Family Heirloom

Last month, we took a family road trip to celebrate El&J's first anniversary. Sr. Mrs. H came with us, but used the opportunity not only to see her granddaughter, but to visit her Aunt Julia. They are more like cousins as there're only 3 years difference in their ages, now both in their 80's. During their visit, Aunt Julia brought out several heirloom projects done by her older brother John many many years ago. Uncle John (called Prudy) had suffered an injury that prevented his working on the farm, so he learned to crochet.

This is just one square of a bedspread project that Aunt Julia had custody of. I don't know how many completed squares there are in the bag she has, but there was a large pile. Most were already connected, but I couldn't tell how big the whole thing was. I don't think it was finished.

I was fascinated! It was beautiful and worked in thread rather than a more substantial yarn, so the stitches were tiny. I asked if they had a copy of the pattern, but he had never written anything down! It was a challenge that my friends all know I couldn't resist. I pulled out my phone and took a picture of this square.

By the time we got home, I had a suspect pattern located in an old magazine that I found online. It was close, but alas, it was worked in double crochet while Uncle Prudy's was obviously single crochet. I decided to give that one a go, just to see how it worked up and how I could adapt it to single crochet. After a bit of experimentation (that turned into gift dishcloths!) I had a pretty good grasp on what I needed to do.

I've written out the pattern in a google doc here.

I've not completed the first square yet, but I have worked to the first bobble on Row 25.