Granny Stripe Blanket :: the beginning

Hello my lovelies, great to be here in the Attic :: truthfully I should not be tucked up nattering in the Attic at all, should be attending to the business of making clean the piles of dirty laundry and packing/preparing for our trip away in Connievan tomorrow (woooooooohooooooo, four nights away by the coast!!!!)

However..........before I leave to go jollying off on my giddy-trip to the seaside, I really, really desperately want to have a quick chat about Acrylic yarn and granny stripe goings on. Cos I need to share, and you need to know, right? It will NOT WAIT, right??

OK.....above yarn is my squishy big balls of Stylecraft Special DK :: 100% Acrylic :: working on a 4mm hook. Cost was £1.60 per ball in my LYS. Bloomin bargainous.

As requested, here are the colours I've got nestling in the bag....

Top row, left to right
1422 :: aspen
1065 :: meadow
1316 :: spring green

2nd row
1003 :: aster
1019 :: cloud blue
1068 :: turquoise

3rd row ::
1188 :: lavender
1034 :: sherbet
1432 :: wisteria

4th row ::
1061 :: plum
1084 :: magenta
1390 :: clematis

5th row ::
1132 :: shrimp
1083 :: pomegranate
1241 :: fondant

6th row ::
1246 :: lipstick
1081 :: saffron

7th row ::
Little B’s stripy arm, just before he grabbed the saffron yarn!!

I'm liking this yarn. I'm v surprised that I'm liking this yarn. And I'm v happy about the surprise and the liking. It's lovely to hook with, smooth, soft. A little squeaky at certain times when hands are hot, but I can forgive it that little fault. {Little B, sat on lap, smashing his little hand down onto the keyboard, naughty Little B}jhgvgfcgfvvbc   m,

So I started on my granny stripe blanket a few evenings ago, sat on my bed, hooking that first looooong foundation chain (240 long, double bed width or thereabouts) Its not a very nice way to begin a blanket really, is it? Wiggling about with that long chain, counting like mad, being oh-so-careful to get The Count right. Cos for this particular pattern, The Count is CrItIcAl, it HAS to be a multiple of three. No more, no less.

Then after the chaining comes the tricksy first row (a row of double crochet), working those stitches carefully into each and every chain, hoping, hoping, hoping for the umpteenth time that The Count is right, that there will be no cussing, hissy fitting and frogging in the second row. I say a little prayer to the Hooky Angels to make sure I have The Correct Count. Perleeeeeeease make it right.

On to the second row.....praying like mad the whole time that it works out right. Praying right till the very end, cos only when one reaches the last few stitches does one know if The Count was right or wrong.

What do you reckon, did I get it right first time?

The answer is NO, I did not. I was one stitch short. But I could not bring myself to re-do it, so I kind of forced an extra stitch to materialise at the very end, working into the extreme end of the turn of the foundation chain, if you get that.

The third row is a happy, delicious, skippy breeze compared to the first two, cos The Count is over and the Easy Hooky can begin. Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Zoomin up that row making cute little treble clusters, nothing can stop me now, I'm doing it, loving it, cannot stop!

Row after row, sooooo easy, soooooo happy, sooooooo stripy, sooooooo good!!

 

This is really rocking my boat my friends, I cannot tell you how wonderful it is to be embarking on this blanket for Connievan, delighting in a new and successful pattern, loving new yarn, new colours. Its ACE!!!!!

I am hoping that some of you will be granny-striping along with me, will you?? Will you give it a go?? Shall we have a HAL?? (that's a Hook-A-Long in case you were wondering).

As I said earlier, I'm away next week, and haven't the time today to make a proper picture-saturated tutorial, but what I am going to try and do is to write the pattern out for you. In case like me you are desperate to get started.

So, what I humbly suggest is that you make a tester first, to get the measure of the pattern before you go cussing into that looooong blankety foundation chain.

I'm writing this in UK terms ok, so first row is double crochet, then after that we switch to treble crochet. For US peeps, work your first row in sc, then switch to dc.

Multiples of three then, lets say for the tester chain 21 to begin.

