Woodland Blanket CAL :: Part 4

Good morning Woodlanders! I wonder how you are all doing and how your week has been? I really hope you've been enjoying your growing blanket and swooning just a little bit over the colours and the way those curvy ripples make them dance and play together. 

As I sit quietly working my own ripples I keep having flashbacks to the many Woodland walks I took with J and the Little People in the Autumn. It's just so lovely to be able to crochet with these colours and have a heap load of gorgeous visual memories flooding into my stitches.

That's one of the many things I love about making blankets - they become full of memories, treasured guardians of time and place. The rhythm of life is echoed in all those colours, all those rows and stitches, all that soft, warm, cosy yarn. Precious indeed, and I hope your own Woodland blankets are catching all sorts of happy memories as you make your way through the ripples.

I'm sorry I've not been about so much on social media this past week, I've not been feeling so good and have been struggling with my days a bit. Nothing major, just the on-going problem I have with my low iron levels and anemia, gosh it really is a drag I have to say. I've been back to the doctor, more blood tests, more hefty iron supplements to take, so hoping that gradually over the next three months I should start to feel my energy return. 

I'm going to share with you a few Woodland-inspired creations that have caught my eye lately....

Lynne has impressed me with her knitted version of the Woodland Ripple, isn't it fabulous? This is the traditional Old Shale stitch, and it honestly blows my mind a little to think of anyone taking on a knitted blanket project!

Hils has designed her very own square which she is calling  the "'Harmonious Summer Garden' as they're a mix of both!". I love how she has combined two of my patterns with beautiful results, and the colours look so bright and cheerful in these squares.

Lou's gorgeous Woodland Harmony blanket immediately caught my eye -  this is the lighter end of the blanket at it's half way point and I can't wait to see those rich reds and coppery orange tones come into play. 

Doron shared her "hexagonal colour map" with us on Facebook, and I just gasped with pleasure when I saw it. She created a hexagonal design on her computer to illustrate how a  colourwash would work using the Woodland colour palette, and I absolutely love the look of it. Very inspirational.

Nina has made fabulous progress on her Woodland Rainbow blanket which is looking very beautiful indeed. There's something insanely pleasing about the Woodland colours arranged in their "rainbow" order don't you think? Take a look at this......

The lovely Judy continues to wow us with regular updates on the giant Woodland mandala throw she's making. She says "it’s loosely based on the RedHeart Circular Fall Mandala Throw", although she is very cleverly adapting the pattern and improvising by adding her own stitches too. 

I'm really loving seeing everyone's blankets in progress, it makes me incredibly happy, and I just want to say (again) that I hope you are enjoying your journey at whatever pace you are able to go at. Whether you are just starting out or at the half way point, whether you've had it plain sailing or have ripped out and re-started, I really wish for happiness in your ripples and a true feeling of pleasure as you create something wonderful. 

So here we are looking ahead to part four, and we are just tipping over the half way point. Last week we said good bye to the deeper colours of the Woodland (Copper, Cypress and Grey) and this week we get to welcome in four new colours, which is soooooooooooooooooooo exciting! I've been gazing longingly at these colours sitting prettily in my yarn bag (they are Pistachio, Lincoln, Storm Blue and Silver) and really looking forward to them appearing in the Woodland blanket, like way more than is probably normal. Oh, that soft Lincoln green is just such a delicious colour!!

It really felt like a bit of a celebration when I started to see the lightness of the Woodland appearing - it was like taking a long hike through the woods where you spend all your time following the pathways and watching your step, then suddenly you reach a point where you stop and gaze up instead of down, and all that light and air is right there to breathe in.

That feeling of lightness in the treetops is just so welcome after kicking through the leaves at ground level for the past three weeks!

 

During the next few weeks you will begin to see the gradual shift of the colours and the subtle movement from dark to light. I can't wait to show you. 

IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT YARN QUANTITIES

I've picked up on Facebook that some of you are concerned about how your yarn quantities are holding up and whether you will have enough yarn to create the border. The easiest way to check is to weigh your yarn using digital kitchen scales.

There will be 7 stripes of each colour in the Woodland blanket.

Each one of my stripes is using approximately 11 g of yarn.

That means that at the end of the blanket, I'll have roughly 23g left of each colour, which is enough for the border.

If you find that your stripes are using more than 11g of yarn, you may not have enough left of any one colour to complete a border round. I would urge you this week to try and weigh your yarn and make a decision on how it's working out for you. Take the colours that have already been finished with (shown above :: Grey, Cypress and Tomato) and weigh them. If you are concerned, you can take action in Part 4 so all is not lost!

If you have a look below, you can see the colours that are used in Part 4. You will most definitely need Lime for the border (the colour of your foundation and row 1), so you could miss out stripe 56 if you wished, to give you some extra Lime.

You will need two other colours for the border - I've not made my border yet (I'm in the CAL with you all, and still working my stripes, honestly, crazy but true!!), so have a play and see what colours you think you'd like to see in your edging. 

Maybe Lime, Spice and Gold? Lime, Mustard and Pistachio? Lime, Lincoln and Silver? Lime, Storm and Lincoln?

