This past summer, two members of our knitting group moved out of the state of Connecticut. It decimated our knitting group. We knew about Lisa's imminent departure for two years. So in January, we started planning a group farewell gift and celebrated with a farewell luncheon where we delivered our friendship blanket. It was wonderful. In contrast, Estella, found out she was moving and was gone in less than two weeks from start to finish. Our heads were still spinning with the news and we barely had time to get our acts together to manage a farewell breakfast. We knew we wanted to also do a big friendship gift, but there just wasn't time.
So last week, our expedited (yes - five months is expedited in my opinion for a group project!) gift was finally shipped to Estella in a festive holiday shipping box. Estella wrote to say that a surprise arrived and she put it under the tree.
Someone immediately came up with the idea to have her open up her gift via a Google+ Chatroom (or Skype). So at our Wednesday knitting group, we dialed both Lisa and Estella into our joint video chat and watched Estella open her gift.





Estella was tickled pink. She makes blankets for her family, and they always fight over who gets the blanket. This one will be just for Estella. She's already told them! And each time she wraps up under her friendship blanket, she'll be getting a hug from each and everyone of us in her Connecticut knitting group.
Details: Sampler Blanket pattern from Westport Yarns
Yarn: 5 skeins Cascade Yarns Eco+ - Sapphire
Needles: US Size 10.5
Knitters: five friends
Blocker: one friend
Crocheters: two friends (one for seaming and one for edging)
Enjoy Estella! All eight of us wish you all the best and miss you dearly!