Do you know what, I woke up this morning and the first thing I thought of was that yipppeeeeeee today is Sunday and I get to write my CAL post. I didn't exactly spring out of bed, but nevertheless, here I am at 8am sharing part three of this delicious Cosy crochet-a-long.
Last week I was mainly working my rows in sociable company as my blanket went with me to cafés and a good few times to my friend's kitchen table. This is a really great blanket to take out and about when you know there will be a fair bit of nattering going on as these rows are very forgiving when only half a brain is engaged in creating them. The pleasant lack of counting and the simplicity of the stitches means that you can have a really good chinwag without fear of messing up.
At Coopers Café Bar where I have my studio, we hold two social sessions a week - Tuesday afternoon 1-3pm and Friday morning 9-11am. There are currently four of us working on blankets so I get to Crochet-a-long in real life as well as on t'internet which is absolutely fantastic. I can confirm that working on these rows of rich, happy colour whilst chomping hot buttered crumpets (with homemade lemon curd) and slurping a mighty fine latté and at the same time chatting and laughing with creative friends is pretty hard to beat for complete all-round feel-good.
By the time you start working up part 3 (stripes 31-45), you will begin to have a very cosy little lap blanket draped over your knees as you work. It's very snugly and already delivering a great deal of blankety pleasure. As the blanket grows and is being carted around in my bag quite a lot of the time, the rows are starting to ease and stretch slightly but the surface texture is still wonderfully pleasing. I thought I'd get out my tape measure and give you a little progress report on my own hooky - I'm working to 120cm width and after part 3 (45 stripes) my blanket is measuring 80cm. I'm thinking this could well be the half way point and there will definitely be three more installments (making 90 stripes), but I might possibly add a few more depending on how far the yarn stretches and what the blanket looks and feels like when I arrive at this point.
One of the loveliest things about doing this as a CAL is that I get to see and feel the shared joy as so many of us work on our stripes around the world. I've been love love lovin' the pictures that you've shared on Facebook and Ravelry this past week, thank you SO MUCH for keeping me company on this happy journey. Shall we take a look at some Cosy Blankets in progress?
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This lovely blanket was beautifully photographed with Autumn trees in the background {Diane in North Carolina}.
Here we have not none but two cosy blankets taking shape at the same time - I've LOVED seeing how these colours look when rippled {Creations2Love}
Anna sent in this picture of her sat in a cosy bookshop working on her blanket {Anna in Maryland}
This is Beth crocheting whilst at work 35,000 feet above the Grand Canyon!!!
A beautiful cosy blanket in the making using a lovely, soft palette of colours {Elin}
Such a lovely contrast to my own colour selection, Selma's cosy blanket is taking shape in pale neutrals to match her decor {Eclectic Home Life}
This has really pleased me too - the cosy stripe looking super-pretty worked up using the summery Cottage colours {Estelle in New York}
WOW, those colours are singing a happy song! These are the colours I used for my granny stripe blanket in 2010, they look stunning worked up in the new cosy stripe {Iris in The Netherlands}
And look at this - Coastal colours have taken a cosy turn too! {Lynne in Australia}
This is how my cosy blanket is looking after 45 stripes, it is making me so happy :)
The colours seem to glow and dance, it really is looking stunning I have to say.
Right - if you are following along with my colours, here is part 3 for you (stripes 31-45)
Working from the bottom upwards, as follows...
31. Spice
32. Camel
33. Meadow
34. Petrol
35. Magenta
36. Grape
37. Pale Rose
38. Khaki
39. Lime
40. Denim
41. Claret
42. Gold
43. Copper
44. Raspberry
45. Violet
Here are some links ::
Wishing you a cosy week my friends, I'll be back with Part 4 next Sunday 23rd November.
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Loving the Cal and this blanket growing fast up to row 24 Grape Keep the posts coming Thank you loved seeing others colour choices C
Posted by: Christine | November 17, 2014 at 12:46 PM
Your blanket is looking wonderful and great to see what other people are doing. I finally got the wool for mine yesterday, now I just need to play with the colours a bit before I start. And my first ever project should be finished in a couple of days! I can't wait to get started on the next....Thanks for the inspiration :)
Posted by: Amanda Settle | November 17, 2014 at 11:58 AM
I am only on row 4 because I really wanted a ripple blanket and it took me 4 unravels to do the first row right (once I only realised I'd messed up near the end of the 2nd row, gah!). Also, my husband is forcing me to crochet him a hat and it is another unravelling challenge getting it the right size for him! Anyway, after that pesky first row, the ripples are a joy to work and I'm really excited to get a few more done :)
Posted by: Kelly | November 17, 2014 at 10:18 AM
I love the photos you have chosen. Wonderful to see the Cosy blanket around the world.
Posted by: Catherine | November 17, 2014 at 07:49 AM
I love the colours Elin used for her blanket. I wish she would share the palate with us.
Posted by: Mira | November 17, 2014 at 02:41 AM
Oh! What fun and a delicious looking crumpet.
I'm waiting for my packet of yarn to arrive.
It's ok, no free time right now and I have to relearn crochet. I am so looking forward to this 'gift' and am full of anticipation to see what grand ideas Lucy has.
The ravelry posts are lovely!!!
Posted by: Toni | November 17, 2014 at 01:01 AM
I am loving this pattern! I ordered and received the Cosy pack in a week's time. (I live in the US). Love the yarn and color choices. Thank you!!
Posted by: Mary | November 16, 2014 at 10:42 PM
I was so excited to see my blanket on your blog Lucy! Thank you so much for including me. This blanket is such a joy and the coastal colours are much admired by everyone who sees it. Thank you for introducing me to the Stylecraft yarn and for all the inspiring projects on your blog.
