Hooking and Blocking

A little bit of blankety, grannified hooky chat today :: I'm continuing to work steadily on my Summer Garden blocks and most evenings you can find me snuggled on the sofa with my yarn bag, quietly working my way through that gorgeous yarn stash.

This is how I work ::

I begin by making little piles of whirly circles, in groups of four.

And when there is a fair pile of circles I begin to turn them into squares, also in groups of four.

And when there is a fair pile of squares, I begin to turn these little Granny Quartets into blocks.

And when a block is made and finished, its time to Block the block.

I would say that blocking is an essential part of making a blanket, especially if your granny squares/blocks are more than five rounds big. After this size, the squares begin to wibble and wobble and pull out of shape, it's the nature of crochet, due to the way the yarn and stitches pull in a certain direction as you work. Alicia describes this process brilliantly in one of her posts about making and blocking granny squares. She talks of how blocking them "absolutely transforms these babies from slightly fraught, tweaked-out, anxious little trapezoids to drapey, blissed-out grown-ups — they're all mature and perfectly square and presentable after spa-treatment."

I just love that idea, of the Grannies going for Spa-treatment.

Blocking is easy, and ridiculously satisfying. I use a square of 1-inch thick foam covered in an old thin towel. Then using a ruler as a guide, I start by pinning the square out in the four corners first, followed by a pin mid way round each side. Then it's a case of working your way round with pins, easing and stretching the sides of the block out to the ruler edge. One pin roughly every 3 or 4cm is enough.

Then you will need a water spray (the type you can find in a garden centre which is used for plants), filled with tepid water. Spray the whole block  with a fine mist until it's evenly wet, then leave to dry completely (over night in a warm place is best).

The results speak for themselves. It's not only the shape which is altered, but the actual feel and drape of the block too :: it becomes softer and altogether more blankety somehow. More relaxed.

As the blocks begin to pile and grow, my joy for this blanket multiplies. I think this is my happiest blanket to date. It thrills me to bits, makes my heart flip.

Right now, as of today, I have thirteen complete blocks made, so I'm just over one third done. I also have a stack of 24 circles and 20 squares waiting to be made up into more blocks.

It was a delicious moment when I spread them out all together for the first time this morning to see how they were beginning to shape up..........

What do you think?

Looking good??

Just need to mention that I've had numerous requests recently for a tutorial on joining granny squares together. I'm hoping to try and get this done as soon as I can for you, but please bare in mind that we are now into half term hols and Little People will be  demanding my attention. So I will do my best.

Right-o, I'm off to go and get my Friday thrills :: fresh flowers, chocolate, magazines and pink fizz are needed ready for the weekend....oh happy days :o)

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Comments

[Alison]

looking great:-)

[frances]

Your squares are looking very, very good!

My own crochet project is beginning to take shape, in a colorway that is very different, all pinks, roses, reds, ivories, cinnamon ... maybe I have been inspired by Valentine's Day. I know that seeing your creativity is always a catalyst.

Thank you!

[Clara Melvin]

Looking really good. I crochet in the same manner. I start by making a lot of the center, stack them and when I get a lot, I will do the next step. It is so satisfying to see the piles as they are completed. I love the look of your new "blanket."

[French Knots]

I've managed to crochet around the edge of a knitted pram blanket this week so, inspired by you, my next project is going to be granny squares. Might end up as a very small cushion of squares if it doesn't go well!
Love your latest blanket, very snuggly.

[mamalion]

Beautiful! That's my next project, after I finish the bag you've inspired me to make. Loving the colors in this dreary month!

[manuela]

wow, wow, wow, i'm doing the same crochet design ... thank you for this wonderful photos
Manuela

[emma]

I have a hit and miss husband on that front too! doh!

Have a lovely weekend. The crochet looks amazing by the way. Lovely colours. I am doing a blanket out of a rowan catalogue at the moment. Keep getting distracted away from it though - it has been one of those weeks!

Love Emma xxxxx

[Shelley in SC]

Not just looking good, looking wonderful!! You've started my morning off with a smile again. I can't tell you how fun it is to click on the icon and find a new post is up. It's like finding a little gift in the mail!!

