BB (Big Blanket), Ta-dah!

 

Hello! OOooooooooooooooooooooooooo so today's the day!!! Yes, tis offically Ta-dah day!!!!!!!

Can you believe that after so much faffing around, I am finally sitting down today to write BB's much awaited Ta-dah post? It's been a while materialising hasn't it, and I am so sorry for keeping you waiting. I've been looking forward to writing this post very much, and I really wanted the photos to be great. For them to do justice to this project that I've worked so hard on for the past seven months. And truthfully, I don't think the photos I've ended up with are that great, but they are passable and I think given the weather conditions at the present time, they're as good as it's gonna get. And besides I simply couldn't wait any damn longer to share this with you all, the heebie jeebies were getting out of hand!

OK, first off, a little bit of the practicalities. I know how much you like the Details, and quite right too. This Big Blanket of mine (known as BB) is made from Rowan Pure Wool DK in 14 shades, as follows ::

The picture above, top row, left to right ::

042 Dahlia

026 Hyacinth

027 Hydrangea

028 Raspberry

025 Tea Rose

041 Scarlet

040 Tangerine

032 Gilt

Bottom row, left to right ::

008 Marine

007 Cypress

006 Pier

019 Avocado

005 Glacier

039 Lavender

If you've been following my blog during this year and keeping up with my comings and goings, you will know allllllllllllllll about this blanket I expect. Because I have been going on (and on and on) about it a great deal, bombarding you with endless images at every stage of it's creation, so it's been hard to miss.

It started here, on January 14th with the Purchase of the Yarn.

Then shortly after came the actual Design process, and the very first blocks being made.

And then followed many, many updates too numerous to mention.

The highs and the lows.

The excitement when it was going well.

And the misery when it was not.

There were also several tutorials written around this blanket too :: my Summer Garden granny square pattern, plus the two joining methods, and finally the scallopy edging.

It has been an absolute pleasure sharing the making of this blanket with you, and even more of a pleasure sharing it's finale today. Actually I am more excited than I am letting on today, I am writing quite calmly I think. Restrained even. But inside, my heart feels fit to burst.

As you know, I've had a devil of a job photographing BB. Its a BIG Blanket for sure, measuring around 6ft square. Last week I did have a go at clearing the floor in my living room and laying it out in an attempt to take a full photograph of it laid flat. It was very hard to get myself up high enough above it to get it all in the frame. It involved balancing on the arms of my big chair, which was quite precarious and wobbly. Ahh the things we do!

But here, without further ado, I present you with BB....................

Ta-dah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

To say I am pleased with how it turned out is a serious understatement.

This is the 4th blanket I've made, and honestly it has been the most troublesome (remember those Pesky White borders?). There was quite a time when I really wasn't sure what I thought about this creation of mine. But luckily, after taking a break for a couple months, and dealing with the Pesky White, I fell back in Love again. Pheww. I can't tell you how releived I was to find my enthusiasm return.

Now then, if you'd like to come with me upstairs a moment, I'd like to show you how BB looks when In Residence.

Below is a photo of my bed as it looked before BB arrived..........

 

Cath K rosy pillowcases, and pure white egyptian cotton bedding.

Plain and Simple.

And this is how it looks now.......

 

.....Ta-dah!!!

I am truly, completely, deeply thrilled with it.

  

Words cannot really describe how I feel about BB. How it feels to create something so large that has occupied my thoughts and time for more than half a year. Pride. Love. Joy. Thrills.

Crikey, I do get serious Thrills from being around this blanket!

 

I sneak past the bedroom door and glance in, see it all laid out there and it thrills me.

 

I snuggle under it whenever I can to read, browse, daydream, and it thrills me.

I wrap myself up in it's thousands and thousands of woolly stitches, and think of all the hours I've spent sat with hook and yarn creating those stitches, and it thrills me.

OK, enough of the thrills, lets commence with the Riveting Facts, much as I did when I completed the Ripple and The Hexie.....

Measures :: 180cm x 180cm
Summer Garden Squares :: 144, arranged in 36 blocks of 4
Time :: have no idea, absolutely loads, over 7 months
Balls :: 44 (rough guess based on weight)
Weight :: 2200g
Cost :: £3.50 per ball = £154, and worth every single penny
Mileage :: 44 balls @ 125m each ball = 5500metres = 3.4 miles of yarn (!)

Photo :: me in my pyjamas, snuggled in bed this morning
Blanket :: gorgeous
Me :: happy.

Ok, one last photo..........

Ahhhhhhhhhhh BB, I do LOVE you so!!!!

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Comments

[Frank]

This work is so beautiful. You're an inspiration!

[danny]

Hi Lucy, Absolutely love your work!

[debra adams]

Hi. I love the big blanket. Do you have a tutorial for it please. And instructions as to how to place the squares. I am new to crocheting.

[Edwina Azzopardi]

I have just finished the Aria blanket and really enjoyed it. I had not done crochet for over 25 years. Have you considered putting your patterns together in a book? I would love the pattern for the Big Blanket. In the meantime I have theHarmony Blanket kit lined up now.

[Andy Macmahon]

it's amazing. I am going to begin. just one square !

