The Granny Stripe :: ta-dah!

 

Hello my friends, thank you so much for being here with me. I 'm really happy that finally, finally, I've found a (relatively) quiet little spot in my busy-busy days to sit and whizz up a multi-coloured ta-dah post to share with you all. Pheww....for a while I thought it would never happen, I can't tell you how incredibly difficult it is at the moment for me to find time to sit and write.

When I first made the decision to go with the acrylic for this blanket, there was quite a bit of uncertainty and I really wasn't at all sure whether it would work out or not. I purchased the yarn on a bit of a whim really, chose the colours quite quickly in a dimly lit shop one lunch time. Brought them home in a big squishy bag, tumbled them out onto the floor, arranged them in rows, stood back and took a long hard look at my blanket-to-be. A few dubious colours, but mostly yes I was happy with them and felt they would work up nicely into stripes.

And oh-me-oh-my, I was not disappointed. This yarn, this cheap acrylic yarn, was an absolute dream to work with. You may remember me beginning this blanket at the very end of May (yarn info can found in that post too), it was such an exciting time for me. Well truthfully the beginning of any blanket is always hugely exciting, but somehow this one seemed more so than ever before.

I have loved every moment of working up these granny stripes (excepting perhaps the first couple of rows), and everything about it has been a surprising pleasure. And now it's finished, and the acrylic yarn has become an acrylic blanket, I am hugely happy with it. It's one warm, colourful, happy, snuggly, delicious bit of hooky.

 

I know that a great many of you Hooked-A-Long with me and embarked on your own Granny Stripe blankets. I can't tell you how wonderful this has been for me, and how glad I am that this simple pattern has delivered such a lot of world-wide hooky happiness!

One of the most exciting and rewarding bits of blanket making is working The Edge. It's that point in the blanket when there is still quite a bit of hooky left to do, yet the End is firmly in sight.

I think every blanket deserves an Edge, it totally transforms the whole thing, turns it from a rectangle of crochet into a proper blanket.

 

I love how my Granny Stripe edging turned out. I made a round of granny-clusters first, working into the spaces at the end of alternate rows. 

After the granny clusters, I worked two rows of treble crochet, followed by a thin row of pink double crochet. Then with the light blue I worked the final edge-of-the-edge :: this was one row of double crochet (US single crochet) then a dinky little sort of picot/shell pattern that I made up myself.

This is an easy pattern, and makes a very neat edging. Work with the right side facing, and work out of BACK LOOPS only (other wise it curls if you work through both loops).
**work 3 slip stitches, then in the next stitch work the following :: (dc, ch 2, dc)**. Repeat between **.
Remember when I say dc, this is UK terms (hook into stitch, yarn over, hook back through stitch (2 loops on hook), yarn over, draw through 2 loops)

Do you like it?

Ahhhhhh I do. I'm very happy with it. I did try out a normal bog standard picot stitch at first but it didn't seem to be right somehow. Plus, I really get a kick out of designing something myself, creating something new.

So.

I think it might be time.

Time for me to unfold my blankie, spread it out on the floor and start dancing my excited jiggety-jig around it.

Time to climb onto the coffee table and wibble-wobble on the edge while I try and take a halfway decent photograph.

Time to show you...................................

 

............The Granny Stripe Blanket :: ta-dah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

In all it's stripy, gorgeously-gorgeous glory, there it is.

Sixty stripes in total, sixty stripes of happy colourful loveliness. 

Oh yes, I do reeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaally adore this blanket.

 

Are you enjoying this Stripe fest????!!!! I think I went a bit bonkers taking pictures, sorry if it's all a bit much.

 

As you all know, I made this blanket for Connievan, and I think thats perhaps why it's turned out so happy and colourful and sort of holiday-ish, you know?

Actually I'm really looking forward to taking it and installing it in Connievan. Ok, so "looking forward" doesn't quite describe my true feelings here, I am actually ridiculously, stupidly almost peeing-my-pants-with-excitement happy at the prospect (which will occur on Saturday yippppeeeeee!!)

But, I shall miss having it around at number 24, even though there are oooooo let me see now, five blankets here in this room already. 

So shall we move right along and talk Riveting Facts?? Shall we?? Ok, here we go.....

Yarn :: 17 colours of Stylecraft Special DK, worked on a 4mm hook.

Measures :: 110 x 150 cm

Starting chain :: 240

Stripes :: 60

Balls :: approx 10 x 100g

Weight :: just less than 1kg

Cost :: not a lot. Cheapo. A bargain.

