Canalboat Blanket Cal :: Part 4

Morning my lovelies, thank you as always for stopping by to read my words and view my photos, I do really love our weekly catch-ups. I've been missing my regular non-CAL type blogging this week though, I keep thinking I'll find time to squeeze one in mid week but somehow the days run away and already here we are and it's Friday once again. My week has been a busy one, it's that time of year when I've been buried in receipts and spreadsheets and facing the dreaded tax return, so I've felt a bit like my days haven't been my own. I've also been struggling with a mild head cold which has disrupted my sleep and left me feeling a bit low, but I've been taking care of myself and I already feel a lot better as we head towards the weekend.

J has been off work this week so it's been nice to have his company as I go about my daily routine. I've especially appreciated the extra muscle power to carry the food shop back along the canal and up the steep hills to the front door! Yesterday morning we went for coffee together, then into town to run some errands, coming home via the supermarket and a gentle stroll back along the tow path. It was freezing cold but gloriously bright and sunny and oh, I was soooo thankful to feel the sun on my face.

I stopped to take a quick photo of the top of this canal boat which caught my eye yesterday....the painted roses and sweet violas, a lovely little miniature roof-top boat garden.

In amongst the germs and the accounts, there has been crochet of course and I have absolutely loved the daily comfort of it. As I am only one week ahead of you all with my stripes there isn't a lot of wiggle room, but I'm really, really enjoying the journey. I've crocheted with good friends in the café while chatting and laughing and inhaling my frothy coffees...

...and I've sat quietly at the table in the early mornings drinking Lemsip cold remedy and gently easing myself into the day with some hooky therapy.

But mostly my rows have been happening on the sofa. During week four, the Canalboat blanket reaches the perfect length for full lower body coverage, and that fact has made me very happy indeed.

Yesterday I spent some time in "planning and prep" mode, working out the next small set of colour choices with my yarn pegs and also winding my yarn balls into neat cakes. I absolutely love both of these tasks so it's been a real treat to be quietly busy and feeling very content with my stay-home status.

The reason I decided to cake my yarn at this stage is simply because it makes it easier to crochet while travelling. The cakes are compact and work with a centre-pull, which means I can sit on a train and keep the yarn contained neatly in my bag while I crochet some rows. I'm off down to Dorset today which equates to many blissful hours of crochet time as the journey is over seven hours. I am very much looking forward to it actually.

I'm hoping you've all had a great week with your hooks and are feeling happy with how your blanket is looking now that you are halfway there with the stripes? This is a lovely stage now as we move into the second half of the blanket because the length will feel very cosy and comforting on your lap (well it does here in the northern hemisphere where it's still very cold and wintry).

This is four weeks of hooky pleasure, with joy in every stitch!

Each week when I plan out the colours I make sure that no two shell/treble combinations are repeated, have you noticed that? They are all different, and it means that each week there are new colour surprises to look forward to.

There are some wonderful pairings in week four....ooooooooo lipstick and fondant together are particularly stunning I think.

I'm thoroughly enjoying the high energy of this design, and I find the more it grows, the more I fall in love with it. The bold colour contrasts aren't always easy on the eye when you scrutinise them individually, but when they become part of the bigger design, they are highly effective and very playful. I absolutely love the way the blanket is evolving as it grows, it's really, really exciting for me as the designer/maker and I really hope you are also feeling the same love for your own blankets.

The Starbright blanket has been the favourite on the sofa this week, and it prompted me to have a little play with it as I was photographing the Canalboat blanket yesterday. I was curious to see how they would look together especially as they share some of the same colours, and it was fun to capture them in a photograph.

I LOVE playing with my blankets and do it often, I think it's become a hobby of mine. There is something about folding, stacking, layering and photographing crochet blankets which makes me very happy - all that colour and pattern and the many, many layers of memories held in those thousands of stitches. Pure pleasure.

OK....now we're going to take a look at this weeks stripes, and then I've got some very special Canalboat photos to show you.

This week with our Mixed Stripe Canalboat blanket we are crocheting another 32 stripes.

Stripes 98-129.

Here is Part 4 of the MIXED STRIPE for you to download/print this week , click on the following link >>

PART 4 MIXED STRIPE WORKSHEET PDF

The Colourwash Canalboat blanket will be growing a little more slowly as we're going to add 28 more stripes this week.

