Blanket Business

Hello, hello!! I am so hugely thrilled about sitting here to write todays post, to be sharing some exciting (well exciting for me) blankety business with you all. 

I took these first two photographs on Sunday I think it was, after the Little People had been hanging out on the sofa watching tv during the weekend. The Granny and the Hex blankets as you know are always around in this room, but Little Man especially adores the Ripple and often comes  to ask nicely if he can bring it down from where it lives on my bed.

I love that these three blankets I've made during the last year and a half have become so much a part of our family life. Love that they are loved and used and appreciated.

I do believe that I shall always be making blankets, one after the other. I just love it so. I love the whole big process of creating a blanket, from the first beginnings of an idea, through the making process,and finally the ongoing pleasure of the finished article. It's pleasure all the way.

Now that I have learnt how to make mosaics of my photographs, I've been having a lot of fun with this idea. I made the above image a few weeks ago, they are all flowers that have appeared on my blog during the past year...and don't they just look so scrumptious? I was thinking of my favourite flowers, and favourite flower colours when I started planning this new blanket. I was thinking mmmmmm how lovely it would be to create a blanket that was like looking at a summer garden. Where the colours would remind me of roses and nasturtiums, of sweet peas and cornflowers, sweet williams and geraniums. And so slowly, slowly, the beginnings of a design was born. 

The blankets I've made so far have all had a fair amount of randomness about them. Each one started with a pool of coloured yarns and then evolved quite spontaneously into different coloured squares, stripes, hexagons. But amongst this randomness, each of my blankets also has a small "constant" in it's design :: the granny squares had the green edging round each block, the ripple had the evenly spaced raspberry stripes, and the hexagon blanket had it's yellow centres. But apart from these decisions, all other colour selections were random.

And I do love randomness. I like the excitement of choosing colours on the hop, of not knowing quite how it's going to pan out when all the randomness finally comes together as a whole.  I more or less know that so long as I start out with the right combination of colours, then random will work out. It will, I always have faith.

Anyhow, back to the point Missy Lucy, I am rambling I do appologise. So yes, the design for this new blanket :: it formed itself in my whirly gig brain quite distinctly one day at the end of last year, and I immediately went to Little Man's coloured pencils and drew it out on paper. I was thinking flowery circles inside squares, like flowers growing in a neat, organised potager garden. And I knew that I wanted the colours to be quite organised for this blanket, for the random element of colour to be contained in a calm, ordered, harmonious whole. Because this is going to be a big blanket, a big square double bed sized blanket. And it needs to be calm and harmonious because I shall be sleeping with it every night and quite honestly I cannot have it screaming at me like the hexagon blanket did. It would keep me awake!

Playing with colour combinations is something that gives me enormous pleasure, it drives my creativity in all things. I find such joy in colour, it's hard to describe in words, but I'm sure you know if you've been reading my blog how it is for me. How over excited I get over using colour creatively, its that buzzy, heart-flipping, jittery, squeeealy kind of excitement, it's that feeling that kind of makes me want to go ooooooeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!

This yarn, these colours, I am in love with it all. I keep wanting to stick my face into my yarn bag just to kind of snaffle it up. It was a real luxury purchasing so much yarn in one swoop, its the first time I've ever bought yarn this way. It was a bit stomach churning paying for it all at once, but hey, I am over that hurdle, I jumped it and cleared it with surprising ease. Sure, I've not yet fessed to husband how much exactly thirty balls of yarn cost, that's gonna be interesting when that conversation rolls around. But it had to be done, I had no choice. I had practically been down on my knees in the yarn shop last week, begging the owner to order this yarn in for me when originally they refused. I told them how much I loved their shop, how I would so much rather give them my money than some faceless internet yarn provider. They were eventually persuaded, but it was a big decision for them because as Rowan sells to shops in packs of ten, it meant they had to order in 130 balls of yarn in order for me to take my 30. So they did me a huge favour, and in return, I gave them my money up front. And my heartfelt thanks.

For this blanket I wanted to use granny squares again because I adore making them and they are fast and super-whizzy for me now, I can practically do them with my eyes shut. But I didn't want normal granny squares, no, I wanted to try and make them look like circles-in-squares, like flowers.