[Jillian Evans]

I absolutely love this blanket. Well done you for persevering for 7 months? Would love to be able to make my own. Would you consider sharing the pattern. X

[Ângela Maranho]

Olá.Sou apaixonada pelos seus trabalhos.Sou voluntária em um grupo onde fazemos mantas para gestantes carentes. Gostaria de saber como você emendou essa manta.Sou grata. Ângela

[Chris A. Scott]

Can some one please send me a pattern for this. I would love to make this. [email protected]

[Janice Stewart]

Hi Lucy. I love your blog and have learned so much from you. I am currently on my second ever crochet project and am making your cosy stripe blanket - I am on stripe 13 but using my own colours. I then intend to make big blanket in your colours - it is absolutely fabulous. Thank you so much. X

[ipukris]

Hi Lucy,

been your keen reader almost from the beginning of the Attic24 blog. Done almost all your patterns <3 Was thinking that maybe you would be able to rething proposing a yarn back from Stylecraft for this blanket? I would like to make it in cheaper yarn. Maybe even in smaller size. Love the size the current yarn backs create. Think of the amount of work put into this pattern. Let's bring it to life again ? Thank's for being there in Attic24! <3

[Jo Brown]

Hello Lucy, I am completely inspired by your BB and the colour combinations, and have managed to source the colours needed.
Do you have your actual pattern to create this please.
I have just finished your Harmony blanket for my daughters birthday in June ... so onto a new project of yours. Thank you so much Jo.

[Arzu]

Hi Lucy, is it possible for you to post the color pattern chart of this Big Blanket of yours. I will appreciate it very much as I love to crochet it exactly as yours. Thanks alot. Arzu

[Anjo Armstrong]

Could you please help I am trying to order wool and pattern for the Summer Garden Granny Squares. Were do I get it from.Thankyou.

[TB]

So gorgeous! I have been waiting (im)patiently for the reveal, and now that I see it, I think I would be peeking in to look at it every hour. :)

[Cindy]

It's so beautiful love your work You inspired me to learn to crochet last year and now I can't stop. Do you have a complete pattern for your BB blanket for a beginner like me. Thank you agin xxxxx

[Jodi Fuller]

Absolutely stunning. I love they way you combine colours. Cant wait to make my own.

[Tasha]

Wow i love those colors of that blanket very pretty

[Lizzie]

What a stunner! Thank you for these gorgeous pictures and the lovely blog overall. I just discovered it yesterday (October 2014), and the photos are good medicine for me just now. I am deeply inspired. As soon as I'm done with the Halloween costumes for the kiddos, I'll be whipping out the old crochet hooks and binging on colorful yarn. Thank you for the inspiration!

[Gemma Madden]

Do you have a pattern please? Do you have any other crochet blanket/afghan/samplers/motif patterns? I'm in hospital now 8 weeks and there's no wifi so I can't look up internet other than on phone a small amount. I've been asked to crochet blankets for 22 different babies children and adults and I'm a beginner crocheter so don't know any sites to look up other than ravelry. As I've to provide these blankets for free and my crochet stuff has all been stolen out of hospital including all my crochet books I'm looking for free patterns.
If there's any you cld email me I'd really appreciate any help.
Are any of your patterns available on pdf to download?
I've not had yarn in over 6 months and I only learnt crochet 7 months ago but I'm a fast learner and I pick patterns up quickly. I have done tge shell stitch and original granny squares so am looking something newand challenging.
My crochet books were a luxury but now all my stuff has been stolen including wool I'd just bought I need to try and rebuild my collection so if you know of anyone selling second hand crochet items in the uk let me know please.

[maricel]

Felicitaciones Lucy, por todo lo que haces!!! me encanta, y las personas que amamos este arte, sabemos lo gratificante que es ver un trabajo terminado!!!! https://www.facebook.com/maricel.balsamo.3?ref=tn_tnmn

[Sue]

I just saw your BB on Pinterest. I recently made a small granny lap throw out of yarn scraps a friend gave me. I have a few questions. You said you used 14 colors. But you said you had 44 balls of yarn. Since that isn't divided evenly by 14, idid you get extras of the colors you used to go around the granny squares? I don't want to sink a lot of money into it and discover that I don't have enough of a particular color to go around the blanket. How did you figure out how much to get of each color? I hope you will answer soon because I would love to make one for my daughter's twin sized bed, maybe for Christmas but if not by then, maybe for her birthday in June. Your blanket is beautiful.

[Gloria Platzer, Trento - Italia]

Congratulations! You have a great imagination and taste in choosing colors

[Clementine Moss]

Hi! It's literally YEARS after you posted about BB and here I am in July of 2013 just discovering it for the first time. IT'S BEAUTIFUL. I, too, revel in the pleasure you must have felt upon completion. And people who ask "Where'd you get the cool big blanket?" and you nonchalantly replying "Oh, that big beautiful, colorful, warm and clever blanket? I did. I made it. No big whoop." Anyway. I love the internet at moments like this. I hope BB and you are still enjoying each other. Cheers, Clementine

[Dina Leda Souza from BRAZIL (BR)]

Hello! You inspired me. Thanks, Dina Souza/ BR.

[Julie]

The selection of red yarns make all the cooler shades of yarn sparkle. Someday, I hope you will write a post about how you choose color combinations.