The blanket does look truely loved. If things get really desperate, you can always line the back with flannel and kind of "Quilt" it down, that could make it last longer.

First Love! How sweet and sad! I truly hope you can find a way to patch it up for many more years of snuggle.

When the blankie I crocheted for my niece started to disintegrate, my sister had a long talk with my niece and her beloved blankie was put away in a special box on the shelf in her closet. She couldn't use it, but she knew where it was. It was a difficult time--the blanket was given to her on day one in the hospital and she immediately stuck her little fingers into the spaces between the stitches and wouldn't let go. She would even sit by the washing machine when it was being run through the delicate cycle.

We also have a blankie -- 'he' is really just a series of knotted up, wadded up edges of what was a blankie. We haven't washed him in ages cause he's just on the edge of evaporating into thin air. Still, he lives in a drawer by the bed and is smelled and held each night -- just for a moment. I love that guy as much as my son does -- he's been everywhere with us. And he reminds me of the little one I had -- not so little now with his newly size 8 men's feet. Sheesh.

That is so sweet. Jess has a blankie I crocheted for her when I found out I was pregnant. she used to chew on it all the time, so It has it's fair share of repairs.

You knitted each stitch of those blankets with anticipation and love and isn't it wonderful that S so feels that love! You must keep the blanket, scrapes and all, for S as a keepsake.

*fingers crossed*

I have to tell you, your blankie saga has inspired me to make one for my 1 and a half year old. He has blankets that other people made for him, but nothing he's permanently attached to. Thanks for sharing your life and your children's lives -- it's inspirational to me as a mom just a few steps behind you!

You know--and I bet others have noticed this before--this saga is beginning to feel like "how many licks to the center of a tootsie pop?" Good thing the dang owl isn't around to crunch it up.

In twenty years he is going to truly realize and appreciate not only all the care you put into keeping the blanket alive, but also all the documentation you made of the process. How many of us have such a well-reported play-by-play surrounding our beloved childhood items?

Which leads me to a bigger question -- how many of us will still be blogging in twenty years? (Those will be some serious archives!) Or will the next latest-and-greatest technology supplant blogging?

I'm almost at the toe decrese of the second sock. I'll be sending them off tomorrow along with something extra for being so late.

Time to start another Big Boy Blankie, in secret. You can have a graduation ceremony or something to mark the occasion that he switched to a Big Boy blankie.

I remember my blankie from childhood. I used to carry it around wherever I went. ::sigh:: I will keep my fingers crossed that S' blankie lasts just a little bit longer.

Wow - that is a well-loved blankie!!! My mom tells the story of my blankie, and how she FINALLY convinced me to give it up by persuading me to give it to my puppy who really needed something snuggly - well, having the dog drag it around EVERYWHERE and play with it and tear it up was probably worse than having me do the same! hehehehehe At least mine wasn't such a beautiful knit one - I would NEVER give that blankie up! :)

He is to die for -- and his blankie story one for the ages. Having learned recently that I'll be a great-aunt in December, I'm figuring out a design for a blanket now (knowing there's no guarantee he'll love it to death).

Aww....my two older ones are done with their blankies...but I still hold on to them...

You are so lucky that he loves it so much. I made my son a blankie out of organic cotton before he was born and he never liked it. Always preferred gerber flannel blankets instead. Argh. He's 3.5 and still sleeps with those flannel blankets.

Awww...just like I loved my schmatter...yes...that's what we called it and I still have piece stashed away somewhere in hopes it will not decompose...I used to sleep with it.
(it was made out of my grandpa's pyjamas, my grandma or my mom had cat squares out of it because I always used to steal them)
I love the photo of S...his blue eye really shines through.

What makes this such a lovely thing is how loved it is-holes and all!!

Make a stuffed animal out of it and he can still hug it, just in a different form.

I love Carrie's suggestion for "Big Boy Blankies". I now have 2 teenage boys and they both still have their blankies. They're not in current use, but you can bet they both know exactly where they are, put away safely and brought out for a quick sniff & fondle if needed. Don't let the holes make you sad; it was love that put them there.

I love that you haven't put out a DNR order on the blankie yet. That blankie is a fighter!

Ooh I think it is time for a new blankie and to put the special blankie aside somewhere safe to admire from afar. Maybe letting S choose a new blanket and colors would help with the process.

That is so sweet--I'm glad you and the blankie are hanging in there, because that picture is so adorable. He so obviously adores this blanket!

Isn't it great how they love unconditionally at that age? They never seem to see the flaws in people or possessions. If only we could stay that way!

Oh Alison, don't be sad, it took a lot of loving to make Blankie the way he is, when your boys are older they will remember all the times their blankies comforted them and all the love that went into knitting and repairing them till they were old enough to let them go.

One of my sons had a flannel 'blankie' which he kept till it was embarassing. We finally resorted to cutting it smaller each time it was washed. After a while it was about 12" swuare and he just gave it up.

S will love that blankie no matter what it looks like. I had a blankie until I was 11. It was one of those acrylic blankets with the satin trim. By the time I decided I didn't need it anymore all that was left of the trim (my favorite part) was a 3 inch piece in one corner which my mom must have sewn on 3 or 4 times.