Hello my lovelies, thanks as always for taking time to call in and see me, so happy to have you here. As you can see, we're ta-dah-ing today and I am so happy, it feels to me like this moment has been such a long time coming it really does. Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that it's spanned across the turn of the year, you know? It makes it seem so long ago when I think about it starting way back Last Year. July to be precise, so six months ago. Half a year to make a modest size blanket, talk about slow progress.
The thing with this sweet little blanket is that it did in fact turn out to be very fiddlesome and time consuming. The centres of each square are made up of small picot flowers with little loopy leaves worked into the back of them. Darning in the ends was a 'mare. So many ends! Fiddle faff fiddle!
This was where I was up to at the end of August. When I first started out with this blanket I intended doing all the squares the same size. But in the early stages when I was kind of making up the middles first before adding the extra rounds, I got a glimpse of small-next-to-big and immediately liked the look of it. So this is how it ended up, it was all very organic/unplanned really.
Slowly, slowly, the blanket began to grow. Through September......
....and on into October. I fiddle-faffed with the sweet little flowers. I cussed the ends. I fretted over my random colour choices which often seemed very iffy. Yet despite these irritations, I began to love this little blanket more and more as it grew.
November saw me put a real spurt into it and I think this is when I really fell in love with it. I found myself doing less cussing and fiddle-faffing and more ooohing and ahhhhing. I began to enjoy the quirky colour combos that were happening. And I had this feeling that the bigger it grew, the better it would be.
The sweet flowers pretty much hibernated throughout December as I pushed them aside to make way for snowflakes and stars and the such like. But once Christmas was over, I couldn't wait to get stuck in again. Truthfully, I was already mentally stacking up my future projects and I wanted this little blanket done and dusted to make way for new things.
Coming to the end of a blanket in the depths of winter has distinct advantages. I really loved sitting by the fireside with this pretty heap draped over me, hooking myself into a state of warm, cosy bliss. When the above photo was taken a few weeks ago, I remember I only had ten more squares left to make. I was visualising The Edge in my immediate future, and oh my, I was soooooo looking forward to being on The Edge of this blanket! No more itty bitty flowers! no more fiddly-faffy ends to darn!! just row upon row of stripy, hooky happiness!!
The above photo was taken in very early January, when all the squares were finally complete. Little Lady and I counted them :: 82 small squares, 12 big squares, 94 altogether.
I was pleased with the way the squares had worked out, although I found it quite "busy" to look at. But I also knew that I would be adding quite a deep border around the squares, and that the border would probably help to balance it out. Well that was my hope anyhow.
The Edge is worked in granny rows, working two rows of each colour to match with the Granny Stripe. For the first time I tried out a method for a "crinkle free Granny Square border" and it worked amazingly well, I can definitely recommend it. Gosh i really did enjoy working round The Edge of this blanket, it was like the granny stripe all over again. So soothing and easy and rhythmic compared to those pesky sweet flower squares!
The Edge-of-the-edge ( AKA the pink pointy bits) is the same as the Granny Stripe. It's an easy little picot/scallop thingy, as follows..
First work a row of UK double crochet. Then with the right side facing, and in the BACK LOOPS only **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). Tis very easy and very effective I think.
So this is how the border ended up :: seven double rows of granny clusters. One row of UK trebles, one row of UK double crochet, one row of UK trebles, then finally a row of UK double crochet followed by the Pink Pointy Bits.
Gosh I've had a job photographing this blanket, I took oodles of pics over a number of days trying very hard to capture the true colours. Not easy given the appauling weather and low light levels in my patch of late, but I think I got pretty close in the end.
Ahhh this is my favourite photo of all I think. The blanket looks so, so, so......well, so beautifully blankety in this picture! So drapey and sure of it's blankety goodness!
Oh how I love making blankets (can you tell?!) I love every single part of the process.
I love the planning, the yarn-buying, the beginning, the middle, the end-of-the-middle, the edge, the edge-of-the-edge and finally the completion.
The Completion could possibly be my favourite part, although oooo I do like the beginning of the middle, yes. And the edge-of-the-edge of course.
