Ruby’s Afghan

This post is not a cheery crochet project, but it’s something I want to share. It’s about my beloved poodle, Ruby, who passed away last week. If this is difficult for you to read about, please don’t feel guilty about skipping this post. 

If you set down a crochet afghan, it’s a scientific fact that a dog will appear there soon after. They flock to them like moths to a light. And once they lay down on the afghan, woe betide anyone who tries to disturb them. Take it from my family’s poodle, Ruby, who loved crochet afghans more than anything.

I crocheted my first afghan when I was around 14. It’s made of granny squares from I Love This Yarn (my favorite yarn) in my favorite colors at the time. It’s much smaller than a traditional afghan because I ran out of patience…but that made it the perfect size for Ruby when she swiped it. I’m not sure how she accomplished it. One moment I had a brand-new afghan, the next moment it was Ruby’s afghan. But that was fine with me. She looked so content curled up on it.

A few years later I made a mandala afghan with the thought that since Ruby had an afghan, this one would be for me. Wrong. The afghan turned out smaller than expected and I presented the poodle with a bright pink mandala blanket. It was added to her pile.

She ran to my side whenever I sat down on the couch with a crochet project. Her breeder was a knitter, so as a puppy she got used to laying next to people while they crafted. She was my crafting companion for many projects and even modeled some for me.

When our new puppy Maisie came into our lives, I crocheted a new afghan for her. Because the first one was Ruby’s afghan. I couldn’t see her give that up.

Happy Claire surrounded by doggos: Ruby on gray afghan, Maisie on pink one (which is hers)

Ruby suffered from arthritis for pretty much all her life. I think curling up with a warm, soft blanket felt good for her achy limbs. When she started losing mobility, she would spend all day napping on the couch. Sometimes I would snuggle with her. Other times she would curl up on an afghan. Still other times we would snuggle with an afghan, which was the coziest thing imaginable.

Last Tuesday she lay on her special blanket, in my arms, as she went to sleep forever. The hardest thing I’ve ever done is hug Ruby for the last time. When we laid her down on the blanket, she was relaxed instead of stiff with pain like she was for the last six years. The vet said she was ready to go. I know she was. But I could never be ready to say goodbye. She was the best dog I could ever have the privilege of loving.

I’ve written pages and pages about her. Taken so many pictures. Crafted things inspired by her. Maybe you’ll see some of it here. I want to share the joy she brought into my life. She’s not in pain anymore, and I’m glad, because she deserves to run and play again. I just miss her. But I’ll never forget her.

The blanket has returned to me. I wish it were still hers.

In memory of Ruby
13 years 10 months
October 3, 2004 – August 9, 2018
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