Woodland Blanket CAL :: Part 2

Good morning my lovelies, and how has your week been? Mine has been a bit of a slog to be honest as I'm still struggling to beat off the germs, but I'm not complaining (well not all that much) and am looking forward to being free of the little blighters very soon. I had to take some time away from my desk to concentrate on the house and the Little People earlier in the week, so it's been great to finally have time to catch up on all your comments and the huuuuuuge amount of excited activity all over Blogland, Facebook and Instagram. Gosh, what a lot of Woodland excitement there is flying around the world right now!! It honestly makes me want to jump for joy when I see so many happy stripes of Autumnal colour popping up here, there and everywhere, and to feel all the shared happiness and creativity streaming in from all over the world. Isn't it amazing that we can all feel connected in this way? The friendliness of the hooky community and the sense of belonging that it creates is absolutely priceless, and I couldn't imagine my life without it.

I really hope that if you set out on the Woodland Walk with me last week, that you've enjoyed the start of your journey. Have you found your footing on those meandering pathways? I hope that you're all doing OK and that any initial struggles that might've come as you got to grips with the pattern haven't caused you too much angst. I hate to think of any of you struggling, as I do know how frustrating it can be. If it's any consolation, I made a good many mistakes in my own first rows - they weren't anything major and were mainly down to not counting/concentrating properly (eg making 6 spaced out trebles in the valley when there is only supposed to be 5, or mysteriously adding in an extra dc in the FLO row), but it doesn't take long for it all to settle down I promise you. You'll soon be counting 6, 5, 6, 6, 5, 6, 6, 5 in your sleep and whizzing along those ripples!! 

I know many of you have been over to Facebook and joined the "Attic24 Moorland and More" group (over 4,000 members now!) and there has been a huge amount of posting in the group this past week. I've been so, so  humbled to see  a great deal of kindness and a true feeling of community in the group. Huge thanks to anyone who has taken the trouble to help those who have needed it, offering words of advice, support, wisdom, encouragement and humour, it is just fantastic. Thanks also go to the fabulous admin and moderators who look after the group, I think I mentioned before that this isn't a group set up or run by me, so I am extra grateful to those who've made it such a lovely place to be xxxx 

I wanted to share a couple of photos which might be of help if you are struggling a little to keep everything on track. The above photo is Michelle's glorious random stripe woodland blanket in progress - you can see that she is using stitch markers placed every 17th stitch (these mark out one complete pattern repeat), and I know many of you have been encouraged to try using stitch markers (or safety pins / paper clips) and found it super-helpful.  

Along similar lines is the idea of using waste yarn to make Life Lines, as shown above with Phyllis' blanket. Similar to the stitch markers, the life lines run up through the 17th stitch to mark out the pattern repeats. These can be left in place and carried up through the rows as you work, making it a bit quicker and less intrusive than using stitch markers. 

I've been reminded this week of one of my best-favourite painters and her take on the Autumn Woodland landscape - I LOVE this painting by my friend Janet Bell and am lucky enough to have a framed print of it on my wall. It's one of my daily pleasures - I sit at the dining table and drink my morning coffee with my eyes feasting on all that dancing colour and light. Just glorious in every way.

I'd like to share some more colourful Autumn yarny goodness with you now, oh you can never have too much visual lovliness in my opinion! Thank you to everyone who has shared with me on my Facebook page - today I want to show you the Woodland colours worked up in different ways and using a whole variety of different patterns...........

Tracey decided to use my original Neat Ripple pattern, arranging the colours in a really beautiful "Woodland Rainbow" order.

Sharon is also making Woodland Rainbows using the Granny Stripe pattern. The simplicity of this design is just sublime, it's soooo restful to look at don't you think?

Xenia is making herself a super-squidgey blanket which she calls the "chunky hydrangea with woodland colours". She replaced the greys with warm neutrals and is using double strands of DK weight yarn worked with an 8mm hook. The pattern is my Hydrangea Stripe.

Carolyn is also using the Hydrangea Stripe for her Woodland blanket, and is creating a gorgeous colourwash effect with the woodland colours.

