My Granny Stripe Blanket

Do you know, it's almost five years since I made my Granny Stripe blanket, inspired by the purchase of our beloved caravan on 1st May 2010. By the end of that same month, I was beginning this colourful blanket journey using 17 shades of Stylecraft Special DK which I bought from my local yarn shop. I remember it all so clearly, the joy of these bright, jolly colours and this easy pattern, mixed up with a huge dose of caravan induced excitement. Happy times indeed.

I have so many memories wrapped up in the making of this blanket, memories of a wonderful seaside holiday when the Little People were still oh-so-little (Little Man and Little Lady were 7 and 6, and Little B, awwww Little B was a weeny 5 month old baby!) Oh the emotion of it!! Just look at Little B's fingers and toes in this post!! 

Crochet blankets are such terrific guardians of memories, which is one of the reasons I love making them so much. Of course, the memories which attach themselves to the making of a blanket are really only the beginning, because blankets are made to be used. This happy stripy blanket has now given us five years of layered holiday memories, oh I treasure our caravan holidays so much, they are an incredibly precious part of our family archives.

 

It's funny looking back at the history of this particular blanket now - at the time I made it I had absolutely NO idea that these seventeen colours (chosen in less than 10 minutes in a rather badly lit corner of my local yarn shop) would become so well loved by so many people around the world. To me, they are my "happy colours". They are colours which remind me of sunshine and camping and seaside jollies, of picnics and happy little children playing, of star-gazing and dewy early morning grass, of the joys associated with simple outdoor summer living. The fact that this collection has become known as "The Attic24 Colour Pack" really pleases me enormously, and I honestly love seeing these colours together as much today as I did five years ago. Simply put - they make my heart happy ♥

Over the years since I shared my blanket I've been meaning to write up a proper tutorial for it. I wrote out the basic pattern for working the Granny Stripe (find it here), but never got round to making a proper blanket-making tutorial. I'd really like to find time to do this during the next few months if possible, I'll keep you posted on that. In the meantime, in response to frequent requests I thought it would be helpful to share my colour order for those of you who are wishing to make your own Happy Blanket. I used 17 colours of Stylecraft Special DK, and worked up sixty stripes in total (two rows for each stripe).

♥

1. Pomegranate        21. Shrimp                  41. Lipstick

2. Plum                      22. Lavender               42. Aspen

3. Fondant                23. Turquoise              43. Meadow Green

4. Lavender              24. Magenta                44. Lavender

5. Aspen                    25. Lipstick                 45. Magenta

6. Spring Green       26. Meadow                46. Plum

7. Aster                     27. Aspen                     47. Cloud Blue

8. Turquoise             28. Spring Green        48. Spring Green

9. Lipstick                 29. Saffron                  49. Turquoise

10. Shrimp                30. Cloud Blue            50. Clematis

11. Saffron                31. Wisteria                 51. Pomegranate

12. Meadow              32. Plum                       52. Shrimp

13. Magenta             33. Aster                      53. Saffron

14. Clematis             34. Pomegranate         54. Sherbet

15. Sherbet              35. Turquoise              55. Fondant

16. Spring Green     36. Sherbet                 56. Lipstick

17. Wisteria              37. Clematis                57. Aster

18. Aster                   38. Shrimp                  58. Meadow

19. Pomegranate      39. Fondant                59. Plum

20. Fondant              40. Saffron                  60. Pomegranate

The border was made in six rounds as follows ::

1. Lavender :: granny clusters

2. Aster :: treble crochet

3. Aspen :: treble crochet

4. Clematis :: double crochet

5. Sherbet (two rows) :: double crochet + soft wave edging*

* The edging pattern is written up in the Ta-dah post here.

EDIT TO ADD :: A few of you have written to say you've lost your yarn labels and can't remember what the colours are called. So here is a colour-map for the stripes. I've split it into five sections - remember to read each image from the bottom up to the top!

Above photo shows the beginning of the blanket. 1st stripe is Pomegranate, 15th stripe is Sherbet.

Above photo shows part 2 of the blanket. 16th stripe is Spring Green, 27th stripe is Aspen.

Above photo shows part 3 of the blanket. 28th stripe is Spring Green, 39th stripe is Fondant.

Above photo shows part 4 of the blanket. 40th stripe is Saffron, 52nd stripe is Shrimp.

Above photo shows the final part of the blanket. 53rd stripe is Saffron, 60th stripe is Pomegranate.

At the end of last Summer, we took Connievan up to the coast of Northumberland. We had a terrific week away and I realised just now whilst searching in my archives that I never shared that holiday on my blog. How very slack of me!! I'll try and find time to show you some "postcards" from that holiday, I'm quite fancying a bit of a virtual seaside pootle.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

USEFUL LINKS ::

Granny Stripe Pattern

Granny Stripe Ta-dah (includes pattern for the edging)

Attic24 Yarn Pack

x

 

 

 

 

Comments

[Heather]

Love the caravan shot bedecked in colours. Cosy. And your lovely memories shared. Well done Lucy for your success. You deserve it x

[Lilibet]

I know exactly what you mean about memories attached to the things you make. I'm coming towards the end of a suffolk puff quilt. All the little bits of fabric have little memories and as a whole I like thinking about all the places where I've been making this quilt-swimming, dancing, playing after school!!! Lots of lovely memories!! I love the stripes!

