Moorland Blanket CAL :: Part 7

Hello!! I have been torn in two sitting here uploading pictures for today's Moorland installment, it is such a bitter sweet feeling writing the last part of this Crochet-A-Long. I have honestly loved every single part of designing, making and sharing this blanket, and now it is finally finished (and wrapped around my shoulders right now as I sit at my desk), I am really sad that the journey is over. 

I have to tell you.......I have developed a seriously deep crush on my Moorland blanket, and although I dearly love all my blankets, this one has taken over rather a large part of my heart. Thank goodness I don't have to ever part with it, I really think I would cry if I couldn't smooch with it every single day.

But anyhoooo, enough of the emotional stuff, shall we get on with talking about the final part of the blanket? Today is all about the Border of course, and I am really excited to share this with you. Before we start though, I just want to remind you all to have a look at the final Cloud Blue stripe at the top of your blanket and make sure you followed instructions given in Part 6 of the CAL to make your top edge straight. You will also need to have all your ends securely darned in before you get going along the edge.

I took the above photo to show you what my yarn bag looked like once the 115 stripes in my blanket were complete. It still looks quite full, don't you think? 

It turns out that my Moorland Blanket used approximately 70g of each colour, leaving plenty left over to work the border and possibly a few cushions too (I'm thinking a Blooming Flower cushion would look awesome in these colours). The best way to assess your yarn quantities at this stage is to use digital kitchen scales - if you followed my tension/size guidelines in the Neat Wave tutorial, you should have at least 20g of each colour left to play with for the border.

Originally, I had planned on keeping the Moorland border very narrow, just using two colours (Storm Blue and Lime). The first round of any border is often quite a tricky one to crochet - it has to do a good job at disguising the inevitable lumps and bumps sitting along the blanket edge, as well as creating a neat and straight foundation for the rest of the border rows. For the Moorland Edging, I used double crochet stitches worked into the actual post of the stitches at the end of each stripe. Working into those stitches isn't an easy thing to do, but it is definitely worth the extra hook-wiggling effort. The results are neat and understated and go a long way towards smoothing everything out at the ends of those striped rows.

Once that first row has been nailed down and you have recovered from it (cake helps!), the subsequent rows are an absolute breeze. I love the way the thin rows of colour manage to keep a gentle hold on the Moorland landscape without distracting from it in any way.

In fact, for a few weeks I kept the border this way and pondered on whether these two rounds were enough. I thought it over a whole lot, but in the end I decided that nope, it just wasn't quite enough. I would need to select two more colours. Naturally, I thought a lot about the overall Moorland colour story, about the earth, moss, grass, heather and sky, and how best to carry that story through to the border design. 

I decided to choose one shade of grass green.....

....and one shade of heather purple.

I wonder which are your favourites? Which would you go for?

After much deliberating, I settled on Cypress and Grape. To me, these were the colours that most represented the grass and heather, and seeing all four colours together made me very happy.

I would love to encourage you to think about your own choice of border colours, and not feel that you have to follow me exactly if you don't want to. Maybe you would prefer the depth of Plum instead of Grape, or maybe you would like to add soft Sage instead of Cypress. Maybe you prefer a lighter approach and opt for Lavender and Duck Egg to add a bit of summer sky to the border.

Just remember that you need approximately 20g of a colour to work one round of the edging.

I decided to make my corners rounded on this blanket, the softness seemed appropriate and provides a visual link to the undulating waves of the stripes. I have to say I really love the effect (I am usually one for perfect perky, pointy corners), plus it makes the whole edge an absolute doddle to crochet.

The final (4th) round of the border is worked as a whole round of slip stitches - I am so so pleased with how this turned out. I sampled a hummungous number of ideas for the edge-of-the-edge, with plenty of failed picots, a whole host of wave effects and some more loopy, decorative ideas tried, tested and frogged. In the end, I settled for this simple approach which pleases me no end. I love the way that the slip stitches create a neat surface chain that nestles into the row below - it's quite textural and feels almost like a braid running around the edge. It's the heather sitting in amongst the tall summer grasses.

The finished effect is exactly what I was after - this border is strong yet subtle, a beautiful framework but not a distraction. 

Borders and edgings can be tricky things to balance and get right, that's for sure. Mind you, it's also quite a personal thing too, so please don't be afraid to make your border wider if you wish, by adding more rows/colours (this is especially the case if you've made your blanket double bed size). Please do feel you can use my edging pattern as a guideline or a starting point and have confidence to make it your own. After crocheting with these colours for the past two months, I'm sure you'll have your own favourite combo's!

As you would expect from me, I've written a complete tutorial for working the Moorland edging, with the usual gazillion photos and plain English explanations. You can find it in the sidebar of my blog, or click on the following link >>

❤ MOORLAND BLANKET EDGING ❤

Although I've now finished my Moorland blanket, and many of you will be finishing your own too, I am planning one more installment. I'm going to write a Grand Ta-dah post as I don't feel quite ready to let this CAL go. Nope, definitely not ready....I still have things to say, more pictures to share, more celebrating to do!! 

The past few months have been extra special for me, and so much more than just sharing a free pattern and making a blanket. The strong sense of community and friendship which bloomed over the Moorland has been overwhelmingly lovely and quite emotional for me, and I am so grateful for you all.

