The Pretty Polly blanket....

I've been taking part in the "Knit a block a week" challenge which is being hosted by Linda on her Linda's Crafty Corner blog.  The people taking part in the challenge are knitting squares from Jan Eaton's "200 knitted blocks for blankets, throws and afghans".  Some of us make our squares into blankets and some send the squares off to charities listed on Linda's blog.

My sister gave me some very bright wool for Christmas and I have been knitting a couple of squares per week since then.  The photo shows the colours fairly well except for the green in the outside rows.  This is actually a bright emerald green, not a soft teal.  This green together with the other bright colours remind me of a parrot, so I have called this the "Pretty Polly" blanket.

The square in the centre is sewn on as a pocket.  This square was an afterthought, but turned out to be my favourite.  At a big stretch of the imagination, it could be the parrot's wing.  That all sounds a bit mad.  But I find sewing squares together a bit more interesting if I give the blanket a personality.  I made it easier by knitting the squares in strips of six which meant the amount of sewing was halved.

The blanket has gone off to SIBOL for eventual delivery to a care home.  The residents use these as lap blankets and a little pocket is always useful for life's little essentials. This is one of my favourite blanket destinations as Sue at SIBOL always lets crafters know when their blankets have arrived.  Her blog is very colourful and full of photos of the blankets when they arrive and when they are dropped off at the care homes.

I had good fun planning and making this blanket.  I have enough wool left from my sister to knit another batch of squares.  But I am going to make hats and other things for a while.  Then a hectic few months await me.  So it will probably be late summer before I start on another one of these patchwork blankets.