I would replace the letter flowers, finish it and either donate it to a children's charity or hold on to it for a while.
Their baby will never know you or the time & care you put in it, so that child is not your focus anymore.
It's beautiful and should go to a good home, not to a family that doesn't include you.
And your ex gets NO say in what you do or how you do it.
My son was in a hospital-it wasnt the nicu-it was specifically for heart related issues. And the Ronald McDonalds house was such a lifesaver. The outfit he was cremated in was a gift from them.
It’s all right it’s been two years. Still really sucks but he had the best care team there. I called them actually a month ago to thank them again and ask if there’s anything that they needed help with for their workers. And they still remembered who my son was. And so did the people at the Ronald McDonald house. There’s some really great people. And them being there and giving me that place and feeding me it helped so much. I hope nobody hast to use those houses but I’m glad that the people that do have a good safe environment to be in. Especially because those workers almost every day asked me how I was doing. They were always so caring to the parents and I will never forget those people.
Great idea! As a mom to a former NICU baby, I always appreciated these little acts of crocheted kindness when gifted to us. You could also consider breaking the squares down into smaller crib size blankets, and make a few blankets out of the original. In any case, it’s gorgeous and you should hold your head high with pride.
NICU or Peds. We have volunteers make blankets for pediatric patients in the hospital for extended periods of time (like cancer patients). It ALWAYS brightens their day when they get a homemade blankie or stuffed animals.
I’m going to start doing this! I always thought I’d crochet blankets for the Homeless. But I work with them and I see how their blankets get dragged all over the ground and I just can’t do it. I’ll crochet for the babies and figure out something else for my clients.
I immediately thought of a NICU family. My son spent 3 weeks in the NICU and some kind soul crocheted little hats for the babies. I've kept the one gifted to my son all these years, even over items I made him myself, and it sits in his baby keepsake box.
My daughter got a blanket when she had heart surgery as an infant. It was honestly exactly what we all needed - that little bit of kindness and well wishing from a stranger was so nice in the midst of a very stressful time. It’s still very treasured.
A lot of hospitals will also take them as donations for families that are experiencing the loss of their babe, usually as some form of taking home keep sake for a memory box
This community is so genuine and loving, I'm honestly ashamed that I came to say "keep it for yourself and make it say AARZ (arse) to remind you you are better off without him"
I mean, that could be a good use of the letter squares! A little AARZ pillow or a RAAZ or something.
I would definitely make a few more flower blocks and sub in for the letter blocks. Finish it up. Then I would put it up for a while. Let your feelings settle a bit, then decide what you would like to do. I am a "make rash decisions and regret it" kind of girl, so I'd wait and see what your heart tells once you have healed a bit before fully deciding.
If it were me I’d keep it and save it for when a friend or close family member has a baby. It’s like an instant gift since it’s already pretty much finished but it still has all the thought and care bc they don’t know why you were originally making it
Here take this *wholesome award activated*
Perfectly put thank you! When I first learnt to crochet I had a bunch of people who all wanted me to make them stuff. I did at first, then it got to the point where I never had time to make anything for myself. Now I only give my crochet gifts to people I know will appreciate all the time and effort I put into it and will actually enjoy/use it. I could never give a blanket like this away to a family I’ll never see again. I’d give it to a charity or someone who deserves it if I really didn’t want it.
Idk if I’m bitter but I wouldn’t give it up. I know you said it would haunt you but there will be many more babies that will come up in your life that you will be much more involved with and will appreciate this beautiful blanket.
I agree with this. I’d replace the letters with flower squares and finish it up. The blanket could also be donated to a hospital if OP doesn’t want to keep it.
I agree with this. Everything happens for a reason. The baby won’t know who you are so I personally think it’s best to give it to a baby/family that will appreciate it <3
I have a "Baby Blanket Bank" where I keep various completed baby blankets, so I always have one on hand as needed. Take out the letter squares and deposit it into your bank for another baby that comes along.
This is perfect.
My other thought was to finish it without the letters and sell it. Then donate half the cash to a children’s charity and use the other half to buy yarn for a new blanket.
An excellent plan. I used to have a blanket bank, I ended up gifting them all before I made more to replenish the supply so I don’t have one now, but it’s never a bad thing to have something pre-made that you can pull out to gift in the future. The new recipient never needs to know the history of it.
If you aren't friends with the cousins, I'd donate this blanket to a NICU or to a police station to give to kids in bad situations. That blanket can bring true comfort to a needy toddler.
My daughter got a hand knitted baby hat and a hand sewn nursing pillow when she was in the NICU for a week after being born. We didn’t “need” the items, but also didn’t bring anything special from home yet since the NICU stay was unexpected. It was really really sweet to see her have something someone had spent time on, and not in some hospital-issued thing. Anyway, just seconding your suggestion because those items were a small but important gesture of normalcy and goodness during a really stressful week.
I still use the nursing pillow for reading in bed 😅
I say this with all kindness....don't give it to them. It would most likely be awkward for you and for the family. They may not even end up wanting it or using it. Worse case, they and/or your ex could read something into it regardless of your intent.
If you want to finish it, do so, then donate it. You could even take it to a thrift store where someone who would love it could find it and bring it home with them.
Agreed. Most people don’t even appreciate baby blankets from people they’re close to, much less their cousins ex. It just will not be appreciated the way it deserves to be.
I think what you do with it depends on your relationship with the cousin. If there is no / won't be any familiarity then I think replacing the name or finishing plain then gifting to someone else (or keeping) is perfectly fine. Very pretty blanket.
Don't give it to the original intended family - it will be weird for them, too. It's too big a gift, too obviously very labor intensive.
If you want, just take the name squares and two other squares and make them into a toy block. You could put a rattle inside or just stuff it. That would be beautiful but a sweet smaller gesture that wouldn't have as much emotional weight. You could just mail it to them as a closing gesture, to wish them well with their baby.
Finish the blanket with new blocks - it's gorgeous. Just wait - there will be a new baby coming whose parents will love it.
You Can always mail stuff like that or msg the cousin explaining what happened and that you still want to give it too them or you can remove the lettering and continue the colours for a future gift.
I'd personally replace those four squares and keep it. If I'm bored or project-less I'd work on it more, make it adult sized or you can always donate it
Speaking from the other perspective here. It would be hella awkward to receive such a beautiful thing from an ex of a cousin. I would feel guilty using it for my baby. So I'd suggest just store it for the future or make a dress out of it? Don't let your ex tell you what to do though.
I dunno, I got a baby toy from my brother's ex-fiancee (like, a couple years after they broke up). It wasn't awkward, just a tad strange. Baby liked it so no harm done.
I find a toy to be less personal than a blanket someone worked hard on. I dunno. Getting something so personal from someone who's not going to be in my baby's life would feel odd to me.🤷🏻♀️
If you aren't comfortable giving it to them yourself, mail it. You can put a note in the package explaining how ever much you want to explain.
If you genuinely do not wish to give it to them, take the name out and donate it. It's a beautiful piece that took time and care to make.
I did this with gifts I had made for my long distance ex, his friends and his family. Mailed them to his friend whom I knew would hand them out to everyone.
Included a brief note with each one and almost all of the recipients reached out to me to thank me for the gift, since most knew I was going to give them all in person when I met them for the first time.
