The Granny Stripe :: ta-dah!

 

Hello my friends, thank you so much for being here with me. I 'm really happy that finally, finally, I've found a (relatively) quiet little spot in my busy-busy days to sit and whizz up a multi-coloured ta-dah post to share with you all. Pheww....for a while I thought it would never happen, I can't tell you how incredibly difficult it is at the moment for me to find time to sit and write.

When I first made the decision to go with the acrylic for this blanket, there was quite a bit of uncertainty and I really wasn't at all sure whether it would work out or not. I purchased the yarn (Stylecraft Special DK) on a bit of a whim really, chose the colours quite quickly in a dimly lit shop one lunch time. Brought them home in a big squishy bag, tumbled them out onto the floor, arranged them in rows, stood back and took a long hard look at my blanket-to-be. A few dubious colours, but mostly yes I was happy with them and felt they would work up nicely into stripes.

And oh-me-oh-my, I was not disappointed. This yarn, this cheap acrylic yarn, was an absolute dream to work with. You may remember me beginning this blanket at the very end of May (yarn info can found in that post too), it was such an exciting time for me. Well truthfully the beginning of any blanket is always hugely exciting, but somehow this one seemed more so than ever before.

I have loved every moment of working up these granny stripes (excepting perhaps the first couple of rows), and everything about it has been a surprising pleasure. And now it's finished, and the acrylic yarn has become an acrylic blanket, I am hugely happy with it. It's one warm, colourful, happy, snuggly, delicious bit of hooky.

 

I know that a great many of you Hooked-A-Long with me and embarked on your own Granny Stripe blankets. I can't tell you how wonderful this has been for me, and how glad I am that this simple pattern has delivered such a lot of world-wide hooky happiness!

One of the most exciting and rewarding bits of blanket making is working The Edge. It's that point in the blanket when there is still quite a bit of hooky left to do, yet the End is firmly in sight.

I think every blanket deserves an Edge, it totally transforms the whole thing, turns it from a rectangle of crochet into a proper blanket.

 

I love how my Granny Stripe edging turned out. I made a round of granny-clusters first, working into the spaces at the end of alternate rows. 

After the granny clusters, I worked two rows of treble crochet, followed by a thin row of pink double crochet. Then with the light blue I worked the final edge-of-the-edge :: this was one row of double crochet (US single crochet) then a dinky little sort of picot/shell pattern that I made up myself.

This is an easy pattern, and makes a very neat edging. Work with the right side facing, and work out of BACK LOOPS only (other wise it curls if you work through both loops).
**work 3 slip stitches, then in the next stitch work the following :: (dc, ch 2, dc)**. Repeat between **.
Remember when I say dc, this is UK terms (hook into stitch, yarn over, hook back through stitch (2 loops on hook), yarn over, draw through 2 loops)

Do you like it?

Ahhhhhh I do. I'm very happy with it. I did try out a normal bog standard picot stitch at first but it didn't seem to be right somehow. Plus, I really get a kick out of designing something myself, creating something new.

So.

I think it might be time.

Time for me to unfold my blankie, spread it out on the floor and start dancing my excited jiggety-jig around it.

Time to climb onto the coffee table and wibble-wobble on the edge while I try and take a halfway decent photograph.

Time to show you...................................

 

 

............The Granny Stripe Blanket :: ta-dah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

In all it's stripy, gorgeously-gorgeous glory, there it is.

Sixty stripes in total, sixty stripes of happy colourful loveliness. 

Oh yes, I do reeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaally adore this blanket.

 

Are you enjoying this Stripe fest????!!!! I think I went a bit bonkers taking pictures, sorry if it's all a bit much.

 

As you all know, I made this blanket for Connievan, and I think thats perhaps why it's turned out so happy and colourful and sort of holiday-ish, you know?

Actually I'm really looking forward to taking it and installing it in Connievan. Ok, so "looking forward" doesn't quite describe my true feelings here, I am actually ridiculously, stupidly almost peeing-my-pants-with-excitement happy at the prospect (which will occur on Saturday yippppeeeeee!!)

But, I shall miss having it around at number 24, even though there are oooooo let me see now, five blankets here in this room already. 

So shall we move right along and talk Riveting Facts?? Shall we?? Ok, here we go.....

Yarn :: 17 colours of Stylecraft Special DK, worked on a 4mm hook.

Measures :: 110 x 150 cm

Starting chain :: 239

Stripes :: 60

Balls :: approx 10 x 100g

Weight :: just less than 1kg

Cost :: not a lot. Cheapo. A bargain.

Photo :: me snuggled on the sofa trying not to look too weary

Blanket :: gorgeously gorgeous

Me :: happy

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Edited to add :: a little note about my colour sequences...totally random, although I did keep an eye on the more dominant colours and tried to space them out quite evenly (the red, dark purple, the very bright in-your-face green and the yellow). Choosing which colours went next to each other was a huuuuuge part of the excitement for me with this blanket, I just love doing random ♥

Also, I've put the pattern into my sidebar, usual place down at the bottom, listed as a page. No step-by-step photos yet I'm afraid, but I've tried to write it in Plain English so hoping you can follow it.

