Sunday 12 June 2011

THE LIFE-CYCLE OF A BLANKIE


Look who I've been chatting with this weekend! It's 'Sock Yarn Blankie'! He's just woken up, after a very long and lonely, year long (well, very nearly) hibernation. He was a little bit cranky and a little bit distressed by the bright light of day, but other than that he looked great, after a stretch and a cuddle. These blankies are quite extraordinary little creatures, you know. They manage to remain tightly curled in the bottom of deep, dark bags, without any form of yarny nourishment or human contact for months, sometimes even years! Their survival is a complete mystery to all those who have delved into the long and, very often, quite secret life of the 'Sock Yarn Blankie'.


My little companion is still very much an infant. He has a considerable amount of growing to do, before he reaches adulthood. This can take any number of years ...................... usually many, many! He has been more than happy to sit on the arm of the sofa all weekend, soaking up the family atmosphere and reacquainting himself with life in the Snoopydog home, although there are signs of hunger and I know that feeding must begin very soon, if he is remain docile and companionable.

Here he is as a newborn.... just after entering the world on July 21st 2009.


Here he is after his first feed.....


And here, only a few weeks later,


They can grow at an alarming rate, but as you can see, my little friend seems to be progressing rather slowly. There is much debate over whether this is down to Nature, or nurture. There is, however, no clear pattern thus far. Certainly, feeding is high up there on the list of factors being investigated at the present time. Blankie food comes in many different colours and qualities.


 The Snoopydog blankie is fed on only the most succulent and squishy yarny skeins as you can see from the evidence above. Each meal is carefully weighed out into 3g portions. We don't want him getting too fat, now do we! He does get leftovers too, but only cut from the highest quality Snoopydog sock yarn skeins. So, all in all, the quality of the food certainly doesn't appear to speed up the growth rate.

 Scientifically, the lifecycle of these little companions is unfathomable, due to extent and range of their different genetic make-ups. All we know for certain, is that they love to be cherished and fondled and allowed to sleep for relatively long periods of time, before awakening ready for a good 'top-up' feeding session. The feed sessions can last for days, weeks or even months, until the day hibernation resumes; he will slip back quietly into the dark recesses of the blankie bag for a lovely, long sleep.

Well, there you have it. What an instuctional post I had for you all this evening. I bet not one of you suspected that old Snoops was the great scientist that she is!!!! Oh no! Hopefully, there will shortly be a follow up, to show more recent evidence of blankie feeding and, hopefully, growing.

Until next time, I wish you all a good evening and a very productive week ahead.

14 comments:

josiekitten said...

Brilliant! Love it! Seeing all those gorgeous mini-skeins makes me want to dig mine out from its hiding place too. After all, they are twins aren't they?! Born in the same place on the very same day!!! LOL Have a good week!

Lynne said...

What a fantastic blankie!! It's such a lovely idea because I'm sure when you look at it you recall the different socks made from each yarn, whether it was a lovely pattern, or something a bit tricky. Or if it was yarn that was given, the person who gave it.

And I suppose it could always be a WIP ("oh no" says you!), because once it's "finished" it can always be added too.

Kathy said...

Ha! Ha! Great post ....as always a feast of colour.It almost makes me want to knit one myself!
Have a good week, we're on the home stretch now ... the summer hols are in sight!
xxx

Sarah said...

Such a pretty blanket-glad he has come out of hibernation!

Aussie Maria said...

Such a fun post - born storyteller. It will be great to see how far it grows before its time for a big sleeep

Tracy said...

GORGEOUS... all those scrumptious colors...mmm... That is one super-dazzling blankie, Ros! And love your story on how it's come about too. Can't wait to see the finished snuggler. This weekend I finally got sticks & string going again, and have started on a little sweater-vest for my 2 year-old niece--cornflower blue yarn. Good to have a new knit WIP. Happy Week ((HUGS))

Jennyff said...

What an indulged creature that blankie is, must be a pedigree. Looking good, could become best in show.

Anonymous said...

Oh, I love this! I was thinking of doing something similar, but hadn't quite fleshed it out yet. I hope it turns out at least 50% as nice as this one!

Anonymous said...

I never know what to do with all the little bits of sock yarn I have left over (and there are many bits!) I shall have to start a blankie of my own!

bellaboo said...

What a clever post,you are so imaginative! That reminds me,I must get my hook out and complete my crochet blanket. :0)

Wyatt said...

We don't knit, but we are sooo glad you do!! Wonderful work :)

We have an award for you on our blog!

Wyatt and Stanzie

Willow said...

I would love to join your staff and do some yarn blankie research. Do you offer fellowships or grants or even scraps of skeins?

Your blankie looks much more colorful than mine. Hmmm, there's a research topic worthy of at least an MA if not PhD in yarnomics.

Carrie said...

Ah yes! The poor old sock yarn blankie! Mine's tightly balled up at the bottom of one of my knitting stoarge boxes (where the cats can't get him - all those loose ends are irresistable!). I'll dig him out again one of these days :)

Carrie xxx

melissa said...

oh blankie... i love blankie.

and seeing your mosaic of mini skeins makes me want to put down everything else i'm working on and pick my poor neglected blankie back up!