You can pretty easily leave Lime and two other colours out of Part 4 without disrupting the flow of the colour story - so you might consider doing this anyways if your blanket seems to be growing into an extra long work of art!! It should be measuring around 90cm after part 3, although remember the stripes do stretch a little as the blanket grows and becomes heavier, so this is only a guide.

I hope this makes sense - I'm happy to chat over in the Attic24 Moorland and More facebook group about the border colours, and I'll do my best to help if anyone is having doubts about what to do.

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WOODLAND BLANKET CAL PART 4

So your last stripe from Part 3 should be Spice - that was stripe number 54.

Here is the colour info for Part 4 of the "Woodland Colour Story" : stripes 55-72, 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!

55. Tomato

56. Lime

57. Gold

58. Pistachio

59. Spice

60. Meadow

*Mustard* (optional for large size)

61. Gold 

62. Mocha

63. Pistachio (ooooooo!!!)

64. Spice

65. Mustard

66. Lincoln (yippeeeee!!!)

67. Silver (yayyy!!!)

*Mocha* (optional for large size)

68. Lime

69. Storm (woohoo!!!)

70. Lincoln

71. Spice

72. Pistachio

*Duck Egg* (optional for large size)

Kay in the Facebook group has shared her Random colour stripe blanket with us, and I think it looks amazing. I hope that if you're following this colour order that you're enjoying the results.

Part 4 of the "Random Colours" Woodland Blanket is illustrated above (follow the pegs from the bottom to the top)

55. Lime

56. Cypress

57. Duck Egg

58.  Pistachio

59. Grey

60. Tomato

61. Gold 

62. Meadow

63. Cypress

64. Copper

65. Storm Blue

66. Duck Egg

67. Mustard

68. Grey

69. Silver 

70. Lime 

71. Tomato

72. Spice

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Part 5 (stripes 73-90) will be here on Friday 2nd February - here are the links you might need this week.... 

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WOODLAND BLANKET YARN PACK (currently out of stock until the end of January, due to a shortage of some of the colours at the Stylecraft mill - the tomato and pistachio are on their way!!)

WOODLAND RIPPLE PATTERN

WOODLAND BLANKET CAL : introduction

WOODLAND BLANKET CAL : Q&A

WOODLAND BLANKET CAL :: PART 1

WOODLAND BLANKET CAL :: PART 2

WOODLAND BLANKET CAL :: PART 3

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Have a gorgeous stripe-filled week my lovelies!

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Comments

[Design]

Very beautiful and inspirational works. I like it.

[sylvia vanderbooren]

i love to crochet this blanket, the colors are so nice. Is part 5 allready online, i can not find it.

[Sharon Gibson]

Love your blanket, its lovely. Have a look at this weeks bbc radio 4 inside health programme on iplayer. There is some new research on iron supplements, it sounds brill. Instead of taking them every day, you take a smaller dose 3 times a week which improves absorption and with less side effects. X

[Helen Muir]

Once your Iron levels are back to normal, Spatone daily can be useful for keeping them up. It is water in sachets from Wales which has a high natural Iron content. I have found it quite good.

[Linne]

I forgot to thank your other readers who shared solutions to the anaemia problem. I've made a note of all the suggestions, as it will be helpful when I'm over there. Thanks a lot, ladies. ~ Linne

[Linne]

Lucy, this is an amazing blanket and I am enjoying watching everyone's progress so much.

Sorry you are having health challenges; anaemia runs in my family on my Mum's side. Two of my sisters faint frequently. Several women take B12 injections or tablets. I had anaemia back when I was in my early 20s, but had a very progressive woman doctor who recommended getting the full range of B vitamins (they work together) from nutritional yeast, wheat germ or liv1970er. I still eat some every week. I add wheat germ to all my baking and I like it toasted on salad, too. The yeast is great on popcorn, salads, sandwiches and more. She told me to start with just a bit to let my body get used to it and to increase the amount when I began to really like it. I have not had anaemia since then (1970). However, I learned when my Mum was in hospital for most of her last year that electrolyte levels can fluctuate quite a bit and sometimes quite rapidly, with a variety of consequences. I'm about to have my levels checked (I'm not ill, but am going to be out of Canada and in the UK for a year or so), just to be sure. Anyway, I find it's best to do what works for you; just sharing what worked for me in the hope that it helps a bit. If not for you, no worries. I rarely suggest anything online, so I hope you don't mind.

Whatever path you take, I hope you are feeling well again soon. Not fun being under the weather. I am still sending you Love and Light every morning.

~ Linne

[Lolin]

Todo me gusta. Precioso. Donde puedo tener. El patria de la colcha ??

[Pat Whitaker]

Hi Lucy,
I possibly use the same surgery as you and had to start iron supplements almost 20 years ago as levels were very low. It was recommended that I buy over the counter 'iron' and the brilliant chemist I saw understood when I said I had difficulty remembering to take tablets throughout the day when I am busy with other things. They recommended Ferrograd which is a slow release tablet with more iron content than most others on the market and you only have to take one a day, brilliant. Did the job for me as I just kept by the kettle for the breakfast brew.
Good luck with t all,
regards Pat

[sue silva]

A feast for the eyes, one and all!