Posted by: Lynne | November 16, 2014 at 10:34 PM
Such beautiful colours and the pattern looks at first glance to be complicated. I thought it was some sort of arch stitch but when I saw close up I realised what it was.
I'm in the middle of a few things, not got time for this yet but I think I might just HAVE to have a little go. I'm doing a C2C in a marled wool but I must say that which it is pretty with the soft colours, it's nothing like the vibrant colours I've seen on all these pictures above.
Posted by: Anne Marie | November 16, 2014 at 10:21 PM
Thank you, lovely Lucy, for including my Cosy Cottage blanket on your blog. Such a treat to see it there. You put your vision out there and all over the world, we riff on it - just wonderful!
Posted by: Estelle | November 16, 2014 at 09:49 PM
Looks so pretty and I love seeing how others are doing it too! I want to join in, but must finish a scarf I promised my sister first! After that it will be CAL for me!
Posted by: Kim W | November 16, 2014 at 08:48 PM
Hello Lucy, this is my first post on your blog. I was pointed your way by a friend whose blanket I admired on Facebook. I haven't crocheted for 20 years and even then it was only little circles and nothing on this scale. So I am a bit behind with the CAL, only halfway through the first part, but I am loving it and loving the colours. Hopefully i will speed up a bit as I get the hang of it. I have had a few issues with having the right number of stitches in the row by the time I come to the first row of treble clusters but have managed to fiddle it so far. By the way I love the colours that Selma has chosen for her blanket. I am not creative so I am just following your colours Lucy, but Selma's lovely pale blanket has inspired me to think that perhaps I could try my own colours another time. Thank you Lucy for the blog.
Posted by: Judith | November 16, 2014 at 08:35 PM
They are all so different yet all are gorgeous.
Posted by: Winifred | November 16, 2014 at 08:10 PM
Hello Lucy, that is so interesting to see how other people's blankets look...they are all amazing x
Posted by: niki murray | November 16, 2014 at 07:42 PM
Dear Lucy thank you for showing us all the blankets being made around the world. I made a sample and rows are turning out to be straight!
My bag of yarn has arrived. The colours are heavenly. I am making a blanket/throw for one of my sons. As soon as that is done I'm making the cosy blanket. It will be MINE! Have a HAPPY HOOKING WEEK! xx
Posted by: Sarah west mids uk | November 16, 2014 at 07:30 PM
Love the communalness (is that a word?) of this project! How people in different zones are doing the same thing.
Posted by: Claire | November 16, 2014 at 07:19 PM
I loved seeing all the other blankets in your CAL.. how fun! You inspire so many to achieve so much.. bravo to you! ((hugs)), Teresa :-)
Posted by: Teresa Kasner | November 16, 2014 at 06:56 PM
Good stuff Luce!
I'm still on week two, but no matter.
What matters is that I'd never have chosen these colours in a million years and neither would I have put them in the order that you suggest.
However, it's fab and much admired by visitors to my home - some via the front door and others (my daughter and granddaughter) via Skype!
It's a lovely relaxing sequence to follow -should be on prescription. Thank you.
Posted by: sew | November 16, 2014 at 06:52 PM
Oh WOW!!!! Love the many different CAL's!!!!!! They are all amazing!!! Have a beautiful week!!!
Love
AMarie
xxx
Posted by: Anna-Marie Field | November 16, 2014 at 06:46 PM
All the blankets look so beautiful, and it is fascinating to see everyone's different interpretations. So much talent out there! I am absolutely loving the colours in the pack, which I am using in the order you suggest. It's interesting to see how the colours work as I crochet them together - they seem brighter and more jewel like than they do when looked at individually. As the blanket takes form I think there's an almost primitive quality to it, very natural and earthy, as if the colours of the yarn come directly from nature, and the texture really lifts the pattern too. It's really beautiful and already I am getting compliments. It's fantastic to take with me when I visit with my mam or sisters during the day, and my mam is very impressed with how fast I am working. Mind though I am only on my second set of lime rows at the moment (the numbering is confusing me a little bit, so I just go by your pictures)! As it's my very first ever blanket it is not nearly as neat and professional looking as the ones pictured here. But I'm still very pleased with it! Love Rubekah xx
Posted by: Mama Bear | November 16, 2014 at 06:24 PM
Some lovely pictures of some lovely colour combos on the blankets. I have still not started mine yet, but all ready for the off!! I bought pegs yesterday to make my colour samples (just like yours) and today Harry and I have made shortbread men!! Thanks Lucy for everything and your enthusiasm of the simplest of things!! Xx lots of love Joy Xx
Posted by: Joy | November 16, 2014 at 06:19 PM
Happy cozy Sunday! Such a fun surprise to scroll down and see a familiar view amongst all the other cozy blankets, thank you! :) It makes the CAL feel like a worldwide knit and natter—what a treat it is to share this love of yarn and crochet with so many. I am really inspired by the color combinations, both your packs and otherwise!
Posted by: Diane | November 16, 2014 at 05:32 PM
Looking fab! I love the look of the other CALs you've put on your page today. Much needed colour on a drab English Sunday :) Thanks!
Posted by: Marie | November 16, 2014 at 05:08 PM
Your blanket is beautiful. I knit but can't crochet and am desperate to learn. Your crafting is inspirational and who knows what it will encourage me to do...hopefully good crochet news soon...
Posted by: Clurdy | November 16, 2014 at 05:00 PM
Love them all Lucy - Thank you for sharing! :-)
Posted by: Patty :-) | November 16, 2014 at 04:33 PM