Sweet Flower Grannies

 

Hello my Lovelies! Some crochet talk today :: is it me or does it seem like an aaaaage since we chatted about crochet?? Truth of the matter is, my hooky activity has been quite minimal of late, almost to the point of being non existent some weeks. And that's a sorry state of affairs for sure. However, last night once the Little Ones were tucked up in bed, I managed to get all my chores done in double quick time. I zooooomed around the house tidying up toys, sorting laundry, clearing the kitchen, ironing J's shirts (yes, I know, if I could include icons in my text I would've inserted a big fat YaWny one right there). And by 8.40pm I was all done and ready to flollop on the sofa for a spot of crochet time.

I began working on this blanket back at the end of July, it's a granny square blanket for Connievan. But not an ordinary bog-standard granny square blanket (much as I LOVE the traditional squares), no no, these are my new extra-special granny squares which I designed myself. Called the Sweet Flower Granny Square, they do indeed start out as a sweet little flower. Awwwww!! Cute eh?? I've been producing these dinky little Sweet Flowers in any spare bit of time I've had available (like I say, almost non existent) as it's been quite easy to sit and make them without having to think too long and hard about colour choices. The idea is that I can then have a pile of flowers to dip into when I have time/brain power to turn them into squares, cos it's the square-making that requires colour-combining skills.

This morning I managed to find both brain power and time, it was a major event. Little B was sleeping soundly so I grabbed the opportunity and set to work.

Sweet Flowers became Sweet Squares, which in turn were worked into the blanket. Joining on-the-go of course.

 

I'm using Stylecraft Special DK (an acrylic yarn) which is of course the same yarn that I used for the Granny Stripe. So I had seventeen colours already  which were left over from the striping, but I got to thinking that seventeen wasn't quite enough. Not enough balls in my basket I thought. I need a few more. Just because. Because yarn shopping is So. Much. Fun. So off I toddled to my LYS and I bought five more, so twenty two colours in total now. The above balls are my new additions, as follows.........

Top row ::

1302 :: denim 

1062 :: teal

Bottom row ::

1277 :: violet

1123 :: claret

1425 :: emperor

You can find info about the other seventeen colours in this post.

So although this latest blanket has begun slowly-slowly, I am liking it very muchly. There's still a weeny bit of uncertainty as I've not perhaps made enough of it yet to really get a feel for how the design is working and how the colours are coming together. But first impressions are good.

This is where I'm up to..............................................................................................

 

Its a blanket of large and small squares, see? The large squares are worked in eight rounds, the small ones in four rounds. I think it's going to work out, don't you? Here's hoping.

Right-oh, been lovely sharing this with you....7.30pm now and I need to go get my things together ready to head to the pub. Yes, I go out to the pub every Monday night now, I started up a Crochet Night in my local hostelry. Beer 'n' hooky. Natter 'n' slurp.

It's a wonderful thing, this life of mine.

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Comments

[Katie]

Just found your site. Love your work and the colors.
Do you have pattern for your sweet flowers and any special technique or tips on how you join your granny squares, being different sizes and all.

Thanks for the inspiration.

Katie

[nancy]

Lucy! Greetings from the rainy coast of Washington state, US! I'm in love, maybe obsessed, with the sweet flower granny square blanky! I embarked on my own version (I never follow recipes or patterns, as much as I love them...) a couple of weeks ago. All the colors swirling together forming little stacks of goodness on my coffee table is fantastic! Thank you for sharing your beautiful corner of the world! <3 Nancy

[Lynn]

I've ordered the yarn and it should arrive any day now. Please share your flower pattern so I can get started!
You have such a natural eye for color and design! People like you and Yvestown, Sarah London and the Japanese crochet books are what the US ought to be offering. We seem to be stuck and lacking zing in patterns and color choices.

[teejay]

just a note Lucy to tell you how much I am enjoying following your hooky excursions. I am now totally obsessed with color combinations--a trick I use is to go to a fabric store and find a fabric which appeals, then scrutinize the colors used. I'm starting a 'Marine Colors'( turquoise, aqua, light greens, and teals) blanket for myself and will be making others for the family as well.

Here in the U.S., we don't have access to the Stylecraft yarn. Pity--such great colors. Ours here tend to be either screamingly saturated, or dusty as in 'Dusty Rose' 'Dusty Blue', etc. Have had to patch together several brands to get the colors I want, am still missing a good light true violet. Anybody know of one? (Acrylic)

A tip when knotting together colors: get the knot close (or not) then tug sharply on both ends of the last color used; the shape of the knot changes and the new color can then be slid right down snug up against the last round. Do the reverse if you are frogging--no need to untie a knot, just slide the new color down and off.

