Springfrost Blanket CAL :: Part 1

Gooooood Mooooorning my lovelies, Happy New Year, and happy CAL day!!!!! It seems like an age since I first started chatting to you about my inspiration and ideas for this years blanket, and I'm so happy that we're starting the year with some pretty colours and gentle creativity, just what the soul needs in January. Just in case you missed my introductory blog post, you can find it by clicking the following link >>

🌸 SPRINGFROST BLANKET INTRODUCTION

My hope is that you'll enjoy these weekly instalments even if you're not a crocheter and not into making blankets (hmm....are there really any non-blanketeers visiting the Attic?!). I will be sharing lots of gentle colours and seasonal inspiration as we plod our way slowly through January and February and I hope it'll make your heart happy. 

This colour palette is very different to my usual jaunty brights and I am absolutely loving the delicate, soft, gentle feel of it. It's like turning your face into the low winter sun and feeling a welcome warmth even when the air is still freezing. Its refreshing and soothing, and very uplifting too - a weeny glimmer of Spring in the depths of our cold winter season.

As is usual for my blankets, I've chose fifteen shades of Stylecraft Special DK for my Springfrost blanket

Top row :

♥ Lincoln ♥  Duck Egg ♥  White ♥  A Hint of Silver ♥  Mushroom ♥

Middle row :

♥ Pistachio ♥ Spearmint ♥ Blue Marl* ♥ Parma Violet ♥ Powder Pink ♥

Bottom row :

♥ Meadow ♥ Cloud Blue ♥  Baby Blue* ♥ Wisteria ♥ Pale Rose ♥

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

🌸 SPRINGFROST YARN PACK 

A little reminder for you to make a note of the colours so that you don't have any mix-ups, the colour names are written on the ball bands. In the Springfrost colour palette, some of the paler shades can look very similar especially in artificial light (eg Parma Violet and Mushroom can be easy to mix up).

I really love using these wooden shade cards to keep a note of the colours, they are very photogenic too! My lovely friend Veronica makes and sells them via her Etsy shop, you can find them ((HERE)). She has cards for many of my other yarn packs too, so you could collect them if you wish.

I use my trusty wooden yarn pegs to keep a check on my colours, I keep them in a little drawstring bag with my yarn balls so that I've always got them to refer to if I need them. 

For those of you who have made CAL blankets with me before then you will be familiar with the schedule. If this is your first time, here is a quick rundown of the weeks....

Today you have access to the pattern which remains free and accessible here on my blog for ever so that you can use it whenever you like. Each week I'll be giving you a list of stripes so that you can work on a portion of the blanket, and we aim to make 15-18 stripes a week. Don't worry if this isn't do-able for you, you can absolutely work at your own pace and take a decade to do it if you need to! 

🌸 PART 1 : stripes 1-15 - that's what we're going to look at today

🌸 PART 2 : stripes 16 - 33 (13th Jan)

🌸 PART 3 : stripes 34 - 51 (20th Jan)

🌸 PART 4 : stripes 52 - 69 (27th Jan)

🌸 PART 5 : stripes 70 - 87 (3rd Feb)

🌸 PART 6 : stripes 88 - 105 (10th Feb)

🌸 PART 7 : catch up (darn in those ends!) (17th Feb)

🌸 PART 8 : the border (24th Feb)

As always, I've created my usual photo-heavy tutorial to help you crochet your tension sample and learn how to create the Springfrost stripe. You can find it by clicking on the following link >>

🌸 SPRINGFROST STRIPE TUTORIAL 

I've also made a simple written pattern that you can download/print if you don't need the step by step help and prefer to have a traditional printed pattern to pop in your bag. You can find it by clicking on the following link >>

🌸 SPRINGFROST PDF PATTERN 

I know that some of you may find the thought of crocheting and counting a looooooong wiggly chain and then crocheting that first row a bit daunting. Here are a few tips to help you get off to an easy start...

1. use a bigger hook size to make your chain, then switch down again to work your first row. You can go up two half-sizes to open up the chains a little (eg if you're going to use a 4mm hook for the blanket, make the chain using a 5mm).
2. take your time, and plan to make this first row when you can sit quietly and be completely undisturbed as you count and concentrate on the pattern.
3. make sure you have good light to start your blanket.
4. use stitch markers. You will need to have an accurate chain count for this to work, there is no room for errors. Make your chains slowly, evenly, and place stitch markers at regular intervals, say every 25 chains. This way, if your mind suddenly goes blank (it happens), or the cat distracts you and you lose count (also a distinct possibility in my house), you only have to go back as far as your last stitch marker.

