A stitch in time healed her heart and mine, said REBECCA SAGER about the AFGHAN her mother-in-law, PEGGY SAGER, an 85-year-old resident of the Astor House, gave her. The pair became very close through extreme grieving together over the deaths of so many loved ones in a very short span of time, Rebecca told the Ear. 

We grieved together, but in our own ways. Rebecca lost her only sister, Peggy lost her daughter; Rebecca lost her mother, Peggy lost her husband and dog in a Christmas Day accident; Rebecca lost three lifelong best friends, and Peggy lost two lifelong best friends. 

Peggy wanted to make her daughter-in-law something special. It started with a pot holder, Rebecca explained, and I told her I wanted a blanket for a king size bed … so Mom crocheted a huge red (red is her favorite color) king-sized blanket that has 281,000 single stitches, measuring 124 inches long and 102 inches wide. It took several months.

Pictured above, Peggy with the afghan. Its the size of a small room, Rebecca said. Ive never seen anyone crochet anything this big. Its really beautiful. 

The afghan was Rebeccas Christmas present. I feel I will always have Moms arms around me, surrounding me with love forever, she added. We have become each others best friend.