Comments

[Rachel Dockery]

Hi Lucy I'd love to start doing your blankets all over again as I did them the first time around but I can't find the yarn packs on wool warehouse? Could you send me the colour sequence for this one by any chance please. I would really appreciate it x thanks

[rmc]

Please could you send me the colour sequence for harmony granny blanket and also the colours chosen for the edging please.
Many thanks

[Jane]

Omg! I’m in love with crochet again and it’s all your fault, Lucy! I really want to do this blanket in exactly the same colours as you. Can you please tell me the names of the seventeen colours you used and the hook size.mi can see others have also asked you above but can’t see any answers.
Many, many thanks!
Jane

[Betty Hay]

For a fingering weight blanket what hook do you recommend and if I want to make a queen size topper what number of starting chains should I make? Thank you for your advice. I know the us meadurement is 60 x 80

[Diana Lovatt]

Hi Lucy, The yarn is no longer available, so need to ask if I need 17 x 50 gr (1/colour) but you then state 1+ x 100gr?? Please help me to sort this out.
Thank you!

[SUSAN]

I love it! And you look just like a teenager in your photo, it's not fair! :)

[Alice]

What a wonderful stashbuster! I have most of the colors you used, so it will be easy. Sadly, it seems that the shops here in Florida are not ordering more yarn. A time may come when I'll need a gorgeous pattern to use my stock. Thank you so very much for sharing this magnificent piece with us in the Colonies.

[Hillary McCarroll]

I just adore this blanket, but where is the pattern. I am a beginner at crochet and would really like to try this , it looks easy for me to do.

[Carol Bremner]

Hi, have just purchased the original pack but no pattern in it.
Do you have a list of the order of colours?
Thank you xx

[Robin Walton]

I see a lot of questions what size needle to use, how many stitches to start haven't found the pattern can you help

[Simone]

Hi I want to make this blanket for my daughter do you have instructions I can print off at all? I’ve just finished the cosy stripe blanket and it’s the first ever bit of crocheting I’ve ever done and I loved it even though it’s wonky and wobbly I’m so proud!!
Simone

[Laraine Quinton]

Hi, I am almost finished this blanket but I am just wondering if on the corners of the border you did (2dc ch2 2dc) or was it (1dc ch2 1dc)? I have to say that I have thoroughly enjoyed making this blanket and my granddaughter is going to love it. Thank you for such a lovely item

[Laraine Quinton]

Hi there, I have just found this blanket and I think it would be perfect for one of grand-daughters. Could you just give me a bit of advice, if I wanted to make it for a single bed how many chain do you think I would need and also how many rows? Maybe more that your 60?
Looking forward to your reply

[Kaye]

What size hook?

[Tahira ghaffar]

So beautiful n eye catching

[Ella]

Hi Lucy,
I just wanted to say thank you so much for an AWESOME tutorial.I started my granny stripe blanket 9 months ago and finally finished it this morning.
Looking forward to more of your AWESOME projects.
Ella :-)

[Sue]

Hi love this thank you. Can I just ask a question about the edging please. You say for the final round work in the back loops, but are the slip stitches worked in the bl's too as well as the dc, ch, dc. Many thanks

[rose neild]

Hi Lucy,
Love your granny stripe blanket and i am doing the best to use up my scraps and furnish my home with magnificent blankets before winter arrives. it's a bit of a trick when the blanket gets large and the weather is 40 degrees celcius!
Just thought it would be fun to know that this is the perfect learn-to-crochet tutor. I have now taught three people who are all excited about being able to make something meaningful. the fact there is only three stitches to learn and a lot of chance to practice PLUS it grows so quickly makes granny stripe the perfect beginner project. thank you for creating and sharing it,
rose

[Anne Magill]

Very nice blankets how do I order from your site

[Julie]

Loving your patterns Lucy and crocheter's comments. Can someone please explain how to see Lucy's responses?

[soso27110]

hello. thank you very much for the tuto. you are beautiful. kisses to you from France . sorry for my English!!!!

[Shirley Campbell]

My first large project. Commenced April and finished tonight.Only been crocheting for 1 year. A bit of a mixture, same colours and edging as Granny Stripe, but using the Neat Ripple pattern. Will place on my Pinterest site with photo's.

[Vicky]

I'm doing this blanket as my first project. I am doing well with the main blanket. As I get towards the end I have been wondering about the edging, I tried to do the edging on the tester. I did the granny trebles all the way around. But when I came to do the trebles I was not sure whether to go into the spaces or into the back loops or the two loops. It started to curl particularly around the corners? Can anyone tell me where to go in to please?

[Pat Mulholland]

please tell me where I can find the edge pattern for the Granny Stripe. Thank you.

[Dorothea]

Love this afghan! I am trying to print out the directions but not having any success. Maybe I 'm just too used the the USA way of "click here". Please help.
Also loved reading your blog, Lucy. I will be back for more.
Dorothea