Dahlia Blanket CAL :: Part 2

Don't you just love how the sight of colourful flowers can instantly lift your mood? I think floral colour therapy is most definitely needed in these bleak midwinter days when the skies are heavy and grey and there is a dullness settling over everything. January needs all the help it can get, and I know that surrounding myself with bright colours and immersing myself in the warmth of our online community helps me enormously. Summer seems so far away, and yet I look at my dahlia photos and am instantly transported back to that bright field of flowers and can vividly recall the sheer happiness of that day. 

So how has the week been for you? Have you been enjoying some top notch Dahlia colour therapy? Aren't these colours so impossibly joyful and brimming with summer feel-good? I've been spending a lot of time pootling through social media this week, keeping an eye on things and watching so many of you starting out on your own Dahlia blanket journey.

The "Hooked on Attic24" facebook group has been buzzing with excitement, and I would like to say a massive thank you to the admin team who moderate with such enthusiasm and do a terrific job of keeping such a large and vibrant group ticking along so peacefully. There is a huge amount of kindness and friendship there, please do pop over and join in if you are CAL-ing along with the Dahlia colours and would like some company.

I'm hoping that at the end of week 1 you are well underway with your stripes and that you are enjoying the new stitch pattern? From what I've seen on social media, the new Dahlia Spike Stitch has gone down a storm, and I'm so happy you're enjoying it. It's a great pattern to whizz along with and produces such a satisfying, blankety-feeling piece of crochet - it definitely has the squish factor!

I've been so impressed with all the tension samples I've seen too, with so many of you taking the time to decide on the feel/drape of the blanket you are creating as well as the overall look and size. To me, this is really important and greatly adds to the quality of the finished blanket. 

I hope you're all being good and darning in your ends as you go along, it's really the best way when you've got ninety-nine stripes to tidy up. Remember to keep the stitches at the end of each row un-darned so that you'll be able to wiggle your hook in when it's time to work on the border.

Last Friday when I published the Spike Stitch tutorial, I completely forgot about making a stitch chart for you. I know many of you find this helpful when a little extra visual clarification is needed, especially with regards to how the different rows repeat, and how to offset the spike rows. Luckily for all of us, J got straight down to work and translated my pen and paper scribbles into a very neat chart which you can see above. I've also added it to the tutorial so that it's there for reference should you need it.

I love everything about creating and hosting my CAL projects each year, but one of the nicest things is getting to join in with all the excitement online. It's been the best thing seeing so many hundreds of photos popping up on Facebook and Instagram (#dahliacal) and even the pre-CAL preparations made me stupidly happy!

Emma (photo above) cut out the colour names from the free printable sheets and clipped them to her balls to keep a track of the colours which I thought was a very clever idea....

....and Debbie also used the printed names to make a yarn sampler card.

Joanne added yarn snips to her work sheet to keep a track of her stripes which I think is brilliant. I have to say, it's been lovely to see the new worksheets in action and I'm glad that you've found them useful.

I've read so many messages telling me how much you are enjoying the Dahlia colour palette and how these colours are helping to brighten up your days. I know exactly what you mean, I feel it too!

During this past week I've managed to gather together a collection of photos from social media which showcase the different patterns being used with the Dahlia yarn pack. It always amazes me how different the same set of colours can look when they are worked in a slightly different way.

Amy has chosen to work a Dahlia Cosy Stripe.

David has chosen his favourite go-to blanket pattern, the Neat Ripple.

Lynn has chosen the Seashell Stripe for her blanket.

Viv is starting out on a Neat Wave Dahlia journey.

It's the Hydrangea Stripe for Lotte...

...and Sherrie is making Hexagons with her Dahlia yarn pack (really looking forward to watching this one grow!)

Kaz has created another beautiful square Harmony blanket as a gift for a dear friend, and I think you'll agree it's absolutely stunning.  She added in two additional shades (cream and candyfloss) to make 17 colours in total, and "mapped" each colour to a corresponding shade in my Original yarn pack. She was then able to use the formula I created for my Summer Harmony Blanket to allow the dahlia colours to gently sweep across the blanket. At the end of February, Kaz will be releasing a PDF file to list out the colours she used for each of the one hundred squares in her blanket - I'll be sure to let you know where you can find all the information if you fancy creating your own.