I hope with all my heart that this journey has been as delightful for you as it has for me.....I am looking forward to ta-dahing!!

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Here are the links you might need ...

❤ Moorland Blanket CAL : Part 1

❤ Moorland Blanket CAL : Part 2

❤ Moorland Blanket CAL : Part 3

❤ Moorland Blanket CAL : Part 4

❤ Moorland Blanket CAL : Part 5

❤ Moorland Blanket CAL : Part 6

❤ Moorland CAL : Introduction

❤ Moorland CAL : Q&A

❤ Moorland Yarn Pack

❤ Neat Wave tutorial

❤ Moorland Edging

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Comments

[Corinne Inglis]

This is nothing to do with the blanket (which I have yet to start!!). I just wanted to tell you that whenever I'm feeling a bit down, I read your blog posts and look at all the lovely colours and, hey presto (gosh, do people say that anymore?!), i feel better. Thank you.

[Annie]

I've ordered the yarn and am looking forward to getting started in our Autum. This will be my 3rd Autumn making one of your blankets. I love them.

[Sophie]

I absolutely love the simplicity of the border! It really lets the waves and ripples of the blanket stand out <3 beautiful!

[mrs. smythe]

Beautiful border! And there is such visual movement to the blanket. It fairly dances. As always, I appreciate your technical expertise as well as your artistic vision.Thank you for sharing.

[CJ]

It's lovely Lucy, I can well understand how attached you are to it. I think it's my favourite stitch of yours so far, and my favourite colours as well. I shall look forward to seeing everyone else's as well. Have a good weekend Lucy. CJ xx

[Miranda]

you're amazing Ms. Lucy, and this blanket is yet another fine example of the incredible beauty you bring to this world. it has been a pleasure hooking this beautiful landscape of colors, and I'm very much looking forward to seeing everyone's glorious blankets.thank you for having this (and hopefully more!) excellent CAL.

[AnnieOB]

Absolutely beautiful. Looking forward to making my own Moorland blanket one day.

[Angela-Southern USA]

Another beautiful work of art in yarn! Well done!xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

[Maria João Machado]

Everytime I see your wonderful blankets with landscape colors I wanto to make one of my own, as they are awesome!! TFS

[Lena Meijer]

Thank you for this interesting CAL. It's my first crocheted blankett. I still have some rows to go. But I'll finish so I can go for more crochet, knitt or sewing quilts!
Even if we still have snow here in the middle of Sweden.
Happy Spring!

[Katherine Baldwin]

I was the impatient one and finished the blanket last week with just a round of the Storm Blue, but I wanted to give it to a friend of my teen son. She adores it and her mother cried when she saw it so it had the desired effect!I like this border and have a second Moorland pack to use for a bunch of baby blankets so I will revisit that lovely edging you designed again. Thanks so much, Lucy!

[Nancy in Indiana]

Lovely border! I'm in week 5 and just reached duck egg. Very much enjoying the journey! Thank you for this enjoyable CAL!

[Diane Haithwaite]

A perfect border Lucy, thank you. It frames the blanket beautifully.I so agree with you , I'm not a fan of fussy borders. That's my weekend sorted!

[Joan]

Thank you so much for this lovely pattern. I've almost finished part 5 and have been imagining what the final border would be like. I'm loving the simplicity of the narrow bands of colour, so right for the rugged landscape that the blanket depicts.
My daughter came yesterday and asked me to make a blanket for her newly decorated family room, something with purple in it. I showed her the Moorland I was making and she declared it perfect, just what she wanted. So now I know it will be going to a good home where it will be loved and snuggled into every day by people I love.

[Louise Ballantine]

I'm looking forward to making the border although I have already started using the blanket as it is !!
I love the little narrow stripes of colour and although I'm not a big fan of lime it does look good in its place so I might allow it in my border after all🙃

Thank you for everything 😘

[One-oh-four]

Oh, this looks perfect! I love doing a final round of single crochet on a border, it reminds me of chain stitch embroidery. Thank you for such clear tutorials:). BTW I made my first Little Box of Crochet "item" from your box last night (I won't say what it was in case anyone is still waiting on their delivery) and it is absolutely gorgeous!

[Susan]

Looks amazing Lucy.Im still doing the sunny log cabin blanket I had for Xmas but will definitely do this moorland one.beautifulcolours.Makes you want to get up there now.loving how international everyone is,very comforting at the mo.😊

[Lynny]

Thank you Lucy! It's been a lovely cal to take part in. I've loved every minute too! Off to start my border, yipeeeeee! :)

[Pauline Johnston]

Thank you so much Lucy. This is my first blanket & Im a bit behind but have thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

[Heather izzard]

Hi Lucy
I used another stitch (uk 1tc/1sc/1ch turn) for my blanket using combination of each 5lines of your colour chart.
It's made a 'close up deatailed' vision of the tufty grass, bracken + heather. Then pt5 +6 I stuck to your double rows creating the undulations.
I've edged with a hook 3 sizes smaller (3.5mm) dc/sage, Bptc Wisteria though I'm certain I'll add another green.
I've loved the blanket, colours + belonging to the park @attic24moorlandcal Facebook group. I'd recommend anyone new joining this group for encouragement and help.
Thank you Lucy... Now for the cushion!