Granny Patchwork Blanket

Isn't a whole heap of colourful yarn a heart warming sight? I love it soooo much. It still sometimes amazes me that I have become this Yarn Person, when for so long my passion was fabric and thread. Even when I discovered crochet and had a need for yarn, I wasn't all that bothered about the actual yarn itself. I didn't care if it was soft or smooth or warm, natural or man-made, I only cared about the colour. Colour all the way. Actually, now I come to think about it, it was the same when I worked in fabric. When all my textile friends were doing remarkable layered textural things, I only wanted to use plain cotton cos of the huuuuuuge number of colours it came in.

The above dreamy pile of yarn is the remains of my Stylecraft Special DK stash (previously used for the Granny Stripe and the Sweet Flower Granny) with some of my friends oddments added in. Hence the few very dark colours which are not part of my usual colour palette.

I collected all the yarn up and hand wound some of the more raggedy balls so that my bag would be full of neat little yarn balls to work with.

I began to make and join some simple one-colour granny squares. It was all done on a bit of a whim as I was searching for a suitable hooky project to take on holiday with me. I was inspired by the patchwork blankets that Heather and Jacquie made earlier in the year, and these squares promised to be a relaxing, easy going kind of a way to produce a top-notch blanket.

Since starting my patchwork blanket, I found out that there are already many lovely hooky people all working on the same sort of thing, inspired by Sandra's really beautiful creation. My Ravelry group has a thread dedicated to a "Patchwork Granny CAL" where you can catch up with everyones progress, I think it's utterly wonderful that there are so many of us all working on similar blankets all over the World.

I'm working my squares in five rounds, and joining-as-I-go.

This joining method works incredibly well for this sort of project, especially if you tackle it in a methodical sort of a way. I'm working my blanket up in rows which are 12 squares wide, joining as I go from left to right.

It was an absolute dream to work on whilst I was on holiday, the perfect relaxation project. I would come downstairs in the early morning and sit on the sofa as the sun streamed in through the window, hooking myself into a state of pure bliss.

The rows grew (Driftwood Cottage garden bench, 30th August)....

....and grew (Driftwood Cottage carpeted floor, 1st September).

As with most of my blanket projects, I am working my colours at random. I really love the random process, but I confess I do put a weeny bit of planning into place with it.

I want to share my method with you, in case it might be of help. As you can see with the above pictures, I plan my rows. I lay my blanket out and arrange my yarn balls for the next row. It helps me space out the colours/tones, especially the highly contrasting ones (eg the yellow and the couple of very dark ones). It helps the blanket to gain a certain colour balance.

When I've got my 12 colours selected for the next row, I take little snips of the yarn and stick them to a piece of paper. This is my colour map.

This colour map enables me to select just 12 balls to put into my flowery zippered project bag (posted about here) so I am always already for hooky-on-the-go. It means I don't have to take a whole big bulky bag of yarn out with me, I can just grab my zippered pouch and run. It also means I don't have to faff about trying to select colours when I'm in a slightly tricky hooky spot (ie in the car)

With this dash and grab method, I also figured something else out. I figured out that I don't actually need to cart the growing blanket out and about with me if I don't want to. I can just take yarn and hook, and crochet up the first four rounds+one side of each square so that I stop exactly at the point where I need to slip-stitch-to-join. Do you get what I mean? The idea is that when I've got time at home, I can pick up where I left off and complete the 5th/joining round when I can easily sit with the blanket draped over me (ie not in sweltering heat beside the pool as the Little People swim).

By employing these methods, my blanket has grown surprisingly quickly as I've been hooking in all sorts of places and at all sorts of in-between times. At the swimming pool, on the heather clad hills, in the pub, in the car, at my friends kitchen table. It's become the perfect fitty-in thing to make, and that's one of the things I most adore about crochet. It just so neatly and perfectly Fits In with family life.



This is where I'm currently at, seven rows of twelve. I have to say I am completely smitten with the deep dark colours sitting amongst my usual mid-tones. They worried me for a bit, but now I've got used to their dark presence, I love the way they jolt the whole thing up and give it depth and movement. Oooo, I sound a little bit arty there, don't I? Depth and Movement indeed, get me!!! Maybe I should just say it's jolly and happy and patchworky and a tad quirky, which are more my kind of words. Yeah, well, you know what I mean.

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Comments

[Beverly Lemoine]

What size hook did you use, and are you using UK terms, as in tr is double in US?

[Susanna Finch]

Lucy, just about to start on this and wondered if you do 144 squares how large the blanket will be. Also do you use a size 4mm hook? Still not sure whether to do this blanket or your stripes one. They are both colourful but perhaps for picking up and down the stripes may be easier. What do you think?

[www.wirelessheadphonesreviewer.com]

Hi there to every one, for the reason that I am in faft eager of reading this website's post to be updated daily. It carries good material.