Once your first few rows are out the way, I'm confident that you'll be sailing along these pretty rows and enjoying every minute of it. The pattern is easy to learn with very little counting, and once the initial pattern is set then every stripe is the same. All you need to do is change colours every alternate row and enjoy the hooky rhythm.

By the way, I'd be interested to hear what you make of the white in this blanket?! It's the first time I've ever included it in one of my blankets and I'm still getting used to it, but it does bring a beautifully cool, frosty winter's touch to the whole colour palette.

One thing I LOVE about the Springfrost stitch pattern is the beautiful texture it creates, it really is one of the most squishy and cosy blankets I've ever made.

The spike stitches do a great job of blending and harmonising the stripes, and the delicate shades I've put together have a very calm and soothing effect. But also --- just LOOK at how beautifully bobbly and lush the texture is!! Love love love it.

In part 1 of the CAL we are using all the colours and crocheting up the first fifteen stripes. 

Here is the colour info for Part 1 of the Springfrost Blanket. Click on the following link for the printable worksheet...

🌸 PART 1 COLOUR WORKSHEET

1. Cloud Blue (Foundation chain & rows 1 & 2)

2. Parma Violet (rows 3 & 4)

3. Blue Marl (rows 5 & 6)

4. Spearmint (rows 7 & 8)

5. Wisteria (rows 9 & 10)

6. Mushroom (rows 11 & 12)

7. Duck Egg (rows 13 & 14)

8. White (rows 15 & 16)

9. Lincoln (rows 17 & 18)

10. Pale Rose (rows 19 & 20)

11. Powder Pink (rows 21 & 22)

12. Pistachio (rows 23 & 24)

13. A Hint of Silver (rows 25 & 26)

14. Baby Blue (rows 27 & 28)

15. Meadow (rows 29 & 30)

NOTE : If you are making a larger double/king blanket with two yarn packs, you will need to crochet some extra length. There will be an extra set of stripes given in part 6 for you to add on if you wish.

This year, after much deliberation and an awful lot of frustrated sampling, I decided not to create a Colourwash version for the Springfrost colour palette. The reason being, I just couldn't find a way to make it work harmoniously. With white added into the mix it's a tricky palette to balance and nothing I worked on felt right. I hope you trust me in this - I just didn't feel comfortable giving you something that I wasn't 110% delighted with. 

I know there were those of you hoping for a colourwash blanket and I hate to disappoint you - I'm so sorry it didn't work out. If you really like the idea of a colourwash sweep, then one option is to create a repeating pattern with the Springfrost colours, as in my sample above. If this appeals, then you should work the colours in the following order (from top to bottom in the above image)

Wisteria : Parma Violet : A Hint of Silver : Mushroom : Pale Rose : Powder Pink : White : Blue Marl : Baby Blue : Cloud Blue : Duck Egg : Spearmint : Lincoln : Pistachio : Meadow

Once you've crocheted up all fifteen colours, simply repeat them in the same order so that you end up with wide, repeating bands of stripes, does this make sense?

I really hope you enjoy starting out on this journey with me, I honestly can't think of a better way to begin a new year.

Please do share your photos on social media as I'd love to see how you get on - you can share on my Facebook page, or use the hashtag #springfrostcal on Instagram so I can find you.

Wishing you a week full of happy moments with hook and yarn!

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

♥ SPRINGFROST YARN PACK 

♥ SPRINGFROST STRIPE TUTORIAL

♥ SPRINGFROST PDF PATTERN

♥ SPRINGFROST BLANKET INTRODUCTION

♥ PART 1 COLOUR WORK SHEET

 

 

Comments

[Carbon Copy Cloner 6.1.5 Crack]

it's great. thanks for your nice information

[Sandra simmonite]

Mine is also looking flat like the first person's comment but I'm not sure how to see the replies. Sorry to be asking the same question
X

[dawn]

hi will you be doing a video, not sure if i'm doing it wrong but mine looks flat and not bobbled xx

[Jolanda Pijlman]

Thanks for another beautiful blanket! Yesterday the yarn came in and I just love the colours! As soon as I am ready joining the squares of my current project(also a blanket)I will start and I cannot wait.

