Inspired by Lichen

I have started a fourth version of the pattern Virtue by Helen Shrimpton

This comes as a free pattern with full video tutorial.

I love the texture Helen creates.

Her patterns are super reliable and this is becoming my favourite, because of how the corners are built up, without masses of ends to sew in.

I am making this for a friend who has asked for colours inspired by lichen and bark. Tricky to get right when one is restricted to the colour palette of the yarn.

In order to get some blending in the colour order, for the first time I am mixing 12 colours from Stylcraft Special DK:

Hint of Silver, Warm Grey, Mustard, Silver, Meadow, Pistachio, Sandstone, Lime, Lincoln, Khaki, Mocha and Walnut

with 2 colours from Stylecraft Batik

Mint and Silver

The Batik yarn has some wool content but the same washing instructions, so I hope it will be ok.  It is working up well so far.

Yesterday I met my daughter and niece for a coffee and a catch up at Fables and Food, a lovely friendly new Cafe in Dorchester, which delicious food.

It was the perfect spot to sit, in the sun, listening to the fountain and sewing in some ends while I waited for the others to arrive

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Autumn Virtue

This is becoming my favourite Helen Shrimpton pattern (And it’s free!)

I like it because the corners are built up in the round, which means there are a lot fewer ends to sew in than on other patterns where the corners are built up separately.

I have made this Throw for the daughter of one of my closest friends.

Lucy is the same age as my first born and her Mum and I lived in the same village. We became friends when we had our babies together in 1976.

Lucy has a Podcast: Spinsterhood Reimagined, which celebrates the positives and discusses the challenges of a single, child-free life.

She had seen my blankets and throws on Instagram and remarked ‘I want one!’.

I had wanted to make another ‘Virtue’, so when she said she would choose Autumnal colours, I was thrilled and started immediately. I just love this colour combination.

So cosy!

Stylecraft Special DK, 10 colours:

Tomato, Spice, Gold, Dark Brown, Burgundy, Claret, Copper, Walnut, Khaki and Bottle.

The pattern comes with Video Tutorials and is lovely to make.

I stopped short by a few rows and edged the throw with Helen’s Knot Stitch, from another free pattern – Sacred Space, Part 9. Penultimate row.

🙂 Haggis (f) likes it. 🙂

A Bedspread Reborn

Back in February 2015 I made a bedspread for Little Miss M

She loved it but sadly it got too close to something hot and looked like this

I could not bring myself to throw it away so I folded it up and put it in a bag and forgot about it …. until now. In my new bid to sort out WIPs and UFOs etc I washed it in the machine, dried it and chopped out the damaged bits.

The rest, I have unpicked and rolled into balls. It is making its way into another scrappy blanket. Inspired by Mrs Snail, I just tie the ends together with a reef knot and leave them showing.

Little Miss M now has this blanket

You can see more photos of this Mandala Blanket on my Throws Page.

The pattern is Mandala Madness, by Helen Shrimpton, a free pattern.

~

Joining Kate and other Happy Scrappers for Scrap Happy Day, the 15th of every month.

Kate , Gun, Titti, Heléne, Eva, Sue, Nanette, Lynn, Lynda,
Birthe, Turid, Susan, Cathy, Debbierose, Tracy, Jill, Claire, Jan,
Moira, Linda, Chris, Nancy, Alys, Kerry, Claire, Jean,
Joanne, Jon, Hayley, Dawn, Gwen, Connie, Bekki, Pauline, Sue L,
Sunny and Kjerstin

 

Rainbow for Big Bro

The last of the 8 blankets I have crocheted for my Grandchildren. It is quite a relief to know they all have one now.

I am following in the footsteps of my paternal Grandmother who crocheted a blanket for each of her 14 grandchildren, luckily, I only have 8.

The brief: Big Bro wanted ripples like his brother’s blanket, but different.

He wanted bright rainbow colours and lots of blues. I made a sample in all Stylecraft Special DK yarn, but the purple, orange and some of the blues were not quite right, so we scoured the internet to find the colours he liked.

