Oh, I do like to be beside the seaside....oh, I do like to be beside the sea.....la la la! Yes, I've been daydreaming again with that song in my head, it's unavoidable during January and February when I am living and breathing my crochet-a-long blankets and finding myself transported to another (warmer) place and time. You may have noticed that many of my CAL designs have something of a summer theme (Meadow, Dahlia, Sweet Pea, Sunny), it's my favourite season by far and I find it endlessly inspiring. As we crochet along together through the cold winter months I think it's wonderful to have colours which lift our spirits and bring a little sunshine into our homes - bright summery colour palettes are so good at doing just that.
I've been daydreaming about this place today ↑↑, this is the beautiful little fishing village of Staithes on the North Yorkshire coast, and it's rooted itself deep in my heart. I love spending time here, especially in the early mornings when the narrow streets are sunny and quiet and there is such a relaxing sleepiness about the place. Of course it has the most picturesque little harbour, with colourful boats that directly inspired my blanket - you can see more photos of it online ((here)). I'm hoping to be walking down that little street again in March, so I'll be sure to take you along with me and show you around a bit.
Daydreaming of summer holidays while I warm myself beside the fire in the midst of winter is actually a pretty lovely way to pass the time. I love the way that crocheting blankets allows my mind to wander in and out of my memories as I quietly sit and hook each stitch. It's such a pleasure! I deliberately design easy, rhythmic, repetitive stripes for this very reason, well I do also very much like to encourage beginners to jump in and find the joy in making blankets - two very good reasons why I keep my designs simple. I really, really hope you're enjoying these colourful ripply stripes, whether you are an accomplished daydreamer like me or a newbie hooker just starting out.
As you know, when I create these weekly CAL instalments I love to celebrate our online crochet community by sharing photos that have caught my eye on Facebook and Instagram. This week I'm sharing some fabulous blankets which are using the Easy Eyelet Ripple pattern but with alternative colour palettes.
Lets take a look.......
↑↑ @calamitycrochet on Instagram shared this photo of her nautical ripple blanket - I love the bright pops of red amongst the cool, calm blues.
↑↑ Elaine is working on a Harbour Harmony blanket (you can see the beginnings of her squares all neatly arranged in a box), but she is also using the Eyelet Ripple pattern to crochet a super sweet blanket in pastel shades.
↑↑ Fran is stash busting for her blanket and I love the mix of colours she's using.
↑↑ Another stash buster, Lisa's summery colour palette is looking delightful.
↑↑ Orla has chosen a stunning colour palette of purples, pinks, blues and greens and is making a gorgeous colourwash blanket - I'm really looking forward to seeing this one grow.
↑↑ Michelle has added white ripples in between her bright shades to create a really eye catching design.
↑↑ B has chosen to use Stylecraft Highland Heathers yarn, and I think it's looking absolutely beautiful. The subtly blended colours in this heathered yarn is very appealing, and I wouldn't mind having a play with it myself.
↑↑ You might remember that I shared this Harbour Yuletide last week, it's had a lot of love on Facebook I can tell you! Denise has added a lot more rows since last week so I thought you'd like to see progress - isn't it fabulous?
Thank you to everyone who's shared photos on Facebook or Instagram this week ( #harbourblanketcal ), our online communities are absolutely thriving and buzzing with hooky excitement, I couldn't love them more.
So here we are at week 3, and this week we'll pass the half way mark (stripe 42). When I was crocheting my own Harbour Blanket last year, I was actually down in Dorset at the time I was working on part 3. This is the harbour at West Bay where I grew up - the colours of the sea and the fishing boats have been a part of my life for as long as I can remember.
It's always a very nostalgic experience when I return to Dorset for a visit, especially coming down to "the Bay". I have so many precious memories tied up here, layer upon layer of happy times spent with family and friends.
On the day that I finished the final stripe of part 3, I folded the blanket and popped it in my racksack so that I could take it on a little seaside jaunt. It was extremely windy on this day so I couldn't safely photograph it near the harbour (I had visions of it being blown straight into the water, oh, the horror!). Instead, I took it onto the pebbly beach and had the pleasure of seeing it with a sea view backdrop.....
....awwwww, my heart!! I absolutely love the above photo - the colours look so vibrant against the muted shades of the beach.
Forty Five stripes of bright seaside colours, don't they make you feel happy to look at them? Pure holiday vibes!
I asked Lady B to help me hold the blanket upright so that I could show you how cute the eyelets look with the light shining through - yeah, it really was a blustery day so it didn't go too well, but you get the idea. I'm sure that if you've already completed the first 30 stripes, you'll know first hand how lovely the eyelets are.
