Collage

Collage
Hello and thanks for visiting my blog. I have been knitting on and off for 50 years and I recently learned to crochet. I love looking for wool bargains and making them into something useful. I mainly knit for charity. I occasionally knit for myself and family members if I find a really good pattern or if they ask nicely!!

Wednesday 27 August 2014

Another big blanket project...




Here is the start of my next big crochet blanket.   I have been looking forward to starting this for the last few weeks.  But the weather was too hot for blanket making until now.  That all changed when our monsoon arrived.  Every cloud has a silver lining and I have made better progress than I expected though I am quite happy for this blanket project to last the rest of the year.  It is simply row after row of half trebles (UK) and will eventually measure 60" x 40".

I am using 4 different yarns.  The only things they have in common are that they are Aran weight and real wool.  They vary hugely in texture.  From right to left in the photo:

  • The Lopi Light is similar to candyfloss or cobwebs.  
  • The Chelsea Silk yarn is rougher than the word "silk" suggests.
  • The Emu Aran is quite thick.  
  • The Patons Capstan is quite thin.


But, as a team, these yarns work very well and make a good, strong crocheted fabric. The first 3 yarns were kindly donated to me by Joanne of the Cup On The Bus blog. The dark teal yarn was a charity shop find.....450g for £4.50.  It was the missing piece in the jigsaw.  This blanket is for an Operation Orphan child and I needed a colour to contrast with the cream and beige.

Once again, I used the Random Stripe Generator to plan the stripes for me.  This is a great free online tool.  You simply select your colours, specify the number of rows and then keep refreshing your computer screen until you are happy with the suggested design.  The tool also gives names to the colours. So, instead of cream and beige, my blanket will consist of  the more interesting burleywood, peru and linen.

9 comments:

  1. Just the kind of thing I love to do Una, you can just pick it up and put it down when the mood takes. It's going to be a lovely warm blanket, just the thing for Operation Orphan. You know what I might just join you a great stash-busting idea too! :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. I love the names the program gave your colours! That is so much fun alone. The blanket looks lovely, it is nice to be able to snuggle under something while you are making it isn't it, as long as the weather is right for that as you say! xx

    ReplyDelete
  3. That is going to be a great Autumn and Winter project. Just perfect. I,too,have used the random generator and it's great fun. I keep thinking about those lovely shorts you made

    ReplyDelete
  4. This is so wonderful; you've made my day. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  5. I agree - the weather is turning decidedly Autumnal - bring on the blanket-making , I say! (I was relegated to making cushion covers during the warmer days and mainly with cottons rather than wool!)

    Looking good, Una - post us progress pics and the finished artical, too, please?

    ReplyDelete
  6. A random stripe generator is such a interesting idea! That is going to be a labor of love project, but so, so pretty when it's finished!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Sounds like a nice winter project! :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. Looks like another lovely blanket Una. Thank you for adding my blog to your blog I have returned the favour x

    ReplyDelete
  9. Those colors look beautiful together -- the blue/teal really makes everything "pop." What a wonderful thing to do this time of year! I did a winter crocheted blanket last year, and enjoyed it very much. Was surprised at how fast it went. It's called the "stripey as-you-go blanket" if you want to hunt for it online. It has lots of different colors, and lots of different, fun stitches. Good luck!

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for leaving a comment on my blog. You are a star.