I always really enjoy the design process with my Grandchildren. They have very clear ideas about what they want and I like to encourage them. I believe it is important to give children opportunities to make creative decisions – a life skill worth having which encourages them to develop their own style.

The pattern is Attic24’s Neat Ripple Blanket using Acrylic DK and 4.5mm hook

I did a starting Chain of 213

It measures 1m 34cm x 1m 94cm

Each row of colour (2 rows of crochet) takes about 15 gms of SSDK yarn.

The mix of repeating colour orders and random mixes makes the blanket more interesting – well I think so. Do you agree? Or would you prefer a strict repeating pattern?

Colour Order:

You can find the colour order for the first 30 rows in this post.

Rows 31 onwards

Geraardsbergen (2011).  Scheepjes Colour Crafter

Saxe           Cygnet DK

Petrol   James C Brett Top Value Shade 846

Hayfield Bonus Extra Value Shade 0824

Turquoise SSDK (Stylecraft Special Double Knit)

Empire SSDK

Petrol SSDK

Green SSDK

Grass Green SSDK

Sunshine SSDK

Bright Orange – James C Brett

Matador SSDK

Fuchsia Purple SSDK

Orchid – King Cole Pricewise DK

Purple – King Cole Pricewise DK

Lobelia – SSDK

Royal – SSDK

Lapis – SSDK

Aster – SSDK

Turquoise – SSDK

Azure –  Hayfield Bonus DK, Extra Value (0824)

Petrol – James C Brett

Empire – SSDK

Petrol – SSDK

Bottle – SSDK

Green – SSDK

Grass – SSDK

Sunshine SSDK

Bright Orange – James C Brett

Matador  – SSDK

Raspberry – SSDK

Fuchsia Purple – SSDK

Orchid – King Cole Pricewise DK

Purple – King Cole Pricewise DK

Royal SSDK

Geraardsbergen (2011).  Scheepjes Colour Crafter

Aster – SSDK

Lapis – SSDK

Empire – SSDK

Azure –  Hayfield Bonus DK, Extra Value (0824)

Turquoise – SSDK

Petrol   James C Brett Top Value Shade 846

Petrol – SSDK

Bottle – SSDK

Green – SSDK

Grass – SSDK

Sunshine SSDK

Bright Orange – James C Brett

Matador  – SSDK

Fuchsia Purple – SSDK

Orchid – King Cole Pricewise DK

Purple – King Cole Pricewise DK

Lobelia – SSDK

Royal – SSDK

Saxe           Cygnet DK

Geraardsbergen (2011).  Scheepjes Colour Crafter

Aster – SSDK

Turquoise – SSDK

Azure –  Hayfield Bonus DK, Extra Value (0824)

Petrol – James C. Brett

Empire – SSDK

Petrol – SSDK

 

THE BORDER

The first row in Petrol – James C. Brett,  filled in the troughs of the waves, following the instructions onAttic24’s website.

The second row of single crochet (US) is in the same yarn.

Third row in Azure –  Hayfield Bonus DK, Extra Value (0824) is double crochet (US)

Fourth and last row is in Turquoise SSDK in Crab Stitch.

~~~

Ta Dah!!!

~~~~

For other crocheted blankets go to my THROWS page

 

Scrap Happy Edge

Scrap Happy in August: I finished the Scrappy Blanket that was started in February and I gave it a rather magnificently over-the-top edge.

I made up the pattern for the edge as I went along, using Helen Shrimpton’s Sunbursts from her Cosmic Cal pattern as a guide.

Some of you might wince at this. Lynn and Jane, I’m thinking of you. 😉 Look away now!

It felt very freeing not to worry whether the sunbursts were always on a corner or not.

It looked particularly at home on the bench made of recycled pallets

and next to the repurposed empty blue agricultural detergent container, which is now a waterbutt. The blanket has gone to live as a throw over an armchair in my daughter’s grey, white and sunshine yellow kitchen, so I made myself another smaller one!

and thought this bench perfect for the photo shoot.