Ok, lets have a look at this week's colours, we'll be working on stripes 31-45.
Here is the colour info for Part 3 of the "MIXED STRIPE" Harbour Blanket.
Remember each stripe is made of two rows of crochet.
Click (( HERE )) for the printable worksheet.
31. Lipstick
INSERT OPTIONAL STRIPE HERE - Dandelion (for double bed size blankets)
INSERT OPTIONAL STRIPE HERE - Spearmint (for double bed size blankets)
32. Storm Blue
33. Lapis
34. Apple
35. Cornish Blue
36. Cloud Blue
37. Dandelion
38. Spearmint
39. Clementine
40. Tomato
41. Aspen
42. Denim
43. Spice
44. Aster
45. Turquoise
I've seen many of you enjoying your colourwash blankets during the past couple of weeks, and I'd like to say thank you for having faith in the design. The bottom section is full of very strong contrasts and is not for the fainthearted, but remember that these bold colours will add visual weight to the blanket. It really is a wonderful exercise in colour play and I'm excited for you to see it play out.
You'll be using four colours this week...
Spice : Storm Blue : Clementine : Cornish Blue
Putting blues and oranges together creates a really dynamic effect full of contrast - blue and orange are opposites on the colour wheel so they don't always like to play nicely together! But look how amazing they are when you see them with the deeper colours beneath......
....wow!!!!
This is such a fun colour journey, and I really hope you're enjoying it as much as I am. Every week I get so excited to see how the next set of colours will look, and how the overall look of the blanket keeps shifting and changing as it grows.
Ah, so, so good!!
Here is the colour info for Part 3 of the "COLOURWASH" Harbour Blanket.
Remember each stripe is made of two rows of crochet.
Click (( HERE )) for the printable worksheet (the mixed stripe is on page 2 of the PDF)
31. Spice
32. Storm Blue
33. Spice
34. Storm Blue
35. Spice
36. Storm Blue
37. Storm Blue
38. Clementine
39. Storm Blue
40. Clementine
41. Storm Blue
42. Clementine
43. Clementine
44. Cornish Blue
45. Clementine
I'm wishing you a week full of hooky pleasure and happy daydreams, I hope these bright colours make you happy right down to your toes!
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Here are some links you might need this week ::
♥ HARBOUR BLANKET INTRODUCTION
♥ HARBOUR CAL PART 1 - stripes 1-15
♥ HARBOUR CAL PART 2 - stripes 16-30
↑↑ ps, yes, tis me, loitering about on a cold blustery beach with my blankie and looking very happy about the whole situation. Please ignore the windswept state of my appearance and focus on the stripes - don't they look amazing?! xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Checking in after weaving the last of the ends for Week 3. Pretty pleased that I’ve stayed caught up this far! Thanks for all you do!
Posted by: Trish | January 28, 2022 at 01:52 AM
Hello Lucy,
Yours is the first thing I check every morning, then
Tales from a Happy House. Lately I can't seem to get TFHH. What has happened with Gillian?
Thank you,
Lynne Farrell
Los Altos, CA.
Posted by: Lynne Farrell | January 25, 2022 at 04:44 PM
Lovely!! 💖
Posted by: Lisa | January 24, 2022 at 07:19 PM
Lucy, thanks so much for your amazing blog posts, beautiful photos, and tempting patterns. I am a passionate knitter, and your posts have finally tempted me to attempt crochet, even though it's difficult for left-handed me to put that hook in my right hand. (I just don't like the look of things crocheted left-handed.) Anyway, I'm pegging away on my Harbour Blanket, still working on week one, but just loving it. Please stick with your plan of simple patterns, wonderful colors. They are so WONDERFUL and ACCESSIBLE to us beginners!! Thank you so much!! (And I'm loving the gorgeous Stylecraft yarn; who knew acrylic yarn could be so nice!) Thank you Thank you Thank you!!
Posted by: GillianD | January 24, 2022 at 06:16 PM
Harbour blanket is looking more lovely each week. So nice to see your smiling face in that last photo too x
Posted by: b | January 24, 2022 at 01:57 PM
Responding to S. Caulder regarding a substitution for Stylecraft Special DK: I too live in the USA and needed a substitution, being wary of overseas purchases via the internet. You could use Caron Simply Soft. Your blanker won't be the same, but it will be passable. HOWEVER, I urge you to give the Wool Warehouse a try. It is easy to buy the yarn package from them, the cost is not much more than you would pay in the U.S., and your order will arrive much sooner than you would expect. The WW is now my favorite place to buy yarn. The selection is amazing, they don't bother me with all those annoying pop-ups and let me shop in peace, the quality is top notch, and I find the service to be exceptional. Seriously, try them at least once. I predict you will love them and wonder why it took you so long to come around. In fact, I just placed another order -- this time for two of Lucy's Yuletide color paks (I want to make a rectangular shape, and when is having leftover yarn ever a problem?). I can't wait for it to arrive!
