Granny Patchwork Blanket

Isn't a whole heap of colourful yarn a heart warming sight? I love it soooo much. It still sometimes amazes me that I have become this Yarn Person, when for so long my passion was fabric and thread. Even when I discovered crochet and had a need for yarn, I wasn't all that bothered about the actual yarn itself. I didn't care if it was soft or smooth or warm, natural or man-made, I only cared about the colour. Colour all the way. Actually, now I come to think about it, it was the same when I worked in fabric. When all my textile friends were doing remarkable layered textural things, I only wanted to use plain cotton cos of the huuuuuuge number of colours it came in.

The above dreamy pile of yarn is the remains of my Stylecraft Special DK stash (previously used for the Granny Stripe and the Sweet Flower Granny) with some of my friends oddments added in. Hence the few very dark colours which are not part of my usual colour palette.

I collected all the yarn up and hand wound some of the more raggedy balls so that my bag would be full of neat little yarn balls to work with.

I began to make and join some simple one-colour granny squares. It was all done on a bit of a whim as I was searching for a suitable hooky project to take on holiday with me. I was inspired by the patchwork blankets that Heather and Jacquie made earlier in the year, and these squares promised to be a relaxing, easy going kind of a way to produce a top-notch blanket.

Since starting my patchwork blanket, I found out that there are already many lovely hooky people all working on the same sort of thing, inspired by Sandra's really beautiful creation. My Ravelry group has a thread dedicated to a "Patchwork Granny CAL" where you can catch up with everyones progress, I think it's utterly wonderful that there are so many of us all working on similar blankets all over the World.

I'm working my squares in five rounds, and joining-as-I-go.

This joining method works incredibly well for this sort of project, especially if you tackle it in a methodical sort of a way. I'm working my blanket up in rows which are 12 squares wide, joining as I go from left to right.

It was an absolute dream to work on whilst I was on holiday, the perfect relaxation project. I would come downstairs in the early morning and sit on the sofa as the sun streamed in through the window, hooking myself into a state of pure bliss.

The rows grew (Driftwood Cottage garden bench, 30th August)....

....and grew (Driftwood Cottage carpeted floor, 1st September).

As with most of my blanket projects, I am working my colours at random. I really love the random process, but I confess I do put a weeny bit of planning into place with it.

I want to share my method with you, in case it might be of help. As you can see with the above pictures, I plan my rows. I lay my blanket out and arrange my yarn balls for the next row. It helps me space out the colours/tones, especially the highly contrasting ones (eg the yellow and the couple of very dark ones). It helps the blanket to gain a certain colour balance.

When I've got my 12 colours selected for the next row, I take little snips of the yarn and stick them to a piece of paper. This is my colour map.

This colour map enables me to select just 12 balls to put into my flowery zippered project bag (posted about here) so I am always already for hooky-on-the-go. It means I don't have to take a whole big bulky bag of yarn out with me, I can just grab my zippered pouch and run. It also means I don't have to faff about trying to select colours when I'm in a slightly tricky hooky spot (ie in the car)

With this dash and grab method, I also figured something else out. I figured out that I don't actually need to cart the growing blanket out and about with me if I don't want to. I can just take yarn and hook, and crochet up the first four rounds+one side of each square so that I stop exactly at the point where I need to slip-stitch-to-join. Do you get what I mean? The idea is that when I've got time at home, I can pick up where I left off and complete the 5th/joining round when I can easily sit with the blanket draped over me (ie not in sweltering heat beside the pool as the Little People swim).

By employing these methods, my blanket has grown surprisingly quickly as I've been hooking in all sorts of places and at all sorts of in-between times. At the swimming pool, on the heather clad hills, in the pub, in the car, at my friends kitchen table. It's become the perfect fitty-in thing to make, and that's one of the things I most adore about crochet. It just so neatly and perfectly Fits In with family life.



This is where I'm currently at, seven rows of twelve. I have to say I am completely smitten with the deep dark colours sitting amongst my usual mid-tones. They worried me for a bit, but now I've got used to their dark presence, I love the way they jolt the whole thing up and give it depth and movement. Oooo, I sound a little bit arty there, don't I? Depth and Movement indeed, get me!!! Maybe I should just say it's jolly and happy and patchworky and a tad quirky, which are more my kind of words. Yeah, well, you know what I mean.

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Comments

[Mary]

Absolutely lovely! The colors are beautiful. There's something to be said about solid color yarn. You can mix and match any way, and it all turns out lovely. (I tend to use mostly variegated.) Maybe I'll change my ways.....I like your solids! The afghan will be lovely!!!
:-)

[Gill]

I so need to learn how to do this.