The bench is in the children’s play park where much of my scrap happy crochet is done, I sit and crochet whilst the children play – what better way to spend a few happy hours of Granny hooking time.

All the yarn is either left over from projects, unravelled old projects or from my Mum’s vast stash, gathered when we cleared out her house. Nearly every strand holds a memory, adding to the joy of making each blanket – and there is lots more to go!

I tie each piece together with a reef knot and leave the ends on show for texture. If I feel I want a change of colour, I just cut the yarn and add in a colour I want.

These blankets are made with a mixture of yarns – cotton, acrylic, mixes and a small amount of 100% wool. They wash well in the machine at 30C.

Pop along over to Kate’s place and see links to lots of other inspiring Scrap Happy projects. Scrap Happy day is on the 15th of each month.

Cosmic Bedspread Complete

Tah Dah!!!       Drum roll please!

At last it is finished

This has been a really fun project to make. The journey began back in April when Helen Shrimpton’s Crochet Along started and I finished the CAL back in June, but I wanted to do a few more rows to make it bigger and work out how to make a scalloped edge.

The bedspread, shown here on a 5′ wide double bed, had to wait patiently in the background whilst I made a couple of dreamcatchers for birthday presents, and then it was hard to pick it up again.

But I did it!!

I can highly recommend Helen’s patterns and this one is FREE and comes with a video tutorial.

To see other amazing Cosmics, join Helen’s Hookaholics on FB and go to the Photo Albums. If you ever need inspiration for colour combinations there is surely no better place to go.

I made this Bedspread with Scheepjes Whirl and Whirlettes and a 3mm hook:

2 x Rosewater Cocktail Whirl

1 x Jumping Jelly Whirl

1 x Citrus Whirlette

1x Blueberry Whirlette

I really enjoyed mixing up the Whirls and playing with the gradients in the colours to get the effect I wanted.

It measures 1m 41cm – 1m 35cm.           or             4’6.5″ x 4’5″

Blog posts showing progress:

Making a start. Parts 1 and 2

Parts 3 and 4

Parts 5 and 6

Parts 7 and 8

Part 9 and beyond

I am so happy with my zingy bedspread!

Cosmic Cal Parts 7 – 8

With Part 6 of the Cosmic Cal completed,

doesn’t it look perfect with this chair covered in a luxurious fabric by ‘Timorous Beasties‘…..

…….. on to Part 7 in which we meet the dastardly Cosmic Stars!!!

Helen’s You Tube tutorial for Part 7 is  here.

Continuing with the Jumping Jelly Whirl until completing Round 78, I worked Round 79, the first part of the Cosmic Stars, in Citrus Whirlette.

I don’t know if it is because I am left-handed and following a right-handed video, or because I was using a 4 ply cotton yarn which has no give, but I just could not get the placement of the spokes right – stitch markers to the rescue!

There was much chat on the FB groups about these stars and I was near to giving up on them when one wonderful person suggested working into front posts instead of front loops and this worked much better for me. Phew!

By the time I had worked along one side I was down to only needing the bottom middle marker to show me the way

Finding the ‘eye’ of the star in the completing row was tricky, so I employed a knitting needle to make the hole big enough to get my hook through

I was so relieved to get to the end of those Stars, knowing I would never have to make them again!

However, lots of people said they loved them and are making several more Cosmics including the Stars.

Mercifully Part 8 was delightfully relaxing as I continued into the orange section of the Jumping Jelly.

Part 9 to come.

Crochet Progress

A bedspread in the making for one of my twin Granddaughters.

I am mostly following Helen Shrimpton’s wonderful Rosslyn Pattern. This is a paid for pattern and worth every penny!

It is a wonderful pattern to follow and very relaxing to make. Well it would be if only I could stop myself making a few additions, changes and adjustments as I go – the creative mind is never at rest!