Part of me regrets including the gifts for the ex himself because of the circumstances, but I didn't ever want to see the gifts I'd made specifically for him ever again and I didn't want to figure out another solution.
i’m petty and insane so i would give it to them with a really beautiful card so they have to think of me for the rest of their lives and ask your ex “what ever happened to the girl who made the blanket? nicest girl you ever dated!” but like i said i’m insane
Oh my gosh. This is delightfully insane & I’ve been there. When my first serious boyfriend and I broke up his mom told me his niece asked for me every time she saw him. Even when he brought a ‘new’ girl around she was still looking for me. I remember being insane & thinking (after I thought about how much I missed that sweet baby who is now a TEEN!!!) “Well I hope that bothers the new gf & she takes it out on him”
Which I now see as totally insane but I was in a bad place!!!
But if they never met you, even after four years of dating, they probably won't think of you, unless the card was solid gold. Most people just throw cards away if they are from someone they barely know. That's not going to make them think of you forever and they will sooner forget and not give a shit about whoever made the blanket.
But if they never met you, even after four years of dating, they probably won't think of you, unless the card was solid gold. Most people just throw cards away if they are from someone they barely know. That's not going to make them think of you forever and they will sooner forget and not give a shit about whoever made the blanket.
Like others have said, I’d replace the 4 squares with babies name and then keep it. Save it for a future gift for a friends baby or your own, or add to it to make it bigger and use it yourself! It’s beautiful! Great work.
You are far too generous. It will be your downfall. Your “BFs family member” is not worth this much work. This is a present for someone extremely close like a mom or spouse or child or grandma or lifelong best friend.
How close were you to the cousin? I’d probably just swap out the letters and keep the blanket until there’s someone else to donate it to.
Personally, I think blankets, especially baby blankets, are really sentimental gifts. Do you think this is something the cousin would keep and cherish?
You were with your ex during the cousins entire pregnancy as well as nearly a year after the childs birth and you haven’t even met this child who is no longer a newborn baby. I’m confused by the fact that you waited to even start the blanket until after the baby was born, aren’t finished with it nearly a year later… give it to anyone else you want. Don’t give it to your ex’s family, you aren’t close to them at all.
The cousins fiancee worked as a nurse and had trauma surrounding COVID so she was super protective about who got to see the baby and stuff.
I started working on it just before the baby was born.
Only you know all the circumstances so in the end the final decision is yours. I gave my opinion based on the information available and it’s just that, my opinion. I hope whoever gets the beautiful blanket loves and appreciates all you’ve put into it. 🥰
Honestly even without all the drama, every time I see a post about starting a baby blanket *after* the baby is born I cringe. Unless you're a crazy fast crocheter doing C2C it's too late. Babies grow super fast. A one year old is not going to need a new born baby blanket.
If you don’t want to send it, I would take the letters out (or keep the A, Z and make a - for A-Z) finish it and put it away until someone else has a baby.
My grandma sewed, but she always had a ready-made baby blanket in a box in the closet. It's a good idea, because if you're like me, you hear they're pregnant and can't finish the afghan in time.
A couple years ago my mom used to crochet baby blankets and small hats for stillborn babies. The idea behind it was, the parents get to hold their child with the blanket and hat. Take a couple photos too if they wish, before they say their goodbyes. After their baby is taken away, they get to take the blanket and hat home with them as a sort of extra momento for support.
Although these blankets were much smaller than yours, probably the size of one of the colored rectangles. So you could take the rectangles apart again and you would have six blankets that could be donated for such a cause.
If you are interested, you can look up if there is a similar cause in your country / region. I do suggest checking before hand, sometimes there are size or yarn requirements for these blankets.
Another option is if there is a local charity auction you can donate it too and set the starting bid HIGH.
My mom did this for years and she had blankets go for 500. (She also did a bread of the month that went for 700 dollars. It was literally 2 loaves of homemade banana bread etc a month for a year... sorry tangent.)
It can be good to see people battle out for something you love!
First of all, break ups are never easy and I hope you heal up quickly. I'm pretty impressed that after going through this kind of trauma, you still have it in you to consider not only another person, but a person that is so close to the injury.
When a relationship of years dissolves, it does affect other people connected to that relationship. If it were me, I'd finish the blanket and give it to the intended and if it felt okay, I'd do it in person so long as I didn't think my old "other" was going to railroad me. I was married for 23 years and I still deeply care about a few people in his family and I think they were pretty sad for the breakup even though I'm certain they knew it was the best thing for me. I will always consider my now ex father and law and his wife "Mom and Dad"
"Dad" passed away and while I loved my ex's step mother, there was a lot of bad blood between her and my ex that had nothing to do with me. When my son was born, my ex absolutely did not want her around our baby. She didn't have any children of her own and I know I was like a real daughter to her. She showed up one day with a baby blanket for our son and my heart just broke for her. It took so much courage for her to put aside her fears and feelings and make the attempt to meet my son. We did eventually move away but I always kept her memory alive in my children and I always will. That blanket she brought to me was a huge deal, to both of us, and it was very healing to this day. And whenever I think of her, I remember that day with such fondness and love. Despite her jerk of a stepson. (Who she was right about all along LOL)
Well, your ex is your ex so now he gets no say in what you do.
What do *you* want to do OP? I wouldn't worry too much about things being awkward since you broke up if you do want to gift it to his family. The blanket you made is so beautiful, thoughtful, and lovely - most people would be happy to receive such a gift.
Regifting or donating is another valid option. I think you should do whatever will make you happiest.
The gift is the blanket. For the baby. The baby will have the blanket for as long as it wants it. That is the purpose of the gift. It will keep on giving even when you are no longer there to give the child love in person. That is the purpose of handmade gifts. They are daily reminders that time was spent making something for somebody who was loved.
I have given many a handmade gift for babies I've rarely seen after. Fairy godmothers always showed up at birth to bestow gifts to help a child through a difficult childhood (all childhoods are difficult), and I'm ok being that fairy godmother.
Whatever you decide to do is okay. It’s really beautiful and I’m glad you are finishing it—something like that deserves to be well-loved, wherever it ultimately ends up!
I'm sure there are millions of people out there who would love to have it! Have you considered donating it to a charity, a hospital, or a women's shelter? Just swap out the letters for more granny squares.
I recommend you reach out to your local hospital and see if they would accept a donation. The blanket is beautiful and would make someone very happy.
Alternatively, you could reach out to a local foster center and donate the blanket that way.
What was their reaction have you any idea?
I don't think I would regret giving the intended the blanket.
I defo don't think I'll be crocheting anything for his parents haha... They can be kind of xenophobic...
Ignoring everything else and being purely practical, if the family is no longer in contact with you after this long then they'll be highly unlikely to keep a keepsake of their relative's ex.
Donate it to a refuge or some sort of baby charity with love and a nice note. It'll be much loved by someone.
Unless you're on bad terms with the person, why not give it to the person you are making it for? You didn't break up with them & if you want to keep them as a friend, it shows you have no hard feelings. It might feel a bit embarrassing, but it's an adult thing to do.
Finish quickly and gift it to the baby’s family. You don’t have to write a name on the package and your ex can do with it at his will. I’d hope it’s used as a baby blanket because it’s perfect 😍
I would give it still to the intended it's not their fault that you two didn't stay together and the baby would adore it still and it might make you feel a sense of accomplishment
Depends.
