Moorland Blanket CAL : Part 2

This past week seems to have speeded by in a whirl of everything and nothing, and I can't believe it's already a week since the Moorland CAL began. This time last week I was a bundle of nervous energy, checking through my tutorial a gazillion times, hoping that all would be ok and that there would be no glaring mistakes. Thanks to one or two of you getting in touch, I discovered a few small errors (mainly numbering mistakes) but all was quickly put right and I've been thrilled and relieved to see so many gorgeous wavy blankets beginning to take shape in your hands. I know the first few rows can be a real chew, and I've hoped and wished for a good many of you as I've seen and read about your initial struggles to conquer a new pattern. 

These rows do get easier as the blanket goes on, I promise you that. In the beginning, I found myself often frustrated with my own messed up counting and rows that didn't end up as they should. I frogged my fair share of stitches in the early stages, and I know first hand the irritation and disappointment it causes. Please believe me, it DOES get easier! The more rows you work, the more you begin to feel the pattern working. You feel the beautiful rhythm, the counting becomes second nature, you notice the way each stitch fits in and lines up, you spot the mistakes quickly. It really does grow on you this blanket, it creeps gently in,  takes root and brings satisfaction, happiness and peace.

I also had to laugh when I read about how many of you have been getting fed up with the Lime!! Hahaha, I know, I know! The way I've carefully planned the overall design means there is a lot of Lime in these bottom rows - this is the foreground of the landscape and it needed to be brighter than the rest. The heather is coming in part 2, you will really LOVE the purples!

I want to show a few photos that have been shared on my Facebook page during this past week, in the hope they might help and inspire. Many of you who have been struggling to nail the counting of this pattern have found that marking the pattern repeats with life lines or stitch markers has saved the day. The above blanket belongs to Heather, and her running life lines placed every 10 stitches helped keep her on track.

Stitch markers (here used by Rosalba) are also very helpful if you are struggling with the pattern repeat. Here they are placed every 10 stitches, but you could place them every 20 or 30 if you wished - it means that if you spot a mistake, you only need to pull back a small amount rather than the whole row. You might find you only need to do this for the first set of stripes - I am confident that as your blanket grows, so will your confidence!

I also thought you might like to see some alternative patterns being worked with my Moorland colours - I've been so happy to see people taking these shades and using them in their own way..... 

This is an Eyelet Ripple by Naomi...

Marie is using a Block Stitch to work her stripes in a beautiful repeating order....

Katie has opted for Granny stripes....

Yvonne has used the Cosy Stripe to work her Moorland colours....

Jo is making a really beautiful shawl....

...and just look at all this gorgeous texture in these stripes hooked by Nicky.

And lastly, a real feast for the eyes - Jennifer is using the Moorland colours to make a Sophie's Universe blanket, which is just stunning.

Part 2 of the Moorland blanket will see the greens and browns gradually make way for more of the purple heather colours. The shift in colours is very subtle, but oh so beautiful.....

....I'm hoping that as you work through part 2 you'll be starting to get a good feel of the colour journey, and that you'll enjoy it as much as I am!

Whilst I've been working these rows, I've had a continuous stream of images and memories flowing through my mind as I recall the many walks we've made on the moors amongst the heather. It's so energising and peaceful being surrounded by a landscape stretching out before you, all those layers of texture and colour and light to make your heart sing.

So your last stripe from Part 1 should be Mocha - that was stripe number 20.

And here is the colour information for Part 2 : stripes 21-40, working from the bottom upwards.

Remember each stripe is worked in two rows, so 20 stripes = 40 rows of crochet.

*Please note - stripes written in *red text* are additional stripes to be worked only if you have 2 yarn packs and are making a double bed size blanket. If you have one yarn pack, please ignore the red!

21. Grape

*Pistachio* (optional for large size)

22. Lime

23. Walnut

24. Cypress

25. Meadow

26. Khaki

27. Lime

28. Walnut

29. Mocha

*Cypress* (optional for large size)

30. Khaki

31. Grape

32. Walnut

33. Sage

34. Plum

35. Grape

36. Meadow

*Khaki* (optional for large size)

37. Plum

38. Violet

39. Sage

40. Walnut

After part 2 (40 stripes), your blanket should be measuring approximately 60 cm in height. It should also be starting to keep your knees warm as you work, which is a bonus for us shivering here in the cold of a Northern hemisphere Winter!

I just wanted to reassure you that all CAL posts will stay on my blog for you to access and dip into for always, so please don't worry if you can't begin just yet, the pattern and colour information will be here waiting for when you are ready.

And for those of you who have made a start, please, please feel comfortable working at your own pace. It's fabulous that we are all taking this journey together, but it really isn't a race - I so very much want you to enjoy every part of this blanket you are making, no matter how slow those stitches might be.

Here are the links you might need - Part 3 (stripes 41-60) will be here on Friday 20th January.

❤ Moorland Blanket CAL : Part 1

❤ Neat Wave tutorial

❤ Moorland CAL : Introduction

❤ Moorland CAL : Q&A

❤ Moorland Yarn Pack

Happy Hooking! xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

 

...more little snippets from the Attic...

My Granny Stripe Blanket

Cosy Stripe Blanket :: ta-dah!