[Pat]

Your method of colour placement reminds of when I did a blanket for my son, then 2 years old & now 30+. I bought some balls of yarn and Mum bought some - so nothing matched!
I would place my rug (it was one big Granny square & my first) on a flat surface then line up six colours that 'matched' what was already done. Stitched up a row each of those six; then repeated the process for the next six rows.
The rug is absolutely gorgeous. And a very unusual mix of dark colours and fleuros and soft colours. But it looks just right.
My friends thought I was nuts trying to blend all those colours together, but it worked. You just have to experiment with colour combinations.
I hope that Fiona's 16 yo loves her finished work.
Lucy, it is so nice to see someone writing crochet in the original terms. Keep up the good work! :-)

[siobhan]

I've just started to crochet lately and just love your looking at your work. The way you mix your colours is fab. I'm self taught and am sure there are things that I am not getting totally right. The finished item sometimes just doesn't,t look perfect but I suppose that should come with practice!!

[Kay]

Dear Lucy, I have been following you for a while now and made a granny striped baanket and a patchwork blanket which I love. I have another one on the go and keep checking for the tutorial on 'spot on edge'. I would love to finsih of my latest blanket like this.

Keep blogging I love your website
xx Kay

[Linda Young]

My friend and I are just waiting for a Lucy yarn selection ordered on Monday to arrive,to start making granny square blankets for the fish and chip babies.We both wanted to make some special blankets for these babies who are born and sometimes die ,having only been wrapped in a sheet of newspaper,hence the term fish and chip babies.Inspired by Lucy blankets.thanks love your blog x

[Cate in Dundee]

Lovely lovely, and arty or not, Lucy, this reminds me of Klee! ;)

[Julie Holder]

Hi Lucy, beautiful blog post, thank you...I would like to use the debbie bliss cashmerino for a blanket, so would you please advise which of your blankets you unsed this beautiful yarn to crochet them with, thanks so much. julie...

[Tempurpedic beds]

While looking for handmade holly leaves, by beautiful serendipitous chance I stumbled across your fabulous blog and have spent the evening immersing myself in all those gorgeous pictures. Absolutely love what you are doing and it has spurred

[crochet cotton]

My mind becomes full of gay seeing so much colors together...

[sarah]

I don't even know how I stumbled on this site and your page, but you have blown me away with your eye for colour and pattern! You have really inspired me to pick up my hook again. Your work is absolutely exquisite and reminds me of some of Yvonne Coomber's paintings.
Keep up the good work!!

[Mike Cornelia]

My mother used to make blankets like this. My wife has grown an obsession toward knitting and began making a blanket out of Egyptian Cotton. She said it is one of the tougher types of material to knit with. I don't understand this hobby, but I love the end results!

[Catherine]

How do you join the pieces together (or have I missed this?). Thanks.

[Susie Goodwill]

I love the simplicity of this blanket.....sort of reminds me of Elmer (the patchwork elephant) I LOVE the idea of the colour map. I really try to relax about colour distribution but it's not easy for me! I have a link on my blog to an amazing pattern generator site
http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=5159203042792503909#editor/target=post;postID=859014527546789956

It makes 'random' really easy & you can just knit squares 'to order'

Susie x

[Jenni]

I am so in love with this blanket!

[Darlene Masters]

I love the colourful photos of your life, its so cozy. I can so relate to being barefoot as long as possible all though my knitted socks have been calling to me. I too love pj days... I saw tiny tower on your iphone its so addictive and simply soothing. My daughter and I are always comparing floors! I think I see a colourful granny blanket in my future. Thanks for the inspiration and great patterns!!! A friend in PEI

[Kimmy]

I love love the colors that you put together! I was wondering how many balls of each color do you buy at one time? I just want to buy one of each and just keep them on my shelf to admire :) Thanks for making me smile always.

[Jenny Hutchison]

Thank you so much Lucy for the link to our web site Strawberry Fayre. We had a huge spike in visitors to our site in the week 24th Sept & my son who does our web site has traced it the link on your site. Lovely crochet blanket & gorgeous colours. Thanks again
Best wishes
Jenny Hutchison

[CrochetBlogger]

I love watching your pretty colored blanket grow and grow as I scroll down through each photo :)

[Knitting Needle Conversion Charts]

Great are your works! So cute and colorful! I wish I could knit expertly just like you and create patterns that I can call my own. You are a big inspiration to me who tries to knit and blog at the same time. Thank you so much for posting and inspiring a lot of people specially me. Good luck.

[JoAnn]

It's very pretty. You are doing a great job. I've been busy with work lately but I'm looking forward to picking up my hook again soon. :)

[Lucy Ormerod]

Hi Lucy, another fellow Lucy here-the lucy who asked for snake assistance in fact! Just wanted to say still enjoying the blog heaps. Totally love the simplicity of this blanket. I am currently partway through big hexagon blanket-phewee they take some hooking don't they!!!! Just venturing into starting a blog myself-nervous to say the least! Will be sure to link if mention the hexigan blanket-if you don't mind? As it was inspired by you!
Best wishes,Lucy

[Caroline Ray]

Wasn't convinced when we saw the beginnings of this blanket, but that last photo showing your usual magic with colour has utterly changed my mind. It looks lovely.

[Thomasina Tittlemouse]

This is so yummy! Those dark colours certainly pull their weight and highlight the brightness of the others beautifully. The whole thing has the most glorious patchwork effect. And projects which happily travel and fit into whatever little spaces of the day are available are fantastic news! I love this whole aspect of the hooky business! No day is too busy for a hooky space somewhere! E x