laundry due to running out of blankets. You can keep one or two in the stroller so that you have something to lay the baby on at the park. Keep one or two in the car in case of emergency. If there are some that are particularly pretty, you could hang them on the wall like art.
Not sure what all the blankets look like but if they are all hand knitted or crocheted they could all some how be sowned together and then you could just write a memory page of all the people who gave them to your son as a memory. It would be like patchwork, maybe large but could be a nice blanket or king size bedspread.
Hi, Tara. My oldest child was born in July almost 15 years ago, and we also received many of these wonderful blankets. Some of them were made by individuals who have passed away, and I treasure the time they spent creating the blankets for my daughter.
I have had two more children, and because I saved all of the blankets, each of them will be able to inherit items that were created by people such as their great-grandmothers.
I would encourage you to save these items. Write down a description of each as well as who made them. Although it may seem impossible right now, if you do add to your family down the road, these heirlooms can be shared and bring special meaning to each of your chldren and their children and so on.
Hi Tara,
This has been suggested a couple times already, but I like the idea of putting them all together in one large afghan that you could make for a bedspread? If that is feasible of course. Otherwise if you are interested in donating some of them, like some of the other ladies, I also highly recommend donating them to your local crisis pregnancy center. I work at a pregnancy center and we love to receive baby blankets, especially crocheted/knitted ones. We take the blankets and put them into a baby layette for our pregnant girls to receive when they are in their 7th month. It means so much to the girls and I'm sure their babies appreciate it too!
Hi, Tara. I know that you mentioned being torn about donating the beautiful, handmade blankets that your son received as gifts, so you may not like my suggestion. However, as a mother of a child who was born with a random birth defect that kept her in the NICU (and in and out of the operating room) for the first three months of her life, I have to tell you that the blankets she received in her hospital crib were balm to my heart and my husband's. Each of them was handmade through a nationwide charity called Project Linus. Apparently, this organization allows knitters and seamstresses the opportunity to lovingly put their talents to use and donate their beautiful creations to children's hospitals.
Periodically during our baby's stay in the NICU, we would enter the room and see many new colorful, soft blankets adorning the otherwise sterile, cold cribs of each baby. As our daughter entered her third month of life and became more aware of her surroundings, she truly showed enjoyment when a new blanket was given to her. During our stay, we received two such blankets, and they remain favorites of hers--and ours.
I guess all of this is to say that while not all donations are held as treasures, some really are. Perhaps you could find a chapter of Project Linus or even visit a local NICU that would be willing to give out your blankets with dose of TLC to babies (and parents) in need of a smile. If you choose this option, perhaps you could photograph the blankets so that your son could one day see them, and you could still tell him about all the people who made them for him.
Thanks for reading my response. I hope I did not offend you by suggesting donation.
--Jennifer C.
There are quilters who will make things like this into quilts.
Hi Tara,
Here is a good idea take a square from each blanket and crochet them together so you can have a blanket filled with a piece of everyones love. So when you your child grows up you can say here is the part so and so did and so on. Then crochet the other blankets back together and take them to CHKD and donate them. This way you get to keep a piece from everyone and you did something good for other children as well. One day your child will think it was really cool of you to do and I know the family members involved with also be happy with solution. Hope this helped.
My mother makes patriotic quilts for wounded soldiers and donates them through a group called Quilts of Valor. If some of the blankets are not too young-looking you may be able to donate them through a service to our veterans. Good luck!
First, I just want to say I think it's so great that you and your husband are working hard towards having more time together with your son, my husband and I are of the same mindset and will do anything to be with our 7 month old as much as possible. I think it would be great if you could take them to someone who quilts and have a larger piece done for him that incorporates the other blankets. 40 blankets is a whole lot to work with however, have you thought about possibly donating some of them to an orphanage? I think it would make him feel good to know he helped someone feel special, one of those blankets could be so comforting to a little guy (or girl)who isn't getting much affection. It could be really rewarding for everyone. I hope this helps!
Take a picture(s) with your son and the blankets. Label who they were from if you still remember. Make it into a little photo album.
Then check into Project Linus, Child Services, Homeless Shelters or Pregnancy Centers in your area. What a wonderful donation to be able to pass along to someone truly in need.
hi Tara,
sew some together, put a backing of sorts on them and make one big quilt for a larger bed for when he is older and in a big boy bed. You could also make wall hangings of some of them.
I'm suprised to see how many responses suggest putting them all together into one big afghan, quilt, etc. My mother is a professional quilter who does her own work as well as quilting and binding other people's work. First of all, as someone who has been a bit of a sounding board to my mother, it would be an absolutely wretched project for anyone to undertake. Especially due to the nature of the blankets (knitted), it would be awful trying to get them to work together in one big piece, not to mention a visual nightmare. Also consider the fact that they are probably composed of various different blends of material. The first time you wash that baby, it will destroy the continuity of the whole blanket since they will all invariably shrink differently. I could not think of a worse solution to your problem.
Just some thoughts. I hate to refute the good intentions that people have had in suggesting it, but I truly believe it would be a disaster to do that with so many beautiful little blankets.
The suggestion that Jen C made gave a truly touching view of the donation option. I would keep a few of your favorites and donate the rest. Is there any way you could get pictures of the blankets via people that received them? How cool to have in his album a picture of one of the blankets and the baby that befitted from it.
Contact a local church or shelter to see if they are in need of any. Or know a local non-profit that can use them. Otherwise, you could post them on freecycle.com and someone would probably love them.