Colour Palettes

Spring sweetness right there on my table this morning, isn't this little twig of pink blossom sooooo pretty? Every day when I sit down at the table to work or eat, those dinky little flowers make my heart feel so light. It won't be long until the big blowsy blossom trees put on their annual show and I'm really looking forward to enjoying it again this year.

We've had a day of horrid weather, it's been wet and very windy. I could hear the wind howling down the chimney for most of the day with no let up, so we all collectively decided to hunker down and have a very lazy stay-home day. 

I made myself some oat pancakes for a late breakfast, adding some chia seeds to the batter for extra protein.

I did my usual thing and heaped on the yogurt and fruit, and oh-my-goodness they were scrumptious. I don't ever tire of this breakfast, it's just so satisfying to make and eat, and keeps me feeling full for hours.

Pretty much as soon as I woke up this morning I was thinking about the Weekend To-do list that I jokingly made for myself on Friday night. There were four things on it :

1. Finish Granny Josephine bag
2. Stitch together Meadow blanket sampler
3. Cross stitch greenfinch hoop
4. Read March and April magazines so I can pass them on

As you know, yesterday was all about the stitching and number 3 on my list was successfully ticked off. I was really happy about that actually, that mental tick felt stupidly good. So after breakfast was done and dusted I decided to attend to number 2 and stitch my blanket sampler together.

If you've been here for a while, you'll probably know that every time I design a new blanket, one of the first things I do is create a square for each of the fifteen colours. There are two reasons for this - firstly, when I make these squares I am usually in the very first stages of creating a new blanket, and crocheting simple squares gives me a chance to really get to know the colours and how they like to play with each other. This process will often highlight any mistakes I might have made when choosing the colours, and gives me an opportunity to make changes before everything gets nailed down and set in stone. Secondly, I like to stitch the squares together to create a sampler which acts as a visual reference for my colour palettes. At the moment I have sixteen different blanket kits in my shop at Wool Warehouse which I've made over the past seven years, and I like to keep a record of the colours I've used in each one.

When I crochet my squares I leave a long tail end when I fasten off which is used to stitch them together. You can find the pattern for these solid granny squares here on my blog, the tutorial includes my method of joining them using this stitching method which creates a very neat and invisible seam.

I think it took me about an hour or so to join them together, it was a lovely, quiet, soothing activity for a rainy wet Sunday morning. I was happy to get it done and tick another job off my list. Actually, I was surprised when I found the squares sat in the messy piles on my desk on Friday, I'd forgotten that I hadn't finished making up the sampler when I was designing my Meadow blanket back last summer.

↑↑ This is the Meadow colour palette, ahhh, I am still so in love with it! You can read all about the inspiration behind the colours in this post ((here))

As I'm beginning to slowly tidy and sort out my temporary home studio situation, I'm starting to find things that have been forgotten and muddled in with the general chaotic mayhem of things here. As well as the Meadow squares, I also found some of my other blanket samplers shoved in a bag, so I thought it might be nice to show you while I had them out on the table. 

↑↑ This is the Aria sampler, a lovely uplifting palette of juicy bright hues. You can read more about the Aria design process in this post ((here))

↑↑ This is the sampler for the Dune blanket which I made in the Spring of 2019. The palette is soft, light and airy and you can read all about the coastal inspiration in this post ((here))

↑↑ And this is the Dahlia colour palette from my 2020 CAL just over a year ago. Wow, there's no mistaking that exuberant collection of bold floral inspired colours, is there? You can read more about the inspiration behind it in this post ((here))

I find it fascinating to look at these samplers and remember the inspiration that sparked each individual colour palette. They all have a very personal story to tell, memories of times and places that mean a lot to me.

These are the latest four in my series of blankets, the older samplers are displayed in my studio.....

....hanging on my wall and looking very lovely indeed. 

Once I've made my square samplers, the next thing I do is create a striped sampler using all fifteen shades ordered in a colourwash. This gives me a chance to use the stitch pattern that I've designed for the blanket and see how it works in terms of tension/gauge. It's also a neat way for me to photograph a sneaky peek of the blanket design without giving too much away before I'm ready to share fully.

I love these so much! Again, these are the latest four samplers, I have them for all my other blankets too, the rest are in the studio. I think at some point I'll have to reunite them and do a big photo shoot?!

I've also got a fair number of skinny stripe samplers, this is the final part of the design process for my striped blankets, and I often end up needing to make three or four versions before I get it right. I'm never quite sure why I keep them as I don't need them once the blanket is made. But at the same time, I can't seem to bring myself to cast them out into the bin either. You can see why things get into such a mess here.

Such a gorgeous pile of colourful creativity right there, and so many hours/days/weeks/months spent on the design process. I wouldn't have it any other way - at least if you buy one of my yarn packs to make a blanket, you know that a massive amount of heart-felt time and energy has gone into creating it.

Now, for the final bit of Sunday good news - Number 1 on my to-do list GOT THE TICK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes, the Granny Josephine Bag is FINISHED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh my. Such an emotional moment, with lots of dancing around the house once the final yarn end was fastened securely and snipped off. Words can't describe the joy, so so so so happy. I adore my bag, it's just so damn lovely! I'm looking forward to showing you how she looks as soon as I've managed to take some proper photographs. I hear on the grapevine that the weather is going to be warm and sunny on Tuesday, so that could very well be the day for prancing around with bag in hand. I'll see what I can do.