Marion has gone for the Cosy Stripe pattern using the woodland colours worked up in her own random order. Don't the colours look happy all jaunting along together?

B Kae is taking a Moorland-Woodland approach. She's using the Neat Wave pattern to play with those glorious Autumn shades with great success - I love the way the waves make the colours dance together like a swirl of Autumn leaves.

Michelle has absolutely wowed me with her unique pattern which I've discovered is actually my Hydrangea stripe that she staggered to make interlocking shells...isn't that amazing? She explained it to me, and I am dying to try it out!

"On each alternate row of starting with a full flower I ch 2 then (2 tr; ch 2; 2 tr) in the dc from the previous row and then end on a dc in the last tr from previous row. 
When starting a row with half a flower I ch 3 and then 1 tr in the same stitch, then dc in between the space of the 2 tr of the flower then work a full flower stitch in the next dc and so on, ending with 2 tr on the last dc from previous row. 
I have found that I need to knot the threads together at the end of each row when joining a new colour otherwise the edge doesn’t stay straight!"

Absolutely fabulous, and I love the mirrored colourwash colour order too.

Sheryl calls this her "Woodland rainbow zig zag puff stitch" which I love the look of - it's not a pattern I've seen before but the way it nestles the colours together is really beautiful. 

Cheryl has designed this pattern herself, it's a simple mixed-stripe combining straight treble rows with granny stripe, v-stitch and puff stitch rows. I'm really looking forward to seeing this grow, the texture of the different stripes is gorgeous.

Well what more can we say about Karen's Woodland Summer Harmony blanket, except for WOW!!!!!!! I know this blanket has really inspired a huge amount of love and admiration over on Facebook, and rightly so as it is simply stunning. Karen used the Woodland yarn pack, with the addition of Mushroom and Camel to make 17 colours in total. She explains how she did it.....

"I laid out Lucy's colours in the colour wash order they appear in the joining round of the Summer Harmony, then did the same with the Autumn pack plus camel and mushroom, then followed the pattern exactly exchanging the colours. At first some of the squares had colour combinations you would probably never choose but I stuck at it and as each round was added they looked better, and once it's all together it looks marvelous. If I did it again I might not choose mushroom as I think it's a little pale, but it was the best I had in my stash and it reminded me of the weird colour autumn skies go just before sunset starts".

Bravo Karen, this really is a grand Woodland Ta-dah moment!

And.......back into the Attic again....here I am, indulging in some bedtime hooky therapy. It's not often I get to sit in bed in the mornings to do this, but I can tell you that Sunday mornings are made especially blissful if they contain a little bit of Woodland Wandering. I love to sit in bed at night and work a couple of stripes, it's honestly the perfect way to end an often hectic, full-on day. The rhythm of these gently curving ripples is extremely soothing and I often find that by the end of the row I'm hooking along with my eyes half closed as it sends me into a bit of a meditative trance!

If you're just starting out with part 1, or maybe you haven't started at all just yet, please don't worry, this isn't a race to the finishing line. I really want you to feel happy going at your own pace and enjoying your own personal journey, no matter how long it takes - the pattern and colour info will be waiting for you when you are ready for it. Remember that a leisurely stroll is often more pleasurable than an energetic hike!

WOODLAND BLANKET CAL PART 2

So your last stripe from Part 1 should be Meadow - that was stripe number 18.

And here is the colour information for Part 2 : stripes 19-36, working from the bottom upwards.

Remember each stripe is worked in two rows, so 18 stripes = 36 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!

19. Tomato

20. Mocha

*Grey* (optional for large size)

21. Mustard

22. Copper

23. Cypress

24. Meadow

25. Copper

*Spice* (optional for large size)

26. Gold

27. Grey

28. Tomato

29. Lime

30. Cypress

31. Mocha

32. Copper

33. Mustard

34. Tomato

35. Cypress

36. Lime

*Copper* (optional for large size)

🍂🍃🍂🍃🍂🍃🍂🍃🍂🍃🍂🍃🍂🍃🍂🍃🍂🍃🍂🍃🍂🍃🍂🍃🍂

 Here is the colour info for Part 2 of the "Random Colours" Woodland Blanket.