The 5 Changes I have made:

1. Surface sunrays were added over 2 rows
2. The popcorns are closer together than in the pattern – this happened by accident, but I decided to leave them in
3. There are some breaks in the row of popcorns, with some plain stitches
4. There is a colour change in this row
5. 8 colours have been used instead of 5

I was wondering if I was making the pattern look too ‘busy’, but I think I will stick with my changes. What do you think?

The yarn is Stylecraft Special DK, the hook 4.5mm.

The 8 colours:

Soft Peach, Buttermilk, Duck Egg, Pale Rose, Cream, Raspberry, Lincoln, Storm.

At this stage it measures 28 x 28 inches or 72 x 72 cm.

Have you made any of Helen Shrimpton’s patterns? If so please leave a link, I’d love to see them.

And if you enjoy a good old natter, pop along over to Cathy’s place for Knit and Natter Friday.

Coastal Cosy: WiP Wednesday

This is so relaxing to make and I’m enjoying making up the colour order as I go.

I started from the top of the picture with sky:

Cloud Blue, Sherbert, Cream, Soft Peach, Sherbert, Cream, Buttermilk, Soft Peach, Silver, Cloud Blue.

Then the sea:

Denim, Petrol, Storm, Denim, Aster, Cloud Blue, Petrol, Aster, Cloud Blue, Sherbert.

Breaking waves in Cream, Sherbert, Cream

onto a sandy beach: Buttermilk, Camel, Buttermilk

and one row of pebbles in Silver.

All in Stylecraft Special DK (acrylic) and a 4.5mm hook.

Pattern: Cosy Stripe by Lucy at Attic24.

I have made this pattern before when I joined in with Lucy’s Crochet Along (Cal) and I’m loving making another.

Graphite rocks will come next and then some grassy cliffs, followed by more sky …………

and so to choose more pink for the sunrise/sunset

Soft Peach is in the first bit of sky. Do I keep it calm and soft and gentle by just adding Pale Rose

Or liven it up with the corals of Pomegranate and Blush

Or go wild and vibrant by adding Fushcia Purple and Pomegranate

Which I think would require a more colourful sea beneath it, so I would add Empire into the blues. That Empire blue is much more vibrant in reality – you can see all the colours on the Wool Warehouse website here. But even there it is difficult to see the true colour. Blush is much more peachy pink than it looks on the website.

Which pinks would you choose? I’d love to know!

As Miss E would say when she was about 2 “cany’elp me?”

Joining today’s Daily Post: Lines

 

Mandala for Little Miss M

My celebratory TaDah! Moment

I started making this blanket back in July 2017 when I needed a break from working with the dark colours requested by Master R.

The pattern is Helen Shrimpton’s Mandala Madness with her Spiro Star at the centre.

It is for a single bed so I stopped at Round 88 in Part 14 .

I like the way the edge is shaped at this point, so I created the next few rows to keep that shape.

Edge

Little Miss M likes orange (Spice), so the edging had to be in orange.

I made small popcorns (3dcs instead of 5) at some of the points and the simple edging is 2scs, ch 2 repeat (US terms)

Blocking was done on an old blanket laid on the floor over a carpet.

I smooth the blanket out – take an overhead photo which shows up any lack of symmetry;

adjust;

pin with steel blocking pins right through the carpet;

spray mist the whole thing with water, then using a damp tea towel and the iron on its highest setting I VERY lightly press round the edges only of the blanket, reheating the iron when necessary (it has to be unplugged to reach);

I then lightly pressed the yellow and turquoise pointy bits so that they would lie flatter;

left it in situ over night to thoroughly dry.

Stylecraft SpecialDK and a 4.5mm hook – the blanket mearures 4’8″ across

List of colours (mostly chosen by Little Miss M):

Spiro Star Centre

Fondant, Saffron, Fondant, Cloud Blue, Bluebell, Bright Pink, Spice

Mandala Madness Part 2

Meadow, Turquoise, Fondant,

Part 3

Wisteria, Saffron, Wisteria, Sunshine,

Part 4

Spice

Part 5

Aspen, Pistachio, Cloud Blue, Bluebell

Part 6

Soft Peach, Duck Egg, Fondant

Part 7

Lobelia, Petrol, Bright Pink, Spice, Turquoise,

Part 8 

(My favourite part!)