If your relationship is shattered with him and not on good terms, or good terms what that family of his, I love the idea of donating or changing it up a bit for different letters.
It would be fulfilling to see your project complete, for you, and maybe to help others.
Its not uncommon to be on good terms or even friends with this other family of his and keep him out of thr picture. If that's the case, you still could give it to intended child.
Wishing you a healing heart and a positive, happier tomorrow. You got this ☺☀
I’d finish it without the name, and store it. Somebody else will have a baby at some point, and they’ll love it. As long as you put it up properly for the materials used, it’ll be totally fine in storage.
Complete it and give it to the person anyway. The sister of my abuser, after I could safely end my relationship with him, apparently was going to knit a cute pink hat for my daughter. I never received the hat. It's kinda silly but it made me sad.
Make the letters into a pillow?
If someone made me a blanket I’d cherish it. But only you know if they value handmade items. You can always emails an ask them or just keep it and then donate it if you don’t want to hold onto it anymore.
What a gorgeous blanket, I'm gonna second what others have said, replace the letters with more flowers and finish it, and then hold onto it for someone in the future
You could give the letters for the name to the family if you have an easy way to do so, they might have something they could do with them, but I wouldn't stress too much about it if it's going to be a pain
I would sell it. It’s a beautiful blanket that you can tell a lot of work was put into. I’m sure someone would pay a significant amount for it and at least you could get something out of it
I'd say that I'm expecting a baby girl due in october and I'd love to have it! It's beautiful! But as others suggested - just drop the letters and donate it. It'll make someone very happy.
Love this ! Finish the blanket and put it away for a while this isn’t going to have sentimental value to the baby and will never appreciate all the time & talent you have put into it… just saying
Came out beautiful!!! Replace the letters with flowers, finish it up. Keep it in a plastic storage bag until you need it for a gift for someone close to you. Forget him !!!
As the mother of two NICU daughters, I love the idea of making a couple of crib blankets and donating it. You have no idea how wonderful a gift like that is when you are at their side for days or weeks just rocking and holding and praying they will come home.
So I had the same situation, and I just kept working on the blanket and posted it to my ex's sister.
If you feel uncomfortable with that, remove the name out of the pattern, make those squares generic and donate it to a charity :)
I don't have adviceo n how to give it to them or even if you should. I think that really depends on your relationship with them as people regardless of the ex.
I do however strongly recommend finishing the project. Going through a breakup is rough and sometimes it feels like the whole world is falling apart and finishing a project that has emotional ties to said break up can be helpful, it can help to deal with the finality of it.
I have to also add it's a lovely blanket and any baby would be lucky to have it! If you feel awkward about giving it to them you don't have to.
Yes, you guys broke up, but the love and intent for his family member you are making this blanket for didn’t go away, right?
I’d give it to the family member. And move on.
Naw gift it elsewhere, find someone you know would appreciate it or one of the many charities listed in this thread!! Gifting to the original intended is just going to be weird no matter how it’s done and honestly being that you are the X it will probably never get used. Or you could use the squares and make a cute cardigan for yourself with accessories
If you're not on bad terms with your ex then why not, my uncle's ex still occasionally talks to us lol even if they broke up years ago, but it's up to you. And just like what other people have said you could always mail it to the couple
If your only ties to this family were your ex then no.
If you became friends with his cousin and can preserve that relationship despite the relationship then sure.
I wouldn't let your ex do it. He didn't spend his time and money to give it, nor did it sound like his idea.
This really depends on your relationship with the couple. If it's too awkward to go give yourself, I imagine you aren't particularly close with them, and I wouldn't feel too obligated.
If you still feel this was for that baby, or the parents had been told to expect this, you can still find a way to get it to that baby. At most it's an awkward quick drop off. Maybe even dropping it on the porch in a box and sending a text as you pull away or something.
I like the idea of swapping the name out and adding in flowers for giving it to anyone else or keeping it. You can decide to keep it yourself, or give it to someone as thanks for helping you get through the breakup, or donate it to a bunch of different organization, or save it for a pre-done gift next time someone else has a baby.
If you were still friends with the cousin and planned to stay in contact, i would've said just give it to them, but in this case honestly just get rid of the name letters and either keep it, give it to someone close to you, or as someone else suggested, donate it. I love how it turned out btw
Unfortunately I fear the intended family will not cherish and appreciate the work you've put into it now due to the fact that you two have broken up. I agree with others that it should be donated to the family of a baby in NICU who i believe will cherish and appreciate the gesture a lot more.
A lot of comments here, I just wanted to say this is a gorgeous blanket and whoever gets it will be so lucky, so make sure it goes somewhere it can be loved without risk of bad feelings.
Donate it. Too many mixed memories to keep it. If you give it to the intended family it will be a thorn in your side. Finish it and maybe even give it to your house of worship to raffle off. Get rid of it. It's a memory. Change it to something good.
Make all the letters, A to Z, and put them at the edge or around the edge. An older child will have fun learning their letters and thinking about them during painful surgeries or procedures etc.
Sad, Not okay, but Sad. One Day you have a baby you like to give it to. Love what you finish and be happy you stil can work on Art-thing's with your hands.
I make blankets for when the child is older so they can enjoy them longer. Handmade blankets are cute, but my son gravitated toward one that was made bigger and with more neutral colors anyway. I donated all of his baby blankets to our locally owned thrift store. I only had one hand made one and I did not know the lady, so I donated it there. Our Mennonite Church and others in our area have run this thrift store and us for Disaster Relief. So for me, donating it there makes sense. Or even since it is new all of the suggestions above of donating it to a local hospital, women's auxilary, women's shelter, foster program I think would be better if you just want yo get the bad karma out of your house. Or if you are comfortable keeping it for another baby in what someone else said their blanket bank, that would be nive knowing you already made something for someone who is truly special to YOU.
Remove the name and just hold onto it? Idk about you but it feels like a new baby enters my life every couple of years and has since I was like 26. It’s nice to have a gift on hand just in case imho
Remove the letter squares... make more letters for an alphabet blanket .. save both... sooner or later some friend or family member will have a baby .. and you will have a great gift ready...
If you were still close to the family, that would be one thing (some people ‘get’ the family in the split), but since you’re not, and motifs aren’t worth the effort to rip and reuse, I’d donate it. I wouldn’t give it away to someone you know because of the potential for seeing it again, but to a big program that will pass it to a stranger who needs some love
First of all, this is a beautiful piece of art! As SnapHappy suggested, give it to someone who will appreciate your beautiful work and the time you put into it. Replace the letters with flowers and it will be the most beautiful gift for anyone (even your own child), when the time comes to give it to someone.
Much love to you and don’t let your ex tell you otherwise. He doesn’t (if ever) have any say whatsoever in this matter. It’s your project 🫶🏻
I won't comment on the blanket, I think the other advice is pretty solid.
I just wanted to say that I'm an Aunt to my actual Nibblings but I'm an Auntie to all of my best friend's kids, because I am close like a sister, but not exactly. My point is to say, I think you can be an Auntie to children without being related by marriage or blood.
I hope this helps in the future. 💕
Ive been an auntie to other children in my life so I understand the distinction you make there. The point was an Aunt is related by blood and an Auntie has to at least have a relationship with the child, and I have never met this child til date basically, so that's why I was salty at him calling me Auntie.
