BB (Big Blanket), Ta-dah!

 

Hello! OOooooooooooooooooooooooooo so today's the day!!! Yes, tis offically Ta-dah day!!!!!!!

Can you believe that after so much faffing around, I am finally sitting down today to write BB's much awaited Ta-dah post? It's been a while materialising hasn't it, and I am so sorry for keeping you waiting. I've been looking forward to writing this post very much, and I really wanted the photos to be great. For them to do justice to this project that I've worked so hard on for the past seven months. And truthfully, I don't think the photos I've ended up with are that great, but they are passable and I think given the weather conditions at the present time, they're as good as it's gonna get. And besides I simply couldn't wait any damn longer to share this with you all, the heebie jeebies were getting out of hand!

OK, first off, a little bit of the practicalities. I know how much you like the Details, and quite right too. This Big Blanket of mine (known as BB) is made from Rowan Pure Wool DK in 14 shades, as follows ::

The picture above, top row, left to right ::

042 Dahlia

026 Hyacinth

027 Hydrangea

028 Raspberry

025 Tea Rose

041 Scarlet

040 Tangerine

032 Gilt

Bottom row, left to right ::

008 Marine

007 Cypress

006 Pier

019 Avocado

005 Glacier

039 Lavender

If you've been following my blog during this year and keeping up with my comings and goings, you will know allllllllllllllll about this blanket I expect. Because I have been going on (and on and on) about it a great deal, bombarding you with endless images at every stage of it's creation, so it's been hard to miss.

It started here, on January 14th with the Purchase of the Yarn.

Then shortly after came the actual Design process, and the very first blocks being made.

And then followed many, many updates too numerous to mention.

The highs and the lows.

The excitement when it was going well.

And the misery when it was not.

There were also several tutorials written around this blanket too :: my Summer Garden granny square pattern, plus the two joining methods, and finally the scallopy edging.

It has been an absolute pleasure sharing the making of this blanket with you, and even more of a pleasure sharing it's finale today. Actually I am more excited than I am letting on today, I am writing quite calmly I think. Restrained even. But inside, my heart feels fit to burst.

As you know, I've had a devil of a job photographing BB. Its a BIG Blanket for sure, measuring around 6ft square. Last week I did have a go at clearing the floor in my living room and laying it out in an attempt to take a full photograph of it laid flat. It was very hard to get myself up high enough above it to get it all in the frame. It involved balancing on the arms of my big chair, which was quite precarious and wobbly. Ahh the things we do!

But here, without further ado, I present you with BB....................

Ta-dah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

To say I am pleased with how it turned out is a serious understatement.

This is the 4th blanket I've made, and honestly it has been the most troublesome (remember those Pesky White borders?). There was quite a time when I really wasn't sure what I thought about this creation of mine. But luckily, after taking a break for a couple months, and dealing with the Pesky White, I fell back in Love again. Pheww. I can't tell you how releived I was to find my enthusiasm return.

Now then, if you'd like to come with me upstairs a moment, I'd like to show you how BB looks when In Residence.

Below is a photo of my bed as it looked before BB arrived..........

 

Cath K rosy pillowcases, and pure white egyptian cotton bedding.

Plain and Simple.

And this is how it looks now.......

 

.....Ta-dah!!!

I am truly, completely, deeply thrilled with it.

  

Words cannot really describe how I feel about BB. How it feels to create something so large that has occupied my thoughts and time for more than half a year. Pride. Love. Joy. Thrills.

Crikey, I do get serious Thrills from being around this blanket!

 

I sneak past the bedroom door and glance in, see it all laid out there and it thrills me.

 

I snuggle under it whenever I can to read, browse, daydream, and it thrills me.

I wrap myself up in it's thousands and thousands of woolly stitches, and think of all the hours I've spent sat with hook and yarn creating those stitches, and it thrills me.

OK, enough of the thrills, lets commence with the Riveting Facts, much as I did when I completed the Ripple and The Hexie.....

Measures :: 180cm x 180cm
Summer Garden Squares :: 144, arranged in 36 blocks of 4
Time :: have no idea, absolutely loads, over 7 months
Balls :: 44 (rough guess based on weight)
Weight :: 2200g
Cost :: £3.50 per ball = £154, and worth every single penny
Mileage :: 44 balls @ 125m each ball = 5500metres = 3.4 miles of yarn (!)

