Last night when I uploaded these pictures, I realised that I haven't really talked very much about my current Blanket-In-Progress (my BiP?!). Which is a bit strange as I usually like to talk a LOT about every single bit of crochet that passes through my hands. So I thought that as I'm giddily galloping along the Home Stretch now, perhaps it would be a good time to show you a bit more of this beauty.
I started working on the squares for my Harmony blanket in early April (just in time for my Easter jollies down in Dorset), and it has proven to be a wonderfully absorbing project. A touch addictive, these cutesome squares really have had me entranced right from the word go. Unusually for me, I approached the making of this blanket in a very methodical way, which I think has really helped the journey to feel relaxed and pleasurable. I started out by making all the middles first (the fiddly first round), then I worked on rounds 2 - 5 in batches of fourteen at a time (which is one vertical strip) so they never felt overwhelming. There are 126 of them in total (14 x 9) and I can honestly say I never once got bored of them.
Round 6 is the joining round, and I devised a variation of the join-as-you-go method for this round. I joined in vertical strips and loved being able to watch my blanket grow in this way, it's been very satisfying and has delivered rather a lot of hooky feel-good. Also, I've actually remembered to take photographs of my making process so in due course I'll be able to share a full tutorial for making both the Harmony squares and the joining method. In fact, I've been miraculously organised with this blanket, it's really not like me at all as I'm usually flying by the seat of my pants!
On Friday, I finished the last of the joining, quietly folded up my blanket and immediately began to ponder the business of designing a border for it....
....oh those colours!! Yum, yum, yum!!!!!!! The Harmony colour pack has fifteen colours of Stylecraft Special DK in total (14 main colours, plus the soft Parma Violet shade which I used for joining). I knew I wanted to make quite a deep border to frame the squares, so I set about choosing 8 beautifully harmonious colours to do the job. I took aaaaaaaaaaaaages choosing these colours, endlessly swapping them about until I felt truly delighted by the way they play together.
Working on the border is pure pleasure, I am in love with making these long, easy rows. Being on the Home Stretch is really rather exciting you know, and needless to say I am feeling rather ridiculously excited by the imminent ta-dah moment. I've got that tingly feeling in the pit of my stomach :)
This was me on Sunday afternoon, stretched out on the sofa enjoying some peaceful hooky. Funny isn't it, the above photo does look very peaceful and tranquil and for a moment I almost convinced myself that that was the reality. But nooooooo - you can add to the above image the soundtrack of "Guardians of the Galaxy" intermingled with the sound of several noisy children playing. And while you're at it, you can also picture me getting up and down numerous times to help build a Lego Batcave/provide refreshments/see to the laundry/find a lost Lego piece/answer the door etc etc. So not peaceful, but at least crochet has the advantage of being easily pick-up-and-put-downable. It's very accommodating like that, tolerates the interruptions of family life rather well in fact.
And in related home-front news, we have a new sofa. It's grey, but that fact is growing easier to live with each and every day. Our old sofa took us valiantly through fifteen years of tough family life, and after three (failed) repairs to it's sagging underparts it finally gave up and died on us last week. It was rather comical at the time as J was sitting on it when it completely collapsed and swallowed him up, man, I laughed so hard I nearly had an accident.
Anyhoooooow, we took a trip to Ikea on Saturday and chose this Tidafors Three Seater which was pretty much the only sofa available that would a) fit in/on the car and b) fit into the house. I can confirm that this is a very comfy piece of furniture, and I predict many hours of happy hooky time will take place right there. Bring it on xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
EDIT TO ADD for those of you asking about the HARMONY colour pack, I'm hoping to have everything ready by the middle of July, so not too long to wait xxxx
thank you
سعودي اوتو
Posted by: saudi | June 17, 2015 at 04:01 PM
Lucy , I really think you are the rainbow fairy !
Greetings,
Franca
Posted by: Franca | June 17, 2015 at 03:08 PM
Love the colours in your Harmony blanket, the edging is going to be beautiful. Hx
Posted by: Helen | June 17, 2015 at 11:27 AM
Great blanket, those corder colours are to die for. Your sofa is looking very much at home already.
Posted by: Teresa at knitbakecultivate | June 17, 2015 at 11:18 AM
Waouh, it is beautyfull, all of your FO's. Thanks to share. Chloé
Posted by: L'Atelier Fibre Laine | June 17, 2015 at 10:42 AM
Love reading your blog as always. The Harmony blanket looks superb, what wonderful ways you have with colour.Looking forward to the tadah!
Posted by: Anne R | June 17, 2015 at 09:34 AM
I love the colors you chose for the border. They look so calm and relaxing!