Gill in Canada

[Melanie @ M&M]

I may have to give this one a go! Thanks for the input on how you lay out your colors. I'm happy to know there is a bit of planning in it! Beautiful colors as always, and I, too, am so glad you are back : )

[Carrie]

i love on-the-go crochet (and knitting). I used to embarass my children by crocheting in the dentist's waiting room or on the spectator seat st the swimming pool. My son has gone on to knit on train journeys, so presumably wasnt too badly scarred by the experience!
lovely blanket, Lucy x

[kim]

why do I feel like I "come" home when I read your posts? thank you for beign warm and cozy always:O)

[Frances]

Hey Lucy, there is absolutely nothing, nothing wrong with sounding arty, as you put it. Your new color blocked crocheting looks very fine. Those dark colors really keep a different rhythm going.

Best wishes!

[carmen attie]

Lovely as always! Just finished your japanese flower scarf, people stop me in the street to ask me where I bought it!
Thanks for so many beautiful ideas!

[diana]

Great project! Thanks for the inspiration to crochet where & when you can fit it in. ;-)

[Susanne Tyree]

I have seen this blanket done before, only 3 rounds in each granny. The color scheme works fine as long as you don't run out of a certain color to give balance to the overall design. I love the scrappy look...that is what I am all about, stash- busting projects that are easy take-along and fun. Your blanket is turning out really nice. The join-as-you-go-method is much faster. I have hand sewn blocks/motifs and it is time-consuming.
Susanne :)

[Barbara]

Yes I know what you mean. So fun!

[cate]

I've just started a granny square blanket too. I'm planning on using 5 squares of each colour to create a cross and then to have all the crosses interlocking... I've seen it on pinterest (naturally). It is fun to do something that requires less concentration and counting. Your lovely blanket reminds me of Elmer the Elephant. just gorgeous!

[Alessandra]

Like your blanket and your method for selecting the row colours (thank you for sharing!).
But what I love most in your today post is the following, about crochet :" It just so neatly and perfectly fits in with family life"!!! ;oD
xxx Alessandra

[laurence]

Hello Lucy! Moi aussi je procède de cette façon. Choix des couleurs non prédéfini, quatre ou cinq pelotes dans une pochette et roule. Je termine une hexagone blanket, je collectionne plein de petits ronds à trois tours et quand je suis tranquille, je les assemble à la suite. C'est vrai que de cette façon, l'ouvrage monte assez vite! A bientôt

[Line]

I agree the deep dark colours make it even more vibrant! It's beautiful.

[steph]

jolly, happy, quirky---yep; but how about just plain over-the-top FABULOUS!!!! Love it!

[LouLou]

Thanks for sharing all your wonderful hints. I will use them on the granny square blanket I have in progress. But what I really want to know is what shade of nail polish is that on those little toes of yours? :-D What ever it is it looks really cool next to the colorful blanket!!!

[Sonia Petitpoint]

What a lovely patchwork !

[Anna]

Glad you are back and with another project!!! The blanket looks nice:) Keep it up! Waiting for the accomplished project soon!!!

[Jacquie]

It's looking wonderful Lucy !! I love your portability and planning methods ...you are much more organised than me :0)
This makes me want to start a patchwork blanket right now .
Jacquie x

[Patrícia]

I use this method also:) With 3 children as a taxi driver...and I chrochet meanwhile:)

[Sandra (Cherry Heart)]

It's beautiful Lucy! Your colour selections and balance look perfect, as they always do, you are clever with colour :) I think the darker colours work well with this type of blanket particularly, I think it's the Elmer the Elephant association, it just 'looks' right somehow. Oooh, and you mentioned me and my blanket (thank you), I feel like I'm famous now! :D

Sandra x

[Claire]

I do like your idea of only taking enough crochet with you to complete a row. I like having some small crochet with me, just in case, and it'd be nice to keep chipping away at larger projects :)

[Nanita]

Such a wonderful blanket, I absolutely love how the darker squares make the other ones pop! I'm on my 17th row now of tiny three round granny squares, progress is slow but I love working on this one so much. It's so lovely to see what people are making on the Ravelry group, such an inspiring bunch of ladies we have there :-) xxxx

[Melanie Loubser]

You are so clever Dear Lucy!! I learn alot from you here in Sunny South Africa! Thank you for this blog!!My FAVOURITE!!!!

[elpha]

I love it - delighted granny patchwork is coming back into fashion.
I made a 6 round blanket last year with just 6 colours that worked well but not as breathtaking as yours. I have more spare leftovers now though for the next one! I also made a scarf for my sister in this way, with lots of lovely tassels each end and in as many colours as I could manage. Being a shy and retiring type (ahem) she loves it - only accessory that sets off her purple hair :D