[Clare Osborne]

I haven't crocheted anything in 5 years but have been tempted back by this beautiful blanket. The ripple blanket was the first blanket I ever made and I am still in love with it. I have also fell for this one too. Something about your colour choices speaks to me and I can't wait to start, just indeed the yarn pack. Thank you Lucy xx

[Karen]

Just starting the Cal as needed to finish my Winwick mum socks first. This is my 7th blanket of yours Lucy, I love them all. No way will I be keeping up as I have bitten the bullet and started a king-size!
Karen

[Gill Archer]

I’m new to this blog, but really happy that I’ve found Attic 24. I did so just before Christmas when I sent away for the Yuletide blanket which is still awaiting my attention. However I’ve since bought the harbour kit as well as the Springfrost blanket. Having now got abit of free time and so started the Springfrost blanket last night. Oh so wonderful to be back crocheting again having had to have a three month break due to personal demands on my time.
Love the patterns and amazed at the blogs. Thank you Lucy. Keep it up. I appreciate that it can consume your own personal/family time. Please look after yourself as it’s so import to be able to appreciate family time, make memories for your loved ones and move forward with a positive attitude for your future.
In the meantime I look forward to making the Springfrost blanket.

[CJ]

Lovely frosty colours, they really are very pretty. I do so love following the January crochet-along, it's a seasonal pleasure in these chilly damp days. CJ xx

[Beverley]

This is such a lovely blanket Lucy. I have just finished a temperature blanket for 2022 and said I would take a break from starting another blanket. I'm not sure how long I can hold out though.
Thank you for all your hard work. You are amazing x

[Alison]

I've made 4 of your blankets and just love them. I'm also not a fan of spike stitches so I think I'm going to do this one in your neat wave pattern from your Moorland CAL here: https://attic24.typepad.com/weblog/neat-wave-pattern.html I did a test of the pattern and just loved it. Not sure when I'll start or how far I'll get because I'm also knitting a sweater for an 8 year old. You're the best, Lucy. Happy new year!

[Debbi Robertson]

I LIKE the white. I think it adds a crispness that a frosty blanket ought to have. Puts me in mind of snowdrops, and that, for me, is the perfect segue from winter, to spring. Lovely!

[Helen]

Absolutely loving this cal, the colours are so soothing and finding the pattern fairly easy....thank you Lucy, I appreciate all your work and am steadily working my way through your patterns....Happy New Year!

[Sue]

Lucy, I have been struggling to find the Blue Marl (I already have all the other colours, mostly from my stash). I just spoke to a shop in Warminster (I am in rural North Dorset) and they've told me that the Blue Marl is discontinued. Would you be able to recommend an alternative colour, please?

[Ann Marie]

Quilter here....and I get lots of lovely ideas from you!

[Eleanor]

Yet another non-blanketeer who's been following you for years ... for your crochet knowledge, your expert color sense, your luminous photos, etc. etc. Even though I might not make one, your blankets add a colorful spot to my day.

[Elda Da Fonseca]

THANKS a Lot ! Love it 🥰!

[Rainbow Junkie]

I am joining in this years CAl because I thought that the colour choice was just magical and different from what I would normally choose. If I had realised it would include spike stitches though I might have changed my mind as I really don't like them as I find it hard to get them up to the correct height.
I started by making a tension square this evening being very careful with the spike stitches. You didn't say how high the sample should be and I calculated that with my height the blanket would be much longer than you say so I must be doing something wrong.
Looking closely at the photos I wonder if you mean your spike stitches to be shorter and so bunch the rows a little.
Would it be possible for you to say how tall our sample should be so I can work out how to do the spike stitches as you want. Thank you.

[Sarah]

Yes, another fell non-blanketeer (who can’t sew, knit or crochet to save her life in fact) who nevertheless adores your blog and always feels uplifted after popping into the Attic x

[Fiona]

My yarn pack arrived at lunchtime, my tension strip spot on and ready to start. I’m doing the Springfrost blanket alongside another CAL so I’m liking the mindful nature of this one. Looking forward to getting started

[Dawn]

It’s really beautiful! Is there also a pattern for the flowers?

[Kathleen]

I am a visitor that does not crochet, but I do knit and find your blog a pleasant and beautiful place to visit.

[Carol]

Thank you Lucy. I am really looking forward to starting this blanket. I am 3/4 ways through the dahlia blanket that I started last year so I will be hopping from one to the other over the next few weeks. I love the colours you have chosen.

[JuRita Buckout]

I was sooo looking forward to a colorwash, but I am not brave enough to do it without your wonderful written instructions. Maybe next time! :) Still excited to follow along even using my own variation of colors!

[Kath]

Ooh can't wait to finish work so I can make a start! THANK YOU Lucy

[Linda from Boston]

Can’t wait to get started. However, the color worksheet hits an error when trying to print it out.