Hello, hello, thank you so much for calling in to the Attic, it's good to see you! Today my friends, as you can see, it's a Ta-dah sort of a day. A bright, hooky, blankety, hexagonal sort of day. Yes, welcome to the big Hexagon Blanket Show n Tell.
Gosh, I have been so hard at work on this blanket the past week or so, I feel as if I've been through something of a hooking marathon with it. I know this because my finger joints are all stiffy and my little finger feels as if it's gotten permanently stuck in that sort of bent over crook that controls the tension when you are crocheting. But all the hard work has paid off and last night, at precisely 10.01pm, the last thread was darned in. Yes, last night, I was on a mission. Husband was away for the night (a very rare occasion) and I took the opportunity to get right on with some serious hooky action. The Little People went to bed at 8pm, and so did I. Although of course I didn't go to sleep, nope, I created myself a very cosy little nest in bed and off I went, into the last miles of my hooking marathon. My fingers were a blurr. I did not stop for two hours. And when I had finally finished, I was suddenly soooooooo overwhelmed with tiredness that I did not even take a look at the finished blanket. I slung my hook, yarn and scissors onto the floor, switched the light out and went straight to sleep in an instant, the blanket still draped over the bed where I had been working on it.
So this morning when I woke up, I had the most delightful surprise. Instead of my ripple blanket greeting me, I had the ripple and the hex, and oh! It was the most wonderful thing to see when I opened my eyes! I took a picture of my bed this morning so you can see what I mean :: it's no shrinking violet this newest blanket of mine. It positively yelled at me this morning to GET UP and GET BUSY! No, it's not a calming, softly rippling bedroom blanket this one, it's far too noisy and energetic to keep in the bedroom.
So downstairs it has come, to live in neighbourly fashion with the Granny.
And here it is, in all it's glory....please do click on the above picture to pop up a bigger window and feast your eyes on all this colourful hexagonal beauty.
One hundred and fifty nine hexagons, all jostling along together to create this field of vibrant colour.
I confess I am ridiculously proud of it.
I ended up making two rows of edging :: one straightforward row of double crochet, followed by a time consuming, yarn guzzling row of shell-edging. And I love the way it has turned out, the way it has given the blanket a very definite finished look.
It has been quite a labour of love, this hexagon blanket. Can you recall when I first started it? It was early May. So seven months we've been together, and it's not been true love for the whole of our journey. No, there were times when I was temporarily peeved with these hexagons, when they did not turn out to be the soothing, relaxing type of activity that I am used to with crochet.
But when I look at them now, when I look at my beautiful, colourful, vibrant blanket, I have to say they were worth it. Yes, they absolutely were worth it.
The hex blanket has been living for some time on the Big Chair in the bay window of the living room, and I have come to love seeing it there.
It fits so well in this room, it looks as if it has always been here.
And as vibrant and decorative as it is, it's also exceptionally Blankety and good for a top-notch snuggle-session. It's soft, and warm and just the right size. It wraps itself around you and provides instant comfort, warmth and happiness.
Do you remember when I did the Ripple Reveal back in August? Do you remember the Riveting Ripple Facts? Well here are some corresponding Riveting Facts for the Hexie ::
Measures :: 100cm x 150cm
Hexagons :: 159
Time :: haven't a clue, but many many hours across seven months.
Balls :: 28
Weight :: 1400g / 3.086 lb
Cost :: £3.50 per ball = ninety eight pounds sterling
Mileage :: 28 balls @ 85m each ball = 2380 metres = 1.48 miles of yarn (!)
Photo :: me snuggled on the sofa, camera held high in my left hand
Blanket :: gorgeous
Me :: happy.
Edited to add :: thank you SO VERY MUCH for all your comments, for the hexagon love that has poured into the Attic. Your comments have wrapped themselves around me in a blanket of warmth, it has been so joyful reading your words. Thank you very, very much.
xxx
Oh you should be proud! It is really marvelous!! The colours are fab and it looks super cuddly! Aren't you cute all curled up?
Congratulations!
Posted by: elizabeth of course | December 12, 2008 at 07:23 PM
Yes, you should be proud. When I've finished on the flowers and the ripples, I'll have a go!
Posted by: attila | December 12, 2008 at 08:05 PM
Found your blog today and love it. Tried the link to the Boden coat you liked and thought I should mention it's in the sale!
Posted by: Rowena | December 12, 2008 at 08:12 PM
Found your blog today and love it. Thought you might like to know that Boden coat you liked is in the sale!
Posted by: Rowena | December 12, 2008 at 08:22 PM
I am truly jealous! I can knit but can't crochet. Being a visual person, I learned to knit from watching my mum, but I don't have anyone whom I can watch crocheting and I'm just not getting it from books. Such is life!! Enjoy your christmas preparations - jacqui
Posted by: JacquiMcR | December 12, 2008 at 08:30 PM
Wonderfull, gorgeous, beautifull!! It's a great happyness!!