But when the last stitch comes off the hook and the last thread is darned in and Completion is declared, well that moment is hard to beat.
It is bright this blanket, yes it is. 22 different colours of Stylecraft Special DK in total, all chosen at random as I went along.
It's quite a full-on kind of a blanket.
Remember that I made it to go in our caravan, so I wanted it to be fun and frivolous and happy and holidayish.
Which I do think it is.
Anyhoooooooooooooo, I am rambling. So I shall stop myself right there and proceed forthwith with the Ta-dah.........................................................................................................................
Ta-ta-ta-Ta-ta-ta-dah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
In all it's glory, there it is.
My sweet flower granny blanket.
It was a fun journey, but truthfully I was more than happy to reach The Completion stage with this one. For a smallish blanket, it was a lot of work.
But oh-oh-oh, just look how pretty it is!! And look how well it sits next to the Stripe!
Awwwww these two blankets were made for each other and they really do look beautiful together, don't they? I can't wait for the Spring to come so that Connievan can be swung out of her winter sleep and prettified with these two hooky lovelies.
So :: you know the score by now....it's time to talk Riveting Facts!
Yarn :: 22 colours of Stylecraft Special DK, worked on a 4mm hook.
Measures :: 110 x 150 cm (actually I've lost my tape measure, but it's roughly the same dimensions as the G-stripe)
Squares :: 94 (12 big and 82 small)
Balls :: approx 10 x 100g
Weight :: 960g
Cost :: bargainous
Photo :: my usual sofa/blanket self portrait
Blanket :: scrumdiddlyumptious
Me :: happy, yaaaayyyy ☺
You :: wonderful, thank you ♥
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I love your colours I love that you are in England where my Mother came from in 1929 Oh dear! & I seem to love every thing that you make in crochet I am an Australian lass
who is trying to find time to make every thing you do as you give me a tutorial to work on Thank you very much
Posted by: barbara marshall | August 11, 2012 at 08:59 AM
¡¡¡Maravillosos trabajos¡¡¡ Me inspiran
Mis felicitaciones desde Concepcion, Chile.
Posted by: paulina | July 14, 2012 at 08:32 PM
Hi, Lucy, a friend just passed me this URL because she knows I love to crochet ... and I have so many yarn bits and bobs that I'd love to use on a version of this blanket! Only thing is, I can figure it all out EXCEPT for the little fiddly flowers. Did I miss your pattern/instructions for them?
I LOVE everything I've seen on your blog so far and will now be checking it on a daily basis!
Cheers from Texas --
Anne
Posted by: frogprof | June 29, 2012 at 09:00 PM
What a fun outcome of a busy project! I want to make one too. Thanks for sharing.
Mary - South Africa
Posted by: Mary Puchert | June 05, 2012 at 07:20 AM
Hi Lucy,
This blanket is amazing! Thank you for sharing its story with us. I am going to make one of my own, but I can't seem to find the pattern for the sweet flowers here on your blog. Would you be willing to share it with us? I'd love to have it.
Your blog makes me happy!
Posted by: Natalie | May 20, 2012 at 08:47 PM
Beautiful as are all your blankets. But this is the best. Are you going to do a pattern for it? At least for the flowers, please???? Heck I'll
buy the pattern from you just contact me please. I love this blanket have just have to make it. Please, please please share the pattern for the flowers. Why don't you do a book? So many people would buy it.
Thanks for brightening my days
Dianna
Posted by: Dianna | May 06, 2012 at 05:55 PM
Hi, Lucy. i would just like to thank you so so much for your wonderful blog. It has been a life saver for me. I've been suffering from post natal depression for the second time, following the birth of my 2nd son. I find crochet and in particular you blogs, projects and tutorials a real inspiration and it has seriously helped me through some really bad days, so thanks for that. Now for the begging part, i really really love this pattern (sweet flower granny pattern) and was hoping you would share it with me. I can do granny squares, but i really love the little flower in the centre. Many thanks, Maoliosa.
Posted by: Maoliosa Wilson | May 01, 2012 at 04:17 PM
Hi Lucy
Can I just say how neat your work is and I don't seem to be able to replicate it. More practice needed me thinks.
