Girlie blanket time!

Loved, loved, loved making this blanket for my pink loving daughter! 

I can't claim the pattern. That came from the Simply Crochet blanket edit Mega Mandala by Hannah Cross.

I did however, change some of the pattern as I went along mainly because I was using different yarn to the pattern so some of the instructions didn't work as well as they should have and caused the blanket to ruffle up a little. What did I do? Get annoyed - obviously! And then undo the part I had done and rethink the round of stitches. 

How did I start?

Consulting my daughter of course!

I was desperate to use the Mega Mandala pattern as I loved the idea of a mahoosive round blanket so that was non-negotiable, but the colours were entirely down to her. 

I've taken to planning my new projects in a pretty notebook that my husband gave me for my birthday and I'm finding it really inspirational. 

So as you can see, I used Caron Simply Soft, Caron Simply Soft Party and Caron Simply Soft Light yarn. The colour of the yarns is so vibrant that the blanket really does look like a fire ball. 

Some of these images don't do the colour justice. 

It really is rich.

In total the blanket covers a double bed.

I gave it a pretty picot edging.

I just love this blanket and fortunately so does my daughter. 

If I was to do anything different I would not have used the Caron Simply Soft Light yarn. I only used two colours in this yarn but it's quite thin and it unfortunately fell where the stitches left gaps so I feel that there are weaknesses there. It's only really noticeable to me but you know how it is? You are always your own worst critic! 

Overall, this blanket is beautiful and very cosy. A true family favourite already. 

Hope you've got a lovely blanket on the go or in your head waiting to be released.

Until next time, happy crocheting! Xx

Autumn granny blanket

So, as promised I've taken some more photos and can give you further details on my blanket. 

I started by crocheting lots of different 6 inch squares using the following book - 

Can't recommend this book enough. The squares are interesting, clearly labelled in difficulty and well explained. There's even blanket suggestions and colour ideas. Really good place to start if you're considering a blanket project of your own.

When I got to a rather sizeable pile of squares I began to panic that they'd never become an actual blanket and that it would just become yet another work-in-progress! So I decided to begin connecting them in groups of four to begin with. Then I decided I really needed to see my blanket begin to take shape. I chose to crochet borders around the groups of four and turn them into 'big' squares. 

These then grew into groups of four 'big' squares which when joined together we're actually a decent size. My blanket had become a useable item in our home! Woohoo! 

Still needed to grow a little bigger though as we have a king size bed and my husband had imagined that it would drape over the edges. Did he realise the time and effort involved?? Meh! - He was right, although I'll deny it if you tell him so!!

Thoughts then moved on to an interesting border that incorporated all of the colours. I was beginning to get itchy feet for a new project! I settled on a row of trebles in each colour with a row of small one-colour granny squares and finished with another row of trebles in each colour. 

I love the border but if I was to criticise it at all I would have to say that I wish I'd added the little granny squares just using their back loops all round as they lose some of their crispness with the second section of treble rows feeding directly into the trebles and chain spaces. Just a little niggle I know, and my husband hasn't even noticed, but well you know how it is when you see something that you could have done differently after the fact. Always annoying from then onwards!

Do I have favourites? 

Er, yeah, of course! 

Below I've picked my favourite three: a square with a centrally raised flower, one using a popcorn stitch to add some texture and one which I just love for its combination of stitches and my positioning of the colours. 

And of course the traditional granny square, which I inadvertently put in neighbouring groups of four! Oops! I also found myself making two...love them, I do!!

They do look so different with the colour choice changed though...take a look for yourself...

If I could go back and do anything differently, I'd definitely wet block the squares as I created them, as although they are all 6 inch squares, some are more 6 inch than others if you know what I mean?!! Areas of the blanket would lay flatter if I'd done that I think.  

Overall, I love it and it got the thumbs up from the husband. Now I just need to defend it from moths!! Why, oh why did I feel the need to use 100% wool? For cosiness and warmth obviously! 

Took two years, but oh so so so worth it! 

Next time, I'll fill you in on my daughter's very vibrant blanket....

Until then, happy crocheting X

More apologies than you can ever imagine!

So, as the title suggests, I'm in the apologising mood. Life has well and truly taken over recently and it's been over a year since my last blog post. 'Appalling,' I hear you cry! It's been so long I actually had to sign back in to my blog ownership and even that was a palaver as I couldn't remember or find my password and all the other miscellaneous secretive words I needed! I've been punished by my own blog it would seem! And rightly so!

Rest assured that I've not been completely lacking in crafty goodness! I've completed some projects, begun and finished others, and created some more half finished projects along the way too. 

I'll give you a sneaky peek at some now and then drip feed you the details over the next few weeks...

Here goes...

Our Autumn blanket - completed! (That so has to be said in a song-song voice, 'com-plee-tee-d!!)

So cosy, although at the moment it is blinking hot under it! Phew! Don't want to pack it away though as it's taken 2 and a 1/2 years to complete!! Wowzers!  Bonkers, but oh so satisfying. Smug does not even cover it.

My world has become a blanket heaven now though, as I then completed one for my new nephew...

Ahh, L💙VE him.

And one for my daughter...

An unconventional round one, oooooh, fancy. 

And started one for my youngest son...

Stripes galore.

My eldest son has already put in his order and it's well in the planning stages...

(Sorry, sideways picture, very annoying I know!)

I'm close to completing a shawl using sock yarn...

Love the colour change you get from a sock yarn and it's very lightweight.

Anyhoo, that's enough sneaky peeking for now. More details of all the projects, and any others I can think of, to come - there must be some I've forgotten about.

Ahh, I can feel my creative juices sighing with pleasure at all that loveliness. 

Until next time, 

Happy crocheting xx