As well as all these Attic24 patterns being used, I've also spotted some other gorgeous stitch patterns which are going to make the most stunning Dahlia blankets.....

Darlene is using the popular "Willow Block" pattern from Jan Eaton's book ((this one)). She's chosen a soft green shade to edge them with (SSDK  in Meadow) and I'm really looking forward to seeing the blanket begin to form.

Angela has chosen a V-stitch ripple....

....and Anne is using the "Modern Granny Stitch" by Daisy Farm Crafts (free pattern here).

Kate has wowed me with this glorious photo, isn't it fabulous? She's making her Dahlia blanket using the "Sunburst Granny Square" pattern by Prescilla Hewitt which is free on Ravelry (find it HERE). This is an inspired choice - the sunburst motifs really look like Dahlias!

Laura is a brilliant crocheter and some of you may know her on Instagram as "@GoslingandPlumb". She created her very own pattern for the Dahlia, appropriately called the "Dahlia Square" which you can find in her Instagram Story Highlights ((HERE)). I am so excited to see this grow over the coming weeks, I think it's going to look amazing.

When I was working on Part 2 of the Dahlia blanket it was back at the end of the Summer and I had the pleasure of crocheting outside in my little back yard. I always select the order for the stripes by using my trusty yarn pegs, playing with them, arranging and re-arranging them until everything looks balanced and harmonious. I love working in this way, it's very visual and delightfully old-school, which always makes me feel absurdly happy. Once I've settled on the order for the colours, I stick little yarn snips to a piece of paper with sticky tape (even more old-school!) and this stays in my yarn bag and acts as my colour-map.

There's honestly nothing nicer than sitting quietly in the warmth of a sunny afternoon, hooking up some colourful rows as your mind wanders a little. I know right now that this is just a dream (January isn't exactly the time for al fresco hooky, unless you're in the southern hemisphere), but I hope that perhaps these beautiful floral colours might help to deliver some summer vibes inside your home.

Once part 2 is underway, you should begin to feel that your crochet is becoming less of a scarf-like thing and more of a blankety-type thing, which is good! You will hopefully be able to drape it a little and marvel at it's squishability....

....spread it out and delight in the colours as they dance and sing their happy summer song.

Tilly is always on hand to perform a Quality Control inspection here in the Attic, she never ever misses an opportunity to steal the limelight. 

At the end of Part 2, you will be exactly a third of the way through the blanket with 33 stripes complete. Doesn't it look lush?!

So here is the colour info for Part 2 of the "MIXED STRIPE" Dahlia Blanket, we're making 18 stripes in total this week.

Click (( HERE )) for the printable worksheet.

16. Tomato

17. Fondant

18. Lemon

19. Shrimp

20. Claret

21. Blush

22. Spice

23. Fuchsia Purple

24. Apricot

25. Saffron

26. Pomegranate

27. Magenta

28. Powder Pink

29. Boysenberry

30. Lipstick

31. Spice

32. Apricot

33. Pomegranate

If you've decided to embark on the Dahlia Colourwash blanket, this week will bring in some delicious oranges and yellows to balance out the depths of the reds from last week. You'll be using 4 shades for part 2 - Tomato, Spice, Saffron and Lemon.

Truthfully, these aren't my favourite Dahlia colours (the pinks are my personal faves), but they do add a gorgeous lightheartedness to the overall colour palette. They bring sunshine and warmth.....

.....do you see????? How beautifully the colour wash is instantly lifted by the addition of the yellows?!!!

Thank you Tilly, I know you love your QC job. Do you like the way the Colourwash is looking as it grows? I adore it I have to say, it pleases me on so many levels. It's quite subtle as you are creating it stripe after stripe, but as soon as you stand back and view it as a whole it's deliciously bold, which pretty much sums up the character of Dahlias. Sometimes delicate and subtle, but more often exuberant and bold. I love it!!

So here is the colour info for Part 2 of the "COLOURWASH" Dahlia Blanket, we're making 18 stripes in total this week.