Photo :: me snuggled on the sofa trying not to look too weary

Blanket :: gorgeously gorgeous

Me :: happy

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Edited to add :: a little note about my colour sequences...totally random, although I did keep an eye on the more dominant colours and tried to space them out quite evenly (the red, dark purple, the very bright in-your-face green and the yellow). Choosing which colours went next to each other was a huuuuuge part of the excitement for me with this blanket, I just love doing random ♥

Also, I've put the pattern into my sidebar, usual place down at the bottom, listed as a page. No step-by-step photos yet I'm afraid, but I've tried to write it in Plain English so hoping you can follow it.

Comments

[Jennifer]

So happy for you! Blanket finished and gorgeous and time to sit and write about it!!! Good for you! Wishing you a lovely time away with your family, the new blankie and Connievan! xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

[Shani]

Oh, Lucy, it's absolutely lovely!!! The whole post was well worth waiting for - I hope you enjoyed writing it as much as I enjoyed reading it. Thanks for the inspiration - I hooked right along with you and my darling, magical-happy-making Stripey Goodness is sitting right beside me as I type. Lovely. :)
Have a wonderful weekend visiting with Connievan and introducing your Granny Stripe to its new home. ~Shani xxx

[Dot]

Its absolutely beautiful Lucy and well worth waiting for!!

[christine]

This is a colour bonaza!!

I've used stylecraft yarns for the whole time I've been crochetting - and I can safely say they are my number one :)

As for that beautiful, colourful, soft and snuggable, and bright blanket - I adore it. One of my favourite tada posts :)

X

[frou-frou]

Really lovely blanket, I love the border in particular.

[Martha]

Lucy, it is a Masterpiece!! Congratulations!
:o)

[Anto]

Le tue creazioni sono meravigliose!!!!!!! Sei bravissima, mi piacerebbe tanto riuscire a fare quello cha fai tu!!! Baci Anto

[Tina]

It´s absolutely gorgeous - well done! :-)

[Andie@LollipopTreeLane]

Beautiful! ax

[Kimbles]

Its FABULOUS Lucy! Connievan will LOVE it! Thank you so much for taking the time to share it with us - and the Edge is perfecto! You have done it again - a stunner! XX

[rosiehearts]

Oh Lucy it's BEAUTIFUL lucky Connievan to have this draped over her!! x

[Anna-Karin, Sweden]

Oh my gosh!!! It's stunning!! Just love it! Must be my next project!!!

Lovely to see You, looking so happy :)

Love from Anna xxx

[Fliss]

Oh Lucy it's so pretty! It reminds me of a bright stripey deck chair on a sandy beach, with blue skies and creamy ice cream, every stripe is like a little bit of holiday goodness! I am really tempted to make one too, my lys had that wool which is good as we've got a few bits left to get for bump and I should really put getting a cot over wool, unless do u think I'd get away with it we do have a nice big old drawer! He he xxx hope you have a lovely holl! Fliss xxx

[Mam'zelle flo]

such a beauty! I'm in love with your blanket, love the colours, love the edge! Lucy you're a star!
xxx

[Sweet Shoppe Kitty]

Please girl, you look beautiful!!! Question for ya: Do you block your afghans after or just let them be? I find that granny anythings generally don't need blocking as much, especially if they're just for around the house, but you never know. Was just curious!

[Sue]

Well that's my next project sorted :o)

Blooming gorgeous Lucy.

[Denise]

Beautiful! I love it! I cannot wait to finish mine!
Your soooo pretty! Your eyes are beautiful! Thanks for sharing..cannot wait to see pics in your caravan!

[Aluajala]

Aaaaaah! Your blanket is AWESOME!

[Chris]

That really is one beautiful blanket but then all of your crochet creations lovely.Hope you have a lovely breakand that the weather is as sunny and bright as your blanket. Chris x

[Katie]

FAB-U-LOUS!!! Well done Lucy, another fab blanket

[Melissa]

Oh Lucy, it has turned out so gorgeous!!! I LOVE all the fun and happy colors in it. Thank you for sharing all about it. I am working on two ripples now based on your pattern. One is in a softer pastel color, and the other a more bold and bright color. :)

[PosyLinda]

Hi Lucy - the blankie is absolutely colorific. Bask in the light of job well done!

[craftydill]

it's so colorful and wonderful! and i'm really glad you had a good experience with acrylic... i agree with melissa that there is a wonderful selection in feel and color these days in acrylic yarn and it's definitely easier on the pocketbook! can't wait to see what you hook up next! -michelle

[Jak]

It's really lovely Lucy. With small children, I think acrylic yarn is the way to go. It washes beautifully, can be tumble dried without shrinking and just gets softer and more snuggly as the years go by.
Jak x

[Dominique from France]

I come back on the blogland after a very busy period (bridal of my daughter!) and I discover with pleasure the granny stripe. All these stripes of color are an enjoyment. Bravo for this blanket.