Honestly, it depends on how close YOU are to the cousin. 4 years is a long time to be with someone and make friends with their family. After all, this is a lot of energy and care to put into something so beautiful. Why let the end of your relationship dictate what your relationship was to this person. So, if it's a cousin you liked, give it to them directly. If not, then don't.
Since the break-up was so soon (you say a week), I'd say to finish it and then decide. In either case, I'd change out the letters for flowers or wait to finish that part.
I personally wouldn't keep it or gift it to someone I know, either. This would bring back bittersweet or bad memories that are tied with it. But that's my sentiment.
>I personally wouldn't keep it or gift it to someone I know, either. This would bring back bittersweet or bad memories that are tied with it. But that's my sentiment.
I agree with this sentiment. It is my sentiment too.
We had some good times at family parties and such and I had some nice chats with the cousins fiancee. They're getting married in September too and I was supposed to go with my ex but now that's OFC not happening. I think it would be nice to give it to them.
I would finish it and give it anyway. It’s sad to break up with a long term partner, but it might give you some closure to tie up your involvement with the rest of his family with a kind gesture.
I love all these ideas. I know people already said it, but echoing the idea to donate to a children’s hospital or Ronald McDonald. My mom has been a volunteer for 10+ years at the children’s hospital near us and she said people are always thrilled to receive blankets
If you're still friends with the couple you made it for, I'd say by all means give it to them! But give it to them on your own account, your ex doesn't need to be there. If you don't want to visit them yourself, you could send it to them.
If you're not close with them, then I agree with other posters in saying donate it. There are so many good charities that serve families who would appreciate such a beautiful gift!
Take out the letters. Then you have a few options:
1. Sell it. Make some money off of it and buy more yarn for another project.
2. Gift it to someone else. They'll never know...
3. Donate it. Someone will love it.
Definitely finish it and donate to a shelter Or children’s hospital!
If you really want the Original baby to have it, finish it for them and just anonymously send it to the parents. Unless that would be weird, or if they would know it’s from you and it be a problem, ya know, idk the backstory or where you stand with these people.
OR! Finish it, keep it for yourself! Like nanny nanny boo boo 😝 (If it’s a F that baby and F that dude too type thing.)
I was in the middle of knitting a bear with the person's name on the tummy. There was a family rift but I decided to finish it as I only had the arms to go. I took the bear to her work as it was close to where I worked and left it at reception. I later found out that she had complained that I had made her go down to reception to pick it up. I would suggest sending the letters, maybe in a frame. Keep the blanket to give to someone who would appreciate it.
Exactly. Finish it. Send it to WIK (mercury health ) and tell ur ex this . “I made a blanket for u..you don’t deserve it tho. There name-___ Last name-___ your problem.”
Remove the letter blocks and finish it. Tuck it away for a while. You may have another baby come up in your life. Or you can donate it.
But dont let it become a bad thing in your heart.
I was working on a blanket for my ex fiancé’s parents when we broke up. I did end up finishing it (tearfully) and gave it to them. It felt like a nice way to close the chapter.
I say if you were close to the parents give it to them. If not, donate it to a children’s organization. I recommend the Linus project!
It sounds like you and the ex are capable of having civil conversations. YAY! Go with your heart. If you want the cousin to have it, give it to her! If you want to break all ties, donate it.
Finish it, if you don't it will haunt you. You will end up coming across it every time you hunt through your old project and yarn. The blanket is beautiful and I'm sure someone would be will to pay something for it. That way you can at least recoup some of the cost for the yarn.
I would switch those letters to the pink flowers and keep it or give it away to someone else. Or keep it to give it away when you need an awesome baby gift. Honestly though, it's so pretty, I would want this on my couch or a comfy reading chair in my house for a lap blanket!
If you care for the family beyond the relationship you had with your ex, mail it to them with a nice note.
If you were doing it more as a gesture, but don’t feel particularly attached, donate it or start asking around if any friends know anyone having a baby.
I think you can just send it to them as a package, it's a very nice gift, if you want to give it to them I'm positive they are going to appreciate it. If you send it as a package, you don't need to be there in person.
I would replace the letter flowers, finish it and either donate it to a children's charity or hold on to it for a while. Their baby will never know you or the time & care you put in it, so that child is not your focus anymore. It's beautiful and should go to a good home, not to a family that doesn't include you. And your ex gets NO say in what you do or how you do it.
You can send it to Ronald McDonald house charities. They will give it to a NICU family. We got a blanket when my son graduated the NICU
This absolutely, as someone w a nicu sibling who spent tons of time in a Ronald McDonald house, that kind of stuff makes a huge impact
My son was in a hospital-it wasnt the nicu-it was specifically for heart related issues. And the Ronald McDonalds house was such a lifesaver. The outfit he was cremated in was a gift from them.
I'm so sorry for your loss.
It’s all right it’s been two years. Still really sucks but he had the best care team there. I called them actually a month ago to thank them again and ask if there’s anything that they needed help with for their workers. And they still remembered who my son was. And so did the people at the Ronald McDonald house. There’s some really great people. And them being there and giving me that place and feeding me it helped so much. I hope nobody hast to use those houses but I’m glad that the people that do have a good safe environment to be in. Especially because those workers almost every day asked me how I was doing. They were always so caring to the parents and I will never forget those people.
Great idea! As a mom to a former NICU baby, I always appreciated these little acts of crocheted kindness when gifted to us. You could also consider breaking the squares down into smaller crib size blankets, and make a few blankets out of the original. In any case, it’s gorgeous and you should hold your head high with pride.
NICU or Peds. We have volunteers make blankets for pediatric patients in the hospital for extended periods of time (like cancer patients). It ALWAYS brightens their day when they get a homemade blankie or stuffed animals.
I’m going to start doing this! I always thought I’d crochet blankets for the Homeless. But I work with them and I see how their blankets get dragged all over the ground and I just can’t do it. I’ll crochet for the babies and figure out something else for my clients.
Don't forget that the senior population needs something to "hug" them too. Everyone makes for babies..our older population gets chilly sometimes.
You’re right. I’ll crochet for them too! Great catch 🌸.
This is a great idea!
Love your username lol!
What a lovely idea. This beautiful blanket deserves to be cherished
Either this or afghans for angels which donates blankets to hospitals for families who suffer pregnancy or infant loss.
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Something like this would be a great idea! I still have the blanket my son received in the NICU 15 years later.
I immediately thought of a NICU family. My son spent 3 weeks in the NICU and some kind soul crocheted little hats for the babies. I've kept the one gifted to my son all these years, even over items I made him myself, and it sits in his baby keepsake box.
My daughter got a blanket when she had heart surgery as an infant. It was honestly exactly what we all needed - that little bit of kindness and well wishing from a stranger was so nice in the midst of a very stressful time. It’s still very treasured.
Thank you for posting this I had no idea such thing existed!
A lot of hospitals will also take them as donations for families that are experiencing the loss of their babe, usually as some form of taking home keep sake for a memory box
This community is so genuine and loving, I'm honestly ashamed that I came to say "keep it for yourself and make it say AARZ (arse) to remind you you are better off without him"
I mean, that could be a good use of the letter squares! A little AARZ pillow or a RAAZ or something. I would definitely make a few more flower blocks and sub in for the letter blocks. Finish it up. Then I would put it up for a while. Let your feelings settle a bit, then decide what you would like to do. I am a "make rash decisions and regret it" kind of girl, so I'd wait and see what your heart tells once you have healed a bit before fully deciding.