Bright Pink, Cloud Blue, Saffron, Bright Pink,

Part 9

Meadow, Pistachio, Aspen, Sunshine

Part 10

Bluebell, Soft Peach, Meadow, Fondant, Bluebell, Cloud Blue

Part 11

Bright Pink, Spice, Turquoise, Fondant, Candy Floss, Bluebell

Part 12

Bright Pink, Spice, Saffron, Meadow

Part 13

Turquoise, Spice, Fondant

Part 14 

and Edge

Bluebell, Bright Pink, Petrol, Sunshine, Spice

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I could never have made this without the fabulous video tutorials by Esther at Its All in a Nutshell.

Huge thanks to Esther and Helen.

~~~~~~~~

Joining in with Ginny’s Yarn Along. She asks us to add a book that we are reading, but I rarely read books nowadays. I do however watch DVDs whilst crocheting or knitting and one I have thoroughly enjoyed recently is this documentary about Gauguin, which gives a fascinating account of his difficult and colourful life

 

Squirrel Nutkin Woodland Blanket

Nearly finished!

All the motifs sewn on – I just need my Grandson to try out the finger-puppet to decide how long the cord needs to be.

Pattern for the blanket is by Lucy at Attic24:

Woodland Blanket CAL: Random Colour Order

With additions:

Patterns by Lucy: Autumn Leaves and Acorns 

Pattern by Charlotta for the larger Oak Leaves.

Pattern for the Larger Maple Leaves by Michelle

Pattern for the Squirrel Motif and Finger Puppet by me.

Pattern for Old Brown, sewn on as a pocket to hold Nutkin, is an adaptation of this cute little owl by Jacquie at Bunny Mummy. Jacquie has kindly given me permission to share my adaptation – coming soon!

I stopped after the 89th colour row (each colour is 2 rows) and this blanket measures.

1m19cm (3’11”) wide

1m 64cm (5’4″) long

Using Stylecraft Special DK, I mostly followed Lucy’s Random Colour Order, substituting Mocha with Walnut and changing the order a little here and there.

4.5mm hook

Foundation Row: Lime

Ch 239 to start.

1 – 18

Cypress, Meadow, Mustard, Tomato, Spice, Storm,

Duck Egg, Copper, Walnut, Gold, Pistachio, Grey,

Lincoln, Silver, Tomato, Gold, Lime, Lincoln

19 – 36

Grey, Walnut, Copper, Spice, Mustard, Pistachio,

Duck Egg, Meadow, Silver, Cypress, Gold, Tomato,

Meadow, Storm, Lime, Silver, Mustard, Pistachio

37 – 54

Spice, Copper, Walnut, Cypress, Duck Egg, Lincoln,

Mustard, Spice, Meadow, Silver, Linciln, Storm,

Walnut, Tomato, Gold, Lime, Cypress, Duck Egg,

55 – 73

Pistachio, Grey, Copper, Gold, Meadow, Cypress,

Tomato, Storm, Duck Egg, Mustard, Grey, Silver,

Lime, Copper, Spice, Walnut, Pistachio, Lincoln,

74 – 89

Cypress, Gold, Tomato, Copper, Walnut, Meadow,

Duck Egg, Pistachio, Mustard, Silver, Storm, Lincoln,

Spice, Gold, Meadow, Cypress

 

Edge

Lime, sc

Mustard, blsc

5mm hook, Walnut, bl slip st

5mm hook Tomato, bl sc

 

Wow! I have so enjoyed making this and am excited to show Little Bro (5) this weekend.

 

 

Afghan, Boyghan or Manghan

At last my blanket for Master R is finished!

My daughter thinks it looks a bit wizardy – I see what she means, the designs could definitely be magical symbols used in an 8 year old’s incantations – he’s reading the Harry Potter books at the moment.

The blanket measures 1metre x 1m30cm, just right to snuggle under on the sofa, or to go over his duvet on his top-bunk bed.

Master R is now aged 8. He was 5 when I started it. He wanted a blanket in purples and greens, not colours I would choose to put together.

I usually LOVE co-creating things for my grandchildren and bringing their ideas to life, but this has been my most challenging project to date.

Back in July I wrote of the journey thus far showing some of the early ideas, experiments and samples that had been rejected by my co-designer.

Together we arrived at these Squares and colours, he knows what he likes!

On the whole I feel it is important to encourage children to make as many decisions for themselves as they can – but I have to admit this one took me to pushing past my own resistances to make something I personally did not love! It languished in the W.I.P. pile for far too long at times.

However I’m thrilled with how it turned out and to know Master R will get what he wanted is very satisfying indeed.

