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
fabulous!
Posted by: Facile Cécile | January 19, 2009 at 05:39 PM
Just wonderful!!!!
I like the colours.I am working on a ripple blanket.
Have a nice evening,
Regina
Posted by: Regina | January 19, 2009 at 05:15 PM
Hi there used your tutorial to make some flowers and then found your garland which is so pretty. I want to make one for my daughters birthday in a couple of weeks, can you tell me how to make the long string to attach the flowers and leaves to please? It looks like a couple of rows of sc but I am not sure...and am so very rusty at crocheting? P.S. the blankets are divine.
Posted by: The Fairy Glade | January 19, 2009 at 05:15 PM
Hi Lucy, gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous. Love the idea it is going to look fab (of course!). You are such an inspiration to me. Please, what are the colours you have used for the bottom square shown on top of your box of pencils and handdrawing? (Dk pink centre, lt pink, etc). They are exactly my sort of colours! I am trying to learn granny squares but am having a terrible time, (I am using the purlbee pattern) and just can not get it. I have though made your flower and leaves, and your bonne mamman cover. Yipee! Kathyx
Posted by: kathy | January 19, 2009 at 12:42 PM
words fail me - your work is just so gorgeous, it just makes me want to run down to my local wool shop and buy buy buy, if only i had both the time & money to do a project like this, you really are so inspiring (maybe i'll manage a cushion cover!)
Posted by: Kelly | January 19, 2009 at 10:52 AM
Love all the yarn for the new blanket and the structure you're using while still keeping a random element. Love the way you're using smaller squares to make bigger ones, loke a flower bed, too! Look forward to seeing this blanket grow.
Posted by: tintocktap | January 19, 2009 at 09:37 AM
Your blanket is going to be beautifull!
Posted by: Alex Mason | January 19, 2009 at 08:33 AM
I think you are achieving everything you have set out to do with this blanket. It's fabulous so far, and I can only imagine how beautiful it will be when it is all done.
Good for you for supporting your local yarn supplier. I'm glad that they worked with you. That yarn looks so soft!
Posted by: gardenymph | January 19, 2009 at 02:54 AM
I just found your blog a couple of days ago and I have already read through all of the archives. My mom is fantastic at crocheting. Today she started teaching me and I already understand all of the stitching. I am so excited to get started on a blanket. Thanks so much for the inspiration and tutorials.:)
Posted by: oceans5 | January 19, 2009 at 01:03 AM
The blankets are stunning! I can't wait for your granny square pattern, I hate sewing them together, but for a blanket of those squares I would be happy to...especially since I can take my girls yarn shopping to choose the colors they want. I'm going to have to hop back over to Cathleen's blog and thank her for the link to you! I'd also love to know where you got the pattern for your hex blanket.
Posted by: Jennifer | January 18, 2009 at 08:20 PM
Hello Lucy
I discovered your fabby blog last week and have been hooked since. I read with delight when your order arrived and smiled with recognition at the sheer feeling of indulgence you had at squandering such a lot of the hard earned cash on something to make your heart sing. I'm a beader myself,just getting into sewing. My partner laughed when I told him i'd heard tale of someone else who can't walk past smooth glass from the beach, re-pots supermarket bulbs and squeals when they find something delicious for a sixpence in a charity shop. I also discovered etsy last month... lots of eye rolling from said partner and look forward to seeing your shop. Keep blogging.
Love Alison
Posted by: Alison Hutchison | January 18, 2009 at 02:58 PM
Very beautiful and the white works really well too! ... :0)
Posted by: Shirl | January 18, 2009 at 01:39 PM
I love the collors you use. It is so tropical! I love your craftworks.
Posted by: Maria Amélia | January 18, 2009 at 12:15 PM
I wish I could crochet. They look so beautiful. I wish I could crochet. Oh heavy, heavy sigh.
Posted by: Michaela | January 18, 2009 at 08:10 AM
cannot wait to see the finished blanket! beautiful color combinations. :)
Posted by: amy*lou | January 17, 2009 at 06:07 PM
Your mosaic of flowers is breathtaking! I love just staring at it. And, Lucy, I am really excited about your new blankie...the colors are exquisite. Between the flowers and your new project, it makes me dream of spring and all my flowers blooming. Hope you are staying warm in your home...we have been well below zero for days now.
Posted by: cathleen | January 17, 2009 at 05:31 PM
What a splendid idea making big blocks of 4x4!! Your blancets are beautiful!!
Posted by: Forgjengelige ting | January 17, 2009 at 12:44 PM
I take my hat off and make a deep bow!
It's fantastic.
Posted by: Jolanda | January 17, 2009 at 09:08 AM
once again, WOW !! Have you thought about joining RAVELRY its a knitting and crochet club on the internet with over 200,000 members worldwide. You can show all your projects and there are lots of free patterns etc, have a look!
Posted by: Tania Hrziwnatzki | January 17, 2009 at 08:33 AM
I love your granny pattern. I think you achieved your goal with the flowers blooming. The colors are simply wonderful to look at. Thanks for the inspiration!
Posted by: Connie | January 17, 2009 at 06:50 AM
You are so creative and I love visiting your blog. It is a feast for the eyes. You seem like such a joyous person and your enthusiasm is contagious. Thanks for sharing!
Posted by: Marie | January 17, 2009 at 05:43 AM
It's a gorgeous blanket!
I love the way you describe the processes you use to create your beautiful work...and your bubbly enthusiasm!
Posted by: inkberryblue | January 17, 2009 at 03:31 AM
what beautiful colours!
The finished squares look gorgeous.
Posted by: Kathy | January 17, 2009 at 02:19 AM
Oh Lucy - This is absolutely beautiful. I cannot wait for you to share the pattern with us. You simply amaze me with your eye for color and way with words. Your blog is the highlight of my day!!
Posted by: Anne | January 17, 2009 at 01:12 AM
PS - can you recommend a good book for complete beginners who want to learn to crochet?
Thanks
Posted by: Avril | January 16, 2009 at 11:36 PM