Cosy Blanket CAL : Part 7

This week has been all about the Edge for me and my Cosy Stripe blanket. I sampled a LOT of ideas before arriving at one that was pleasing to crochet as well as suiting the overall look of the blanket. This week I was also reminded that coming up with the pattern is only half of the work - choosing the right combination of colours has taken up a considerable amount ot thinking time! I tried out a good many variations, working around the edge of the rainbow sample I made a few months ago. In the end, I settled for round 1 in Copper, then chose three Autumnal shades....

...Gold, Claret and Meadow.

So the edge is made in four rounds, and it's worth saying here that the colour you select for the final round should be one that you really, really like. The final edging colour dominates the border and it's important to get this right. I originally thought I would like to have Claret on the edge-of-the-edge, but the reality was that it was just too shouty to be given so much attention. I still managed to keep the claret in, but used Meadow as a much softer and more neutral alternative (and by that I mean neutral in terms of tone/dominance rather than colour)

As I was needing to photograph the step-by-step progress of the edging, I worked during the daytime in my studio to try and get the best light. Honestly, it's a real challenge taking decent photographs at this time of year, especially when the weather plays up like it has here this week . Whilst I was trying to photograph this tutorial on Wednesday, the weather was going mental outside my window. During the space of one day we had snow, hail, sleet, rain, sun, the works - it was as if someone kept switching a light on and off!

But still, it was very pleasant to be cosied up in my warm studio whilst the weather went bonkers outside, drinking coffee and crocheting to my heart's content.

It took me a whole day to make and photograph the Cosy Edge, but I am so pleased with how it turned out.....

....it hasn't escaped me that the red and green combo looks more than a little bit festive and reminds me of red berries and spiky little holly leaves. It will forever remind me of finishing this beautiful blanket just in time for Christmas :)

I've just finished writing up a full tutorial for working the Cosy Edging, you can find it HERE.

I have to just chat to you about yarn quantities now - as you can see, the final edging round is rather greedy for yarn and although I did have enough of the Meadow colour to complete the round there wasn't much to spare. This means that if you crochet loosely or have made your blanket bigger than mine, you may not have enough yarn to complete your edging. I am SO SORRY if this is the case, I really don't want you to run out of yarn before you finish!!

It is possible to change round 4 if you need to, making it simpler so you will use less yarn. If you work {1 dc into each skipped stitch from round 2, then chain 1} this will give you a neat edging which is exactly the same as the one I made for my Interlocking Colour Ripple blanket. If you are following my Cosy Blanket CAL and using the Cosy Yarn pack, you may wish to simplify your edging in this way if you think you might not have enough yarn to finish. Alternatively, if you haven't yet completed the last block of stripes (CAL part 6) you could leave out the very last Meadow stripe (stripe 79) which would give you more yarn to use for the edge-of-the-edge. 

So. My Cosy Stripe blanket journey has come to an end, and already I miss it. I have to tell you that I've really love love loved making  this blanket so much, the whole experience has made me so happy. And it goes without saying, I am super-pleased with the finished blanket too. The colours work beautifully together and there is such a lot of warmth in it both visually and literally - it really is a cosy little number.

I wonder how you are all getting on with your own cosy blankets? Are you enjoying the journey? I do hope so. Working this blanket as a Crochet-a-Long has been so enjoyable, I've loved coming here every Sunday to share my weekly updates. Knowing that my own blanket is part of a much bigger Cosy Blanket Collective is just brilliant, it makes me smile every time I think of that.

Here are some links...

♥ Cosy Cal Part 1

♥ Cosy Cal Part 2

♥ Cosy Cal Part 3

♥ Cosy Cal Part 4

♥ Cosy Cal Part 5

♥ Cosy Cal Part 6

♥ Cosy Stripe Pattern

♥ Cosy Blanket Edging

♥ Cosy yarn pack

♥ Cosy CAL thread on Ravelry

I'm going to be creating a gallery to showcase all the beautiful Cosy CAL Blankets happening around and about so do keep sharing your pictures on Ravelry, Facebook, Flickr and Instagram and I'll do my best to round them up.

Also, I haven't yet managed to take any proper photographs of my finished blanket as the light/weather has made it very difficult this week. But as soon as the sun decides to shine again, I'll get my blanket sorted for a fun photo shoot so I can share a proper Ta-dah moment with you all. In the meantime - stay cosy!

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Comments

[maria soledad marin acevedo]

gracias por tus trabajo son hermoso te mando un beso y bendiciones mi nombre es soledad soy de chile

[caroline]

thank you for this beautiful cover. I did it with the wool pack and it is a wonder. You have a gift for color harmony and explains .... thank you for all this time to share with us all ... Happy Holidays and see you soon, I hope for a new project ... and thank you Google helps me to translate because I am French and it is not always easy for me to translate ☺

[Catherine]

Hi Lucy, Just wanted to say how lovely and cuddly the blanket looks. I've only just started with the Cosy colours. You have a great sense of colour and it will looks so great in my sitting room.

[Barbara]

I have been working this blanket using the left-over yarns from my sock knitting - most of which are random colour sequences in a wide variety of colour themes. The result is stunning and I am about to start work on the edging. Enjoyable and satisfying, as well as a memory-jogger of socks I have knitted for family and friends. Thank you for such an inspiring project.

[Lizy Tish]

Love that edging! Watching this CAL was very inspiring -- hoping to try a blanket after Christmas.

