Texas
Have you ever seen how a handmade blanket is created? Do you know how much time is required to make one? Or the materials it takes to create a blanket? Growing up, GG (my mom’s mom, Jean) has created blankets for all of her grandchildren and great- grandchildren, but the secret is that you never know when you are going to receive it! Here is the story of how I received my blanket and the time and work it took to create it.
Jean was a master sewer. She created everything from dresses to blankets. Not only was she a great sewer, but she was a hard- working woman. She spent countless hours working in retail and then would come home to her family. Jean had a loving husband and three children: a son named Terry, and two daughters Pam and Cindy. By day Jean was a working woman and by night she was a wife and mother to her children.
Growing up, Jean and her family did not have too much money, so she sewed clothes for her children. She created elaborate dresses, shirts, and bottoms. She was someone who was always able to create something beautiful and plus it was a one of a kind piece.
Something special that Jean did was to create blankets. Each blanket was large enough to cuddle up in and vegetate on the couch, but the special part was that each piece was hand cut and hand stitched. Her blankets were similar to a quilt.
Jean worked hard on these blankets. She cut each little piece of the fabrics, laid them out, and stitched them together. Each blanket that was created had special meaning behind them and the colors were beautiful. The uniqueness about each blanket is that the patterns were created from classic shapes. Each picture was made from triangles, square, and rectangles. However each of the pieces were placed together to create this beautiful picture. The colors were very pretty within the blanket. There were pinks, greens, yellows, reds, and any other color you could think of.
The amount of time and dedication that Jean put into these blankets was extensive. She worked for several years here and there to make sure that they were the best of the best. Not only were they intended for her grandchildren, but she hoped that they would be passed down to their children and so on. The hopes were to create something that was beautiful and could be kept in the family.
I was a senior in high school when I received my blanket. I have a vivid memory of how and when I received mine. It was my 18th birthday. I remember pulling this beautiful patterned thing, and had no clue what it could be. As I began unrolling it, I realized it was a blanket! It was filled with pink, purple, and white colors. Each piece was placed together to fit just right, and the blanket was as soft as it could be. I could not wait to put this blanket somewhere special that would remind me of the love that GG had for me. She spent so much time and hard work putting this blanket together; it was an honor to receive it on my 18th birthday.
Author’s note:
In the original of Old Quanah’s Gift, Quanah was once a brave warrior of the Tejas people who was very good with his bow and arrow, but was also a well known and respected blanket weaver. He took the time to make sure that each piece of the blanket was the right color, material, and texture to ensure others would find it appealing. Quanah would dedicate great amounts of time to ensure that he had the best fleeces and the best dyes that he created himself. He created lots and lots of blankets for tribes everywhere, but there was one blanket that he took great pride in. He worked on one special blanket a little bit here and there for years; this blanket was one that represented his tribe. His artwork that was in the center of the blanket was similar to a sunset, and he continued to work on it even to his death. Once Quanah had passed away, his tribe did not know what to do with his blanket. In the end, the tribe decided to bury the special blanket with Quanah, even though others to come would not be able to see the beauty of his creation. The earth would continue to bring Quanah’s spirit to the world, flowers known as wild gaillardia or blanket flowers grew. These flowers represented the similar colors of the blanket. I decided to do a revised edition of the Old Quanah’s Gift that is about my family and special blankets we receive.
My grandmother GG has been making blankets for her grandchildren for years, and it’s such an honor to receive one. So, I thought this classic Texas tale was similar to the story about how and why we receive blankets in my family.
Bibliography: When the Storm God Rides: Tejas and Other Indian Legends retold by Florence Stratton and illustrated by Berniece Burrough (1936)