The square patterns are from the Nuts About Squares crochet along.

Master R’s choices:

Esme’s Winter Cottage by  Dedri Uys

and my variation

Denna by Polly Plum

Bavarian Beauty by Heather Gibbs

Made in Stylecraft Special DK and a 5mm hook

Colours

Emperor, Wisteria, Violet, Khaki, Pistachio, Meadow, Lime, Cypress, Midnight, Silver, Grey

I made up the border design

Starting with the surface zig-zag as shown in Esme’s Winter Cottage, then a row of double crochet (US) in Emperor; a row of Single Crochet (US) in Khaki; a row of double crochet in the back loops only, in Meadow; a row of SCs in Khaki; then a row of back loop DCs in Emperor; finished with a row of Crab Stitch in Emperor.

I’m enjoying my Ta Dah! moment!

Joining Nancy Merrill’s Photo Challenge: PURPLE

A Bedspread for Master R

This has been my most challenging project yet! It turns out that co-designing with a 7 year old boy is not easy!

First of all he asked for SQUARES – not my favourite things to crochet. Secondly he asked for the colours to be PURPLES and GREENS – not an easy colour combination for me to enjoy.

I started this project in July 2016 when he was just 6 and in my mind young children like bright colours so I set to work creating squares that combined purples and greens with other colours (of course, now I realise it is me who likes bright colours!)

I didn’t like the look of this and neither did he. I scoured Pinterest for inspiration.

So next up, a selection of smaller squares, grading the colours

Master R did not like them, he was very polite about it and spent some time explaining his reasons …….. I knew that this idea had to be abandoned …….. so, what to do? ……

In the process I have amassed and huge pile of squares!

They will probably go into a blanket for refugees, I know Mrs Snail is contributing to the 60 million trebles project, so they might go that way.

I was at a loss to know how I was going to come up with something for Master R that he likes and I like well enough to want to make it. His two sisters have blankets they love: Miss E has this one

and for Little Miss M I made this one, which, of course was perfect for all those occasions when you want to be a ghost, or a monster.

Both were made with nice easy relaxing ripple stripes – but Master R is set on having squares.

How could I make the colour combination work – I looked to garden design – there was a lot of purple and green at Chelsea and now this Hampton Court Flower Show garden is a beautiful example. Photo taken from the BBC website.

Then, like a knight in shining armour, galloping over the hill in February, along came the Nuts About Squares Crochet Along (CAL) 

Hurray! Something I would enjoy joining in with and a blanket made of squares.

The patterns are quite complex, I would learn new things. Some excitement about the project began to creep in.

Week 1 – Esme’s Winter Cottage by Dedri Uys

Master R’s loves this square. He tells me he loves “the design and the texture” – he knows what he likes!

I’m not so keen on the diamonds so I made this variation – thankfully Master R thinks this design is ok.

Although he doesn’t really like the introduction of the Cream colour, his favourite colour after purple is khaki green – Oh lawks! Can I bear to stick to only dark colours!

He is pushing me way out of my comfort zone here.

Work in Progress! On we go!

Hedgerow Edge

Finished!

Well the body of the Dorset Hedgerow (Attic 24’s Moorland Cal) Blanket is anyway – and all those pesky ends are sewn in.

It has been a joy to make, enhanced by joining a delightful dedicated Moorland Cal Facebook group – what a wonderfully supportive group of fabulous women from all over the world. Crochet could save the world!

Now I have just the edge to do.

Help!

Decision time.

Should I do the edge in pinks and greens

or

Blues?

Any ideas? What would you choose?

I’d really appreciate your thoughts.

Joining in with Ginny’s Yarn Along.

Ginny asks us to share a book we are reading. Last weekend I was staying with my son and his family in London and he was reading ‘Black Box Thinking’ – he was so enthusiastic about it, I started reading it myself……. in between making yet more seahorses, which were just the right size to take on the train

 

 