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Comments

[Kae Steele]

Kae Steele

[Laura]

Could you sew all the skinny samplers together (when you have enough) and make a whole new blanket out of them?! It'd be a great way to keep them all, they'd be together and organised, and it'd become something usable and another story in your blanket history

[Pat]

Lucy, could all your skinny stripe samples be stitched together to make a charity blanket?
That would give them a new and useful life now that you do not need them, as you said.??
Pat
ps I remember that I made one blanket's samples into a pillow cover as my youngest son requested when told him that I wasn't using them in the blanket.

[maxine]

Once I have a pile of swatching that I no longer have use for, I make what I refer to as an ugly blanket. Of course, they usually are not ugly, but they are a collection of unrelated works that I don't even try to make sense of beyond how they come closest to being squared off. Sometimes I have to knit or crochet a little leftover scrap pieces to make them work. They have gone to friends, kids, pets, the homeless man on the corner...but not taking up valuable studio/craft/stash space...

[Rachel]

Those skinny samplers would look cool made into a draft excluder or joined together into a Dr Who esque scarf

[Lily Veenendaal]

Love the samplers of the different blankets!!
I often make a to do list, just because it is so satisfying to tick off the items!! It works very well for me.

[Pippa Moore]

Hi lucy
Oh my what a lot of work goes into your beautiful blankets x just a thought on the skinny strips what about sewing them into a lovely blanket for your little kitty ??
Cant wait to see your bag creation x I'm so glad you havent given up your blogg x followed you for years and it's the reason I visited skipton and the area x we stayed in a little cottage down by the canal x since then I've come back several times to your neck of woods x very different to Norfolk where we live x Yorkshire has been my go to place now for past ten years!!!

[Jean]

Sorry, but brain fog is confusing me. What are the names of the blankets in the fourth picture up, just above the skinny stripe ones? Specifically the bottom two. Thank you.

[Nora McGrann]

A true feast for the eyes Lucy..

Like you say, all from the heart...beautiful 💕

Thank you, as ever for EVERYTHING you share..

Enjoy a lovely Easter with your loved ones

Nora 🐣🌷🐥🌷🐣😘

[Aimee]

I bet Miss Tilly would love her own little blanket made up of those skinny stripe samples.

[Maya Lacombe]

Lucy, I’m a rare commenter but I discovered you somewhere near 10 years ago and am always inspired by your beautifully, vibrant, cosy, colourful home and how you describe your days. It’s all so refreshing, honest, and warm....and reminds me of all the things I love so much about England from the few years I lived there. I am happily working my way through my Meadow Blanket here in Switzerland, snatching free moments to stitch (currently making myself go back and stitch in the 20 or so ends I had been ignoring 😅). You’re a bright, inspirational part of life and I just wanted to thank you for continuing to share your life and your beautiful creativity with us! I’ll send you some sun over from here xxx

[Rach]

I love your palettes so much. Love your colour sense and to see the love and care that goes into creating these blankets. Do you thinking you will ever do one in a natural fibre? I know there are cost implications which mean they may not sell as well but I have made a resolution to not add to plastic usage and will no longer buy acrylic yarn and would love to see a wool palette at some point

[Selina Baihn]

OMGoodness! why would you bin those skinny stripes?! why not use them? door snakes (to stop draughts) weird cushion shapes, table runners, chair protects/covers, etc or join them all together for another glorious blanket! i never bin any leftovers or scraps, great for stuffing or as a friend uses them makes tiny pompoms which are made into mats/rugs
a wonderful post
thanx for sharing

[CJ]

Yes, Tuesday and Wednesday are supposed to be glorious aren't they, I am very much looking forward to it. The colourwash of the dune blanket is gorgeous, I can really see the hazy summer colours there. So much careful thought and effort goes into each of your colour choices and blankets, and it really does pay off I think. Hope you have a good week. CJ xx

[Liz]

Congratulations on Your finish💕👏👏👏

[Alice]

I absolutely love your colour samples, I just want to pick them up and give them a big hug. This post is so helpful for working with colour, I'm excited to start making samples and play around with colours and design something myself!
It does feel so good to tick things off a list, I cant wait to see your bag in the sunshine.

[Abby]

Great to see all the lovely blankets you’ve designed over the years

[Jan Fleat]

Reading your blog everyday feels me with warmth and inspiration. I have treated myself to some of the books on your reccommended list and have started a blanket for my granddaughter using a pattern from the Granny Squares book(Susan Pinner).I hope you enjoy meeting up with family and friends outside,keep safe.

[Teresa Kasner]

I enjoyed the review of your blanket projects, so many of them I've made and have those gorgeous works of art in my home! I look forward to seeing your new bag ta-dah! ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

[Kate]

I love your Granny bag. Isn't it wonderful to have some stitching to look forward to, whether it's knitting crocheting or quilting? I love having several projects going so I never get bored. Loved the pretty flowers on your table. Spring is here! Joy, joy, joy!

[Jackie Farrow]

I was thinking the same as others. Stitch the skinny rolls together to make a patch work blanket. Or maybe sew some together to make small blankets for animal rescue. I’m sure there would be a few out there keen to have them. Love your mini samples. They could be placemats for the dinning table. I’ve just started knitting the cardi for my Grandson. Done the rib and about to start pattern. I realised I haven’t got 4mm circular needles so I’ll be having to pop to the shops today to buy. Catch you later. Stay safe and take care. Jackie

[Linda from Boston]

Yay for Granny Josephine!!! Can’t wait to see it.

[Jenni]

those skinny stripe samples would look lovely crocheted together for another blanket!

[Anorina]

Your rainbowy samples are all so pretty. Hope you have some nicer weather soon.