It's not often I set out to de-stash my yarn as I simply don't consider yarn as something that has to be "used up". I really, really love having a good collection of yarns in the Attic to inspire me with it's cosy charms and colourful possibilities. However, at the end of last summer when I was looking for a holiday project, I decided to try and use up this rather large and unruly pile of leftover Stylecraft Special DK. I thought there would be enough for a modest size blanket without having to buy any more...so it was kind of a de-stashing project by default I guess.
Some of the yarn was left over from my caravan blankets. There are seventeen colours which have become known as "Lucy colours", as follows:
aspen ¦ meadow ¦ spring green ¦ sherbet ¦ cloud blue ¦ turquoise ¦ lavender ¦ aster
wisteria ¦ magenta ¦ clematis ¦ shrimp ¦ plum ¦ fondant ¦ lipstick ¦ saffron ¦ pomegranate
There are also six other colours which were left overs from a friend's blanket, as follows :
teal ¦ claret ¦ violet ¦ denim ¦ emperor ¦ midnight
So this granny square blanket began on 21st August 2012 as a quick and easy holiday project, and you can read all about the start of it's journey in this post.
A month later I had made 84 squares, but the blanket had to be laid aside so I could concentrate on other things. Bower Birds took over for a while, followed by a hat. Then it was a whole heap load of flowers, stars, balls and pom poms, AKA The Christmas Wreath. How could I possibly think of blanket making when The Wreath needed my full undivided attention?! Then there was my feverish Christmas card making, and the completion of my wonderful ripple. It was a busy hooky end to 2012.
I started back with the blanket as soon as the festive period was over, and it was like revisiting a great friend. Granny squares are so quick and easy to make, it almost felt like the blanket was making itself. The colours just sort of fell into place, a mix of 23 shades in a jolly, random riot. Really, this has turned out to be a very relaxed and rather spontaneous blanket, with an ever so slightly haphazard look.
I finished the patchwork of squares a couple weeks ago, 144 in total. But it's taken me an absolute age to decide what to do with the border. I really struggled trying to come up with a solution, and changed my mind over and over. For a while I thought I might use a single colour to make a wide band around the squares, but I could not for the life of me decide which colour it should be. Eventually I made up my mind and decided what to do, and it was such a releif to get going again. It's fun being on the edge! It's fun to work in lengthy long rows after spending so long doing short ones, and a pleasing rhythm develops.
I have to tell you that Little B is convinced this blanket is his. He is sweetly possessive about it, wrapping it around himself like a cape and getting cross if anyone else dares to use it. But I have a feeling this will be an On-The-Go blanket, a family blanket that comes out with us on picnics and journeys and holidays. I don't think it'll end up as a sofa blanket, and I think Little B will have to get used to sharing it.
Anyhow, back to the business of making the border....this is how it turned out. Ten rows of granny clusters (the first row is made using this excellent method to prevent the border from ruffling), then my fabby-dabby "Spot-On" edging. This is the same edging I used on my ripple blanket, and I really love the simple effect it creates.
I think borders and edgings on a blanket are a very personal thing, and everyone's approach is different. When I make granny square type blankets, I personally like to see quite a wide border running round. I like to think of the border as a frame, and somehow the busy-ness of all those squares jostling together seems to require a wider frame than say a striped blanket.
So I think now would be a good time to show you how it all came together?
How the riot of colourful squares looked when framed by calming rows of purple and blue?
Oh no, that's not it, that's another Casual Snap!
I need to lay it out for you don't I?
Need to smooth it out and show it in all it's patchwork glory.
Have to do my usual precarious balancing on the arm of the sofa with camera held above my head.
It's not easy photographing blankets you know!
Anyhow....
here it is........................................
Ta-dah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It's a colourful, happy-go-lucky, casual blanket this one. Made for fun times, holidays and journeys. For parks and beaches and riverbanks.
I am really, really looking forward to using it. I'm looking forward to laying it down on some fresh green grass and seeing all those colourful, happy patchwork squares sitting in the landscape.
I tried to photograph it on my bed to give you an idea of it's size. It measures 130cm², so not enormous, but hoping it'll be just right as a lovely Useful Blanket to fold up and take out and about.
For the time being though, as we are still in the depths of Winter and not planning on sitting around in the park or on a riverbank for a while yet, the blanket has joined my ripples on the sofa.
It looks good actually, and I love walking into the room and seeing it there.
What do you make of the colours? It's slightly different to my usual creations due to the dark tones I've used in with my usual mid-tones. I did keep an eye on those dark colours and tried to space them out quite evenly, but truthfully I didn't labour over the colour placement at all. I tried just to let it happen.
I wanted to show you these two pictures side by side to show the calming effect of the border. You can see how important it is to get the border right in terms of colours and size. I think I hit it pretty spot on.
Whilst making this Granny Patchwork, I've received many questions about how I make my granny squares and what pattern I use. My squares are quite dense with small holes, as I decided to drop the chain spaces along the sides. So my basic method involves making a chain-2 in the corners, but NO chain spaces along the sides.
I thought it might help if I write out the pattern.........
chain 4, join to make a ring.
ROUND 1 ::
Chain 3 (counts as 1 tr), 2tr’s into ring, chain 2, 3 tr’s, ch 2, 3tr’s, ch 2, 3 tr’s, ch 2, sl st into 3rd ch of initial ch 3 to close round. DO NOT FASTEN OFF.
ROUND 2 ::
Chain 3 (counts as 1 tr), then work 2tr’s into the first corner space. NO CHAINS ALONG SIDES!
{So in next corner space, work 3 tr’s, ch 2, 3 tr’s}.
Repeat between {} twice more, then in the very first corner space work 3 tr’s, ch 2, then sl st into 3rd ch of initial ch 3 to close round. DO NOT FASTEN OFF.
ROUND 3 ::
chain 3 (counts as 1 tr), then work 2tr’s into the first corner space. NO CHAINS ALONG SIDES!
3tr’s into side space, {3 tr’s, ch 2, 3 tr’s into corner space, 3tr’s into side space}
repeat between {} twice more, then in the very first corner space work 3 tr’s, ch 2, then sl st into 3rd ch of initial ch 3 to close round.
ROUND 4 and 5 ::
chain 3 (counts as 1 tr), then work 2tr’s into the first corner space. NO CHAINS ALONG SIDES!
3tr’s into each side space, {3 tr’s, ch 2, 3 tr’s into corner space, 3tr’s into each side space}
repeat between {} twice more, then in the very first corner space work 3 tr’s, ch 2, then sl st into 3rd ch of initial ch 3 to close round.
I used the Join-As-You-Go method to join the squares.
This morning I photographed a tutorial to show you how to make my Spot-on Edging as so many of you have been asking for the pattern. Hoping to have that written up in the next few days, then it's on to new things.....
....this is what is left of my Stylecraft yarn. Some colours are more or less completely gone, but I think there is enough left to make a little cushion. I have a new design just busting to come out of my Creative Mind, I can't wait to get started.
Before we go, shall we have one more look at the Granny Patchwork blanket?
Awwwwww pretty-pretty.
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PS....Yesssssssssssssssssssssssssss the Bower Bird Pattern, I know, it's taking so long and I am sorry. Its quite a complex pattern and although I've made the photographs already, it'll be a full days work to upload and make the writing. I will try very soon, I know so many of you are waiting. x
Edit to add :: one more picture.....
♥
