Dune Blanket Colourwash

I'm really happy to be sharing another little bit of my Dune blanket journey with you today, thank you ever so much for your patience if you've been waiting for this. After the huge success of the Sweet Pea blanket where I created two versions of the same blanket (a random stripe and a colourwash stripe), it seemed to me like this is something I could do for all stripe blankets going forward. I won't always have the time or the inclination to make both full size versions myself, but hopefully I can give you enough of an idea for you to decide if a colourwash blanket is floating your creative hooky boat.

Personally, I think I will always prefer the energy of a random stripe order but there is something about the subtle shades of the Dune palette that is just calling out to be arranged in a gentle wash of harmonious colour. 

You can find the Dune yarn pack in my shop at Wool Warehouse, click on the link below...

DUNE YARN PACK

1. Planned Random colour order

A few weeks ago when I shared the story of my Dune blanket, I showed you oodles of stripy photos. This blanket of mine (shown above) is made up of fifteen colours ordered in what I like to call a "planned random" way. I do spend a lot of time arranging the colour order using my trusty yarn pegs to achieve a pleasing balance - it's not quite as random as it first appears!

2. Repeating colour order

A second way to play with the palette involves arrange the fifteen colours in a pleasing, considered order and then repeating them. The order might be based on light-to-dark properties, rainbow colour wheel properties, or a little of both. The general idea is to order the colours to create a soft blend or gradient, a subtle sweep from bottom to top. The above image shows how I arranged the fifteen Dune colours to create this soft blend for those of you who wanted to make a blanket in this way. 

As it's still early days, I haven't seen many blankets being shared just yet, but the above photo beautifully illustrates how the Repeating colour order works. Helen is making her Dune blanket a king size width, so has made remarkably good progress with two full repeats.

3. Colourwash colour order

This is similar to the repeating order in that the colours are carefully arranged to create a harmonious, blended effect. The difference here is that the wash runs through the whole length of the blanket. The above photo shows my Colourwash Sweet Pea which gives you a good idea of the colourwash idea in action - it's a gorgeous way to really showcase the colour palette and makes a very striking blanket.

I spent a fair while messing with the colours to come up with a really great colourwash sequence for the Dune blanket. I generally start out with my pegs, then crochet up a narrow sampler to test it all out, making changes as I go. I had to alter the order of the paler colours towards the top end to stop very similar colours pooling together (Parma Violet, Mushroom and Silver needed to be kept separate) but I am so in love (BIG love love love) with the final result. It's just so darn pretty and airy and peaceful and lovely on the eyes! It's very beachy I think - water, grasses, sand, shells and sky. Delicious!

J helped me make the above graphic representation - it's not quite the same as being able to see yarny stripes, but I hope it gives you a clear idea of how the colours will work. The wider bands of each colour are made up of three stripes, with two single stripes positioned above and below - the single stripes interlock with the colours either side to create the wash effect.

The above photo will get you started, then you can follow the colour chart we've made for you which lists all 100 stripes for the Dune colourwash.

To start out, use Storm Blue yarn and make your foundation chain and dc row using a bigger hook.

Then switch down a hook size and work stripes 1 & 2 (rows 2-5).

Stripe 3 (rows 6 & 7) is worked in Sage.

Stripe 4 (rows 8 & 9) is worked in Storm Blue.

Stripe 5 (rows 10 & 11) is worked in Sage.

Stripe 6 (rows 12 & 13) is worked in Storm Blue

Stripes 7, 8 & 9 (rows 14 - 19) is worked in Sage - this is your wide triple band of colour.

Continue working your stripes (2 rows for each stripe) following the order listed below.

Does this make sense? Hope so!

Here is the chart for you -

I created a PDF file for the above colour order which you can download and print out so that you can keep it in your yarn bag and use it as a work sheet. Click on the link below to open the file >>

DOWNLOAD DUNE COLOURWASH STRIPE ORDER

Remember that when you reach the end of stripe 100 (which is Cloud Blue) you'll need to work one last row to straighten out your top edge - you can find this info included in the Seashell Pattern, the link is below.

Do let me know if you're going to try the Dune colourwash, I'd love to see! You can always share photos with me on Instagram (tag your posts #duneblanket so I can find them), on my Facebook page or in the "Hooked on Attic24" Facebook group which you are welcome to join.

Here are some links you might need :

♥ DUNE YARN PACK (including printed pattern)

♥ DUNE BLANKET : INTRODUCTION

♥ SEASHELL PATTERN

♥ DUNE BLANKET : EDGING TUTORIAL

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HAPPY HOOKING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!x

 

 

Comments

[Sandra]

It looks wonderful! I really love the colourwash version and that is the one that i am going to do! Thanks for doing this one too. It really gives a feeling of calm harmony!

[Cindy G]

Oh darn... I wasn't planning to buy this yarn pack, but now that I see the colorwash version, I think I might need to! It's funny because I loved the random stripe in the Sweet Pea, but the colorwash verison of the Dune just hits me- so, so pretty!

Lucy, thank you for all that you do to spread the yarny love! I'm so glad that you love playing with colors, and sharing the gorgeous results!

[Ann]

Thank you, Lucy! Absolutely gorgeous. I just started the cotton Summer Ripple and am loving it.

I already have my Dune pack and as soon as the Summer Ripple is done, I’m starting on this colourwash sequence! You have outdone yourself.

[Barb W.]

I can hardly wait to start this, Lucy! Right now I'm working on the Cotton Summer Ripple and having a fine old time with it. The yarn pack for Dune is on its way to me.

This is a lovely set of colors.

[Angel Marie]

Absolutely stunning! 😍

[Jeanette Renting]

Beautiful it will be. Now find the time to make one.

[CJ]

Goodness, the repeating colour order is absolutely gorgeous. I love how you've set out the different effects with the same colour palette, lovely to see how it works. And the colourwash is very clever, I can really see the sea and the dunes and the sky in it. Beautifully done my friend, you have excelled yourself. CJ xx

[Lucy Wynne]

Hi Lucy,
I don't do social media @ all so sadly unable to join your facebook site.
Unfortunately try as I might over last 3 years I have been unable to follow your blog via email. I just get random rows of numbers. Thankfully it shows up in "bloglovin" but I would prefer email if you or J could effect this I'd be thrilled.
Thanks, Lucy