From Life Blanket to Swaddling Cloth

VILT number 64

Translation:

From Life Blanket to Swaddling Cloth
One day, our lives will end. That’s a fact we have to deal with. When it concerns someone very close to us, it’s sad and not always easy to accept. Because even though we know that person will always remain in our hearts, they will no longer be with us, and that hurts.
Increasingly, people are choosing to make their final journey wrapped in a felted cloth. I regularly make such a cloth together with people and their family and friends. Sometimes people ask me to do it for them. We often work in my workshop, and sometimes at someone’s home if circumstances make it impossible to work in my workshop. Sometimes someone has already passed away when we make the cloth. Sometimes there’s no sign of impending death at all. And sometimes someone knows their life will be short. I find it most rewarding to make such a cloth when there’s no sign of an impending farewell, or when that farewell might still be a while away. Then we create a life blanket.
Making such a blanket together creates a bond. It makes the coming grief more bearable. Making a wrap together in this way is comforting and strengthening. Together, we ensure it is beautiful, and everyone can contribute to it, making us part of a whole and making us stronger together. It’s a feeling of sharing the grief. It’s special and healing. It’s an honor for me to be able to do this with or for others.
It’s wonderful to be able to use a blanket throughout life. As the colder days approach, felt is the perfect material to wrap yourself in. You can take the blanket to bed, to the couch, on the floor, or anywhere else. You can hide and cry in it, alone or with others. It’s a source of warmth and security. Taking this source of warmth with you on your final journey is a warm, loving thought for all involved.

Message from the person for whom the blanket of life belongs, to everyone who helped:

Dear all,
We remember with so much love and warmth the day Annemie made the life blanket with us. It was a beautiful, wonderful, and special day.
Yesterday, Annemie delivered the finished blanket; it is incredibly beautiful.
Together, we accomplished something wonderful. Thank you so much for being a part of it. We especially appreciated how you all created this atmosphere together—a warm, loving atmosphere where everyone felt comfortable. This beautiful, heartfelt connection is reflected in the blanket.
When the time comes, the blanket will lovingly support me. We hope this continues for a long time and that I myself can enjoy the blanket for many years to come. The blanket was made with Annemie’s expertise, and she was by our side throughout the entire process, providing us with wonderful and loving support.