Book Blanket 2025 {post #1)

January 1st, 2025 I decided to start creating a book blanket.  What is a book blanket?

I use any scrap yarn (#4 weight), and a 5.5mm crochet hook, and crochet one granny square to match the cover of every book I read this year.  Purchased this book at an antique store.

(with first granny square)

The blanket is also a join-as-you-go blanket.  The final results will be my "book" blanket.

I am using a much different pattern, than the regular join methods, and I love the look too.

I am not picking my books out by how colorful the cover is either.  I am working on books that I have purchased, books that were passed down to me from my Mom, or from a daughter (or even friend), and matching the yarn colors to the best of what I have in my scrap yarn stash.  

The idea is to use up what I have without buying any new (deep breath here, ha ha!).  It is also my motivation to read more books, and scroll on the internet (or my phone) a lot less.

Another book read with matching granny square.  A library book that was somewhat interesting.  It was nothing I already knew about experiences of raising chickens, other than one suggestion from a rooster sanctuary.  She said, to calm a feisty rooster, just pick him up  and cuddle him.  Ha ha! Yeah, that would not happen here ha ha!  Then again, who knows.

(2nd book to this is being released April 2025)

Two more books I finished this month, and matching granny squares for each book.  It's hard to capture the true colors, because it's winter and most days, we lack sunshine barreling thru the windows.  Either way, you get the idea of the project.

The granny squares are connected as I finish each one.  Each granny square is crocheted after each book is read.  Hence the "Book" blanket.  I'm using a different type of pattern for connecting all of the "book blanket" granny squares together.

The plan is to be the best of two worlds. #1 - reading books I have had for a while, and getting back to reading more often.  #2 - to crochet in small bits, spending time with handiwork, but also using up yarn in a very creative way.

The plan is to have a blanket just for us, and in time for winter homesteading days.  The plan is to have the blanket made by December, but I will not fret if I need to roll into another year either.  We'll see how well I do, and if this encourages me to dive more into reading again.  It's all with a "fun" plan.  Not to mention, the end result is a useful item, and the reading will have improved my overall health.

On a side note.  Journals.

I keep a list of the books I read in a simple $.50 spiral notebook, that I started in 2002 (I decoupaged pictures of books on the front that I cut from old magazines so many years ago).  Goodness, I have not read a real magazine in years now.  To think about it, Mom used to pass her magazines on to me, and now I do not get them from anyone.  I do not subscribe to any magazines either.  I do miss reading them.  

Anyway, back to the subject of book journals . . .

Quotes from the book, "The Book of Peach" that I liked:

"When was I going to learn to keep my big mouth shut and keep my treasures to myself?"  Page 144

"Families are the folks who make you feel good about yourself, who accept you as you are, who don't expect you to be perfect, who listen when you talk and let you change your mind if you need to."  Pages 162-163.

Both spoke to me on a personal level.  

I keep a journal for book quotes (started in 2014 in a dollar store notebook) that speak to me, are ones that are good reminders in life, or they are just simply good quotes.

Book Blanket 2025 {post #1} © January 2025 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart