Blanket Business

Hello, hello!! I am so hugely thrilled about sitting here to write todays post, to be sharing some exciting (well exciting for me) blankety business with you all. 

I took these first two photographs on Sunday I think it was, after the Little People had been hanging out on the sofa watching tv during the weekend. The Granny and the Hex blankets as you know are always around in this room, but Little Man especially adores the Ripple and often comes  to ask nicely if he can bring it down from where it lives on my bed.

I love that these three blankets I've made during the last year and a half have become so much a part of our family life. Love that they are loved and used and appreciated.

I do believe that I shall always be making blankets, one after the other. I just love it so. I love the whole big process of creating a blanket, from the first beginnings of an idea, through the making process,and finally the ongoing pleasure of the finished article. It's pleasure all the way.

Now that I have learnt how to make mosaics of my photographs, I've been having a lot of fun with this idea. I made the above image a few weeks ago, they are all flowers that have appeared on my blog during the past year...and don't they just look so scrumptious? I was thinking of my favourite flowers, and favourite flower colours when I started planning this new blanket. I was thinking mmmmmm how lovely it would be to create a blanket that was like looking at a summer garden. Where the colours would remind me of roses and nasturtiums, of sweet peas and cornflowers, sweet williams and geraniums. And so slowly, slowly, the beginnings of a design was born. 

The blankets I've made so far have all had a fair amount of randomness about them. Each one started with a pool of coloured yarns and then evolved quite spontaneously into different coloured squares, stripes, hexagons. But amongst this randomness, each of my blankets also has a small "constant" in it's design :: the granny squares had the green edging round each block, the ripple had the evenly spaced raspberry stripes, and the hexagon blanket had it's yellow centres. But apart from these decisions, all other colour selections were random.

And I do love randomness. I like the excitement of choosing colours on the hop, of not knowing quite how it's going to pan out when all the randomness finally comes together as a whole.  I more or less know that so long as I start out with the right combination of colours, then random will work out. It will, I always have faith.

Anyhow, back to the point Missy Lucy, I am rambling I do appologise. So yes, the design for this new blanket :: it formed itself in my whirly gig brain quite distinctly one day at the end of last year, and I immediately went to Little Man's coloured pencils and drew it out on paper. I was thinking flowery circles inside squares, like flowers growing in a neat, organised potager garden. And I knew that I wanted the colours to be quite organised for this blanket, for the random element of colour to be contained in a calm, ordered, harmonious whole. Because this is going to be a big blanket, a big square double bed sized blanket. And it needs to be calm and harmonious because I shall be sleeping with it every night and quite honestly I cannot have it screaming at me like the hexagon blanket did. It would keep me awake!

Playing with colour combinations is something that gives me enormous pleasure, it drives my creativity in all things. I find such joy in colour, it's hard to describe in words, but I'm sure you know if you've been reading my blog how it is for me. How over excited I get over using colour creatively, its that buzzy, heart-flipping, jittery, squeeealy kind of excitement, it's that feeling that kind of makes me want to go ooooooeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!

This yarn, these colours, I am in love with it all. I keep wanting to stick my face into my yarn bag just to kind of snaffle it up. It was a real luxury purchasing so much yarn in one swoop, its the first time I've ever bought yarn this way. It was a bit stomach churning paying for it all at once, but hey, I am over that hurdle, I jumped it and cleared it with surprising ease. Sure, I've not yet fessed to husband how much exactly thirty balls of yarn cost, that's gonna be interesting when that conversation rolls around. But it had to be done, I had no choice. I had practically been down on my knees in the yarn shop last week, begging the owner to order this yarn in for me when originally they refused. I told them how much I loved their shop, how I would so much rather give them my money than some faceless internet yarn provider. They were eventually persuaded, but it was a big decision for them because as Rowan sells to shops in packs of ten, it meant they had to order in 130 balls of yarn in order for me to take my 30. So they did me a huge favour, and in return, I gave them my money up front. And my heartfelt thanks.

For this blanket I wanted to use granny squares again because I adore making them and they are fast and super-whizzy for me now, I can practically do them with my eyes shut. But I didn't want normal granny squares, no, I wanted to try and make them look like circles-in-squares, like flowers.

I couldn't find a pattern I liked. I searched the internet, I searched and searched. I tried some sunburst granny squares, but oh too complicated! So in the end, I made my own pattern. Do you like it? I am extremely pleased with it, it's a joy to make, and so simple. And it creates the exact visual impression that I was after, of a flower blooming. At a slightly later date I'll be sharing the pattern here on my blog, just in case you might want to create your own flower garden.

So this is how it is coming along so far :: I am making four small squares and crocheting them together, then adding three rounds of "grannying" round the outside, ending in white.

The colours for the first two flower rounds are randomly chosen, as are the two outer purply-pink rounds. The other blue/green colours will remain the same to provide the "constant", as well as the edging in white. I've not ever used white in my crochet before, and I was unsure about it at first. But I think it's going to work well and will help to hold all the colour together.

I only began work on this on two days ago when the yarn took up residence, and I'm really thrilled with how pleasurable it is to make these big blocks. It has it's small challenges, but overall I am truly loving it. I'm planning on making thirty six of these big blocks altogether, so that's two down and thirty four to go.

And finally, a thought I wish to share about the business of blanket-making. It occurred to me yesterday that crocheting is one of those hobbies that one can do so easily and happily in complete isolation, yet sharing it somehow makes it a million-gazillion times more fun.

So can I say here and now, a huge ((Thank you)) for providing me with the most perfect sharing-opportunity, and for upping the fun-element for me. I am so grateful for your interest and enthusiasm, it means a lot.

XXXXX thank you XXXXX

Comments

[JOY MCNAB]

I HAVE BOUGHT YARN AND USED YOUR PATTERNS FOR 2 BLANKETS SO FAR! LOVE THEM AND THE COLORS- I AM CURRENTLY ON A FARMHOUSE GRANNY SQUARE BLANKET IN ALL NATURAL COTTON YARN. I FOUND THIS PIC OF THE BB BLANKET- BUT CANNOT FIND THE PATTERN- PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHERE I CAN FIND IT!! THANK YOU FOR YOUR POSTS AND HARD WORKD

[Lizzie]

Hi there,
What is the name of this blanket and is there a pattern available?

[Mary]

I am just learning to crochet and your blog is wonderful. Your demonstration are really clear and precise. Thank you so much for taking the time and helping a newbie to crochet

[pat pestke]

Ditto on everything said by others !( easy way out ). I was looking for a pretty but easy granny and this is it. Flowery but not complicated. Going to grab my hook now !!!

[Bort]

Hello,
I'am french and I would like to know the exactly name of your yarn. It's really beautiful. I really feel like you about colours. It's "physical". I dream about them and I wake up with them... and my husband of course...
Very very beautiful work and thanks for your answer.
Florence

[Irma]

Your colours are stunning!

[Wollkind]

Hello :)
I´m from Germany and i´ve found your blog :-) wooooow he ´s so cool :D
I like crochet too, and i´m looking for to, to combination the colours for the granny squares. and the idea with the flowors is very cool!
Have a nice week!

I will read your blog again :-)

Greets

[Gabri]

Words fail me. I'm overcome
Go on this way, it's great.

Lots of love
Gabri

[Leslie]

I love love love this blanket! And the combination of big squares mixed in is lovely!

I've been working on a summer garden granny square blanket (with some large squares mixed in like this) for... I'm sad to say... over a year. BUT I'm almost done with the squares and now I'm thinking, "Oh dear, now what?!"

So my question is... how do you decide how to stitch them together? I've laid them out so many times but I can't seem to make any decisions. Do you try to balance out the colors at all? I tried to do same-ish amounts of each color, but now I don't know what to do! Help?

[teejay]

what I'd like to know, is how did you determine how much of any one color you'd need? Buying the wrong amount of yarn colors can be disastrous to billfold and project!