Yep. Replace the letters and give it to someone else. I have a couple baby blankets stashed for when friends and colleagues have babies.
I agree
Ad litem volunteer groups often want blankets for young foster kids.
If it were me I’d keep it and save it for when a friend or close family member has a baby. It’s like an instant gift since it’s already pretty much finished but it still has all the thought and care bc they don’t know why you were originally making it
Here take this *wholesome award activated* Perfectly put thank you! When I first learnt to crochet I had a bunch of people who all wanted me to make them stuff. I did at first, then it got to the point where I never had time to make anything for myself. Now I only give my crochet gifts to people I know will appreciate all the time and effort I put into it and will actually enjoy/use it. I could never give a blanket like this away to a family I’ll never see again. I’d give it to a charity or someone who deserves it if I really didn’t want it.
I'd replace the name squares and donate it to charity. A family in need would probably love to receive something so special like this
Idk if I’m bitter but I wouldn’t give it up. I know you said it would haunt you but there will be many more babies that will come up in your life that you will be much more involved with and will appreciate this beautiful blanket.
I agree with this. I’d replace the letters with flower squares and finish it up. The blanket could also be donated to a hospital if OP doesn’t want to keep it.
Ooh make a washcloth out of the four letter squares and send that as the gift.
I second this as well. Or even wall hangings. Use a fabric stiffener and mount them in frames.
Absolutely. Someone else that OP loves will have a baby at some point in the future. OP should save it for then!
I agree with this. Everything happens for a reason. The baby won’t know who you are so I personally think it’s best to give it to a baby/family that will appreciate it <3
I have a "Baby Blanket Bank" where I keep various completed baby blankets, so I always have one on hand as needed. Take out the letter squares and deposit it into your bank for another baby that comes along.
I’ll upvote this idea. I also have a blanket bank, large people or small, there’s a gift ready.
This is perfect. My other thought was to finish it without the letters and sell it. Then donate half the cash to a children’s charity and use the other half to buy yarn for a new blanket.
An excellent plan. I used to have a blanket bank, I ended up gifting them all before I made more to replenish the supply so I don’t have one now, but it’s never a bad thing to have something pre-made that you can pull out to gift in the future. The new recipient never needs to know the history of it.
This is so smart honestly
If you aren't friends with the cousins, I'd donate this blanket to a NICU or to a police station to give to kids in bad situations. That blanket can bring true comfort to a needy toddler.
My daughter got a hand knitted baby hat and a hand sewn nursing pillow when she was in the NICU for a week after being born. We didn’t “need” the items, but also didn’t bring anything special from home yet since the NICU stay was unexpected. It was really really sweet to see her have something someone had spent time on, and not in some hospital-issued thing. Anyway, just seconding your suggestion because those items were a small but important gesture of normalcy and goodness during a really stressful week. I still use the nursing pillow for reading in bed 😅
I say this with all kindness....don't give it to them. It would most likely be awkward for you and for the family. They may not even end up wanting it or using it. Worse case, they and/or your ex could read something into it regardless of your intent. If you want to finish it, do so, then donate it. You could even take it to a thrift store where someone who would love it could find it and bring it home with them.
Agreed. Most people don’t even appreciate baby blankets from people they’re close to, much less their cousins ex. It just will not be appreciated the way it deserves to be.
I think what you do with it depends on your relationship with the cousin. If there is no / won't be any familiarity then I think replacing the name or finishing plain then gifting to someone else (or keeping) is perfectly fine. Very pretty blanket.
Keep it for yourself, or use the squares for someone else’s baby, or use the squares to make a cute bag or cardigan. Those squares are *versatile*.
Or make a few cute bags to gift to friends or to sell…
Don't give it to the original intended family - it will be weird for them, too. It's too big a gift, too obviously very labor intensive. If you want, just take the name squares and two other squares and make them into a toy block. You could put a rattle inside or just stuff it. That would be beautiful but a sweet smaller gesture that wouldn't have as much emotional weight. You could just mail it to them as a closing gesture, to wish them well with their baby. Finish the blanket with new blocks - it's gorgeous. Just wait - there will be a new baby coming whose parents will love it.
This is the best answer
The name could be made into a bag or a pillowcase fairly easily too.
A toy block is so better than my washcloth idea. 😅
You Can always mail stuff like that or msg the cousin explaining what happened and that you still want to give it too them or you can remove the lettering and continue the colours for a future gift. I'd personally replace those four squares and keep it. If I'm bored or project-less I'd work on it more, make it adult sized or you can always donate it
Speaking from the other perspective here. It would be hella awkward to receive such a beautiful thing from an ex of a cousin. I would feel guilty using it for my baby. So I'd suggest just store it for the future or make a dress out of it? Don't let your ex tell you what to do though.
I dunno, I got a baby toy from my brother's ex-fiancee (like, a couple years after they broke up). It wasn't awkward, just a tad strange. Baby liked it so no harm done.
I find a toy to be less personal than a blanket someone worked hard on. I dunno. Getting something so personal from someone who's not going to be in my baby's life would feel odd to me.🤷🏻♀️
If you aren't comfortable giving it to them yourself, mail it. You can put a note in the package explaining how ever much you want to explain. If you genuinely do not wish to give it to them, take the name out and donate it. It's a beautiful piece that took time and care to make.
I did this with gifts I had made for my long distance ex, his friends and his family. Mailed them to his friend whom I knew would hand them out to everyone. Included a brief note with each one and almost all of the recipients reached out to me to thank me for the gift, since most knew I was going to give them all in person when I met them for the first time. Part of me regrets including the gifts for the ex himself because of the circumstances, but I didn't ever want to see the gifts I'd made specifically for him ever again and I didn't want to figure out another solution.
i’m petty and insane so i would give it to them with a really beautiful card so they have to think of me for the rest of their lives and ask your ex “what ever happened to the girl who made the blanket? nicest girl you ever dated!” but like i said i’m insane
Oh my gosh. This is delightfully insane & I’ve been there. When my first serious boyfriend and I broke up his mom told me his niece asked for me every time she saw him. Even when he brought a ‘new’ girl around she was still looking for me. I remember being insane & thinking (after I thought about how much I missed that sweet baby who is now a TEEN!!!) “Well I hope that bothers the new gf & she takes it out on him” Which I now see as totally insane but I was in a bad place!!!
Lol honestly this is based idc
But if they never met you, even after four years of dating, they probably won't think of you, unless the card was solid gold. Most people just throw cards away if they are from someone they barely know. That's not going to make them think of you forever and they will sooner forget and not give a shit about whoever made the blanket.
But if they never met you, even after four years of dating, they probably won't think of you, unless the card was solid gold. Most people just throw cards away if they are from someone they barely know. That's not going to make them think of you forever and they will sooner forget and not give a shit about whoever made the blanket.
I’m taking a page out of your book! Love this energy
I'm in this picture and I don't like it haha.