19. Lime 

20. Lincoln

21. Grey

22. Mocha

23. Copper

24. Spice

25. Mustard

26. Pistachio

27. Duck Egg

28. Meadow

29. Silver

30. Cypress

31. Gold

32. Tomato

33. Meadow

34. Storm 

35. Lime

36. Silver

🍂🍃🍂🍃🍂🍃🍂🍃🍂🍃🍂🍃🍂🍃🍂🍃🍂🍃🍂🍃🍂🍃🍂🍃🍂

Some links you might need - Part 3 (stripes 37-54) will be here on Friday 19th January.

🍂🍃🍂🍃🍂🍃🍂🍃🍂🍃🍂🍃🍂🍃🍂🍃🍂🍃🍂🍃🍂🍃🍂🍃🍂

WOODLAND BLANKET YARN PACK (currently out of stock until the end of January, due to a shortage of Tomato yarn at the Stylecraft mill)

WOODLAND RIPPLE PATTERN

WOODLAND BLANKET CAL : introduction

WOODLAND BLANKET CAL : Q&A

WOODLAND BLANKET CAL :: PART 1

🍂🍃🍂🍃🍂🍃🍂🍃🍂🍃🍂🍃🍂🍃🍂🍃🍂🍃🍂🍃🍂🍃🍂🍃🍂

Happy Woodland Wandering! xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

 

 

 

 

Comments

[clive]

for those looking for Karen's version of the blanket, more details can be found here
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10155260843666824&set=p.10155260843666824&type=3for

[Joanne]

Hi, did anybody ever get the pattern for Karen's woodland summer harmony blanket, its stunning? thanks

[Caroline Fisher]

Id love to do the Summer Harmony blanket in the Woodland colour pack as Karen has. She is clever to do that. I have autism and have problems with colour combinations, I dont really understand why...is there any chance of a list of the Summer Harmony colour list (Ive already made this one in the bright colours, its fabulous) whith the co-responding woodland colour pack shades by the side of it please. I could copy that using the charts for Summer harmony, no problem. I would be so grateful, I must crochet and love to make the beautiful things you create.

[Janet force]

Why can't I find rows 19 + for the colour story woodland ripple 🤔☹️

[Ruth]

This time tomorrow ........!

[Kathryn Ashe]

Funny how the colors and pattern of the Woodland blanket vividly brought back a happy memory of walking home from school, kicking and crunching through knee deep piles of autumn leaves in all colors....this memory happened 55 years ago.

[Candace]

I'm just not getting this pattern and I have frogged it back to many times now. I've restarted yet again but I'm doing a simple granny stripe as I'm unwell at the moment and it is affecting my concentration

[Angela Corney]

Hello Lucy, I am a knitter usually but decided to challenge myself and take up crochet again (last time I crochet was about 30 years ago). I was recommended to your Blog by the lovely lady that runs The Wool Bar in Worthing. I got the yarn pack and needles as Christmas presents from my daughters - so was eager to start! I have to say it hasn't been an easy start - I did my tension sample as suggested all seemed fine. After 14 rows on my first attempt I realised my middle trebles were not lining up and my "hills" we're definitely toppling and my "valleys" meandering! I couldn't bring myself to unpick my hard work - so have left this buried under my wool stash. Undettered I have started again and now on my 10 row - and have got into a rhythm with counting and checking (your tip about the middle treble has been invaluable!). I have unpicked a few rows on the way but am persisting and now finding it enjoyable. The wool is beautiful and the colours divine - thankyou for your creativity in how you have put together the colours - it is a joy to the eyes! I hope this is encouragement to others that are not seasoned hookees (or is it hookers!) and not to give up! Love and happy hooking from Angela on the South Coast

[Marla Gunderson]

Hi Lucy, I don't know if I am not looking clearly enough, but I would like to get the color pattern for this color way you posted, rather that the color sequence you are posting in weekly intervals. Where can I find this?

[Maro Akamatra]

I just love this color combination! I am putting this on my to-do list for 2018! Thanks for sharing your awesome talent!