Posted by: Elizabeth | January 23, 2022 at 03:51 PM
I am loving all the variations of this blanket, especially with the Yuletide pattern. Well done everyone!!!
Posted by: Patty | January 23, 2022 at 12:04 PM
What a fabulous picture of you, all windswept and happy by the sea, holding up your beautiful blanket with well-deserved pride! Love it!
Posted by: Elizabeth | January 23, 2022 at 04:56 AM
Hi Lucy, loving the blanket! Although, I have yet to start mine 🙃 Just wondered if anyone was doing a 15 colour repeat - like you did for the Sweet Pea? - Marsha xx
Posted by: Marsha | January 22, 2022 at 10:37 AM
I live in the USA, is Stylecraft yarn sold here? I'm getting a late start and would like to buy the yarn here if possible. If it isn't sold in America, is there a brand that you can recommend for a substitute?
Thank you,
S. Caulder
Posted by: S. Caulder | January 22, 2022 at 07:49 AM
The harbor Yuletide is stunning! Thank you for sharing! As always I love your posts and thank you for your generosity with all you do. I have managed to keep up with my blanket, which is quite an achievement on its own and it is so lovely. I share pictures of it with everyone!
Posted by: Carol | January 22, 2022 at 12:06 AM
I think you are beautiful Lucy... and so is your heart. Making your blanket is pure joy.
Have a wonderful weekend and thank you for this weeks colors.
Posted by: Arlene Bomback | January 21, 2022 at 08:36 PM
Thank you for another lovely post & I knew exactly where that second photo was as I've spent several lovely times there when in UK with family. Not started this rug yet due to it being so hot, but am enjoying it anyway through everyone else. Take care & hugs.
Posted by: Susan | January 21, 2022 at 08:35 PM
Hi Lucy Luv how my blanket is coming along...I get so excited every time i do a color change. Great pic of you and your stripness blowing in the wind. Had a blustery sea walk myself this morning, but it does the heart good and clears out and cheers up my foggy brain. Take Care, Hugs, MO
Posted by: Marylin Ollivier | January 21, 2022 at 08:22 PM
Your smile is as bright and beautiful as your blanket! So glad you included that photo!
Posted by: Debbi Robertson | January 21, 2022 at 07:43 PM
How lucky to have been raised in that beautiful scenery. I was raised among steel mills and tall chimneys. But I choose now to live in better areas and color is so important to me. I love your blankets and pictures and blog. Thank you.
Posted by: Hedy | January 21, 2022 at 04:48 PM
Love your blogs and your beautiful crochet 😍 Bridpot is a favourite stop for us on our way too and from Lyne Regis or Beer.
Please never stop - you really fo lift my soul with you words and picture xxc
Posted by: Sam Baylisd | January 21, 2022 at 04:24 PM
Another beautiful blanket ! Great pictures by the sea.
Posted by: Charlotte | January 21, 2022 at 03:35 PM
Thank you, Lucy. I love the colors. This is the 4th of your ripples that I've made. I always look forward to your blog posts, photos, and snippets of your life that you share. I have a small business proposition if you would be interested. Enjoy your weekend!
Posted by: Alison | January 21, 2022 at 02:01 PM
I love the windswept state of your appearance - it reminds me of so many lovely, blustery seaside stays and reminds me again that I've been away for too long.
The blankets are all so very beautiful! Sady, I can't participate in the CAL, my wrist is dead set against it, but it's soooo nice just looking at what others are doing. Thank you for sharing all those photos.
Posted by: Sam | January 21, 2022 at 10:35 AM
Lucy you look very happy with your blanket on the beach. You can tell you had a lovely time on Dorset coast. Not jealous!
Posted by: Abby | January 21, 2022 at 10:23 AM
Brilliant. And somehow just right to see them in situ on a windy day. I know exactly what you mean about thinking about summer in the depths of winter. It's all very reassuring. CJ xx
Posted by: CJ | January 21, 2022 at 09:40 AM
Beautiful blankets Lucy's. I love reading your blogs and looking at the lovely photos. Thankyou xxx
Posted by: Gillian Edwards | January 21, 2022 at 09:33 AM
Beautiful blankets Lucy! I'm thoroughly enjoying my Harbour blanket. Thank you so much for sharing your lovely patterns with all of us. From Far North Queensland, Australia.
Posted by: Chris Royal | January 21, 2022 at 09:22 AM