Posted by: lucylaine | December 12, 2008 at 08:42 PM
Just beautiful Lucy, Your blankets and cushion covers look fantastic. It must be lovely to snuggle under such lovingly made rugs!
Posted by: Leisa | December 12, 2008 at 09:01 PM
Wow! It's beautiful. Someday I will make one!
Posted by: Alexis | December 12, 2008 at 10:04 PM
Congratulations! and Celebrations! (meant to sing that ;-) Wow and I am so jealous. What a wonderful lot of co-ordinated crocheting! Cherrie
Posted by: cherrie | December 12, 2008 at 10:54 PM
Lucy, it's gorgeous!
Posted by: Tamar | December 13, 2008 at 12:37 AM
Oh, it's fabulous!!!
The colours are glorious!
I love the way that it works so beautifully with the daisy blanket and your lovely crochet cushion.
Congratulations. =]
Posted by: inkberryblue | December 13, 2008 at 01:08 AM
Oh, it's fabulous!!!
The colours are glorious,
and I love the way that it works so beautifully with your daisy blanket and your lovely crochet cushion.
Congratulations!
Posted by: inkberryblue | December 13, 2008 at 01:13 AM
You should be proud! That is one amazingly beautiful blanket! I have really enjoyed watching your progress with this. It was your hex's on flickr that led me to your beautiful blog.
I just love it, Lucy. And I am so happy that you shared your pattern.
I just keep looking at your pictures over and over. The colors are so vibrant and strike such a chord with me.
And you are a lovely beautiful person. :~)
Posted by: gardenymph | December 13, 2008 at 02:34 AM
You should be proud! That is one amazingly beautiful blanket! I have really enjoyed watching your progress with this. It was your hex's on flickr that led me to your beautiful blog.
I just love it, Lucy. And I am so happy that you shared your pattern.
I just keep looking at your pictures over and over. The colors are so vibrant and strike such a chord with me.
And you are a lovely beautiful person. :~)
Posted by: gardenymph | December 13, 2008 at 02:39 AM
let me join in the affirmations. what an accomplishment! and beautiful, to go with the rest of your creations, and the lovely attic24!! snuggle together on chr.... and enjoy! jkj
Posted by: jkj | December 13, 2008 at 02:46 AM
What a feast for the eyes! Delicious!! I'll have to imagine what it feels like...You have me so inspired that I feel a need to start crocheting again and use lots of color. Thanks for a delightful blog. It makes me smile.
Posted by: Marie Allen | December 13, 2008 at 02:48 AM
What a feast for the eyes! Delicious!! I'll have to imagine what it feels like...You have me so inspired that I feel a need to start crocheting again and use lots of color. Thanks for a delightful blog. It makes me smile.
Posted by: Marie Allen | December 13, 2008 at 02:51 AM
OMG Lucy it is gorgeous, I LOVE it the colours are amazing. I want one just like it.
Posted by: christine | December 13, 2008 at 04:01 AM
Hi Lucy,
Have just discovered your blog in the last couple of days and really enjoy reading what you have to say! Your 'works of art' are really amazing and I just love your latest blanket!! The blend of colours is just like a rainbow and really awesome. You have inspired someone who doesn't know how to crochet at all, to really give it a go! Keep up the great work and very much looking forward to your etsy shop opening!! :)
Posted by: audrey claire wilson | December 13, 2008 at 08:33 AM
Well done Lucy, it looks amazing. You inspired me to give the hexagons a try, so when my best friend asked me to make a blanket for her mum for xmas, I decided to go hexagons. I'm sticking with pinks and purples, and there's a photo on my blog if you're curious.
Posted by: Sue | December 13, 2008 at 09:18 AM
You have such a good eye for colour. Beautiful.
Posted by: sandie | December 13, 2008 at 09:19 AM
You have such a good eye for colour. Beautiful.
Posted by: sandie | December 13, 2008 at 09:20 AM
Well done Lucy, it looks amazing. You inspired me to give the hexagons a try, so when my best friend asked me to make a blanket for her mum for xmas, I decided to go hexagons. I'm sticking with pinks and purples, and there's a photo on my blog if you're curious.
Posted by: Sue | December 13, 2008 at 09:23 AM
This is just so amazing.... So glad to have found your blog:) Tam xo
Posted by: Tamara Erbacher | December 13, 2008 at 09:43 AM
It is over the top!! Now I think that I would like to make one but it would take me years and years but it would be worth it. Thanks for sharing and that was a beautiful photo of you in the blankets. That is a keeper and one for your DH's desk!
Posted by: Judy | December 13, 2008 at 12:56 PM