[cherrie]

Looking good!! Thankyou for the instructions on blocking. I am scasred stiff of joining blocks so I just do one large square for my blankets but maybe joining would be easier if I blocked them. Cherrie

[Roo]

Those square foam squares meant as a childs outdoor toy you buy in places like the early learning centre work well for blocking on too. I got some from Asda at the end of last summer and block everything on them now. I've even scratched lines into them so I don't have to bother with a ruler. The squares are looking fabulous.

[teresa]

Lovely. I have completed two different scrap blankets in the last few years. So satisfying to see all the colors come together so happily.

I sure would love to see a picture of the bag you have your work pile in.

[A Thrifty Mrs]

Such a useful and pretty post.

[Louise]

Oh wow - the grannies are looking fabulous. The white border works so well. I love your ability to use colour in a random fashion. Try as I might I just cannot cope with random.

[Teresa]

Wow, absolutely gorgeous. I agree wholeheartedly with the feel of the block after blocking. I don't know why but it does make a "feel" difference. Thanks for sharing. Keep it coming.

[The Fairy Glade]

Absolutely lovely, I cant wait to see it finished. I particularly like the white edging and the little round shapes at each corner. The first thing that sprang to mind was a tiny crotchet flower at each junction...don't know where it cam from it just popped into my head. Dev X

[louise]

I love the white edging round the squares it really freshens the colours and makes it look crisp. I hadn't realised how you were making the four small squares into one larger one before and having the white edges makes it neater when the squares are joined - so clever!

Have a lovely weekend! Louise

[cathleen]

Oh, I can see you galivanting off to your shops today with a bright huge smile and buying all your favorite weekend pleasures...magazines, chocolate and flowers! Did you ever see the movie "The Enchanted April"? Well, I have a copy and it's one of my very favorite feel-good movies. I watched it two nights ago and I had to laugh...the main character, Lottie, is such a sweetheart. She reminded me so very much of you with her joy for life and finding the best in people. Try to watch it sometime...it's beautiful! Lucy, have a happy contented weekend...hope you enjoy a lovely Valentine's Day...and drink a glass of pink fizz for me too. Now...about that sweet garden blankie...lovely, lovely, lovely...it has the joyously happy 'Lucy' love signature written all over it.

[Janette]

your blanket is totally beautiful. It would soooo look great in our bedroom. I'm in the process of making some grannys for a small lap blanket for my mum so thanks for the tips on blocking as it's the first granny blanket I've made. I'm also doing a stripy blanket for Jamie in red white and blue. But then I've bought some lovely springy summery colours and following your tutorial I've taught myself to do hexes so I think thats enough things going on for now. Hopefully, I'll get chance to do a fair bit during half term which started today. In the meantime I've already been to the shops for our weekend shopping which sounds remarkably similar to yours - chocs, pink fizz and I'm hoping Neil sorts out the flowers...have a great weekend and half term.
Janette
xx

[Gina]

Absolutely! Looking great!

[Vicki]

Glorious! Just breathtaking, the colors are so vibrant! Now, do tell...what is PinkFizz???

[Kar]

Once again Luce, you do not disappoint! The squares are turning out to be gorgeous! Nearly done with my hexie blankie. Next will be a scrap bag that I have also been waiting on making. Love yours. :) Have fun at the shops buying all the little fun things for the weekend. I bought a crochet mag yesterday and I will have to email you about something I saw in it. I was so giddy looking through it. Yes, doing a jiggy dance. Have fun with your Little People and have a FAB weekend dear. :D

kar xxxxx

[Regina]

Hi Lucy
Your Grannys looks absolutley grandios.I like
the colour.
Have a nice weekend and a Happy Valentine!!!
Hugs,Regina

[jeane]

just to say happy valentine's day to u...

[Luci]

Oh I'm a long way down a long list of lovely comments. Have only done plain granny squares before so am stopping all projects to try the hexes. Blocking looks great and explains why mine are wobbly but what happens once it's washed? Do you have to pin it out again to dry?
I think you are a crochet genius!
Luci

[debra cooper]

Looks gorgeous already!!