Wednesday 11 April 2012

Granny-Stripe Blanket Finish-Line!

The Granny-Stripe blanket that I have been making for the last six months is finally finished! I didn't quite manage it for H's birthday but I have now completed the final rows and I am really pleased I persevered with it. I don't know why this particular project proved to be such hard going - I like making blankets even though by their nature they are bound to be more time-consuming than smaller things; the rhythmic, repetitive nature of them is soothing and easy and the stripiness is fun but this one has somehow been hard to keep motivated about. I think I preferred doing the stitch of both the vintage stripe and ripple blankets I made last year and also the not insignificant fact that both of those had more colours in the overall scheme.

Anyway, be that as it may, the finished article is now ensconced in its final destination and I think it looks quite good. H is very pleased with it and that, after all, is all that matters.

I used Lucy of Attic 24's Granny Stripe Pattern which you can find here. The pattern is very clear and easy to follow. Lucy used a whole rainbow of colours in hers and if I were to make another this is what I would do rather than keep to a more restricted palette like this one. But although perhaps less fun to do, keeping to this palette has had the effect I wanted - bold, bright and definitely-not-too-feminine.

I used a 4 mm hook and Rico Creative Cotton yarn which I really like working with. It's not always easy to obtain all the colours in the range but it's worth a bit of hunting around for. It's not expensive (always good news for blankets because they use so much!), the colours are clear and bright and blankets made with it have a lovely, heavy softness about them. What I particularly love about all crochet blankets is that they are wonderfully snuggly and warm but never stifling - they breathe with you and the ambient temperature somehow in a way that I've not found with other blankets. Perhaps it's all the holes that allow for fluctuation in temperature. Not sure - physics was never my subject!


The cushion with its knitted squares cover was made by my mother for H, for his birthday, using lots of oddments of yarn left over from knitting things for him when he was little. All the grandchildren are getting one apparently, using oddments of yarn left over from knitting things for them so each one will get a cushion in colours they like. Unlike her elder daughter, (me!), my mother is pretty nifty with the old knit-sticks! I am wondering whether my next foray into knitting might not take a leaf out of her book. In principle, (although of course one never knows in practice!), an assemblage of knitted squares in some shape or form might not be beyond me.

The chicken is not part of the normal layout of the bed. He is the doorstop but he migrated here when he saw me taking the photos! I made him out of off-cuts of H's curtains a few years ago and he is stuffed with popping-corn maize to give him a decent weight - a bit like our birdie visitors yesterday after their breakfast visit! This cockerel is less intimidating however than yesterday's and, also unlike yesterday's, is amenable to being moved on at whim! Clearly he likes reading too!


 I think this reaching of the Granny-Stripe Finish-Line calls for a little celebration ...


... of tea and an Easter cup cake (or two!)

25 comments:

  1. A triumphant finish. Although perhaps not so much fun to make, a restricted palette does lead to a rather more sophisticated blanket. Enjoy your Easter cup cakes; they look delicious.

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  2. I am about to embark on my first blanket! I thought about 'granny-stripe' and also considered 'ripple' but have decided to throw caution to the wind and go for a 'zig-zag' just to try something a little different. It will also mean that I can hopefully create a bit of a tutorial too since I haven't seen that many zig-zag blankets being written about.

    Your granny-stripe does look excellent though and I don't think your colours are that restricted - there must be about 8 or 9? Can I ask how many actual balls of yarn you used?

    I would keep an eye on that chicken though as he looks like he's making himself far too comfy!!!

    B x

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    Replies
    1. Your idea of doing a zig zag blanket sounds great! Will really look forward to the tutorial - go for it! There are actually 12 separate colours in my Granny-Stripe although some of these were repeated in the stripe sequence - notably the red, the deep royal blue and the vanilla colour. I think I used about 3 balls of each colour, possibly 4 of the colours that were repeated. It's a bit difficult to assess accurately as I had some left from the previous blankets and I added in extra but I think that's a reasonable estimate.
      Your comment about the chicken did make me laugh - you are dead right! Must keep an eye on him or will have trouble evicting him too!
      Keep me posted about the zig-zags!
      Elizabeth xx

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  3. The Easter cupcakes look wonderful. What a lovely blanket and cushion too! x

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  4. Congratulations! Blankets seem to go so quickly on the front end and SLOWLY on the back end. I am working on two and I don't know when they'll be done. I do like the colors too! I hope you enjoyed your celebratory cupcake :)

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  5. Oh, well done on making it to completion! Just the thought of darning in those ends makes me tired. I was thinking today that I haven't baked cupcakes in way too long and then up yours popped looking all tempting and pretty.

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  6. Fabulous choice of colours, masculine and chic. Love it. Great looking cakes too. I am mid-granny for my boy, and hells teeth, it's sooooo boring at the moment! Well done on sticking it through to the bitter end!

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  7. ..... that blanket is beautiful..... rach x

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  8. I love your blanket and I'm sure H loves it too. The colours are brilliant for a boy, just the right level of brightness. Well done finishing it. Blankets are so lovely to make especially when you have such a deserving recipient.

    And the reward of the cupcakes made it all worthwhile!

    Do you think that chicken might multiplY and have beautiful little chicks? I am very envious of it, it's lovely!

    Helen xx

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  9. The blanket is fabulous - I love the colours!

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  10. The blanket is BEAUTIFUL. Well done. I think the palate you chose is perfect for a teenage boy's room. Good tips on colour, cost and type of yarn and hooks - I will bear these in mind for when i attempt one of these - i SO want to make one!

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  11. Thanks for your comment re the bullseye blanket on my blog - I have replied with a link to the blog I found it on! x

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  12. It's lush! Well done you. The colours are great & it looks really cosy!

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  13. its wonderful i love it and its not all over the top like my things always turn out to be its corordinated and the colours look fab, bye the way those easter cupcakes look rather good too.,

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  14. That is some blanket ... in fact to a non crocheter it's awesome! Love that the chook is reading but I have a question ... how does he turn the pages ;D

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