I love all your wonderful blankets and cushions. I am certainly planning to edge all my blankets in future as it truly makes a difference.
Looking forward to checking out more of your projects and seeing your TA DAH moments.
Posted by: Elaine | April 30, 2012 at 08:49 PM
Please is there a pattern for this? I can't find it anywhere & can't figure out the sweet little flowers & leaves. I want to make this so bad
Posted by: Dianna | April 16, 2012 at 09:14 PM
I am making a flower field afgan for a friend's little grand daughter, and was looking for flowers to attach to the squares. Yours are adorable, but you don't say how to make them! Rats!
Posted by: Linda | April 09, 2012 at 11:29 PM
Great blanket. So happy looking. c x PS I have the same socks as you....pic 6. Primark?)
Posted by: Caroline | March 23, 2012 at 04:34 PM
Found you blog today and am amazed at the combination of colors! Just beautiful. I've been crocheting for going on 50 years and it never ceases to amaze me how many different patterns and color combinations crocheters come up with. Please post or direct me to the pattern for this lovely throw.
Nancy
Posted by: Nancy Howell | March 06, 2012 at 09:15 PM
You are such an inspiring lady I must say I just started my granny blanket........from Pakistan
Posted by: Bushra | February 23, 2012 at 07:02 PM
where can i learn my hubbys grandma made so many for my sons when they where babys and i should have learned she has passed on now but i would love to learn to make some for my grandson.
Posted by: Norma Severn | February 17, 2012 at 11:24 PM
It is a lovely work of soft, pretty comfort. The style is so sweet, your colors were lovely and putting it together was wonderful, so much to look at. Thank you for showing it to us.
Sue is Spokane
Posted by: Susan Swent | February 14, 2012 at 05:50 AM
I LOVE LOVE LOVE this blanket! I am now trying to make one myself. I am really new at this crochet thing, so I think it would take me a while to finish it. :)
I wanted to ask you if you attached the squares as you were going or what method did you use to attach them?
I love your entire blog! you are so creative!
Posted by: Juliana | February 10, 2012 at 06:12 PM
WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Patsy | February 09, 2012 at 12:34 AM
Lucy what are your chosen colors ????
Posted by: Vergik | February 05, 2012 at 09:12 PM
Very nice blanket.
i question the little flowers and leaves in the centre of the squares are they done seperately and then sewed afterwards or sone as you go along?
i would like to do a blanket like this. I think it is amazing. Prosit! as we say in Maltese.
:-)
Posted by: Sandra Camilleri | January 16, 2012 at 03:05 PM
just discovered your blog and I'm absolutely in love with this blanket. the colors are beautiful and the i'm jealous you can do something so random. (i get super OCD about colors.)
Posted by: Kelsey | January 15, 2012 at 07:06 AM
that is so lovely. well done
Posted by: helena | December 19, 2011 at 03:35 AM
I love the Sweet Flower Granny Blanket. Any chance of getting the pattern for the granny square? I'm about to make a blanket for my daughter who is off to Uni in Australia and this pattern would be perfect.
Terry from Hong Kong
Posted by: Terry | November 09, 2011 at 06:16 PM
Well, I just finished all my squares & am in the process of putting them all together!! I am soooo anxious to complete this afghan that I was tempted to call in sick to work just to stay home & finish it!!! My bad! I have never liked changing colors & dealing with all those ends to weave in but you've brought me back from the dark side, Lucy. I can't wait to start another of your projects!! I have so enjoyed your blog these past months & will be a devoted fan for as long as you're sharing your colorful life!
Posted by: Jill | October 14, 2011 at 01:46 PM
Amaaaaazing, i wanna do that someday
Congratulation and good Job :*
Sarah
Posted by: Sarah | August 25, 2011 at 01:45 AM
Lovely, lovely lovely! Just found your blog via Craftgawker, but I think I've wandered this way before. Going to have a hunt around your archive for new ideas. It's lovely to see the work of a fellow (obsessive) crocheter!
Posted by: Liz Ashton | August 22, 2011 at 01:20 AM