Week four is a repeat of the second week, adding another beautiful set of rhythmic rows. The above graphic shows the four repeating sections, and I hope that if you're making this version that you're enjoying the visual flow of it.

So week 4 of the Colourwash is a repeat of week 2.

Stripes 93 - 120.

Here is Part 4 of the COLOURWASH for you to download/print this week , click on the following link >>

 PART 4 COLOURWASH WORKSHEET PDF

Now I've got something rather lovely to share with you. Last Friday I had the pleasure of spending the day with two of my closest yarny friends Christine (Winwick Mum) and Emma (Varnham). Over the years we have formed a close friendship connected as we are through our shared passion of blogging, designing, knitting and crochet. As we all live reasonably close to each other (within a 90 minute drive) it's possible with some forward planning for us to meet in person quite regularly.

We often decide to meet here in Atticland, mostly it's just for a day, but a few times a year we decide to extend our time together to include an evening meal and an overnight stay. Now last Friday it was our annual January/new year  stay-over which we've been doing for about six years now, and the accommodation of choice this year was rather special. You can see it in the above photo.....no, not one of the riverside cottages or canalside apartments.....but the beautiful blue canalboat!!!

YES, believe it or not, this boat is permanently moored here on the quiet Spring branch of the canal and it is indeed available to rent for a nights stay.

We spent the morning at Coopers Cafe, then after lunch it was time for Emma and Christine to meet the boat owner and get checked in for their stay. The fire was lit and the boat was oh so warm, cosy and comfortable. We had come prepared with sweet treats from the local bakery and very soon we each had hot mugs of tea and were settled in for an afternoon of yarny pleasure.

Can you imagine the scene? I was seated right next to the fire and Emma and Christine shared the sofa.....lots of very happy chatter, yarn talk and busy hands (blankets and socks in progress). It was absolute bliss.

Early the next morning I returned to the boat with my blanket and decided to take advantage of the prefect photo opportunity. I know my blanket is still a WiP and only half finished, but my goodness, it did look stunning on the boat....

.....awwww, so, so lovely!!

I was joking with Emma and Christine, saying that I should have ordered some swans to perform a swim-by especially for my photos....we were laughing about it and then you can guess what happened, can't you????

A few minutes later, the swans did indeed come to call!!!!!!!

Loooook............

I was SO happy, the light was gorgeous and a truly beautiful Canalboat morning scene gently unfolded in front of my eyes.

I think my blanket really did come alive in this moment - the design, the colours, the many months of visualisation and creative work....

...ahh, it was an experience I won't ever forget.

I hope you've enjoyed these extra special photos today, I've loved sharing them with you, and the swans said to tell you all that they enjoyed being a part of my creative process, and they hope you feel suitably inspired :)

Have a fabulous week - I'll be hooking away down in Dorset until Monday but I'll try and pop in here once I'm home again.

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♥ Part 4 Mixed Stripe worksheet

♥ Part 4 Colourwash worksheet

♥ Canalboat Pattern PDF

♥ Canalboat TUTORIAL (with lots of photos)

♥ CAL Introduction post

♥ Canalboat yarn packs

♥ CAL post Part 1 (stripes 1-33)

♥ CAL post Part 2 (stripes 34-65)

♥ CAL post Part 3 (stripes 66-97)

 

 

Comments

[Linda Thompson]

❤️❤️❤️

[Angela]

Hi Lucy! I've just caught up on your last 4 blog posts. It was lovely to sit here and have a good read and admire your lovely photos! The Canal boat blanket is looking stunning and it's fun to see everyone's versions of it too.

What a fun idea to catch up with friends on a Canal boat and craft away in front of the fire. It sounded like a fun and cosy time.

Have a wonderful time in Dorset. Wishing you all the best Angela xx

[Camilla Fraser]

Hello my lovely, I ordered my acrylic yarn in time, but have only just had the chance to crochet my tension square, I forgot to change hooks & used the 4.5mm hook throughout & it didn't bow the sample, I also had to stretch it a bit on my blocket to make it reach 20cm. Is this because I crochet swedish style? I suspect that my blanket will come out a bit smaller than intended & am wondering how to counteract that, I would add a few more stitches but am worried that I'll run out of yarn! Any advice is welcomed! Your blanket is so beautiful & I would love to do it justice!!