Hedgerow Blanket 2

I am joining in with Attic24’s Moorland Crochet Along. Week 6 has been published, but I have just started Week 5. It is not a race but I am itching to get the series of blues that represent the sky and finish the blanket – just 8 more rows to go til I get to ‘Duck Egg’ blue.

Lucy’s colour choices are based on the Yorkshire Moors, mine a Dorset Summer Hedgerow.

You can see my list of colours in order in this post: Hedgerow Blanket.

Whilst crocheting I am watching BBC4’s archive arts programmes. Today, this one with a young Germaine Greer interviewing Paule Vézelay in 1984.

Linking with Ginny’s Yarn Along.

Yarn Along: Hedgerow Blanket

An update on my progress with the Attic24 CAL

Lucy has designed a beautiful Moorland Blanket using mainly greens and heather purples. I have substituted some of the colours with pinks and other neutral colours to use yarn I already had and this has created what I believe is a palette representing English Hedgerows in early summer.

Does the palette suggest something different to you?

My substitutions:

Lucy’s Moorland Colours          Hedgerow Substitutions

Pistachio                                           Mustard

Mocha                                                Parchment

Walnut                                               Silver

Grape                                                 Raspberry

Plum                                                  Pale Rose

Violet                                                  Soft Peach

Wisteria                                             Cream

~

Here is Lucy’s list with my substitutions up to colour row 70.

My previous post showing the sequence of the first 40 colours is here.

The list from colour 41 to where I am today, each colour is two rows of crochet.

Lucy’s Colours                     My Substitutions

41. Mocha                         Parchment

42.Plum                                 Pale Rose

43. Violet                           Soft Peach
44. Khaki
45. Mocha                        Parchment
46. Meadow
47. Plum                           Pale Rose
48. Violet                         Soft Peach
49. Cypress
50. Mocha                        Parchment
51. Walnut                      Silver
52. Violet                        Soft Peach
53. Meadow
54. Cypress
55. Plum                         Pale Rose
56. Violet                        Soft Peach
57. Khaki
58. Mocha                      Parchment
59. Plum                        Pale Rose
60. Sage
61. Walnut                    Silver
62. Grape                      Raspberry
63. Violet                     Soft Peach
64. Plum                      Pale Rose
65. Wisteria                Cream
66. Grape                     Raspberry
67. Sage
68. Pistachio              Mustard
69. Mocha                  Parchment
70. Plum                      Pale Rose

~

Joining in with Ginny’s Yarn Along.

Whilst I crochet I am watching/listening to the first series of  “Money for Nothing” presented by Sarah Moore, which I bought for £10.99 from BBC iPlayer. She gathers items destined for the tip and with the help of top class artisans, she repurposes them.

Sarah was the first winner of BBC2’s ‘Great Interior Design Challenge’ in 2013.

Go to my THROWS Page  to see other throws, blankets, afghans I have made with hints and tips on how to make them yourself. I am happy to answer any questions you might have.

Hedgerow Blanket

I am joining in with Attic24’s Moorland Crochet Along (CAL) .

The colours I have used are as close to Lucy’s as I could manage whilst using yarn I already have. All Stylecraft Special DK Acrylic.

My substitutions so far:

Lucy’s Moorland Colours            Substitutions

Pistachio                                           Mustard

Mocha                                                Parchment

Walnut                                               Silver

Grape                                                 Raspberry

Plum                                                  Pale Rose