Photo :: me in my pyjamas, snuggled in bed this morning
Blanket :: gorgeous
Me :: happy.

Ok, one last photo..........

Ahhhhhhhhhhh BB, I do LOVE you so!!!!

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Comments

[Kellie]

Oh wow, wow, WOW! That is fabulous and I love reading all the details about this project. In fact, I have newly discovered your web site and am in love with all of it. Thank you for the beautiful inspiration. And congratulations on such a spectacular accomplishment!

[Girl from Mozambique]

It's beautiful.

[Isabel S. / Lisbon-Portugal]

Absolutely GOURGEOUS!!!!!! And you were absolutely right to take out the white. It's much MORE BEAUTIFUL!!! Hard to find words to describe it, no wonder you're very happy about it.
Love xxxxxxxxxx

[Kelly]

that is one lovely big blanket

[Lyn]

Well Done You, it looks FAB!
love
Lyn
xxx

[Andrea at Opulent Cottage]

Your bright, sunny colors really cheer me up! I love to crochet also, and you may have inspired me to give my own BB a try. It really turned out wonderfully -- thanks for sharing the journey with us!
Cheers, Andrea

[Liz]

That's fantastic!!! Well done Lucy BB is wonderful and well worth all the time and effort. I can understand why you are sooooo giddy about it!!! The colours come together perfectly (thanks goodness you found more to finish it!!)

Thank you so much for sharing this with us!

So what next???

Liz x

[noelle]

well done , it looks fab, you must be sooo pleased! x x

[moe]

Ooooooh, the colours are just so gorgeous! I envy you being able to wrap up in that lovely bb! I have made a single one for my daughter but think I will have to give the bigger one a try! Thanks so much for sharing it with us!
Moe xx

[Natalie]

ooooh Lucy BB is AMAZING! You have a perfect right to be so proud of your gorgeous & colourful creation.. I'm in awe of your talent and your eye for colour, you've totally inspired me to get started on a (smaller!) blanket of my own.. hurrah! I'm so excited to see BB in all its glory Natalie xxxxx

[Kar]

Another Fabulous creation Luce! You are awesome!

xxxx

[moe]

P.s I love your blog!
Moe

[Tania]

WOW, you have done it again Lucy. What a beauty & I'm sure well worth the wait, what is your next project ??

[Martha in Kansas (US)]

How beautiful! It's good to see it all put together. Your color sense is stunning -- so warm and homey. Very inspirng. I also got a kick out of the long shot of the bed, as I think I can tell which side is yours! (How can anyone live without books and stuff by the bedside?!) Thanks for sharing with us!

[Ita]

Wow! Can't wait to try myself!

[Hen]

Oooh, congrats, Luce, it's fab. Can't believe it's 7 months since you started it, by which I mean I can't believe how quickly the year has flown by, because it's a great achievement to have achieved all that colourful, squarey, chrochety, gorgeousness (along with living ordinary life!)
Thanks for the sharing, enjoy your snuggling! (You must be boiling in bed!)
Hen x

[Jules]

Oooow - I feel I would like to join the throng in congratulating you on a stunningly lovely blanket!

[florence]

Wow!! It really turned out great!! I love it! I have to make one like this too!! Funny you know how you called it BB? I'm french and when I read it, I always read BéBé as it is pronounced in french, which means baby :) Thought you would like it !
Have a nice evening!

[Lorraine]

Fabulous Lucy - but then you already know that ;-) You are right to be completely proud of it and in love with it. Simply beautiful.

[Amanda A.]

I'm completely inspired!

[Kelley]

BB is beautiful, and your enthusiasm about it is contagious, right through the Internet! Congrats!

[Fancy Elastic]

Whoooo hoooooo! Absolutely bloody brilliant.

High five.

[kathy]

Lucy, it is gorgeous. Well done. Love, Kathyx

[Julie]

Wow,Gorgeous, Fabulous, Beautiful,Fantastic can't think of anymore adjectives right now but I bet I do when I click the post button!
*********
May I send yu a picture of the bag I made using your lovely pattern?

[Bonnie Slager]

Another beautiful blanket Lucy! So stunning and inspiring :)