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

[Alison]

simple is definately best and those colours work perfectly together:-)
One verrrrry lucky baby-to-be:-)

[Rachel M]

It's comforting to know I'm not the only one who gets excited about colorful things. I get so excited about new wool, embroidery thread and neatly organized boxes of pencil crayons! :)

[victoriag]

You know, I meant to ask...what method do you use for the yarn ends? Weaving as you go? I'll look in past tutorial for any hints :-)

[Louise]

You have the most brilliant choices in yarn colour! The pattern and colours will be perfect for a Bump24 blankie. Thank you for a lovely splash of colour in my day :-)

[karen smith]

ooooh that yarn look's super yummy. You are sooo not aloan with your little pleasures. My husband really cannot understand why I go weak at the knee's when I spot yet another yarn of fabric shop hehehe.

I can't wait to see the finished blanket.
(((hugs)))

[Bee]

I'm knitting a toddler's dress in Baby Cashmerino at the moment..beautiful soft yarn..just perfect for a cosy blanket. Love your blog and visit here every day.
:-)

[victoriag]

Lovely little blankie-to-be! The colors are beautiful, and I adore the yarn choice...I really should pick up some myself...now tell me, how many squares do you think you get from 1 ball? I'm so bad at deciding yarn quantity for crochet projects...

[Carole]

Hi Lucy,
The new blanket is lovely, as all your blankets are. The colours go soo well.I, too, am looking forward to your tutorial.
Have a good weekend.
Love Carole
xxxxxxxxxxxxx

[bigunki]

Posiblemente no me entiendas, pero el colorido de esta página es precioso.
( Traducido con google)
The color of this page is beautiful

[frances]

Hello Lucy,

I think that your new palette is quite lovely. It's softness echoes that of the yarn's own texture. It must be wonderful to work with.

Truly, there is nothing like a granny square with its endless possibilities. It will be lots of fun to watch this new project develop.

Best wishes to you! Your enthusiasm is infectious. xo

[Jena]

I have been crocheting for quite some time (several years actually - more than I care to say - can I actually have crocheted that long to be as young as I am?), but I have never crocheted a granny square, ever. I am looking forward to your tutorial. I love your blog and I too love the colors and textures of yarn (see my post: http://craftymomof4boys.blogspot.com/2009/10/unique-centerpiece.html)

[cheryl walton]

lovely

[Annette]

Hi Lucy
I got your blog URL from a friend a couple of days ago and I don't know how many hours I've spent aaahh-ing and oooohhh-ing and admiring your fantastic creations. I just can't stop looking at the pictures and let myself get inspired by you.

I picked up my first crochet needle a couple of weeks ago and I am completely "hooked" (ha ha ha!). I have just learned the traditional granny and it is hugely addictive. I can't stop.

I don't know anything about yarns though. Thickness, quality, brands where to by online... Any advice? Here in Switzerland it is really difficult to find and very pricy. Love your blog. And I admire your bump aswell. I've had three bumps, but seeing one always make me long for another...

[French Knots]

We could have had a chat - I was up at that time too, feeding!
I really want to learn how to crochet, your blankets look so bright and snuggly, I'd like to make one too. In fact I will!

[cheryl]

Lucy: I'll be waiting patiently for your fab directions on how to make the squares. Your crochet bag was the first (and only) thing I have ever hooked...the instructions were so easy to follow. Turned out pretty darn good, I might add!! Off to look for a yarn sale....

c.
xx

[Jackie]

Lucy ~ one of the many things that I like about you and your wonderful, colourful blog is that you manage to make us all more aware of the little things in life that are exciting and delightful but usually get missed in the day to day running of busy lives. I love your new blanket ~ that yarn is beautiful and I'm sure that Bump24 will love it too. I hope that you have managed to get over your attack of the wanties and that you have a very lovely weekend :O)

[anna]

what a gorgeous collection of yarn. i think it's quite right to be Very Excited about such a lovely thing.

i know that reading your blog has made me much more aware of small moments of beauty and enjoyment. i try now to stop and really appreciate them rather than just rushing on with my day. today i bought golden and red dahlias for a friend. yum. the other day i raced around picking up conkers from the most amazing windfall i'd ever seen, it was so beautiful - all these tiny nuggets of shiny chestnut brown just everywhere! and when i get new yarn i carry it round for a bit too, and no longer feel silly for doing so! these little things laced in and out of the days bring such a lot of joy. thank you for helping me notice more of them!

[Sarah]

Looks beautiful. Looking foward to seeing the blanket progress!

[Sunitha]

Beautiful as always! Waiting to see it all come together.

[Dawn Sparks]

Beautiful!!

Do you ever work in a solid granny? I toss between the two of them.

One of my favorite granny afghans, made for moi!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bucksters_pics/2812387692/

and it is out of Red Heart Yarn!

Love, love you blog...as I read it I jonesing to be at home in my chair with my hook in hand!

Dawn

[Sarah A]

In my circle of women- they dont feel my joy at crochet or the little things that make me giddy!! They give me a glazed over blank stare when I start. It is soo nice to find others that do..I found a WONDERFUL chenille yarn on sale this week - more than 70% off the normal price- needless to say- I bought LOADS of it... Not sure what it will be quite yet.. Enjoying touching and thinking about it at the moment.. Cant wait to see what lovely things you make for the sweet little bump.. I too enjoy blankets more than anything- its time to start another I do believe!

[Bodil]

Love your yarn!!

[Cayt]

Gorgeous yarn! I love baby blankets, my little sister (now 17 - yikes!) uses the blanket my mother knitted for her as a throw on the end of her bed even now. I look forward to the tutorial - getting very close to allowing myself to learn crochet.

[Deb]

Oh lovely! Can't wait for the tutorial as still can't quite get to grips with crochet. Sigh.

Have a great weekend. Debx

[Assin]

the blanket looks so lovely - and I can't wait for the tutorial, I am someone who would LOVE to be able to crochet but seem to always fail!