Well, it's been another very wintry week here in Atticland, brrrrrrrr it's been cold! I've been spending a lot of time cosied up beside the fire and I'm finding that the simplicity and rhythm of the Meadow blanket stripes are bringing me a huge amount of pleasure and comfort. Those of you who are joining me on my Meadow blanket journey, I really hope you enjoyed seeing your first stripes slowly grow during the past week, and that the colours have been making you happy?
've seen lots of beautiful photos on social media so I know that many, many Meadow blankets are underway all over the world, and honestly I am incredibly thankful to have such wonderful company. These lockdown days can feel quite long and lonesome at times, and more than ever I am relishing the connections made through our online world.
As is usual for me when I'm making a blanket, I have been loving the slow, mindful minutes and hours of crochet time that allow me to gently wander off on a little virtual excursion. As I crochet those rhythmic criss-cross stitches I've been slowly wandering around the summer meadow in my mind and it's such a delight! I can smell the fresh grass, feel the sun on my face and see the beautiful colours of the wild flowers tangled at my feet. It's the very best kind of escapism.
Ahhhh, I do miss those long summer days, and I absolutely cannot wait for this year's summer meadow to enchant me all over again.
Yesterday we were suddenly plunged into a winter wonderland and the meadow looks sooooo different! Can you even believe that the above photo is in full colour? It was fun to walk there yesterday afternoon when the grass was blanketed in three inches of snow, but it didn't speak to my soul in the same way that the tall wild grasses and flowers do. I am most definitely a summer soul.
I've spent a lot of time immersed in social media this past week attempting to keep up with all things #meadowcal, gosh it's a busy time for me online when the CAL is under way. I have so enjoyed all the enthusiasm and excitement, it really has made me very happy.
So I thought I'd share some photos that have caught my eye, starting with the above image shared by Sarah who is using a journal to keep colour notes about her Meadow blanket - such a lovely thing to do.
I've seen the beginnings of some stunning blankets this week, all with the Meadow colour palette but using different stitch patterns. It's always inspirational to see how my ideas can spark new directions of creativity - never be afraid to go your own way, I am all for it :)
↑↑ Mimma is making her Meadow blanket using the Dahlia Spike Stitch....
↑↑ Anja has chosen the Neat Wave stripe for her Meadow journey....
↑↑ B is using a beautiful stitch called the Granny Spike Stitch which is very good for blending colours together. I think it works beautifully with the Meadow colourwash....
↑↑ Jennie has chosen a "snuggle stitch" for her Meadow blanket....
↑↑ Catherine is working the Meadow colours into a glorious mosaic crochet pattern and I can't wait to see more of this as it grows....
↑↑ Hayles is making a lovely granny square blanket - don't the colours look amazing ordered as a colourwash radiating out from the centre?
↑↑ Judith is very cleverly working her cross-stitches into a square format and I love the effect. The above photo shows the colour story.....
....and there is also a mixed stripe version too. I think I read that Judith is making these as lap blankets to donate to charity (I may have gotten this wrong, my poor brain doesn't always remember things correctly!)
I'm really looking forward to seeing your blankets grow over the coming weeks, so do please keep sharing on Facebook and Instagram, it's really inspiring to see your photos.
Week two of our meadow meander continues to see the greens of the summer grasses intermingle with the bright colours of the wild meadow flowers. When I'm working on a blanket as a colour story, it's always exciting when a brand new colour is introduced as it can often change the whole dynamic. In week two, we get to see some Lavender stripes appear.....
.....inspired by the beautiful shades of Tufted Vetch which scrambles its way amongst the grasses in high summer.
It's not a shouty flower this one, but oh my, the colours are so beautiful when you get up close to see those dainty little blooms.
At the end of Part Two you will have thirty beautiful, soft, summery stripes to gaze upon.....
.....and I can tell you that the colours are absolutely wonderful together.
There is such a lovely dash of summer sunshine right there in those squishy stitches....
....and I especially love the above colours together - sage, pistachio, dandelion, raspberry, lavender and meadow. I look at them and I see an abundance of grasses, buttercups, clover and vetch all dancing together in the sunshine.
Beautiful, beautiful blankety stripes - I love them so much!
Here is the colour info for Part 2 of the "COLOUR STORY" Meadow Blanket.
Remember each stripe is made of two rows of crochet.
Click (( HERE )) for the printable worksheet.
16. Raspberry
17. Lavender
18. Buttermilk
19. Meadow
20. Mushroom
21. Grape
22. Pale Rose
INSERT OPTIONAL STRIPE HERE - Meadow (for double bed size blankets)
INSERT OPTIONAL STRIPE HERE - Raspberry (for double bed size blankets)
INSERT OPTIONAL STRIPE HERE - Buttermilk (for double bed size blankets)
23. Sage
24. Pistachio
25. Dandelion
26. Raspberry
27. Lavender
28. Meadow
29. Buttermilk
30. Sage
So here is the colour info for Part 2 of the "MIXED STRIPE" Meadow Blanket.
Remember each stripe is made of two rows of crochet.
Click (( HERE )) for the printable worksheet (the mixed stripe is on page 2 of the PDF)
16. Pale Rose
17. Grape
18. Sage
19. Dandelion
20. Meadow
21. Wisteria
22. Raspberry
23. Mushroom
24. Cloud Blue
25. Lincoln
26. Buttermilk
27. Pistachio
28. Duck Egg
29. Lavender
30. Parchment
** A note about those making larger mixed stripe blankets - I'll give out an additional add-on section at the end of part 6 if you'd like to increase the length of your blanket from 6ft to 7ft.
I've seen the start of some lovely repeating Colourwash blankets this week too, the above photo by Mandy-Jane shows off the colours beautifully. If you need a reminder of the colour order for this sequence you can find it listed in Part 1 of the CAL.
I hope this week brings you some quiet, mindful time with hook and yarn. I love to think that these colours might deliver a dose of peace and joy into your days, like the first rays of sun on a still summer morning in the meadow.
I also really hope you love the Lavender this week, little pleasures in life, you just can't beat them....
.....happy meadow wanderings my lovelies, have a fabulous week xxxxxxxxxxx
Oh, and here are some links for you, should you need them....
🌸 MEADOW CAL PART 1 - stripes 1-15