I couldn't find a pattern I liked. I searched the internet, I searched and searched. I tried some sunburst granny squares, but oh too complicated! So in the end, I made my own pattern. Do you like it? I am extremely pleased with it, it's a joy to make, and so simple. And it creates the exact visual impression that I was after, of a flower blooming. At a slightly later date I'll be sharing the pattern here on my blog, just in case you might want to create your own flower garden.

So this is how it is coming along so far :: I am making four small squares and crocheting them together, then adding three rounds of "grannying" round the outside, ending in white.

The colours for the first two flower rounds are randomly chosen, as are the two outer purply-pink rounds. The other blue/green colours will remain the same to provide the "constant", as well as the edging in white. I've not ever used white in my crochet before, and I was unsure about it at first. But I think it's going to work well and will help to hold all the colour together.

I only began work on this on two days ago when the yarn took up residence, and I'm really thrilled with how pleasurable it is to make these big blocks. It has it's small challenges, but overall I am truly loving it. I'm planning on making thirty six of these big blocks altogether, so that's two down and thirty four to go.

And finally, a thought I wish to share about the business of blanket-making. It occurred to me yesterday that crocheting is one of those hobbies that one can do so easily and happily in complete isolation, yet sharing it somehow makes it a million-gazillion times more fun.

So can I say here and now, a huge ((Thank you)) for providing me with the most perfect sharing-opportunity, and for upping the fun-element for me. I am so grateful for your interest and enthusiasm, it means a lot.

XXXXX thank you XXXXX

Comments

[Ali]

Words! Fail! soooo beautiful...I am making a vastly inferior blanket at the mo and yours is making me want to start a new one. Now!! gorgeous blog, you brighten my day :-) xxx

[Dragonfly]

You are SO inspiring. You manage to put into words EXACTLY how I feel about colour too. I have plans to make a blanket this year too, I'm just finishing off a couple of smaller projects first (very disciplined! It's killing me!!) I love the colours of the DK, but am torn between it and the cotton... decisions, decisions.

[periwinkle]

wow, You should give lessons you know , charge a small amount and it would pay for the yarn to create this gorgeousness....
lisa x

[Sally]

Wow! You're a triple threat. I don't know what I enjoy more: your photographs, your words, or your expert crochet abilities. They way you explain your colors, supplies, and projects keeps me smiling! Thanks!

[Potiron]

Great!!! can't wait to see the end result!!!!

I agree totally with you randomness works so well when the palette works.....

I crochet in the evenings and the light is not quite what it is in the daytime, so I don't really know what I'm taking.... I find out the end result next morning ---- so far, so good!!!

I blogged about my most recent project, but it's in French...... I'll be happy to translate if you wish.

tell me, do you crochet all day long, or for a fixed period during the day, or only in the evenings??? How long do you think it will take you to make this blanket, like how long did it take you to do the others?????

In love with what you do!!!

take care and keep us posted!!!!

[Bertie Meadows]

Lucy your blanket is going to be beautiful. I bet you'll have it finished in no time!
You should be proud of your photographs, they really are a feast for the eyes.
Bertie x.

[elizabeth of course]

You should be proud of your photos. Your lighting is always just right.
And the new project looks really great! I can so understand about shelling out all that money at once. I'm a sale and coupon girl when it comes to yarn.
And can I tell you how much I'm loving the word snaffle?

[Andi]

Lucy, the colours, the pattern are so gorgeous. It is going to look fantastically gorgeous when it's done!
You must have a very creative brain to think up the things you do. Thanks for the lovely blog and the inspiration to keep crocheting!! I am 'hooked' now ;-)

[Deb]

Y'know I think that might be my favourite out of all the ones you've made. I always thought if I were to crochet a blanket (hahaha, it would take me years....) it would be colour contained in a white border.

What will you do with all your (future) blankets? You could probably sell them on etsy for a small fortune (have you seen how much the CK ones are?).

[Jen]

WHEN are you going to SELL these??

[Cornflower]

Splendid!

[simone]

The square with the orange centre really does look like a daffodil! The white border will really make the colours stand out even more! My fingers are itching to crochet something but I have so many projects started......