Row 1 ::

work 1dc in 2nd chain from hook. Continue working dc's into each chain till the end. You should have worked 19 stitches in total. Turn the work.

Row 2 ::

Chain 3, then work 1tr into first stitch. *Skip 2 stitches, then work 3tr's (I call this a "tr cluster") into next stitch*. Repeat between ** 4 more times, skip 2 stitches, then work 2tr's into last stitch on row.

You should have a row that begins and ends with 2tr's, and has 5 tr clusters in between. Turn.

Row 3 ::

You'll be working out of the spaces between the tr clusters of the previous row.

Chain 3, then work 3tr's into 1st space between clusters of previous row. Work 5 more tr clusters into the spaces of the previous row. And then to finish the row, work 1 tr into the top stitch of the ch3 made at start of previous row. Fasten off.

Row 4 :: Tie in your new colour...knot the two yarns tightly together, leaving ends to darn in after.

To begin, insert hook through the very first space of the previous row (between the last tr and the previous tr cluster). Draw the new yarn colour through to the front, ch 3, then 1 tr in same space.

Work 1 tr cluster into each of the next 5 spaces, then work 2tr's into the final space. Turn.

Row 5 ::

chain 3, work 1tr cluster in each of the next 6 spaces. To finish the row, work 1 tr into the top stitch of the ch3 made at start of previous row. Fasten off.

Repeat rows 4 and 5, working two rows for each colour.

I really hope you can understand this as I've written it, as soon as I'm able I'll do one of my usual tutorials with lots of pics for those of you who like the visuals, but hoping for now that this will get you started.

Remember when you start out on a blanket, your foundation chain needs to be a multiple of 3. Remember also not to make your foundation chain too tight :: try to chain loosely if poss, or switch to a hook a size bigger.

Right-oh...happy hooking my lovelies, I must go do some laundry now. See you when I'm back from my caravan love-in!!!

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

 

 

Comments

[someGirl]

im so glad you're using this yarn, because it's the only yarn i have been using so far and have felt rather lame for using the simple stuff :) and your blanket-bud looks beautiful!

about Counting - i hate to count and recount and pray. so when i have to make long chains, i mark every 20 stitches, either using pins or a piece of yarn. This way i can only be mistaken within a 20-stitches-limit. which is not Awfully annoying.

[Gisela]

Thanks for such a very nice pattern, I´ve printed it out, perhaps I try it in the future. Very nice colors. You make your family a very cosy home.
Many greetings
Gisela

[Maddi]

Thank you thank you ThAnk YoU! Now i can start on wonderful granny stripe goodness! Now off to find hook and yarn...
Thanks!
Maddi <3

[Karen]

I'm hooking along with you now on my own granny stripe blanket (king size bed) in 26 colours of the Stylecraft Special DK. I can send you a pic if you like and maybe you could put it up in a "fellow granny stripers" gallery on your blog. I agree the chain and first row is very tedious but once that's done there's no holding back. I started on Saturday morning. I was so excited to get going I didn't even wait for your colour choice to come through even though I asked (sorry lol) I just ordered what I liked, hoped for the best and waited for the post.

[lazylol]

Have a lovely break by the sea Lucy and thank you for the heads up on the magazine yesterday - I was giddy my hand on a copy this morning :)

[Penny Peberdy]

Well, I've ordered all the yarn so that's a start! My second grandchild will be born at the end of July, so I've got to get hooking quick!

[Justine Mullins]

Hey Lucy, the blanket is going to look great and thanks for the info on the colours of yarn. I'm deffo up for a HAL but will need to wait for pics to go with the tutorial! I'm a really really new crocheter so need to see things!!! Your blog has taught me loads, many many thanks, Justine xx

[Pattygloria]

Lucy,
Thank you so much for this pretty pattern!I've already printed it out, and I'm hooking along with you now this granny stripe blanket.
Warm greetings,
Gloria xxx

[Tina]

Looks wonderful, thanks for sharing! :-)

[Andrea]

You're the best, Lucy! Thank you for the pattern, and have a lovely trip!

