Blankie of Many Colors [CHOOSING JOY by K. Albers]

Even our hobbies can draw inspiration from the Word of God!

I come from a long, family tradition of quilters, and knitters, so it was natural that I pick yarn arts as one of my favorite ways to relieve stress and be creative.  Being pregnant right now makes knitting and crocheting even more addictive to me.  There is just something wholesome about homemade baby items.

When I first began creating items for our bundle on the way, I swore to myself that I would not make another blanket.  Our house is full of blankets!  So I found adorable bib patterns and went to work on those.  But then I happened across a pattern from Mason-Dixon Knitting by Kay Gardiner and Ann Shayne called “Joseph’s Blankie of Many Colors.”

According to the Bible, Joseph received a tunic of many different colors from his father, Jacob, to demonstrate Jacob’s love for him.  The extravagance of this gift and other acts of special treatment bred in Joseph’s brothers a deep jealousy that eventually drove them to sell Joseph into slavery.  But God had a plan for Joseph beyond the family business of tending the sheep.

“God was with him and rescued him from all his troubles. He gave Joseph wisdom and enabled him to gain the goodwill of Pharaoh king of Egypt.” Acts 7:9-10 (NIV)

Ultimately, he was able to save his family from starvation and begin the legacy of the Israelite people in Egypt.  This story is found in the book of Genesis chapter 37 through chapter 50

Knowing this story, despite my promise, I could not resist making this blanket for my third child.  My first two babies are so precious to me, and I want this third one to know without a doubt that she is precious to me as well.  I am sure that this was Jacob’s intention also as he fashioned the colorful tunic for Joseph.

As I continue to knit, stitch by stitch, I pray that this colorful blankie will speak of our family’s tradition of crafting, that as it wraps around her it will hug her in love, and that despite any circumstance she will be obedient to God’s calling for her life, just like Joseph.  Praise God!