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

[stipa]

This is very nice!!! so big!!! and without the white color a nice fresh and summer blanket!! wouahhhh!

[Jenni]

You are SO cute. And BB is every bit the big beautiful babe you knew he would be. I'm a fairly new reader, but your enthusiasm for life is so contagious, I just love reading your blog. And I'm glad you didn't hurt yourself balancing on those chair arms, lol!

[Jude]

Lucy - you've done it again! - got us all excited and wow! was it worth the wait. Just gorgeous - and we can learn so much from your use of colour. Thank you - and now I can't wait to get making your version of our old favourite - tiffin!

[Allie]

Congratulations, Lucy, on such a beautiful, wonderful blanket! Following along with you on its progress was almost as much fun as crocheting it myself-- almost-- except that, in the end, we can only enjoy it virtually.

Well done!

[Meg McG]

That is super duper lovely and you are my crochet inspiration! It's as precious as a new baby, isn't it? Congratulations on a job well done!

[Julia]

Im delighted to see the finished piece of work - its absolutely beautiful, and its tempting me to get stuck into mine again - Ive temporarily stuffed it in its project bag whilst I have a passionate affair with a small hexagon throw (thankyou for the pattern, its absolutely brilliant!)

Well done you!

Julia xxx

[Annabel Burton]

just fabulous - will return regularly just to feast my eyes on it! What an inspiration... ah well back to mine..xxx

[Sally]

Just two words spring to mind Lucy. Ab Fab! xxx.

[sumea]

WoW!!!!! Oh Lucyyyyyy it's Gorgeous! Sumptuous! I am green and all the other colours of the rainbow with envy, I would LOVE to have that blanket on my bed. It's absolutely Wonderful, a Dream blankie.
I got your recent message, thank You so much for thinking of me. I am ok, battling a bit with health probs and family stuff but ok. Not much chance of getting back to bloggging until at least the autumn though. I am so happy to be catching up with yours today :o) will read through all the posts I've missed and pop no doubt pop back to leave more comments, will also email you asap. hope you and yours have a lovely summer xxxxxxxxxxx
Sumea

[Suz]

STUNNING!!...one beautiful heir loom you have there Lucy...sorry l missed the ta-dah! moment yesterday you must be so so pleaased with BB it's beautiful
A car boot and an ungodly hour in the open air took my blogging time yesterday
Congrats again on the blog comp win well deserved
Have a fun day today

[Pam]

Hi Lucy,
I realise you're probably quite fed up with reading all these comments on BB, but felt I had to add mine into the morass!
BB is THE most beautiful crochet blanket in this world, and I have loved following its progress, both the ups and the downs (you were right to remove the white).
Many thanks for sharing its creation and I look forward to the next projects - especially the scarf as I think we're all going to need one this coming winter.
P x

[ipukris]

Thank you Lucy for giving me so much of your time and showing your wonderful crochet. I am constantly having at least one item of your crichetting in my thoughts.
So far I have made the ribble patterns blanket. One pillow and kitchen chairs have their covers made according to your idea. No I am planning the next order from Rowan to end up one cover of a chair and then I am not sure what will be next...so I am viewing your blog every day:-)
Thank you so much letting me follow your life and creation of BB and other ones.
Love,
Kris

[Sue]

Well done Lucy, you should be very proud of yourself! It's gorgeous!

[stitches.and.tulips]

It turned out beautiful! I love that it's big enough to cover the whole bed - what a luxury. Congrats and enjoy BB!

[Jannimary]

BB is beautiful. The colours are gorgeous. Bring on the cool weather so you can snuggle.

[Lori]

Congrats! You are the queen goddess of the granny!

[Kerry P]

It's absolutely gorgeous Lucy, since reading your blog I have learnt to crochet and now have my own BB in progress!! You really are such an inspiration

[Kate]

Oh BB is SOOOOO gorgeous!!!! I'm inspired!

[Fran]

Well done on a lovely blanket, and also thank you for sharing the true cost of wool! It would be good for people who purchase handmade items to know these things...

[Diana]

Beautiful!

[Millie]

Isn't BB handsome! I've checked everyday to see this Ta-Dah moment. Brilliant work.

[Sofisan]

It is beautiful!
Ilove the way you get all gitty about your work I do that to! Love your blog!

[Anne@andamento]

Great blanket, great blog. Love the shots of your bedroom - I'm so nosey about creative people's houses! Well done for getting it finished, 7 months isn't long really (wouldn't be for me anyway!)

[Laura]

It's gorgeous - warm, cheerful, bright!

[vanessa]

Gorgeous! Well done Lucy, it's fab! I love, love, love the colours, so rich and vibrant, it's no surprise you're in love with your blanket. I love it too!
Love Vanessa xxx