Moorland Blanket CAL :: Q&A

Hello my Lovelies! I'm so sorry this is a day late - I really wanted to write this post yesterday but unfortunately I couldn't find the time. Those of you who are marking your planners/calendars with these pretty stickers from EllieBeth Designs will know that yesterday (Friday 25th) was the date to celebrate the start of the "6 weeks to go" countdown until my Crochet-ALong begins. Only six more weeks, yippeeeee!!!! Mind you, it's hard to believe that in six weeks from now, Christmas will be over and we will already be into a brand New Year. Thank goodness for a delicious new blanket to look forward to....happy days indeed.

So today I'm going to write a little bit of a question and answer post, in response to the many questions and queries that have flooded into my blog, Facebook and Instagram during the past few weeks. If by the end of this post I haven't answered something you'd like to know, please do leave a comment and I'll do my very best to give you an answer.

What size blanket will I be able to make from one yarn pack?

One Moorland Yarn pack contains 15 x 100g of DK weight yarn. In my experience of blanket making, this is usually enough to make a single bed size blanket. The Neat Wave pattern that I'll be using to make the Moorland blanket is a fairly dense stitch with some surface texture which means that the rows don't stretch quite as much as say the Ripple or the Cosy Stripe. As a result of this, the finished blanket will probably end up a little bit smaller than my usual blanket size.

I'm aiming to make my blanket 110 cm wide (almost 4 ft) and as long as I can possibly get it with the yarn available in the pack - it'll be somewhere around 150 cm long (5 ft),hopefully a little bit longer if I think there will be enough yarn.

Will there be enough yarn to make a border, and what sort of border will it be?

If you are using the Moorland yarn pack and following my colour order, the design will allow for enough yarn to make a border. I'm going to keep the border narrow so that it provides a very simple frame around the landscape waves. I'll be using Storm Blue and Lime in the border.

What if I want to make the blanket larger, to fit a double bed?

If you wish to make a double bed size blanket, you will need to buy two yarn packs.

When I write the pattern, I'll give guidance about the starting chain and pattern repeat so that you can work out exactly how wide you wish to make your own blanket. There is such a variation in "double bed size" that it's not possible for me to give an exact pattern for a larger blanket, but I will do my best to help you work it out. 

What hook size do I need?

This is a tricky one to answer up front as the hook size you use will very much depend on your own personal hooky tension.

The standard hook size for Stylecraft Special DK yarn is 4mm. However, after much sampling and experimenting, I've found that the stripes look much better if they aren't worked too tightly. For example, I'm a tight crocheter so I'm making my Moorland Blanket using a 5 mm hook. If you crochet quite loosely, then you will probably find that a 4mm hook suits you just fine.

In Part 1 of the CAL, we'll be working up a small tension sample to test out the Neat Wave pattern and to decide on the right hook size. I would strongly advise you to do this with me (please don't think it's a waste of time!) as I would hate for you to find that your blanket comes out too small/tight, or too big/loose meaning that you run out of yarn. 

I prefer coastal/cosy/bright colours, do I have to use the Moorland Yarn pack for this blanket? 

Absolutely not! If you fancy making a Neat Wave blanket using one of my other yarn packs, or your own stash yarn, that's completely fine, and I'm really looking forward to seeing you make this pattern your own. Each week of the CAL, I'll be giving colour information for you to work up 20 Moorland stripes to create a yarny view over the moors (I explained this colour idea in my CAL Introduction post). But really, the main thing is that we all enjoy making our own waves of colour into a blanket, and I'd be delighted if you fancied trying the pattern out in different colours.

I prefer natural yarns, can you put together a yarn pack with wool yarn in the same colours?

I've had a surprising number of requests over on Facebook for a natural yarn pack which match the colours I'm using in the Stylecraft Special DK. I'm not able to do that for this project as it takes many months to organise these things, but I am investigating the idea for my next blanket.  

Is the Neat Wave pattern suitable for beginners?

I think this blanket would be OK for beginners to have a go at, so long as you can crochet a chain and know the basic crochet stitches. I write my patterns in UK crochet terms, and the basic stitches you need are dc (double crochet), htr (half treble) and tr (treble). The Neat Wave is a simple combination of these three stitches which create the rise and fall using the different stitch heights. There is simple counting involved, and after a little bit of practice you quickly get used to moving between the three different stitches. You do need to concentrate on the pattern as you work as you can quite easily forget where you are in the sequence of stitches, but I've found there is a delightful rhythm to this pattern which is very soothing.

Can you let us have the Neat Wave pattern before the CAL starts?

Well, I have thought about this, but for several important reasons I've decided against it. The pattern will be accompanied by a full picture tutorial and will be published on the start date of the CAL which is Friday 6th January. The tutorial will be aimed at newbie crocheters, so will give advice about joining in new colours, keeping your edges straight, darning in ends etc. I hope you don't mind waiting another six weeks, I think this pattern is wonderful and versatile and will be worth the wait.