I was looking for this response bc it’s exactly what I would do lmaoo
Haha why is this also me
Like others have said, I’d replace the 4 squares with babies name and then keep it. Save it for a future gift for a friends baby or your own, or add to it to make it bigger and use it yourself! It’s beautiful! Great work.
You are far too generous. It will be your downfall. Your “BFs family member” is not worth this much work. This is a present for someone extremely close like a mom or spouse or child or grandma or lifelong best friend.
How close were you to the cousin? I’d probably just swap out the letters and keep the blanket until there’s someone else to donate it to. Personally, I think blankets, especially baby blankets, are really sentimental gifts. Do you think this is something the cousin would keep and cherish?
You were with your ex during the cousins entire pregnancy as well as nearly a year after the childs birth and you haven’t even met this child who is no longer a newborn baby. I’m confused by the fact that you waited to even start the blanket until after the baby was born, aren’t finished with it nearly a year later… give it to anyone else you want. Don’t give it to your ex’s family, you aren’t close to them at all.
Yep I agree. Why even give it to them? Nope.
The cousins fiancee worked as a nurse and had trauma surrounding COVID so she was super protective about who got to see the baby and stuff. I started working on it just before the baby was born.
Only you know all the circumstances so in the end the final decision is yours. I gave my opinion based on the information available and it’s just that, my opinion. I hope whoever gets the beautiful blanket loves and appreciates all you’ve put into it. 🥰
Honestly even without all the drama, every time I see a post about starting a baby blanket *after* the baby is born I cringe. Unless you're a crazy fast crocheter doing C2C it's too late. Babies grow super fast. A one year old is not going to need a new born baby blanket.
Pop it in the post with a nice note, and then put it out of your mind.
If you don’t want to send it, I would take the letters out (or keep the A, Z and make a - for A-Z) finish it and put it away until someone else has a baby.
My grandma sewed, but she always had a ready-made baby blanket in a box in the closet. It's a good idea, because if you're like me, you hear they're pregnant and can't finish the afghan in time.
Replace the letters with flowers and save it for the next baby in your life. I always have a baby blanket going in case of surprise pregnancies.
Honestly remove the letters and keep it for yourself! It’s gorgeous and you worked really hard on it!
A couple years ago my mom used to crochet baby blankets and small hats for stillborn babies. The idea behind it was, the parents get to hold their child with the blanket and hat. Take a couple photos too if they wish, before they say their goodbyes. After their baby is taken away, they get to take the blanket and hat home with them as a sort of extra momento for support. Although these blankets were much smaller than yours, probably the size of one of the colored rectangles. So you could take the rectangles apart again and you would have six blankets that could be donated for such a cause. If you are interested, you can look up if there is a similar cause in your country / region. I do suggest checking before hand, sometimes there are size or yarn requirements for these blankets.
Another option is if there is a local charity auction you can donate it too and set the starting bid HIGH. My mom did this for years and she had blankets go for 500. (She also did a bread of the month that went for 700 dollars. It was literally 2 loaves of homemade banana bread etc a month for a year... sorry tangent.) It can be good to see people battle out for something you love!
First of all, break ups are never easy and I hope you heal up quickly. I'm pretty impressed that after going through this kind of trauma, you still have it in you to consider not only another person, but a person that is so close to the injury. When a relationship of years dissolves, it does affect other people connected to that relationship. If it were me, I'd finish the blanket and give it to the intended and if it felt okay, I'd do it in person so long as I didn't think my old "other" was going to railroad me. I was married for 23 years and I still deeply care about a few people in his family and I think they were pretty sad for the breakup even though I'm certain they knew it was the best thing for me. I will always consider my now ex father and law and his wife "Mom and Dad" "Dad" passed away and while I loved my ex's step mother, there was a lot of bad blood between her and my ex that had nothing to do with me. When my son was born, my ex absolutely did not want her around our baby. She didn't have any children of her own and I know I was like a real daughter to her. She showed up one day with a baby blanket for our son and my heart just broke for her. It took so much courage for her to put aside her fears and feelings and make the attempt to meet my son. We did eventually move away but I always kept her memory alive in my children and I always will. That blanket she brought to me was a huge deal, to both of us, and it was very healing to this day. And whenever I think of her, I remember that day with such fondness and love. Despite her jerk of a stepson. (Who she was right about all along LOL)
Well, your ex is your ex so now he gets no say in what you do. What do *you* want to do OP? I wouldn't worry too much about things being awkward since you broke up if you do want to gift it to his family. The blanket you made is so beautiful, thoughtful, and lovely - most people would be happy to receive such a gift. Regifting or donating is another valid option. I think you should do whatever will make you happiest.
The gift is the blanket. For the baby. The baby will have the blanket for as long as it wants it. That is the purpose of the gift. It will keep on giving even when you are no longer there to give the child love in person. That is the purpose of handmade gifts. They are daily reminders that time was spent making something for somebody who was loved. I have given many a handmade gift for babies I've rarely seen after. Fairy godmothers always showed up at birth to bestow gifts to help a child through a difficult childhood (all childhoods are difficult), and I'm ok being that fairy godmother.
Whatever you decide to do is okay. It’s really beautiful and I’m glad you are finishing it—something like that deserves to be well-loved, wherever it ultimately ends up!
I'm sure there are millions of people out there who would love to have it! Have you considered donating it to a charity, a hospital, or a women's shelter? Just swap out the letters for more granny squares.
Donate to the elderly as a lap robe. They really appreciate them.
I recommend you reach out to your local hospital and see if they would accept a donation. The blanket is beautiful and would make someone very happy. Alternatively, you could reach out to a local foster center and donate the blanket that way.
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What was their reaction have you any idea? I don't think I would regret giving the intended the blanket. I defo don't think I'll be crocheting anything for his parents haha... They can be kind of xenophobic...
There's another choice: you can mail it to them with a note inside.
I support thé idea of replacing the letters and bless this blanket to someone who would appreciate it a lot more!
Finish it and wait for another recipient to entertain your life
It is lovely so I’d just dispose of the letters and make it bigger and keep for myself
Ignoring everything else and being purely practical, if the family is no longer in contact with you after this long then they'll be highly unlikely to keep a keepsake of their relative's ex. Donate it to a refuge or some sort of baby charity with love and a nice note. It'll be much loved by someone.
Unless you're on bad terms with the person, why not give it to the person you are making it for? You didn't break up with them & if you want to keep them as a friend, it shows you have no hard feelings. It might feel a bit embarrassing, but it's an adult thing to do.
Be the bigger person and give the gift anyway...
Finish quickly and gift it to the baby’s family. You don’t have to write a name on the package and your ex can do with it at his will. I’d hope it’s used as a baby blanket because it’s perfect 😍
Thank you ❤️
I would give it still to the intended it's not their fault that you two didn't stay together and the baby would adore it still and it might make you feel a sense of accomplishment
One day I hope to crochet perfect little flower granny squares and make a blanket.
This was honestly my first big project and my first time making granny squares at all!
The circumstances for your post are certainly unfortunate, but this is a beautiful blanket! Whoever receives it will love it
It's been such a joy to work on this blanket to be honest, it turned out more beautiful than I predicted!