Harmony Home Stretch

Up Hill and Down Dale

Notes from the Studio

Comments

[Lou]

Hi Lucy, when you do a pattern there is normally a mixed or story, is there a mixed pattern for the moorland blanket please

[Jayne]

Hi Lucy, I recently bought the moorland pack and the dalia wool pack from wool warehouse but they didn’t include the patterns. Wool warehouse are asking no one to contact them during lockdown, understandably, but is it possible to get the pattern from you? Is there a complete pattern on you website that I’m missing? Many thanks Jayne

[Sara McBain]

I have nearly finished part 3 of the Moorland blanket but I am having great trouble finding the rest of The parts ie 4,5 etc

[Helen McGowan]

Is there anywhere on the Attic 24 pages that I can see the entire pattern for the whole blanket? Perhaps a .pdf version? I need to print it out in hard copy as I am going away with no internet access. I purchased the kit from Wool Warehouse last Christmas but didn't have time to do the CAL.

[Julie Farmer]

I would really like to have a go at the eyelet ripple blanket using the moorland colours as shown by Naomi, can you advise on this pattern please Lucy? 😉

[Mary Z]

Hi Lucy.
I received my yarn pack, and I'm ready to start my tension samples. Will I have enough yarn for my blanket if I use the yarn in the yarn pack for the samples?
Thank you!!

[K. Olson]

Hi Lucy,
I'm having so much fun with this CAL - thank you! Wanted to share with you my recent Wuthering Heights review since in it I talk about your CAL. Now listening to Middlemarch as I continue to Crochet Along in your beautiful Moors. :)

https://luvpyrs.wordpress.com/2017/01/22/review-wuthering-heights-by-emily-bronte/

[Susan]

I just received my yarn but cannot find the pattern or the tutorial. Where are they?

[Sarah Doty]

Thank you so much for the tips about keeping track of the pattern. I started and frogged the first 4-5 rows so many times, I almost dumped this pattern. It was great to start one more time and be successful. It looks so great and I'm having fun now!! My mother loves these colors so I'm going to give it to her. She is in assisted living and is always cold. Thanks for the pattern! SarahinHouston (RAV ID)

[Petra Huebne]

Hi Lucy, thank you for everything: the work you have done to make this CAL possible, the great colours you have chosen and the tutorials. I am looking forward to part III, can't wait to grab my hook... I love the idea of so many people all around the work making this wonderful blanket. Happy crocheting to all of you out there, Petra (Germany)

[Sandra]

I'm enjoying being part of this wonderful crochet community. Using slightly different colours, I think mine will be a Hedgerow colour palette when finished: https://daffodilwild.wordpress.com/2017/01/19/yarn-along-attic24-cal/

[Aine]

Have got into a good rhythm now, really learning a lot with this CAL (my first), the 10 stitches count really helps with accuracy - fewer ripping back, as well as tidying ends as i go each day and thinking about keeping ends of rows as neat/straight as possible. And i LOVE THE LIME, wondering what else i can do in this colour. Much crochet love, Thanks Lucy

[Kat]

The greens with splash of purple are delicious! On to the second set of stripes now, after deciding re-start with an extra 10 stitches of width.. wish I hadn't darned all those ends in so well...! The first Sage-Plum combo is a real smack in the eye!

Is that most of the greens done now? I am going to start on a matching cushion cover to keep me busy till Friday.

[Peggy]

I would like to subscribe to the comment feed and all I get is jumbled run on text. Ant help would be much appreciated. Thanks! Peggy

[Lesley O'Donohue]

I just wanted to say that I LOVE the lime!! There you go, I've said it!!

Thanks Lucy for a great design and pattern and for facilitating this community.

[Ilse Beulens]

hey Lucy, I just LOVE this blanket! It's always exciting when I can add a new color.
I'm getting the flow with this pattern now, I still make some mistakes but I spot them quicker.
It's the 4th blanket that I make from your blog. I'm loving all of them. Especially when they are all piled up. Everyone coming to my house complement me on them.
So thank u very much for all your lovely ideas

[Peta Cowan]

Hi Lucy, this is my first CAL. I decided to do different colours to suit the room I am making the blanket for. I decided to do the double size so am lagging behind but it's a lovely feeling to think so many out there are having a good time doing this. I am really motivated to keep up!
Happy crocheting everyone.
Peta Cowan (in Bolivia)

[Hil Clayton]

My Moorland Blanket is coming along nicely now. I had a few problems getting the pattern to line up at first, but fine now. Thank you Lucy, I love it!

[Jennifer Keast]

Have started and am just loving it.! Colours are perfect and pattern is really quite easy after the first 4 rows.

[Sabine]

Love your new pattern. Lovely colours <3
Sabine

[Jackie]

Yay, just got to the sage row. First new colour of this week - very exciting. And no more lime. 😁

[Judith Diani]

I have been following on FB and would like to subscribe to your blog, but when I click on subscribe on the blog, lines of typing comes up????
I am crocheting the CAL and love the waves. Not to the 2nd part yet, but the rhythm is coming along.
Please advise. Thanks.

[Jenn]

Don't confuse rows with stripes. Each stripe has two rows of the same color

[Chel @ Sweetbriar Dreams]

I've still to start the blanket, but those colours are really calling me now, especially with the wet and windy weather reminding me of the brisk walks amongst the heather. Working one colour for a while makes it so satisfying when another colour is added :)

[Jennifer Keast]

Hi Lucy. I had put my yarn away for when I had more time but these posts have made me envious so have started and should catch up by week 4 I reckon!!