Click (( HERE )) for the printable worksheet (please note that the colourwash list is on page 2).

16. Spice

17. Tomato

18. Spice

19. Tomato

20. Spice

21. Tomato

22. Spice

23. Saffron

24. Spice

25. Saffron

26. Spice

27. Saffron

28. Spice

29. Saffron

30. Lemon

31. Saffron

32. Lemon

33. Saffron

I haven't seen many "Dahlia Repeats" on social media just yet - the above blanket is Silvi's and she has just completed the first set of 15 stripes in the repeating colour order. I think it's going to look stunning as it grows, don't you?

Well I really hope this week brings nothing but goodness to your door, and that Dahlia colour therapy continues to make you smile......have fun!

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🌸 DAHLIA YARN PACK

🌸DAHLIA SPIKE STITCH TUTORIAL

🌸DAHLIA PRINTABLE PATTERN

🌸 DAHLIA BLANKET INTRODUCTION

🌸 SNEAK PEEK of BLANKETS

🌸 CAL PART 1 

 

 

 

Comments

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[Joanne]

Hi Lucy
Wondering if Katz has released a PDF file for the summer harmony blanket as yet
Regards joanne

[Kate]

Dear Lucy and Friends —

I am about to start on the colorwash and wondering if anyone has doubled the width of the stripes while cutting the number of stripes in half? Since they appear to be in sets of 4 that should be an easy modification. I’m wondering if you find it looks less color blocked and more washed?

P.s. I’m still loving the sweet pea stripe which was my last large project!

[Nora Mcgrann]

Just so beautiful..admiring all
the gorgeous variations in such uplifting colours..
Thank you Lucy ❤

[Pat]

Following all the crochet fun, but will never, ever use these colours as there is just too much orange in there for me. :-)
I followed last year's CAL too and ended up doing the pattern in a mix of white, pink & blue baby colours for a lovely new baby gift.
Gave away a Granny Stripe blanket yesterday to some visitors.
Loved the look of the Ripple Dahlia best of all the above photos.

[Charlotte]

Another winning blanket. Thank you for all of your hard work. It takes a special talent to put the many colors together and it is a talent that you definitely have.

[Savannagal]

I would like to knit a king size blanket using the shell pattern but with these cheerful colors in this pack. Do you think I would need more yarn for that design? Would I need to buy 2 or 3 color packs? By the way, I’m not a crocheter so I will be following your awesome tutorial. Thank you.

[Janet Knight]

Thank you Lucy ! I can’t wait to get my teeth into part 2 . I love love love the super squishyness and softness of this lovely stitch❤️❤️❤️💕💕💕❤️❤️❤️

[Sally]

Thanks Lucy. Awesome pattern once again. and Yes the colourwash lists are on page 2 ;)

[Linda from Boston]

Wow!!! The creativity of everyone blows me away. I’m not on Facebook, so I appreciate you posting the pictures of all the different ideas. Beautiful. Started part two of the colorwash version of the Dahlia blanket. Enjoying it very much.

[CJ]

Beautifully done, it's lovely to see everyone's different versions. And especially lovely to see the dahlia field and your outdoor hooky in these short dark days. CJ xx

[Sarah Cockburn]

I’m on my last colour for week 1 ! Being very new to crochet , I’m loving it. I taught myself using your Dune Blanket yarn and pattern, few mistakes along the way but 10 rows away from completion. I just had to start on Dahlia 🧡

[Pamela Elliott]

Thank you so much, Lucy. I've finished part 1 and it has kept me smiling all week. It is the most joyful thing I have ever worked on. Just seeing it fills me with happiness. Simply glorious colours and so perfect to cheer up winter days.

[KateT]

Oh my look at all this beauty you have inspired xx

[Heather Bentley]

Thank you Lucy I'm really enjoying doing my colourwash version and itching to do part 2, you really are amazing!!! love Heather xxx

[Fiona Snow]

Hi Lucy. Your Dahlia Blanket, like all your designs, is lovely.

I was hoping to send you an email about another matter, in relation to a volunteer project in Australia. Is there a chance that I could have your email address please,

Thank you for your crochet passion and creativity.
Fiona