Posted by: EmmA | June 17, 2015 at 08:05 AM
It's really very bad of me, but the mental picture of your old sofa's collapse had me giggling like a fool!! Sorry for its passing...hopefully the new one will become a family friend, too!
Posted by: Jane | June 17, 2015 at 05:52 AM
"Hello daddy, hello mom, I'm your ch ch ch ch ch ch ch ch Cherry Bomb!" We've been playing the Guardians soundtrack here too and I've been thinking of a Cherry Bomb inspired blanket!
Posted by: Louise | June 17, 2015 at 02:23 AM
Looking forward to purchasing my own Harmony pack!!!!
Posted by: Lyn | June 17, 2015 at 02:06 AM
I CAN NOT WAIT for this color pack and tutorial!! Just beautiful!!! Hoping to make for my best friend for Christmas!! Thank you so much for sharing your talent!!
Posted by: Denise | June 17, 2015 at 01:01 AM
I can't wait for the Harmony blanket with color pack! Should be just in time- I'm getting ready to crochet the border on your Granny Stripe blanket then I can start the Harmony Blanket! First time I've made one of your patterns & I have thoroughly enjoyed it! Retiring from nursing @ the end of July & I think the Harmony Blanket sounds just about perfect to start & celebrate with!
Posted by: Linda Mize | June 17, 2015 at 12:09 AM
Hi Lucy
I get so much enjoyment reading your blog and drooling over which pattern to make ( I bought some of your yarn) that I thought I would buy you a coffee ( which I have done on paypal)
I wonder if its possible for you to put on your blog a gadget whereby we can receive an email when you post to your blog. I keep forgetting to look as I mainly receive quilting blogs. I am a quilter also. :-)
Posted by: sue | June 17, 2015 at 12:04 AM
Lucy, these colours are wonderful. I've been asked to make a baby blanket for a friends new niece and these would be perfect...just need to work out how much I'd need now! :) xxx
Posted by: Amanda | June 16, 2015 at 10:11 PM
Gorgeous blanket and such lovely colour combinations. Cannot wait to see the finished piece. I think you might miss making it when you're done. Your new sofa looks fab too btw. Sarah xx
Posted by: Hula Loop | June 16, 2015 at 09:52 PM
It's looking lovely! Very beautiful colors. And hah, I can imagine not wanting a grey couch, but it does provide a nice background for all your crochet work ;) (Also, ikea sells these big grand foulards, if you ever get bored of the grey).
Posted by: Nienke | June 16, 2015 at 09:31 PM
Oh the deceptiveness of pictures, hey?
Grey sofa? Grey??? Did you have a funny moment?!! Thank goodness for your colourful crochet! Those Harmony colours are gorgeous. I'm particularly drawn to the almost-olive-green!
Posted by: Claire | June 16, 2015 at 09:30 PM
Love hearing your stories. You sound like you have a very full-on life and a very enjoyable one. Like how you have added an explosion of colour to your new lounge with your crochet pieces. Have a happy day !
Posted by: Wendy Friend | June 16, 2015 at 09:17 PM
Oh Lucy you do make me laugh and brighten my day when your blog comes out. I cannot wait for the harmony pack to come out.... guess that will be my next winter project. Made the ripple blanket as a wedding present for a dear friend... she loved it. Phew! Thanks again for all your colourful ways!
Posted by: Roz Fentem | June 16, 2015 at 09:06 PM
I'm sure that these squares are never getting boring. Beautiful blanket so far. And isn't it the best of things to crochet while the kids are yelling. It' s so soooooothing...
Posted by: Mila | June 16, 2015 at 08:30 PM
Fabulous! Can't wait for the new colour pack.
Posted by: Louise | June 16, 2015 at 08:24 PM
Your harmony blanket is lovely and will look forward to the pack in July currently doing a ripple blanket in cream and mocha having already done the cottage and granny stripe blankets. You are an inspiration. Thank you Lucy 😊
Posted by: Susan Evans | June 16, 2015 at 07:58 PM
love the blanket colours. Totally understand when you said it was difficult to find a sofa that would actually fit in your house. We had the same problem. Ours is a terraced house. Just what kind of house are these modern suites made for?
Posted by: carol partridge | June 16, 2015 at 07:51 PM
Lucy, I laughed so hard about the hungry couch story, could almost see it! And thank you so much for being realistic about the lack of harmony, while working on your harmony blanket. Having kids of my own, I totally recognize it and appreciate crochet for the possibility of creating something beautiful, while running a family. Love your new blanket. Will try a solid square blanket myself soon!
Posted by: Danielle | June 16, 2015 at 07:42 PM
holla Lucy, i have alllllways love your works. very inspired and hoping that some day i can make some of your kind sharings. many thanks!
Posted by: shanti shanti | June 16, 2015 at 07:23 PM