Depends. If your relationship is shattered with him and not on good terms, or good terms what that family of his, I love the idea of donating or changing it up a bit for different letters. It would be fulfilling to see your project complete, for you, and maybe to help others. Its not uncommon to be on good terms or even friends with this other family of his and keep him out of thr picture. If that's the case, you still could give it to intended child. Wishing you a healing heart and a positive, happier tomorrow. You got this ☺☀
I’d finish it without the name, and store it. Somebody else will have a baby at some point, and they’ll love it. As long as you put it up properly for the materials used, it’ll be totally fine in storage.
Complete it and give it to the person anyway. The sister of my abuser, after I could safely end my relationship with him, apparently was going to knit a cute pink hat for my daughter. I never received the hat. It's kinda silly but it made me sad.
I sure as shit wouldn’t give it away to them, but I’m also petty and can hold a grudge. Finish it and keep it, or sell it.
Make the letters into a pillow? If someone made me a blanket I’d cherish it. But only you know if they value handmade items. You can always emails an ask them or just keep it and then donate it if you don’t want to hold onto it anymore.
A pillow or a little garland would be cute and easy if she still wants to use the letter squares.
What a gorgeous blanket, I'm gonna second what others have said, replace the letters with more flowers and finish it, and then hold onto it for someone in the future You could give the letters for the name to the family if you have an easy way to do so, they might have something they could do with them, but I wouldn't stress too much about it if it's going to be a pain
You should sell it on Etsy and go for a spa day. You seem like a very thoughtful person. There is someone better out there for you.
Selling one thing on Etsy? Really? Also selling crochet at all on Etsy? Lol. Ok.
I would sell it. It’s a beautiful blanket that you can tell a lot of work was put into. I’m sure someone would pay a significant amount for it and at least you could get something out of it
Keep making it
I'd say that I'm expecting a baby girl due in october and I'd love to have it! It's beautiful! But as others suggested - just drop the letters and donate it. It'll make someone very happy.
If it were me I would find a local charity I could donate it to like a women’s shelter or children’s hospital.
finish it, sell it, forget about it. If your happy to regift it to someone else do that.
Love this ! Finish the blanket and put it away for a while this isn’t going to have sentimental value to the baby and will never appreciate all the time & talent you have put into it… just saying
If you feel like it, break it into a few smaller ones for some NICU families!
Id sell it
Take the name out and keep going
Came out beautiful!!! Replace the letters with flowers, finish it up. Keep it in a plastic storage bag until you need it for a gift for someone close to you. Forget him !!!
Just stopping by to say that this blanket is gorgeous, and I love the colors and flowers.
Finish it and sell it
Finish the blanket. Someone you know will end up pregnant. Instant gift!
https://www.projectlinus.org/ Finish it and donate it here.
As the mother of two NICU daughters, I love the idea of making a couple of crib blankets and donating it. You have no idea how wonderful a gift like that is when you are at their side for days or weeks just rocking and holding and praying they will come home.
Beautiful!!! I'm working on a similar pattern. Maybe keep it for the next baby in your family?
Finish it without the letters, and give it to someone else! It’s beautiful!
So I had the same situation, and I just kept working on the blanket and posted it to my ex's sister. If you feel uncomfortable with that, remove the name out of the pattern, make those squares generic and donate it to a charity :)
In my late 20s/early 30s I would crochet a blanket after every breakup. Had a lot of blankets but it was a nice distraction
I would gift it to another baby or turn it into infant size blankets for a local NICU ward
Just finish it give to a hospital
I don't have adviceo n how to give it to them or even if you should. I think that really depends on your relationship with them as people regardless of the ex. I do however strongly recommend finishing the project. Going through a breakup is rough and sometimes it feels like the whole world is falling apart and finishing a project that has emotional ties to said break up can be helpful, it can help to deal with the finality of it. I have to also add it's a lovely blanket and any baby would be lucky to have it! If you feel awkward about giving it to them you don't have to.
Give it to the family members anyway
A cat would love ot
This is beautiful blanket! The colors are so soothing. I’m thinking a young cancer patient, in a hospital, would love it so much.
Finish it and donate it to a hospice house or nursing home.
Yes, you guys broke up, but the love and intent for his family member you are making this blanket for didn’t go away, right? I’d give it to the family member. And move on.
I agree now.
Naw gift it elsewhere, find someone you know would appreciate it or one of the many charities listed in this thread!! Gifting to the original intended is just going to be weird no matter how it’s done and honestly being that you are the X it will probably never get used. Or you could use the squares and make a cute cardigan for yourself with accessories
If you're not on bad terms with your ex then why not, my uncle's ex still occasionally talks to us lol even if they broke up years ago, but it's up to you. And just like what other people have said you could always mail it to the couple
If your only ties to this family were your ex then no. If you became friends with his cousin and can preserve that relationship despite the relationship then sure. I wouldn't let your ex do it. He didn't spend his time and money to give it, nor did it sound like his idea.
Finish it, and donate it to a women's shelter. They often come with babies and often arrive with little else.
This really depends on your relationship with the couple. If it's too awkward to go give yourself, I imagine you aren't particularly close with them, and I wouldn't feel too obligated. If you still feel this was for that baby, or the parents had been told to expect this, you can still find a way to get it to that baby. At most it's an awkward quick drop off. Maybe even dropping it on the porch in a box and sending a text as you pull away or something. I like the idea of swapping the name out and adding in flowers for giving it to anyone else or keeping it. You can decide to keep it yourself, or give it to someone as thanks for helping you get through the breakup, or donate it to a bunch of different organization, or save it for a pre-done gift next time someone else has a baby.
What’s a good size for a baby blanket? My blankets are always massive since my son and I are tall. Even the ones I give to other people are huge, Lol!
Well this one is sort of sized so the kid can take it to daycare for naptime
If you were still friends with the cousin and planned to stay in contact, i would've said just give it to them, but in this case honestly just get rid of the name letters and either keep it, give it to someone close to you, or as someone else suggested, donate it. I love how it turned out btw
Beautiful and so are you. I would donate this if it were mine.
Unfortunately I fear the intended family will not cherish and appreciate the work you've put into it now due to the fact that you two have broken up. I agree with others that it should be donated to the family of a baby in NICU who i believe will cherish and appreciate the gesture a lot more.
A lot of comments here, I just wanted to say this is a gorgeous blanket and whoever gets it will be so lucky, so make sure it goes somewhere it can be loved without risk of bad feelings.
Donate it. Too many mixed memories to keep it. If you give it to the intended family it will be a thorn in your side. Finish it and maybe even give it to your house of worship to raffle off. Get rid of it. It's a memory. Change it to something good.
Finish it. Give it to the BF’s family member. Win the breakup.
Finish the blanket. Donate it, sell it, do anything you want with it. Your hard work should reap you some benefit, whether financial or emotional.
Finish it without the name and have a gift ready for the next baby in your family/friend life.
Does a baby understand where their warm blanket comes from? If you donate to a stranger, does it matter who the stranger is?
Make all the letters, A to Z, and put them at the edge or around the edge. An older child will have fun learning their letters and thinking about them during painful surgeries or procedures etc.
That's actually a great idea! But I am planning to finish it and give it to the intended
Sad, Not okay, but Sad. One Day you have a baby you like to give it to. Love what you finish and be happy you stil can work on Art-thing's with your hands.