Thanks again for bringing such joy to the crochet world. There are hundreds out there creating heirlooms that will be collectible in years to come! I raise my glass (Zinfandel) to you!

[dorothy tan]

LUCY,

NICE TO KNOW YOU.

I LOVE TO KNIT & CROCHET AT THE SAME TIME FOR A BLOUSE
USING DIFFERENT YARN COLOURS ETC.

I ENJOY CROCHET FLOWERS ESP ROSE BUT I HAVE DIFFICULTY GETTING PATTERN BOOK ON OTHER KIND OF FLOWERS TYPE SUCH AS
TULIP, SUN FLOWER WIT LEAVES ETC FOR MY LEISURE.

DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEAS ON WHERE TO GET BOOKS FOR FLOWERS CROCHET.....

lUV,
D .. singapore,209377

[mambomom]

Lucy--Your wonderful blog has inspired me to learn to crochet. My baby girl turns 18 this month and is headed off to college this coming fall and I would love to try my hand at the sweet flower granny afghan quilt. I know that this pattern is your own creation-- I would be much appreciative if you would share your pattern for this lovely creation. Many thanks.

[teejay]

Love your color combinations Lucy, and am trying my hand at a granny square blanket to donate to the local hospital. When my hubby was there for two weeks, it was so great to get one of the hand crocheted throws for his bed. It lent such a cheery brightness to a dull room.

I'd love to see how you make the little leaves on the underside of this granny flower, too. Will you share it with us once your blanket is finished? I hope so! Thank you dear, for the color inspiration and general cheer of your blog. It has lit some dull days here. ooxx

[grandmag]

Hi Lucy,
I was wondering if you were going to possibly share your pattern for this. It is simply adorable. I have started to make the hexagon throw. It is going fairly well after I got the hang of it.

[Bes]

Thanx so much for this. Love your creativity and it is making it easier for me to learn how to crochet.

[Stefania]

wonderfull!!!!

[Terry]

I absolutley love your Sweet Flower Grannies. I'm about to start an afgan for my daughter and I would love to use your pattern...would there be any chance you could email it? Many Thanks Terry - Hong Kong

[wendy @ the textured leaf]

This is gorgeous. Can I blog about it?

[Patty]

What a wonderful blog you have. I am really enjoying it especially since I can tell we have something in common and that is our love for bright, beautiful colors and flowers. Any time I see your pretty projects I just can't help but smile. :-)

[tess c]

you certainly know how to brighten a day!! Just seeing all the delicious colours makes a smile appear......... tess

[Alison]

just found your fabulous blog. Love all the projects,pictures and your enthusiasm for living! Can't wait to come back and read more

[Connie Larson]

Hey girl! just wanted to send a shout out. haven't heard from you for a while, everything going ok?

[Netty]

Hello! Just discovered your blog and ILOVEIT! I have always loved crochet but haven't done it for aaaaaaaaaaaaages. Now you got me all enthusiastic again and I am ready to start. Please, please, please share your pattern....it is so lovely.
The way you use colours...just gorgeous.
Best wishes,

[nim From Thailand]

love your blog

[gshanz]

honestly speaking u have got such a beautiful and creative mind...all ur works are so wonderful and eye catching!!!
can u put up the instructions for circular topdown yoke cardigan. please:-)

thanx

gshanz
kashmir

[Clare Wilson]

Lucy - wish you lived a bit nearer and I could join your group - ale and woolling - bliss! Also wish my B would sleep for more than 30 mins a day - barely enough time to make a cuppa - and now I'm posting comments in the middle of the night. My blanketing will never get done!

[translation services]

A special edition of Libelle with 115 ideas for make-it-yourself items for children's rooms and for the rest of the house. It mentions your blog and says: an english blog with colorful crochetideas.

[Alba Howard]

Hi Lucy:
Your blog is so nice. I love it. You please can show a graffic ripple because I don't understand very good English, it will help me.
Thanks a lot. God bless you.
I am writting form Caracas, Venezuela.

[hawthorn]

Hi,
seeing you regularly bring a bit of sunshine to my life, I have awarded you a deserving ’sunshine award’ please see today’s post hope it brings a smile to your day

[Fernanda]

Você é simplesmente Maravilhosa!!!!

bjos

[Tatkis]

Looks wonderful! You use such a nice colors, and I love reading your blog (I've found it from Rachel "Country and cosy").

Best wishes,
Tatyana