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

[Susan]

Great colors and edging! Really, beautiful. Getting my hooky fix vicariously through you, but maybe now that we are on Christmas break here, I'll be able to pick it up. Thanks for sharing and inspiring!

[Lindsey Toms]

This is great, I've just started this pattern in cot size and am loving it. Thank you so much for the tutorial :)

[Clare]

Yay it's stunner, perfect edging tones, thanks so much for doing this Crochet along it really has been wonderful, I'm still a long way off finishing mine but I'm loving the journey,so much so I've set up Cosy CAL group on facebook with some friends who also have chronic illnesses and we're going to continue it into the new year, sharing our progress each week. Looking forward to the grand Ta-Dah hoping for some sunny photo days
Clare xx

[Sheryl in Mississippi, US]

Love the colors you chose for the edging! They are the main colors I have in my home year round - without looking "Christmassy". The balance with the other colors takes care of that. As far as the CAL, I am only on the first set of stripes as I have other projects to knock out for Christmas. Sigh. However, my eyes keep drifting to the corner longing to take it up for a good long cosy session.......Happy Holidays!

[Tina]

I'm so pleased I came across your blog, I love this blanket, finished it and started another one! Thank you so much! X

[Sarah west mids uk]

Dear Lucy, A BIG THANK YOU for this beautiful blanket you have shared with
us all. Looking forward to starting mine in just over a week when filled with festive cheer I can begin to chill for a while. BIG VIRTUAL HUG FROM ME.XX

[Marie]

Very lovely edging. It's been a pleasure following the progress of this CAL, even though I didn't participate myself. Thank you for sharing! xx

[carol partridge]

You couldn't have picked a better colour for the edge. Its beautiful.
Just finished my coastal colours blanket..just got the edge to do now.

[Beate]

Lucy, your blanket looks lovely in its all-finished glory. I am just about to enter the edge on my own little baby blanket and I hope to be finished on Wednesday sharing it on my own blog and of course the Ravelry group. It's been great joining you on this creative journey. I hope you do something like this again <3

[mira]

Love the blanket and the edging is so pretty.

[quiltercaroline]

The blanket is beautiful!!! I love how the edging mirrors the main pattern, lovely.

[Chris Porter]

That edging is just perfect - love the green finish. Stay cosy, wrapped up in it. x

[Teresa Kasner]

AWESOME edging! You picked just the right colors for it too. Bravo!
((hugs)), Teresa :-)

❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉
*M*E*R*R*Y* *C*H*R*I*S*T*M*A*S*!*
❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉

[Sara Jenkins]

Stunning - maybe this will be my new year project. x

[Christine]

Love the egding though not sure of Meadow, as I'm not a green lover, so mine will be Copper, Gold, Claret and either Grape, Violet, Denim, Raspberry or Magenta, but cant decide lucky its a long way off I'm on row 53 still. I've loved this CAL that I don't want it to end. Thank you for the journey. I LOVE LUCY

[Gwen]

Cannot wait to get started on my own cosy blanket! I need to finish some other projects before I let myself start on it though. Yours looks amazing!

[Andrea]

Lucy, you might like to know that BlogLovin are being extremely annoying, putting a large banner at the top of your blog prompting me to sign up so i don't miss updates - yet I've clicked the link to read this from their update! I can't make it go away and it's minimising your blog entry, which i want to read in all it's glory!

[Karen]

I couldn't wait for the border so I did 2 rows of trebles and 2 rows of half trebles and a final backwards single crochet. And I put a large tassel in each corner

[Claire]

Great blanket, great boots!

[Jane Garry]

Wow Lucy it is beautiful. This is the first time I've ever done a CAL & I can't tell you how much I've enjoyed it. It so nice knowing lots of people out there are doing the same. Just like the blanket........ a cosy feeling. I'm so sad it's come to an end, what am I going to do now!!!! Right off now to do my boarder

Thank you so much for the journey

Love
Jane xxxx

[Joanna]

I just LOVE this blanket and I'm planning to make it in January ( it's going to be my first blanket ever - but I think it's worth every second I'll spend with it!!! ). Looking forward to it!!!
I guess the pack of 15 colors is enough for making the edge?!
Thanks for being there!

[Estelle - France]

Your blanket is absolutely beautiful Lucy! I have to finish to weave the ends and then it's up to the Edging: Copper, Khaki, Burgundy and Lime for my Cosy Blanket. Thank you so much for this wonderful project! I can't wait for another CAL! In the meantime, I'm going to order the Stylecraft Dk coastal colours in January... Thanks again, Lucy!

[Debbie]

Lucy, many thanks for sharing this pattern with all of us. I enjoy your work immensely. I have not started the Cosy blanket yet, but I have done your granny stripe pattern and your neat ripple pattern. You are amazing!!! Thank you so much for all you do.

[Danielle]

Love it, Lucy! I've been reading along and learning to crochet myself by YouTube a few weeks ago. Using your cosy pattern with multicolored wool for a big shawl, but it turns out very wobbly and crooked unfortunately... Still a lot to learn, but dreaming about my own cosy blanket in the future. I enjoy your blog a lot and the tadaaa moments in particular. When is that coming up for your cosy blanket? Forgotten it? Hope not!
Thanks for the pleasure and dreams you give me!

[CJ]

It's gorgeous Lucy, I especially love the border, the gold is really striking but my favourite is the meadow edging, beautiful. It looks so soft and cosy, good job you! CJ xx