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

[Rona]

Lucy, it's incredible! I was so excited to check in and see it today! Little KJ said "Mommy, make THAT one!!!" when I showed her the pictures, so I guess I have another project to add to my list of Lucy-inspired to do's! I LOVE the picture of you cuddled in it, just perfect! Enjoy!!! Now, if I could just get the kiddos off of our big blue so I can finish The Edge, lol!

[Pomona]

That is an absolutely heavenly blanket - and congratulations on finishing it! My shelves are far too full of unfinished projects (including six year old knitted squares for a blanket!). So when are you going to start the next one?!

Pomona x

[mandy]

gorgeous blankie Lucy !!! you should be very proud of yourself,
mandy.

[CM]

yummy, yum, yum :)

[Cazzie]

BB is absolutely gorgeous - have been following your progress over the last few months and the finished blanket is fab :0)

[Laura K.]

It's definitely 'one of a kind' which makes it so special to the creator! The colours certainly inspire me, too, Lucy. I tend to go for the neutral since I am not as brave to go towards the vibrant colour. What colour did you sew it together with? Did you stitch or crochet it together?
Congrats on the BB Reveal today!

[Giselle]

Congratulations, Lucy. It's simply stunning and well worth 44 balls of lovely Rowan pure wool dk. So inspiring!

[Joanne]

Absolutely stunning, there is no wonder at all that you are thrilled with it, who wouldn't be. It is totally and utterly gorgeous! ! !

[Amy]

I needed a bit a inspiration, thank you! I started a blanket using you summer garden squares tute a few months back and it has been slow going, a square here and square there... I had put it down for a bit to do some sewing (and suffer through my first trimester of pregnancy, #5 due in Jan.!) but seeing yours all complete has given me a new passion for my own, maybe I can get it done before the winter is over, lol! My only problem now is that our local craft store re-did their yarn department and 2/3 of the way through my squares they are no longer carrying one of my colors! Looks like I will have to wait a bit longer to get moving again since I have to order my yarn online! Your blanket looks beautiful, BTW!

[Kelly]

Congrats! You should be proud to have finished such a lovely project!

[Tina]

That is one fantabulous blanket...I love love love it!! I bow to your superior ability to make large items...I do not have the sticking power!

Well done on such a wonderful achievement! It's gorgeous. :)

[Zoe]

Lucy - this blanket is sooooo gorgeous. Thank you again for your lovely tutorials. Without these I would NEVER have got the crochet technique right. I just love crocheting now and am making a granny square blanket in Shetland wool.

[Claire Hurd Design]

I LOVE IT!!!

[Nina - Tabiboo]

'Wow, wow, fab and gorgeous' Lucy - it is an utter joy to be able to have a peeky at your truly scrumptious BB! yeeeaaa haaawww.

Enjoy the snuggles,

Nina x

[fitty]

oh wow lucy.. what a beauty! love love love the blankie.. so colourful and am sure it will make you warm on any cold day! congrats!

[Jane]

Wow! It looks fabulous and so colourful. Well done you.

Jane

[poppy]

It's amazing, Lucy! Such a masterpiece! I love how the pattern repeats in some places and then is different in other ways and the colours are fab. Definitely worth all the hours you put in and I shall miss reading all the updates about it! What's next?

[Chez Tine]

c'est un magnifique ouvrage
tu as vraiment bon goût pour les couleurs et beaucoup de patience
bravo

[sally]

Wooooowwwww!!! Go Lucy, Go Lucy! What a thing of beauty! Well done you! I just LOVE the way you put colours together. I will definitely be copying your lovely borders (when I get that far!) they finish it perfectly! Enjoy it!
Sally x

[lulu]

oh man, its beautiful Lucy..
Fantastic job..

[Marie]

Thanks for sharing this milestone! Seems like BB symbolizes you in many ways. Joyful and inspiring!

[Carole]

OOOOOOOO it`s soooo lovely, the colours are gorgeous.I think the photos are lovely, you`ve done a brilliant job. you have a good eye for colour and how to make the colours work brill, brill! I made one of your jar jacket`s yesterday for my kitchen & now i have to hurry up & eat the Bon Mamon Jam!! Can`t wait to see your next project, no pressure lol! Love Carole in Rossendale xxx

[Ann]

Love BB it's a 'practical work of art' IMHO... of all the shots I think the bed shots really show it off to its best advantage it's like looking at a page from your magazine syou like to read and show us....

Because of your use of colour it's made me start using brighter colours I normally wouldn't use in my crocheting especially when its not garment based.

[Bev]

What a lucky day for me to find your blog on the big grand finally of BB.
How nice it is! My mother had made me a BB long ago. That thing was so WARM!
Love your blog…I am adding you to my favs!

[Derya]

I loved this blanket. Very beautiful.Congrats.. I love your blog.