In the meantime, I thought you might like to see what I'm up to at the moment  - I'm making a Neat Wave cushion cover using up lots of small oddments and left over bits and bobs of Stylecraft Special DK hanging around in the giant pink tub in my studio. The colours are veeeery random and quirky as I've not really been giving much thought to the placement at all. But what I really want to show you is the surface texture - isn't the above photo lovely? I had the crochet laid out on my studio table ready to photograph yesterday and the way the morning sun highlighted the undulations was amazing. I love it so much, and am even more excited to see how this effect looks as the Moorland Blanket grows.

This simple project is giving me so much pleasure, and although I'm only half way through (one side of the cover is complete), I thought I'd give you some colour information, just in case this sparks some creative ideas for you....

There are 33 stripes in total, using 22 colours of Stylecraft Special DK. I'm making the cover for a 45 cm / 18 in cushion.

From the bottom upwards, as follows ::

Denim : Aspen : Fondant : Cloud Blue : Magenta : Spice : Lime : Aster : Lavender : Pale Rose : Sage : Copper : Magenta : Storm Blue : Grass Green : Mustard : Turquoise : Pomegranate : Fondant : Plum : Aspen : Teal : Tomato : Gold : Lime : Denim : Lavender : Cloud Blue : Magenta : Turquoise : Grass Green : Petrol : Copper.

I'll be sure to share the second side and give you the colours for that too once it's made (same 22 colours, different random order). I'll also show you how I crochet it all together and add a button fastening. As already mentioned, the Neat Wave pattern will be published here on my blog at the start of my CAL on 6th January.

I'd really like to practice the Neat Wave pattern before the CAL starts, what can you recommend?

You will need to be familiar with the three basic stitches, and I think a good way to have a go with this is to make some of my May Roses. This will give you practice of making and working into a foundation chain, and using dc, htr, and tr stitches. You can find the pattern/tutorial here on my blog {May Roses}

The other thing you can do is this : crochet a long chain (maybe 100 or so) and work a base row of double crochet stitches to practice working into the foundation chain. Then try making a row where you go up and down through the three heights of stitches (double crochet, half treble, treble, half treble, double crochet etc etc), just to familiarise yourself with how it feels to keep swapping between them.

Will the Moorland CAL information stay on your blog if I want to go at my own pace or make the blanket later in the year?

Yes, yes, yes of course! All my blog posts and patterns are available for always so that you can dip in and find the information when it suits you. The CAL will run for 8 weeks in total but it really doesn't matter if it takes you a year to make this blanket. You can start and stop, hop in and out as you wish. There is no deadline, no signing up, no commitment, no guilt. Just hooky pleasure at your own pace :)

I hope I've managed to answer all of the questions that have popped up in recent days/weeks, and that if you've been umming and ahhing about whether to join in with my Moorland CAL or not, then perhaps this might have helped make up your mind. My colours or your colours, 8 weeks or 80 weeks, baby blanket or super king size, it's as flexible as you want it to be. 

Six weeks...............bring it on!

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ps the Moorland CAL Introduction post is {HERE} if you missed it or need to take another look.

 

 

 

 

 

Comments

[Laura Sequeira]

Do you ever restock the kis you make for specific patterns? The Moorland will be my third crochet blanket but most advanced. I am a prolific knitter and quilter. My best friend is an excellent crocheter so know she can help me. So many of your color combinations are gorgeous and i would love to order some. Meanwhile i am ordering 2 packs of another beautiful colorway.
Thank you, laura sequeira

[Christine Holloway]

can you send me a link to the whole printable pattern please. like others I will go on holiday to a place that has no internet connection and i want to take this project with me. Thanks

[Margaret Rose]

Hi Lucy,

Love your website and have made 3 of your blankets so far. I am going to make the Moorland and I have started the practice piece. I did the first chain with hook 5, then the next 2 rows with 4 but it only measures 18 instead of 19cm. I was wondering if I should do the chain 5 and keep going with that number. I find the beginning chain and rows I usually crochet tighter than when I am relaxed as I go along.
Thx
Margaret
Fremantle WA.

[Heather Rutherford]

Where is a list of the sequence of colors?

Also what is CAL

[Heather H Rutherford]

I love the moorland colors. I would like to make a wrap instead of a blanket so I can really show it off. Is all of your yarn natural fibers? I would like synthetic as my skin doesn't like wool. Also where do I buy the pattern?

[Alison Cook]

Hi Lucy,
I still have my Moorland blanket to do as have been busy with other treasures but now cannot access pattern giving starting chain count and specific order of colours.
Does the link expire?
I am just about to commence the Meadow CAL but still wish to make a large Moorland later this year.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Alison, Western Australia 😊

[Joy]

Hi Lucy
I'm new to crochet but have worked a sample for the Moorland blanket. Looks ok but does it matter if the ups and downs don't quite align as long as you end up with the right number of stitches. Sometimes have to pop in an extra dc or leave one out but its nice and wavy.