[Rozelle]

I'm a bit late to the party but I'm starting the CAL today. Technically the wool pack is a Christmas present but fortunately I have a wonderful husband who has let me sneak a couple of balls of wool out before he wraps it :D

[Eleanor Thomson]

I just finished, using raspberry, grape, raspberry and pale rose for the border. It feels strange to have come to the end of it but I'm very happy with the result.

[Tracey Dawkins]

Thank you for generously sharing this pattern I am making mine in gorgeous rowan wool worsted it's a joy to make I am about a third of the way through and loving it. Thanks again x

[Rona Griffiths]

I'm in the middle of doing a few extra rows so won't get finished for another week or so but you blanket is gorgeous Lucy. I'm probably going to change the edging colours slightly as i want the pale rose and raspberry in it but we will see. Thank you for the fun i've had with this, it's been such a revelation seeing it grow qnd i really love it. Have you got any further with the poncho, i'm looking forward to your ta dah moment with that as well as this. Hope you're feeling better so that you and your family can enjoy Christmas. Merry Christmas to you and to all on here and i hope the New Year brings you all much happiness and good things. I'm really looking forward to seeing what you have in store for next year Lucy. Thank you for your sharing, Rona xxo

[Kate]

I really like your colour choices, the green around the outer edge is just right, it's lovely!

[Victoria Horsey]

It's a beautiful blanket! I just had to comment as I found it so funny that you chose claret and meadow as your 'festive' edging colours. The very first blanket I ever made, I started in September after teaching myself to crochet and finished in December. My final colours? Claret and Meadow, as I thought it would always remind me that I finished just in time for Christmas! xx

[Gillian]

Well done! The blanket looks great. Love the edging.

[Shirla Ghadaki]

I want to do one of these. Have pinned it on Pinterest so that I can get back to it. Good job and it is beautiful! Can't wait to see what you do next.

[OkeCrafter]

Just looking at your beautiful blanket gives me a warm cosy feeling! I love the colours and I think it looks completely gorgeous.

[Kokopelli]

What a lovely blanket! I'm a bit sad that there are so many blankets in my Queue and I couldn't manage to participate in this CAL. After the Scheepjeswol blanket I'm making your Coastal Ripple. Looking really Forward to it.

[Carol]

Just love the blanket but how do you finish so quickly!! I have just finished the Christmas wreath and it is so colourful. Please visit my blog to see it - everyone loves it both crafters and non-crafters!
http://iloveonceuponathimble.blogspot.co.uk/

Have a great family Christmas and New Year and my best wishes and my thanks for your website that I discovered this year as I have made so many lovely things from it.

[Pharmagurumi]

How inspiring. I hadn't heard of the CAL you mentioned but now I really want to make one after I finish all my Christmas projects.

[Justine]

I'm loving my cosy blanket and even though I'm quite far behind we are now on school holidays here in Australia so I see lots oqf opportunity to get ahead!! I love your edging and it's finished the whole blanket off beautifully :)

[Lyn Zalk]

Just so lovely and cozy as always... your color selections never cease to excite and inspire!!! I hope that You are beyond the worst of your cold and feeling icky!!!! <3 Thanx for all of your talent colorliciousness and generosity!
Lyn~ xox

[Dorothy Hermes]

Beautiful edging! I did make a blankie with the rest of the crowd but I used a lot of my own colors as well as your choices(about 1/2 of the colors were from your ideas). However, it turned out so very pretty and I am so pleased. I don't have a camera so can't post pictures but am so proud of it. Maybe another CAL for next year? This has been great fun!

[Susan]

Sensational!!! The beautiful colors of the border are the icing on the cake. You have such a great eye for color, Lucy. And, I love that you still have your cozy studio to go to where you can crochet your heart away. xoxo

[Robin Summers]

The edging is lovely. The Meadow on the edge reminds me of the fluffy lettuce, Fresia I think it is called. It will be a bit before I get to the edge work. Right now I am working on my Jolly Chunky bag, the May wreath, The Bower bird and wreath, The beautiful Flower Decoration owls, bunnies and suns. I have never had more fun in all my life. The wonderful colors and your blog and the way you decribe things just makes my heart sing. Not to mention I am just so happy making all the patterns that you so unselfishly share with everyone!! Lots of squishy hugs to you and the family.

[Kathryn at Crafternoon Treats]

Lovely to see your finished blanket and the edging looks great (even though I really don't like meadow much...). I did add one stripe as I had some for completeness but I am doing something a bit different with the border. I finished my last colour stripe earlier this evening, so full steam ahead on the finishing now. I've loved been part of this CAL - I hope you will think about doing another sometime in 2015 xxx Kathryn

[gail]

Now that your blanket is finished how about a change - I know you sometimes do crafty stuff with your children - here are a few links to make some cute things.

http://liagriffith.com/kids-craft-felt-and-pine-cone-elves/?utm_source=LiaGriffith.com&utm_campaign=bea6d84fb0-Handcraft_Your_Life_10_9_2014&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_e8d7ffacc0-bea6d84fb0-196487373

http://liagriffith.com/make-a-felt-fox-ornament-or-gift-topper/

Under the freebie section Lia has some great ideas.

[Vicky]

Love the edging and getting very excited about starting a blanket with my Christmas present of cosy colours! Happy Christmas.
Vicky:)