[Susan Waterston]

Hi Lucy , I wonder if you have any idea when the woodland wool packs will be back in stock please .
Thanks Susan

[marijke]

How can I send you a Photo of my blanket??
(My previos comment was all wrong due to aurocorrect and different language!)

[marijke]

Hon can I sendoxan you a Photoshop of mycket woodland blankett?

[janet hines]

Is there anywhere else you can get a kit from as it's says it's not in stock and I would love to do one when I have time in a month or so

[Denise]

good morning Lucy so sorry to hear that you have been under the weather, being under your blanket as you work will help your healing I'm sure.
I have so much to thank you for, thro' you I have found a new hobby, new creating friends and an ability to use colour in a way I hadn't known possible. My horizons have been broadened and my love for nature enhanced.
I hope you will indulge me for being a little bit gleefull I finished my Summer Harmony Blanket t 7.15pm last night. My first crochet project. Taa da. Its beautiful and in prime place in the sitting room for all to see. so thank you thank you again.
Be well Denise.

[Sue Dodman]

Hi Lucy, I just wanted to check out something with you - I've come across a website selling Woodland Walk Packs for the Attic24 CAL. I was a little concerned as they are selling them a little cheaper than WW, and does it mean that for all your hard work you do not get any commission on this other site? If you need to, please contact me and I will give you details.
Loving the blanket - I'm on stripe nine of week two now, somewhat behind but the challenge of catching up and the gorgeous colours are keeping me going!!
Sorry to hear you are not feeling too well, I hope your iron levels settle and that you start feeling a lot better soon.
Keep calm and crochet! x

[Hazel c uk]

Your blanket is coming along beautifully.
I have had anaemia all my life I remember when I was about 10 (70 years ago) having iron injections and even now I am still having them occasionally even thou I have had loads of tests they can not find out why my iron levels drop. I eat sensibly and lead an active life. I had blood tests this morning to see how I was doing. I do hope you feel better soon.

Hazel c uk

[Deanna Carpinelli]

Hi Lucy
I’ve had anemia all my life if until 2009 when it got so bad that I needed blod transfusions and iron infusions. Now I’ve been fighting stage 4 esophagus cancer for 22 months. Even though I’ve had 20 straight rounds of chemotherapy, two sessions of radiation ( the last one in November was for 12 days every day) and 9 months of immunotherapy....
My iron levels and all blood health levels are normal ( with the exception of cancer)
I’m getting better too the cancer has diminished
Most people who never had anemia get it with these treatments
But not me never again
Here is what I do
I take highly absorbable supplements either liquid or chewable
B 12
Liquid super Multi
Liquid iron
And some others to combat chemo including liquid folic acid and magnesium
I get them at the health food store high quality not cheap
I’m praying your anemia leaves forever
Thanks for your wonderful blog
From Sunny Temecula California
Deanna

[Trish Annie Stevens]

Hi Lucy. I'm sorry to hear your anaemia is still a problem. I use Spatone, which is a natural iron supplement. It is simply iron rich spring water from Wales. It doesn't have any of the side effects associated with most iron supplements. It's available from some pharmacies, and also from Amazon. I hope you are feeling better soon. xx

[Rae]

I too have fallen behind on week 3. Life has taken over my spare time at the moment. My hubby kept feeling a bit like you Lucy after numerous tests, different drugs etc he was found to be B12 deficient and now on three monthly injections. They also told him he could possibly need a pacemaker in years to come. That came about because of the original tests. So keep going back if you still don't feel right. X

[Charlotte.]

Lucy, remember to take care of yourself. I have fallen behind this week and am only on Stripe 33. Eventually I will get there.

[Rosemary Baggott]

Dear Lucy, I'm so enjoying making the woodland blanket, with slight variation (added couple of extra stripes of soft reds, and substituted a muddy colour for the grey). Haven't got the equipment to send a picture. So sorry to hear of your anaemia problem. When it is sorted, try taking a regular dose of "Metatone" available at any good chemist - works absolute wonders for me, pulls me right back up to feeling good. Years ago the doctor suggested my body needed the extra boost to keep my iron levels well adjusted, and for me it really works.
Much love for all the pleasure you spread around, and get strong again soon. Rosemary.

[Suzanne]

Lucy, I wish you a speedy recovery with an answer to the iron-level issues with which you have been struggling. I remember having issues with my iron level years ago, and it is incredibly draining. Get rest when you need it!

[Laura]

The blankets are all so beautiful!

[CJ]

Sorry you're struggling with your iron levels, I know how exhausting that can be, and I hope they're back up soon. It was a beautiful autumn this year wasn't it (although I suppose I should refer to it as last year now, but you know what I mean). I do like to see everyone else's blankets in progress, love the Woodland Harmony, so pretty. Have a good weekend Lucy, and look after yourself. CJ xx

[Jennifer Keast]

Dear Lucy I may be overstepping the mark here but I'm suggesting that you see a physician/haematologist about your anaemia. I'm not suggesting that your GP is not doing a great job but maybe a second expert opinion may be valuable. I'm suggesting this with your best interest as my intention