[Ida]

The other night I discovered the paintings made by Janet Bell and now I see that she is a friend of yours... I really like her paintings of the lighthouses. Tell her that if/when you meet her.
And as always your blog is such an inspiration.
Ida in Sweden.

[HooksandNeedles]

Wow, lovely to see the different ways people crochet their unique blanket. One design, many interpretations. Cx

[Margo Thompson]

I am not sure if the woodland pattern is for me. But I was wondering how these colours would look in solid granny squares or hexagons and how one works out a random layout for the colours. Any advice you can give? Is there a style craft granny square random colour generator that I could use? If not, how does one work it out?

[Gillian Roe]

Oh Lucy, isn't it wonderful to see all that creativity and colour up there, and it's all down to your skill in sharing and passing on the crochet love. I wish I had time to make your blanket. xx

[Frances Dent]

Hi Lucy! Just wondering where the extra stripes are for the Random woodland blanket?? Can't move on until I've got them!!!

[Helen Lightly]

Thank you again Lucy, I am so enjoying following you on your walk through the woods. I would never normally chose these colours for myself but I just love them, they make me feel warm and happy. My sister decorated her little boy's bedroom with a woodland theme, he will be 4 in March and so I am making this blanket for him for his birthday as I think it will look amazing in his room. I am a little behind but thinking I will be able to catch up over the weekend. Thanks again for your inspiring post x

[Alison Ashfield]

Hooray! End of January when the Tomato yarn arrives. Thank-you Lucy for the information. I have been eagerly checking the blog every day and admiring the lovely photographs. This morning the sky was looking heavily overcast until a lovely line of orange/pink/red appeared to enliven the gloom. Much happiness and reinforcement, if that was needed - that colour is needed in January. Onward with the seaside edging until next month. Happy crochet, everybody!

[Teresa Kasner]

Hi Lucy, it sure was fun to see your blanket and all the other ideas that other people are doing. I'm doing your wonderful pattern but am doing close but random colors. I'm not as fast though, so only have about half of the first part. Glad it's not a race as I'd lose! I posted my work on my last two blog posts and put a link to your CAL on both. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

[Charlotte.]

I am using the cozy stripe pattern as I just finished an oversized king with the Coast Ripple using almost 3 packs of your yarn. I was not ready to face another ripple. Lol. Love the cozy pattern and because I have the Christmas germs seem to have plenty of hooky time. Thanks for your wonderful patterns. I am sure that in the future I will do this pattern.

[Margo Thompson]

Hello Lucy. I am only on my third colour but cannot decide whether to do the story or random. You have posted a thin strip of the story colours from top to bottom, but I could really do to see a similar strip in the random to help me decide. Otherwise I am not going to be able to do the CAL until it is over and I can compare the finished effects. Could you possibly help?

[Diane Keksey]

Started my blanket today. Love your counting prompt, really helped. I've added stitch markers, as found the dc Row difficult on the sample. Think they will help me get into the pattern easier. Might also try the life lines with alternative yarn. I've found this method useful when making Kerry Lord's Toft animals. Thank you Lucy

[Debbie, Essex]

You have such clever followers!!

ALL of the blankets look BEAUTIFUL!!

[Angela-Southern USA]

They are all beautiful! Yes, I agree, the woolly community is like no other, a blessing to us all.xxxxxxxxxx

[Emily]

I am loving this pattern even if i am super slow and way behind. I have a question. When you get to the end of a color and are ready to change do you do a chain and cut yarn and pull through or do you just clip yarn and pull through and weave in or knot to beginning yarn of that color. I hope that makes sense. Thanks

[Suzanne]

Lucy, as always, your work is amazing! I am almost as impressed with this incredible blog post as I am with some of the work that is featured in it. You did a great job of selecting some examples of interesting variations on your original idea that are out there and showing all of us what can be done with some imagination. I am so happy to have found your wonderful blog several years ago. I credit you with getting me back into crochet, my original fiber arts passion, after mostly focusing on knitting for the last the 20 years. Now I go back and forth with both and have twice the fun! Thank you!