[Sharyl Allison]

I got moorland. Stylecraft. Special DK in 2017. Was going to make temperature blanket or weatherghan. I can't find my pattern. I had the waves pattern but my laptop computer doesn't work that it was saved on. I may need to order more yarn if I make bed size blanket. Do you have a temperature chart with those. Colors on? Or pattern using those moorland colors? Respectfully, sharyl

[Mel Wallage]

Hello Lucy! A good friend wants me to make her a baby blanket in the moorland colours. Please would it be possible to have the starting chain length for a 70cm width and a suitable length ?
Best wishes
Mel W

[Elles]

Dear Lucy,

My name is Elles and I live in the Netherlands. I follow your blogs on Attic24 and have made a few of your wunderful blankets.

Now I have a question:
My son is studying at Stirling University in Scotland. For the next university year he become an appartment for himself.
I would like to give him a personal blanket. He loves the Moorland Blanket, just likes his mom.

I plan to make a Scottish Border blanket just like the Moorland Blanket. From row 81 I would like to add the colors of the Scottish Highlands.

Can you help me find the right colors for this so that there is beautiful Scottish blanket and I can give my son a nice personal blanket for his new appartment.

I would like to thank you for your answer.

Sincerely,

Elles van der Loo
Hoevelaken
The Netherlands

[Pauline]

Hi Lucy
I have just ordered the yarn pack for your Neat Wave blanket. I am new to crocheting but willing to give it a try I managed your coat hanger last night. I have done a couple of samples of neat wave, I plan to doo a couple more before I start on the blanket... I will let you know how I get on I hope to go to Yarndale in couple of weeks the last time I went I could not crochet.

Itchy fingers?

[Jane rushworth]

Just started the moorland, and seem to be getting along well, but after 15 rows in, the wiggles seem to be getting less wiggly?? I think I have got slightly out of sync with the patterns? Is there a simple way I can get back on track without unpicking? Trying to work out the ups and downs logically, by looking at how the waves fit together, but a bit mathematical and baffling me quite a bit? Any advice appreciated 😊 can send a picture if that helps?

[Nest Jones]

I would like to make a baby blanket in the wave stitch. Could you suggest a mixture to make a colourful one and what size should it be?

[Gosia]

Hi Lucy,
I've just received my yarn pack today and I love it. I love the yarn, I love the colours, I love the design. I was happily surprised to reach the recommended gauge without changing my style of crocheting and I'm using 5 mm hook, like you suggested.
I've had a look on your other projects and I can say you're a danger to my wallet. They are so beautiful and I want to make many of them!
@Wendy: if you go to the Neat Wave Pattern (the link is in on the left of this page), there are links to next stripes' colours at the bottom of the post.
Regards,
Gosia

[Wendy Luff]

I have come late to this wonderful Morland blanket and can only find the colour sequence for rows 1-20. Can you please tell me how I can find the rest of the colour sequence for your Morland blanket? I have already bought the two packs and would like to be able to make a blanket for our bed before next winter if possible.
Regards Wendy

[Lorraine Graham]

Hi Lucy
I absolutely love this blanket! I have a friend who has asked me to make one for her Mum's 70th and she has asked for the colours similar to those that Ellie used. I guess you'll know what's coming next..... any chance you could spill on the yarn and colours? Thanks You in advance.
Lorraine Graham

(Ellie has chosen to mix shades of purple and mauve with some lovely subtle, natural colours..)

[rena]

will you be doing a copy of the basic pattern and colour list without the tutorial as I want to finish my coast blanket before I start a new one, I have the moorland pack ready to go now, don't want to print 42 pages to get started, thanks

[margaret]

I am going to order the pack for the moorland neat wave as I am going on holiday , will do so when get back but I did try to get a copy of the pattern. and it was spitting out 42 pages, all the comments. could you possibly e mail me the pattern .I am experience in crochet done a few of your blankets.and would love to have a go at this one. I missed out on your blog owing to be away regards Margaret ,

[Yvonne O Sullivan]

My blanket is coming out at 110 cms wide. Should I shorten the finished length?

[Bev. Crawford]

Would it be possible to get a hard copy of pattern for the Moorland blanket I was given the wool as a Christmas gift
My address is
Bev Crawford
3/9 Leyton Street
Speers Point. 2284. Nsw Aust

Thank you
I have made two of your blankets in the past and was very happy

[Barbara Bryden.]

I am following your tutorial but wonder if you are going to eventually print a copy of instruction. My neighbour has made several of your blankets but hasn't got the internet so won't be able to make this one.
Thanks for all your lovely ideas and blog about the area I was brought up in.

[Liz gibson]

Happy to have started this project. On row 10 after a bumpy start. Looking gorgeous. Good luck to everyone taking part

[melanie kingswell]

OK am sat here with yarn pack and hook at the ready. Where is the CAL please ?????

[Diana]

Hook at the ready, can't wait to start

[Marie martin]

Hi, also passionately waiting, hook ready to go, I wonder what time