Fresh Yarn

I find lots of things immensely exciting.

Not just mildy exciting, but ImMENseLy exciting.

And more often than not, it's the Little pleasures in life that make me feel the most excited. Yes, lots and lots and lots of Little Things, on a daily basis, make me so-so-so ThRiLLeD that at times I do begin to wonder if i am at all normal. Surely it can't be right to feel so deeply and passionately excited about flowers, sky, a bit of cake, a cushion, buttons, a picture, yarn?  But that seems to be the way I am. I think I've always been this way, but I think it's also fair to say that through writing my blog, my awareness of these feelings has very much been enhanced.

Its also fair to say that through reading other people's blogs, I have thankfully realised I am not alone. I may not be entirely normal, but hip-hip-hoooray, there are other people who actually think and feel the same way I do. Quite a relief actually·

Today I'd like to share with you one of my never-ever-ever-ending passionately-immensely exciting experiences :: fresh yarn. Oh!! Oh oh oh!!!!!!!! Nothing quite compares to the thrill of amassing  a fresh yarn stash and then teetering with it on the edge of a brand new project. It's one of my greatest pleasures.

 

And this particular fresh yarn stash is giving me more pleasure than I care to admit.

As I mentioned to you the other day, this is Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino. It's a fabulous, luxurious yarn, finer than I'm used to working with (its 4ply as opposed to dk weight) and I'm working it on a 3.5mm hook. It is quite simply Divine.

Now most of this yarn-stash of mine has been sitting in the Attic for quite some time, since the Spring in fact. You may remember me writing about it way back in April (scroll down to the end of that post, it's a long one!). I was lucky enough to purchase a bag of it in a Sale, and as this is expensive yarn to buy at normal retail price, I do feel incredibly blessed to have accumulated this stash at Sale Price. However, the colours I bought in the sale just weren't quite right for me, and I couldn't think quite what I wanted to do with it at the time. So I waited. Kept it in it's brown paper bag and waited for the time to be right to embark on a project with it.

And that time is now.

On Wednesday I got all the yarn out and had a really good look at the colours. I decided I needed some deeper/stronger tones to balance out the pastels, so off I trotted forthwith to the shops to purchase such colours. I only needed three more to add to what I already had, making sixteen colours in total, and I'm really, really, really happy with them.

I'll give you the details now, just so you know.....the above picture, top row, left to right ::

17  discontinued, but can be replaced with colour 18 [pale green]

02 [leaf]

16 [sea green]

202 [pale blue]

204 [baby blue]

031 [turquoise]

032 [cornflower]

10 [soft purple]

Bottom row, left to right ::

700 [red]

023 [burnt orange]

602 [rich pink]

07 [wine]

14 [plum]

13 [grape]

06 [rose]

03 [mint green] not pictured, sorry!

And so my current WiP? Quite predictable I'm afraid, it's another blanket.

Yes, I'm blanket-making again, I just can't help myself. I really love-love-love making blankets and begin to feel bereft unless I've got one on the go. After much deliberation as to what variety of blanket to make this time, I decided to go back to basics, back to my first love and make a simple Granny Squares blanket. I flirted with the idea of trying a babette, but decided in the end that simple was best, and so basic grannies it is.

This is going to be another baby-sized blankie I think, a cot blanket for Bump24.

 

And I'm super-pleased about how this little blankie is coming together. I'm joining them as-I-go (ohh the joy of this method!!), making five-rounds with three colours for each square.

I was inspired by some very lovely afghans I came across in Blogland recently, or as Linda calls them "Lapacuddlyghans"...the simplicity of the design really appealed to me, and I love the way that the colours work together when they are used in double rows rather than single rows. I think the bigger the blanket grows, the more effective this pattern of colour is going to look.

I began hooking this blanket in the very early hours of yesterday morning, around 3.30am when I was having another one of my wide-awake spells. I tell you, my body clock is sooo skew-whiff at the moment!

And a few more added on this morning, to make nine so far...........

 

......what do you think? Do you like the way the colours work together??

I'm going to be writing out a tutorial soon for making basic granny squares (did i mention that already?), for those of you who are new to the joyous fun of crochet, this is an excellent way to start. 

Right...off to have a cuppa and sneak a little square or two in before the school run.

Have a wonderful weekend and I'll see you next week..

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Comments

[chris]

I'm so pleased that you're going to post a tutorial for granny squares but try as I might I still can't even begin to crochet so could you possibly start your tutorial right from the slip knot please? If I can't learn from you there is no hope for me at all - if I could get to Yorkshire I would have been in your class by now. I even thought of planning my holiday around it.