[Maureen S]

Oh Lucy. You are making me want to get hooking on another blanket that I do not need. I just finished my ripple blanket (pattern courtesy of you). I have a book I want to start reading for summer, but now that may have to wait. You are a great inspiration and your new hooky project is so cute. Oh...I can imagine how excited you are to work on that while you're away on your trip. Have fun!

[Linda O]

This is beautiful Lucy, would love to make one of my own but like many others I first have to finish my ripple. Something nice to look forward to anyway. Enjoy your seaside holiday, hope you have lots of hooky time!

[Heather]

Hi Lucy!

Blimey, I've never known anyone get quite so many comments, so quickly!

Anyway, I have not long taught myself to crochet and should just like to thank you for your fabulous blog (Coco Rose recommended you) - your tutorials are second to none and your photos and passion for colour utterly inspiring!

Granny stripe huh? I'm so going to have a go too - thought of a huge blanket scares me so may stick to something just as striped but a little smaller! ;-) I'm not sure about acrylic though - doesn't it eventually stretch to about twenty times the size? I'm currently using cotton mix wools and love them.

Have super relaxy trip in Connievan with your little brood.

Heather x

[Alison]

Your enthusiasm is infectious - I am looking across my kitchen at a lovely vintage crochet blankie throw over an armchair, and I'm thinking "I can do this - why not, yes I really can do this!" So, I guess, step one is... buy some of this fabulous colourific wool (or should it be "not wool"!).... yes, I can do it ... yes, I can do it...

[greenrabbitdesigns]

Ohhhhhhhh thats so lovely! I assume the blanket is going on holiday in Connievan too, can't wait to see how it looks at the end of the week.
Enjoy your trip! :)
Vivienne x

[Julia]

Now after seeing this, Im sorely tempted to do one of these too - but not yet, no, I must be firm with myself and Rainbow Ripple must be finished first or it will end up languishing unfinished in a corner like poor old Hexie did.
I hope you have a wonderful time at the coast in your caravan, sounds delicious (Ive been envying people driving past our house towing caravans off to obviously gorgeous locations all weekend).

See you soon!!
Love Julia x x x

(Ps - yes, we did do Holy Island, that place is truly magical isn't it?!)

[Heather]

I would just like to say ... how relieved I am that you like the yarn after how much I told you it was good! I would have felt very bad if you hadn't liked it.

Your stripes look great as well, it's going to be a fab blanket for sure :)
xxxx

[Mamalion]

Ooooohhhh!!! I'll play! I'll play! I have a wonderful bag of colorful yarns!

[Annette]

Fabulous! I will hook along, not a blankie but yet another pillow case. And about acrylic, it isn't bad is it? My first big project was in acrylic yarn and I loved it. The blankie got very soft and cuddly, colours were great, easy to wash... Pretty good actually, if you find good quality acrylic yarn that is. Lovely hooking and see you next time.

[Alba]

Looking good! I managed to pick up some Stylecraft Special DK in a local asian shop for the bargain price of 99p a ball. I've been waiting patiently for you to start posting about your granny stripes and can't wait to get started.

[Cathy]

Hey Lucy, that blankie is looking gorgeous already! We are also off tomorrow in Connie the Conway - can't wait to glamp her up! I've been so busy since my last trip - rugs, bunting, lamps, all ready to decorate tomorrow! Great fun! Have a lovely time xxx

[Helle]

Lucy, it's already gorgeous and you are only 6 colours into the blanket!

Soooo looking forward to see it with all the colours.

Wish you and yours a great trip in Connievan.

Tanne

[Vicki]

Lucy Dear, Thank You, Thank You, Thank You, for these wonderful stripey granny yarn instructions. I have been on hooks and needles ever since you mentioned it. I will be using beautiful bright colors too. You always inspire me with beautiful colors. Thank You so very terribly much Dear Lucy. Vicki

[Carol]

Thank you Lucy. I shall be reading that in detail but just wanted to add to your positive comments about this yarn.
I bought some last Thursday to make a ripple blanket (my first!) and it is lovely to work with, I'm hooking along very quickly.
Enjoy your holiday in Connievan. Hope the sun shines for you.

[The Vintage Kitten]

Ooooh the colours are fabulous! X