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!!

Sunday 6 March 2016

The Clew Bay blanket...




I started this blanket months ago and then had to put it away to protect it from the clouds of dust that filled the house while we were renovating the ground floor.  Well, the renovations are over and I have almost finished dusting, polishing and painting. So I felt it was safe to take out this blanket and finish it.  It is basically just one very large granny square.  It has now gone off to SIBOL from where the busy Sue will add it to others and deliver it to a home for elderly residents.

Sue likes to name the blankets.  The only name that sprang to mind when I was making this was "Clew Bay".  Anyone who knows the west coast of Ireland will know where I mean.  The bay is best viewed from high up the Croagh Patrick mountain in Mayo. Here is a typical view of the bay.


It shows a few of over 100 sunken drumlins or small islands.  I have happy memories of climbing that mountain when I was 11 and being amazed by the view.  Little did I know then that I would end up marrying a man whose ancestors had close connections to this part of Ireland.

I used a variegated blue and green yarn that I bought in Poundstretcher.  I find their wool to be a very reasonable price and a more than acceptable quality.  It is a strong acrylic which is perfect for items that will need a lot of washing.  I added to that various balls of blue and green yarn that I needed to use up.  

I like some parts of the blanket more than other parts.  But that's life. I learned a good lesson near the end of the blanket.  I could see that I would not have enough green to complete a round so I turned the blanket and went backwards.  This produced two corners that needed a lot of concentration to sort out.  I just about got away with it, but I won't be repeating that mistake again!

I used my favourite easy Double V-stitch edging that can be found on the Knot Your Nana's Crochet blog.  It is pretty and does not use a ton of yarn.

I am already planning my next blanket.  I can see it in my imagination, though it will be a long time before it stars in this blog. There is a lot of water to go under the bridge before then!

7 comments:

  1. I love your pretty blanket you made Una! I hope you have a wonderful week.
    Julie xo

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  2. The blanket is great Una. So glad you renovations are over.
    Hugs,
    Meredith

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  3. The colours in the blanket are my favourite. I'm sure the recipient will be very happy with it. That must have been quite the experience to have climbed Crough Patrick. I was at the base of it last fall when I was in Ireland, but we didn't have time to climb it.

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  4. I'm glad your renovations are over Una I can appreciate the upheaval my sitting room is still all over the place. The blanket is lovely such pretty colours, I like poundstretcher yarn too and it's very reasonably priced.:) xx

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  5. My Nan used to make blankets like these, the huge granny squares, so I have such fond memories of them. The colours you've used are so pretty together. Lovely!

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  6. It looks great, and you had an amazing inspiration for it! I am sure it will be well loved and used. xx

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  7. A lovely hue of colours Una, you are so generous to gift it to people in need. Jox

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