[fleur]

Ouuh: very exciting :-)

[Carol]

Thank you Lucy for continually reminding us to enjoy the pleasures of life's treasures.
Your blanket is already looking quite beautiful. You have such a good eye for colour combinations.

[Jennifer]

I think it is wonderful that you are so thrilled with simple pleasures. I love the new baby bump blanket, I really like the colours and the design. It's fantastic.

[Kerstin, Sweden]

Din blogg ger mig massor av inspiration. En av förklaringarna till Att man blir lycklig av garn och detaljer är Att man kan se färger. Färg gör människan lycklig tror jag.

[wendy]

oooooooooooh all those lovely coloured yarns. I get excited about the same kind of things as you.

I have a little dolls blanket of crocheted granny squares made by my .... granny its about 55 years old now and just plain. I have never mastered crochet.

Looking forward to your tutorial

[frou-frou]

Hi Lucy

I love your new blankie. I've been wondering if you plan your colour combinations in advance or choose them as you go along based on the surrounding blocks?

[Shelley in SC]

I could watch you crochet blankets indefinitely!! I love your color combos. I can't wait to see your new little one wrapped up in its new blankets!!

[BethAnn]

I just love your choices of colors in your projects always so happy. The new blankie looks like it's off to a wonderful start

[nilüfer]

hi lucky!! very well your colourfull world.ı look your jobs with admiration.have a nice day...and greeting from istanbul...nilüfer

[Sarah]

Beautiful Lucy, love the colours and simplicity of it, what a lucky bump, see you soon, Sarah x

[Erica K]

Hmmm...now that I look at your bag all filled with yarn that way, I think I had it right the first time! Oh well...

I love our friend the granny square! And I think making blankets is perfectly wonderful... especially because I really like to be cozy and sleep! :)

[MiA]

The colours are just lovely!

[Danielle]

Found your blog earlier this week and am in love with your color choices! I've never crocheted before and look forward to your tutorial. I just hope I enjoy crochet as much as I enjoy blog! This will be my first project of the new year!

[Louise]

The blanket looks fabulous!

I love Baby Cashmerino. It's the nicest yarn I have ever crochet in. Right now I'm working on a ripple (your nice pattern :) ) in this yarn. I'm actually a bit short on the 016 green and it's no longer available. Do you know any online shops that might have it in? I have searched everywhere...

[Anna]

Have a wonderful weekend Lucy, and the colours are divine. Little bump will be avery happy cosy little one!

Anna x

Oh, and the exitement of the little things, couldn't agree with you more

[Dena]

Your belly is so cute

[Kathy]

Hi Lucy -
I was having a rather blah day today until I pulled up your blog (I do sneak a look every day while at the office) and it completely cheered me up. The colors you use and the way you put things together is so beautiful. You certainly shined a light on my day today! Thanks so much for sharing your creativity.

[LP]

Le bonheur de venir sur ton ce sont non seulement ces créations mais aussi ces couleurs.
Bravo

[Cynthia]

I'm glad you went with the old standby granny squares. Beautiful colors and combinations. It's coming together nicely.

[Karin]

Ooooohhhh, I love your new granny-square-blanket already. Beautiful colours, as usual.
And yes, I do like flowers, colours, blue sky with white clouds, home made applepie, the birds and all other little things, that make life worth living.
INSPIRATION, HAPPINESS, ADMIRATION and EXCITEMENT are my words for you....

[Laura]

I'm looking forward to the granny square tutorial. Is there a book you can recommend for learning to crochet? Also how did you start? I've been trying to find a class nearby with no success! My granny taught me when I was a little girl and I remember making granny squares, but can't for the life of me remember how to now, which is really frustrating! I love your colour combinations on the blanket so far. I remember in a previous blog you were interested in embroidery/ cross stitch. Perhaps you could do a little crib sheet to co-ordinate with the blanket? Have a good weekend.

[lucy]

Oh No, you are not alone, I would like to stick my face in that yarn stash and inhale!

[Tania]

Baby Bump24 is going to be as snug as a bug in a rug !!!

[josiekitten]

I love Baby Cashmerino. Your colours make me want to reach out and snuggle into the screen! It's going to make (well it already is making) a beautiful blanket for Bump24. He/she is going to be one cosy baby! I don't have a bump to knit one for sadly - but I'm wondering if the cat would appreciate one?!