[Gina in alabama]

Swans!!!! I simply can't tell you how perfect it is. Completely gorgeous and that bright strong clear blue is priceless. Take care on your trip down south.

[Jodie]

Loved your photos! Thanks so much for sharing!
I was wondering if you could rent canal boats for a stay!

[Kristine S]

Loved the images, Lucy lovely❣️ While my usual frenetic self is sooo sslooowww doing my blanket, (STILL haven't finished Week 1's rows 🥺) it's getting there... just wishing for some companionship on the journey❣️💖😘👌💐 Always miss my fellow crotchety (& able~bodied!) crocheters xxxx

[Esther]

Thank you Lucy, what a beautiful blog with stunning photos, nothing new there though! Xx

[Debbi Robertson]

Being recently retired, I'm oftentimes not quite sure what day of the week it is, and these days, when I realise it's a Friday (or even Saturday!), one of my first thoughts is always,"Oh boy! There will be something from Lucy!". It's always exciting to hear about the latest from your sweet corner of the world. Thank you for continuing to write to us all. Best wishes for your Dorset journey.

[Louise]

This is my first CAL and I’m loving it so much. The pattern is so simple but the colours make it look so much more. I genuinely cannot wait to gift it - my partner isn’t usually too enthusiastic about my crochet creations but this one - he agrees, it is absolutely perfect for his sister. 🥰
Enjoy your Dorset break while I wonder which friends of mine might enjoy a yarny weekend away….!!!

[Tineke]

Wow, Lucy, the blue of the canal boat with the blue in the blanket. Stunning <3

[Jill]

Your post always bring such joy. They also encourage me to live more in the moment and savour my morning walk. Spring flowers are peeping out here and catkins.
Jill x

[Patricia A]

:-) :-)
And did you dutifully feed the swans as they expected??
My Canalboat blanket is moving forward.
I have made six, six row squares and planned the colours for the rest of the patterns for their first making.
I am using the lighter colours to make the first lot of each pattern as the lighter shades make it easier to see what I am doing on a new lot of stitching. The second and third square of each pattern will use the darker shades, then I need to figure out how they will go together.
The first stitch out of each pattern is in a single colour. Number two stitch out will be in a darker colour and the third will be in two colours.
Fun! Fun! Fun!
Then
I found a random Excel spreadsheet labelled "BB from Lucy". So did some research on "BB" and discovered that it was your fourth blanket made, the Big Blanket. Anyone who reads this - it is in the "Ta Dah!" section on the right side of Lucy's blog page.
Links for pattern information are all there for you to follow in that blog.
I have updated the information on that spreadsheet so the next time that I look at it, I am not left scratching my head wondering what on earth was I thinking. :-)

[Linda Pankhurst]

Have a lovely time in Dorset!
Thanks for the photos of the blanket on the narrow boat. How gorgeous it looks in its rightful setting!
I get in the right mental zone for the blanket by watching YouTube videos whilst crocheting. They are a real 'escape' for me and augment my hooky mood!
And although we are miles from any canals I’ve just heard some geese flying over in V formation. Splendid!

[Mary Ann]

Dear Lucy,
I'm so curious about the inside of the canalboat...please tell us more about what it was like. Did you take more photos? How fun that the lovely swans paid you a visit!
With best wishes,
from
Mary Ann
New Jersey, USA

[Veronica Howard]

What beautiful photos this week and well done to the swans for participating just made your photos extra special. Hope you have a safe journey to Dorset and that it all goes well for you with some sea therapy as well. Absolutely adore this blanket so thank you again. Take care

[Margaret Thorburn]

Hello Lucy from (bracing for a heatwave) Melbourne.
I have been looking forward to your post all week. I still can't decide whether I like the colour wash version or the mixed stripe version better so am enjoying seeing the latter unfold and photographed in different light settings - it would definitely add a slightly vintage vibe to our upstairs living area where I tend to crochet and sew amongst compatible hints of red, green, blue and yellow. In late 2023 we visited our son in London and enjoyed seeing Lyme Regis and surrounds, inspired by your posts earlier that year. Next visit I hope to head north via Cambridge to Yorkshire. Thank you for all your yarny, natural and creative world inspiration and thankfulness and I wish you safe travels as you visit Dorset.