[Donna H]

Thankyou!!! I have been trying to make this by enlarging your blog picture, and it isn't always easy to see. I'm about halfway and this really helps :)

[Jan Griffey]

Hi Lucy, Just love all your designs, colors etc. I was reading an old post about a Japanese crochet book in Japanese and you said that you wished it was in English. Well I was out and about buying yarn, of course, and I found that same book in English.I would love to send it to you. You do so many wonderful things for those who follow your blog. I have been stacking up your projects. Please contact me.

[fiona]

What a gorgeous blanket, think it will be going on my 'to do' list...(mostly projects shared on your blog) Just finished granny bunting thanks to you, so much easier than all that decreasing malarkey.
x

[Cathy]

What a very joyful post, full of colour and happy memories! Your blankets are a feast for the eyes and Connievan looks so very cosy. Looking forward to seeing your Northumberland photos - it's a place I'd like to explore one day :)
Cathy x

[Allison]

Edit!! That should say Blankies!!

[Allison]

I loved the Blackies so much it got me crocheting again after many years. I made a blanket for my own little B when he went to Uni. Three years ago and it gladdens my heart every time I Skype him and he has it draped over his knees or shoulders to keep warm. You are a true inspiration.

[Rae]

I made a Granny Blanket last year from your original post and it really did inspire me to crochet again after being in the "craft wilderness" for a long time of not really making anything constructive. I did random colour rows as I went along and used the leftovers for the border. I Love it xxx

[The Needle Of Choice]

Oooh, those little hands and feet… And off course, a beautiful blanket ;-)

[Elsie Pop]

Those colours just scream granny stripe blanket to me now - when I bought your original woolwarehouse pack I felt like I had no choice but to granny stripe them! I think I might even prefer this to the ripple now - tough call! xx

[Jenny McEneff]

Hi Lucy,
This blanket is the reason I took up crochet. I saw it and fell in love with it.
I asked my mum to make it for me and she said no but I will teach you!
So on 16/03/14 we started the foundation chain and exactly one year later on 16/03/15 I finished the last stitch!

It was a project of love and I am sad it is finished but at over 6ftx5.5ft it's big enough :)

Thanks Lucy for inspiring me.

[P.E. Lawson]

Yes, I remember me crocheting along the granny striped and loved it. Seeing your beautiful photos and your clear instructions of it I feel the urge to make another one. I just finished the cottage ripple and have enough Stylecraft to start the granny stripe. Thanks Lucy for your colourful inspirations and you are an absolute whizzard with colours.

[Ali Whale]

When I came back to crocheting in 2011 (I think) this was the first thing that I did and I loved it. Since then I have done a couple more blankets but this is still my favourite, probably because it was the start of a journey that brought me to new friends and a fulfilment of a desire to create. So thank you Lucy for this simple blanket, it has in a small way changed my life for the better xx

[The Dorset Finca]

I have my version of your granny stripe blanket on the back of my sofa. We use it everyday and love it dearly - it definitely is a happy blanket! :)

[Teresa Kasner]

I remember those times.. gosh.. I've been reading your blog and being inspired by you for a LONG time! I think you have inspired a worldwide re-awakening of the love of crochet - you should be VERY proud of yourself. I'm proud to know you. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

[Regina Lucas]

Olá, seus trabalhos são lindos!!!!
Gostaria de saber a receita da manta de quadrinhos, que está ao lado da manta listada no sofá. Qual o kit de cores que vc usou????
Aguardo sua resposta.

Grata,

Regina

[Rosemary Dargan]

I did this blanket for my sister for last Christmas but I stuffed up the beginning and it ended up looking very skewiff.
I'd love to try another one with the Stylecraft wool but I don't think it's availlable in Australia. Is this true?
I love your colours and love reading your blog.
Thanks
Rosie in Melbourne, Australia.

[Oran]

Oh my goodness me!! If it's five years since you made yours then it must be five years since I made both of ours! I made mine from the Attic24 colour pack I made HIS in Debbie Bliss Cashmerino DK as a Christmas present! That was one seriously expensive blanket :) But I have to admit he does use it a lot. They both live folded up, happily decorating the back of the couch and are used several times a week. I blogged about my latest crochet sweater, http://oran.typepad.com/my_weblog/ at the weekend if you want to take a look. :)
O. xx

[Belinda]

I did a mini stripe blanket for my cousin's baby, and am now working on a single giant granny square blanket for me, both from the Attic 24 pack. Everyone loves the colours, and I have so much fun deciding which one to choose for the next round. Thank you for that 10 minutes choosing the colours - they've certainly brightened my life.

[kiscogirl]

Lucy, this striped blanket is what inspired me to start crocheting. Thank you for sharing your designs and cheery outlook with us. You certainly brighten my day every day!!

[Michelle]

Awww I love it - what lovely photos thanks for sharing them Lucy xx

[Claudia]

I am working on 2 "granny stripe" afghans. I am trying to use up 3 boxes of odds and ends of yarn. Someday I will make a pretty one like yours.
I really enjoy your bog and all your pictures.

[Kim W]

Just did a happy dance! Thank you so much for posting the color order! I ordered the color pack last September as a birthday present for myself and had been afraid to start the actual blanket. You have such a wonderful eye for color and that is not my strong suit. Once again thank you.

[CJ]

Gorgeous blankets, I love how there are memories from making them and memories from using them. Your children will no doubt always treasure them. A little piece of their childhood. Lovely. CJ xx