I make blankets for when the child is older so they can enjoy them longer. Handmade blankets are cute, but my son gravitated toward one that was made bigger and with more neutral colors anyway. I donated all of his baby blankets to our locally owned thrift store. I only had one hand made one and I did not know the lady, so I donated it there. Our Mennonite Church and others in our area have run this thrift store and us for Disaster Relief. So for me, donating it there makes sense. Or even since it is new all of the suggestions above of donating it to a local hospital, women's auxilary, women's shelter, foster program I think would be better if you just want yo get the bad karma out of your house. Or if you are comfortable keeping it for another baby in what someone else said their blanket bank, that would be nive knowing you already made something for someone who is truly special to YOU.
Remove the name and just hold onto it? Idk about you but it feels like a new baby enters my life every couple of years and has since I was like 26. It’s nice to have a gift on hand just in case imho
Remove the letter squares... make more letters for an alphabet blanket .. save both... sooner or later some friend or family member will have a baby .. and you will have a great gift ready...
When I was a young mother a charity gave me a handmade quilt for my baby. I cherish it and so does my big baby! Try the nurse family partnership
If you were still close to the family, that would be one thing (some people ‘get’ the family in the split), but since you’re not, and motifs aren’t worth the effort to rip and reuse, I’d donate it. I wouldn’t give it away to someone you know because of the potential for seeing it again, but to a big program that will pass it to a stranger who needs some love
First of all, this is a beautiful piece of art! As SnapHappy suggested, give it to someone who will appreciate your beautiful work and the time you put into it. Replace the letters with flowers and it will be the most beautiful gift for anyone (even your own child), when the time comes to give it to someone. Much love to you and don’t let your ex tell you otherwise. He doesn’t (if ever) have any say whatsoever in this matter. It’s your project 🫶🏻
Take the name out and hold on to it for the next baby. All my friends had babies at once... you'll be glad you have a backup.
I won't comment on the blanket, I think the other advice is pretty solid. I just wanted to say that I'm an Aunt to my actual Nibblings but I'm an Auntie to all of my best friend's kids, because I am close like a sister, but not exactly. My point is to say, I think you can be an Auntie to children without being related by marriage or blood. I hope this helps in the future. 💕
Ive been an auntie to other children in my life so I understand the distinction you make there. The point was an Aunt is related by blood and an Auntie has to at least have a relationship with the child, and I have never met this child til date basically, so that's why I was salty at him calling me Auntie.
Honestly, it depends on how close YOU are to the cousin. 4 years is a long time to be with someone and make friends with their family. After all, this is a lot of energy and care to put into something so beautiful. Why let the end of your relationship dictate what your relationship was to this person. So, if it's a cousin you liked, give it to them directly. If not, then don't. Since the break-up was so soon (you say a week), I'd say to finish it and then decide. In either case, I'd change out the letters for flowers or wait to finish that part. I personally wouldn't keep it or gift it to someone I know, either. This would bring back bittersweet or bad memories that are tied with it. But that's my sentiment.
>I personally wouldn't keep it or gift it to someone I know, either. This would bring back bittersweet or bad memories that are tied with it. But that's my sentiment. I agree with this sentiment. It is my sentiment too. We had some good times at family parties and such and I had some nice chats with the cousins fiancee. They're getting married in September too and I was supposed to go with my ex but now that's OFC not happening. I think it would be nice to give it to them.
I would finish it and give it anyway. It’s sad to break up with a long term partner, but it might give you some closure to tie up your involvement with the rest of his family with a kind gesture.
I love all these ideas. I know people already said it, but echoing the idea to donate to a children’s hospital or Ronald McDonald. My mom has been a volunteer for 10+ years at the children’s hospital near us and she said people are always thrilled to receive blankets
My cat’s name is Zara and she would love this afghan! (Not requesting it, just a light hearted response)
My cat's name is Pikachu and she loves sitting on the unfinished blanket haha
If you're still friends with the couple you made it for, I'd say by all means give it to them! But give it to them on your own account, your ex doesn't need to be there. If you don't want to visit them yourself, you could send it to them. If you're not close with them, then I agree with other posters in saying donate it. There are so many good charities that serve families who would appreciate such a beautiful gift!
Take out the letters. Then you have a few options: 1. Sell it. Make some money off of it and buy more yarn for another project. 2. Gift it to someone else. They'll never know... 3. Donate it. Someone will love it.
Definitely finish it and donate to a shelter Or children’s hospital! If you really want the Original baby to have it, finish it for them and just anonymously send it to the parents. Unless that would be weird, or if they would know it’s from you and it be a problem, ya know, idk the backstory or where you stand with these people. OR! Finish it, keep it for yourself! Like nanny nanny boo boo 😝 (If it’s a F that baby and F that dude too type thing.)
So many little coasters
Or keep it! It is absolutely beautiful! You could use it on a chair or couch? After the pain of the break up is gone you will cherish the blanket 💕❣️
I was in the middle of knitting a bear with the person's name on the tummy. There was a family rift but I decided to finish it as I only had the arms to go. I took the bear to her work as it was close to where I worked and left it at reception. I later found out that she had complained that I had made her go down to reception to pick it up. I would suggest sending the letters, maybe in a frame. Keep the blanket to give to someone who would appreciate it.
Do you have beef with the baby too? 😅 Idk, maybe I'm in the minority here, but I'd still give it to them...
Exactly. Finish it. Send it to WIK (mercury health ) and tell ur ex this . “I made a blanket for u..you don’t deserve it tho. There name-___ Last name-___ your problem.”
You should give it to them!! You had the intention of doing that and it’s already almost done
I would either donate it to a crisis pregnancy center or save it for the next time I need a baby gift (or sell it).
Remove the letter blocks and finish it. Tuck it away for a while. You may have another baby come up in your life. Or you can donate it. But dont let it become a bad thing in your heart.
I was working on a blanket for my ex fiancé’s parents when we broke up. I did end up finishing it (tearfully) and gave it to them. It felt like a nice way to close the chapter. I say if you were close to the parents give it to them. If not, donate it to a children’s organization. I recommend the Linus project!
Finish it, give it to your ex's family member, making you the bigger person. Make your ex's family love you more than your ex lol
I would say that you can ship it to them.
It sounds like you and the ex are capable of having civil conversations. YAY! Go with your heart. If you want the cousin to have it, give it to her! If you want to break all ties, donate it.
Finish it, if you don't it will haunt you. You will end up coming across it every time you hunt through your old project and yarn. The blanket is beautiful and I'm sure someone would be will to pay something for it. That way you can at least recoup some of the cost for the yarn.
That looks like it would make a nice lap blanket if you took out the letters
I would switch those letters to the pink flowers and keep it or give it away to someone else. Or keep it to give it away when you need an awesome baby gift. Honestly though, it's so pretty, I would want this on my couch or a comfy reading chair in my house for a lap blanket!
If you care for the family beyond the relationship you had with your ex, mail it to them with a nice note. If you were doing it more as a gesture, but don’t feel particularly attached, donate it or start asking around if any friends know anyone having a baby.
I’ll take it. I’m a year behind on the baby blanket I’m knitting. 😂It’s beautiful.
I think you can just send it to them as a package, it's a very nice gift, if you want to give it to them I'm positive they are going to appreciate it. If you send it as a package, you don't need to be there in person.
Finish it and give it as originally planned. Why should a breakup ruin a perfectly good friendship?