[Kar]

Well, you did not disappoint dear Luce! Took my breath away! I must be completely honest when I say that my true passion with crochet is blankets and you have recharged that passion in me. My dream is to have a pile of handmade blankets just waiting for my little peeps to pick the right one for the day to use. Just as if it were a big pile of quilts. I once thought of designing patterns for blankets and selling them on ETSY but wasn't sure. But now with your inspiration....ANYTHING is possible. I am also going to try to incorporate white into my blanket. My daughter said I should and I thought no. Now seeing yours...WOW! I am completely over taken with your work, colors, etc!

And let's forget your pictures! Please, you always seem to have the best light. What I would do for light like that to pour into my house! And the colors you surround yourself with. Completely changed me, you have. Your blog is my NUMBER 1 FAV!

I'm going to be in dream land all day with ideas just swimming in my head. Thank you, truly Luce!

I'll stop for now. :) xxxxxxxxx

[LittleGem]

Beautiful ideas for this blanket, gosh I really NEED to learn how to crochet! And wonderful photographs as always, of course you should be proud - I would be!!! You bring a bit of cheer to these miserable grey days! Thankyou Lucy for brightening up my day with your colour! X Gem

[Julie]

How exciting. And how beautiful. Thank you for sharing your talent and your joy and enthusiasm with us.

I think it is wonderful that you create such beautiful things, and they are so admired and enjoyed by your family - all too often something beautiful has to be displayed or put out of harms way to be kept safe - to have such things of beauty also bring such love and happiness is wonderful.

Am so going to enjoy watching your new blanket evolve. It promises to be the most beautiful yet.

And finally, because I almost forgot in all the blanket love, the flowers mosaic is fabulous - I think you could frame that - a colourful fresh flower-filled feast for the eyes.

Have a great weekend. x

[weedwacker]

Your blankets are so beautiful! I had to comment because I just posted about my mom, who got back into crochet after many years, and she has made 13 ripple blankets in 14 months!
I recently showed her how to make a granny square, and your blog. There's no stopping her!

[julie]

C'est beauuuuuu (nice, so nice)......

[emma]

Lovely stuff as usual Lucy. You are very clever. The colour combinations are gorgeous. Vanessa at Do you mind if I knit did a lovely blog recently on a necklace she has made. The buttons and colour combinations are gorgeous. Perhaps your local wool shop would like a mention on your blog and then people could do mail order from them to clear your excess wool that they now have!!!!!

I just wanted to say that a long time ago I left you a very long comment about what I had done in the past. It was in response to an email where you asked me what I had done. It wasn't just a random ramble!

Back to colour I have noticed that often the best colours to accent our favourite colours are black, white and yellow. They are not colours I naturally go for but with a bit of them in they really bring out the other colours.

By the way, I think there is a serious bird making session going on in blogland at the moment. I look forward to seeing your birds. There is a blog that is actually doing - make 5 birds and then swap - but I cannot remember at the precise moment what it is called!!!!

Have a good weekend.

Love Emma xxxxx

[emma]

Forgot to say - I love the mosaic feature of Picasa now as they have updated it so you can change the frame colour too. I think it is a great way to create a mop up of images to inspire everyone.

Love Emma xxxxx

[Hen]

Looks lovely, Lucy, and I enjoyed the flower mosaic, too. Happy blanket-crocheting to you.
Hen x

[Gina]

WOW!Such amazing colours. All your blankets are beautiful but this one is going to be stunning!

[Isabel]

I just LOVE your blog(i visit daily), and your blankets which are also my passion. The colours you chose are very very beautiful, i wish i could go on the same shop to buy that yarn, unfortunately i'm very far and i can only buy it by net. Yr new blanket is going to be gorgeous.
Love Isabel xxxxx

[Debra Spincic]

Such a wonderful riot of color! Everything about your work is joyful!

[susan hall]

Hello again Lucy. It's lovely to see what your'e doing with that gorgeous haul of wool- and so fast! I so wish I could crochet. I can knit socks fast and piece a quilt(not so fast) but crochet has so far got me beat. Did you teach yourself? I reckon I need a teacher but haven't found one yet. Still I've got my hook and the book you recommend and I'll have to persevere.
Not this afternoon though I just finished a big bake of bread, muffins and parkin finished off with your choc chip cookies, now a firm favourite with all my sons(and me if I get the chance) so thanks for the recipe. Love S

[cami]

It is lovely! I love the colors and the design. You did a great job. I can't wait to see it all finished. You have inspired me to start another afghan.