...and thanks for discussing your color theory. I'd been looking through your posts to find it and stumbled across it. I've always thought there is something special about your work because of your color choices... have you thought of WRITING A BOOK ABOUT COLOR IN CROCHET? I think it would be very well received. Not many of us have the color education you've had and would benefit enormously, and be far more likely to end up with projects we ADORE rather than just being "satisfied" with them.

think about it will you?

--a devoted fan

[Stamatia Kountouri]

Dear Lucy,hello!I really love everything you do,and truly appreciate the fact that you share your knowledge with us...We're having our 1st baby next March,and I would like to crochet a white,romantic,(probably cotton), blanket.Is it convenient for you to suggest possible "designs"?I love granny squares,but a ripple made blanket would do just fine.(I'm already crocheting your multi coloured ripple blanket,that's why I'd like a white one).Forgive me for my english,since I'm not native speaker.Thank you very much in advance!

[Sandra Huwaidi]

thank you so much. I made two crotchet flowers last night in about 1/2 hour. I have since looked at all your patterns. It sent shivers of excitement through me seeing all the beautiful that you have done. I am in Australia and starting school holidays. I am going out tomorrow to get more bright wool to do all your projects. Your a clever woman. Sandra

[Anna]

I've never commented on a blog before but now I simply had to. Stumbled upon this post looking for something I can crochet for a friend who's pregnant. (Want to make a blanket for the baby.) Blown away by the lovely dreamy happy blankets! Thank you for sharing your works and the lovely photos. I feel so inspired. /Anna, Sydney Australia

[Penny Boden]

The colours you use are outstanding. I am about to try your hexagons!

[K]

Lucy,
I accidentally happened upon your blog and I LOVE IT! I have been searching around it for two days now. Have you posted this pattern yet? I must make one myself!!!
thank you!!
K

[Yvonne Powers]

How Beautiful! My Granny made blankets like these. I learned a long time ago...and this brings back memories. I'm realatively new a blogging. Started last summer; but got frustrated. Just started up again and still learning. Thanks for your wonderful posts. Yvonne

[Rhondi]

I love all the bright colors on your blog. I'ma girl who loves color too!!

[Anne]

Wow, what a beautiful work!

Great blog :-)

Best wishes,
Anne

[domoshar]

Lovely!
Gorgeous balls, stunning blankets and great flowers mosaic. You poured so much beauty, talent and love in this post!
Thank you!

[Danielle]

love your blog - love your colour selections - your blankets are so delicious ! so inspiring !

[monkee maker]

How lovely to see your gorgeous blankets put to good use on your sofa! And how great that you must have a very wool tolerant hubby - inspired by your fabulously colourful crochet I've started my own blanket (as I think loads of other have too!), but sadly my husband isn't so tolerant and is eyeing it suspiciously .... I think it reminds him too much of his youth!!

Good luck with your building works.

:)

[Kirsty Lambert]

Hi Lucy, i hope you check back to read these posts as ive been so inspired by your blog, id love to send you a little gift. I dont have my own blog so not sure how the comments side of it works, hence my email address is [email protected]. Email me your address and await a small treat from mr postie! Keep doing what youre doing, we all LOVE it!!! Kirsty xxxx

[Nathalie]

Your blog is great, your afghans are gorgeous , the colors are to die for.
Absolutely love it all. You deserved a link o my blog cause I'm addicted to this blog already ; )

[Emma]

Great new blanket!!! It already looks wonderful, but I am sure it will only get better. Thanks for sharing your design process!

[Eli]

Hi Lucy, I'm Elisabetta from Italy.
I enjoy a lot reading your blog. I always find lots of loveliness in your posts, creations and colours! A blogger/friend of mine has just given me two awards and I have thought that would be nice to introduce myself passing them to you. If you wish you can find them at my blog http://raccoltodautunno.blogspot.com/ or at http://fallharvest.blogspot.com/
Have a nice week
Eli