Violet                                                  Soft Peach

 

Lucy used Mocha and Walnut to represent the earth and for me the Parchment and Silver represent a stony path or track below a hedgerow.

The greens are much the same as Lucy’s and instead of the purples for the heather I have gone for pinks to represent blossoms found in the grass below the hedge and in the hedge itself. I think these colours represent a late Spring or early Summer English Hedgerow – do you agree? I’m quite pleased with the way they are turning out.

Lucy’s Sequence                             My substitutions

1. Cypress
2. Lime
3. Khaki
4. Meadow
5. Pistachio                                    Mustard
6. Mocha                                         Parchment
7. Walnut                                       Silver
8. Lime
9. Meadow
10. Khaki
11. Lime (I missed this one out by mistake, and have added it in after colour 35)
12. Pistachio                                    Mustard
13. Cypress
14. Walnut                                        Silver
15. Lime
16. Grape                                          Raspberry
17. Pistachio                                   Mustard
18. Meadow
19. Khaki
20. Mocha                                      Parchment
21. Grape                                       Raspberry
22. Lime
23. Walnut                                    Silver
24. Cypress
25. Meadow
26. Khaki
27. Lime
28. Walnut                                  Parchment (order of these two colours were swapped by accident)
29. Mocha                                   Silver
30. Knaki
31. Grape                                   Raspberry
32. Walnut                                Parchment
33. Sage
34. Plum                                    Pale Rose
35. Grape                                    Raspberry

Lime ( I added this here to make up for the previous mistake)

36. Meadow
37. Plum                                    Pale Rose
38. Violet                                 Soft Peach
39. Sage
40. Walnut                              Silver

~

Joining in with Ginny’s Yarn Along

Scraptastic!

Title pinched from Mrs Snail. Way back in July 2015 Mrs Snail was using Permaculture Principles in her scrap-busting projects and making some fun hats. Using all sorts of bits and pieces of yarn left over from other projects, she tied them together and wound them into a ball and crocheted hats to sell at a Permaculture event.

I thought this was such a FAB!!!!! idea and started tying lengths of left over yarn together, no ends to sew in. My hoarding paid off!!! Hurray!

I thought I would make some seat covers for Pippin, the caravan that sits in my garden.

which is great place to keep the Lego

But Pippin is a bit old and scrappy as it is, so I don’t think the seat covers made of odd bits of yarn works very well in there. I think granny squares in Cath Kidson colours might look better and smarten the caravan up a bit. What to do with what I have made so far….

I just love the random colours and texture this creates

I unravelled a cardigan that never gets worn

and added to the seat cover to turn it into a blanket. All sorts of yarns in every weight were added together, and I used the cardigan yarn for the border

It has made a snug and cosy blanket that will go off to Syria in November.

I’ve also made a scarf, much loved by Master R.

 

 

Birthday Blanket

Miss E’s design is coming to life. The daisy squares have been added

The edging done

Only the daisies to sew on in the centre.

I’m hopeful it will be finished in time for her birthday.

Joining in with Ginny’s Yarn Along.

Smokey and the Blanket

This picture came in an email yesterday, along with this lovely message:

“Thought I’d share some more appreciaters of the blanket, everyone loves it!
We love the extra weight of it on our bed too, it’s super snugly as well as beautiful xx”

Seems the whole family loves that blanket.

‘Ickle’ on the right is an old-timer and a bit wary of the young virile Smokey, who joined the family just over a year ago as a kitten, and showed his love also for a crocheted blanket early on.

You can see my Ta Dah moment for this blanket here.