Ross Poldark Blanket

Last year, a beloved friend sent me a message, it went something like this: " Patti, if you would be so kind, I would love it if you could make a blanket for Robert, he keeps on taking mine!" They live in Woking UK, and it can get veery chilly not so!!! Some years back I made her this blanket, a very beautiful blanket designed by Heather of The Patchwork Heart.  The Demelza and Poldark CAL's had taken my fancy when they were posted, and at the time I was quite keen to get involved ..   (the series is amazing too). So I leapt at the the opportunity, and since I needed a blanket for a gentleman, the Poldark pattern was ideal. 

It is definitely not for the faint hearted this pattern is .... some skill is really necessary.  I learnt so much, and when it was finished, it was fabulous!  There are many overlay stitches ... new technique for me.  Also small and large squares, I enjoyed the overall experience immensely.  I used my own colour pallette, with some colours as in the pattern, and some my own choice. I also changed the square placements a little. And I decided on a plain border.  Here are a few details:

Pattern:  Ross Poldark blanket designed by Catherine Bligh
Yarn: Stylecraft Special DK
Hook: 4.50mm
Colours:  Black, white, sage, storm blue, silver, and copper

And a picture or three .......

The blanket was finished in November, in time for a visiting friend to South Africa to take it back to the UK with him.  And then it was wrapped in time for Christmas.  Robert is sent me his gratitude and thanks for his blankie, which he absolutely loves .. happy days!!!!  There is something so amazing about handmade gifts isn't there.

Thank you for the most wonderful support, lovely ladies, and until next time
much love Pat xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Cake Yarn Magic

Had a lot going on dear friends; thank goodness for the calmness and peace my crochet work brings me! In the turmoil and mayhem that has filled many of my days of late, and with my concentration levels at almost zero, I chose these two simple projects; easy patterns and beautiful yarn and my first tryout of the hugely on-trend cake yarns. The patterns I used are courtesy of two of my favourite creative ladies.  The Cosy Stripe Blanket is from Lucy @ Attic 24, and the Wrap Around Granny Square Cushion Cover is from Heather @ The Patchwork Heart.

The Cosy Stripe Blanket uses just Double Crochet Stitch (US) or Treble Crochet Stitch (UK), in a two row pattern sequence, simple to follow, not much concentration needed! The beauty of Cake Yarn is as the yarn is taken up in the crochet process, the colour runs blend one into the other, so no pesky colour change threads to take care of. I used Kismet Cupcake DK, and a 4,5mm hook. 

For the border I first did a row of Double Crochet US/Treble Crochet UK, as per Lucy's pattern. The second row is Single Crochet US/Double Crochet UK all round.  Then I did four rows of Linen stitch.

The Wrap Around Granny Square Cushion Cover is so quick and easy.  Just crochet a large Granny Square in Double Crochet US/Treble Crochet UK, place the cushion at a diagonal on your square, and close as per Heather's easy-to-follow instructions.

I love how the cushion cover in the changing colour runs, gives you completely different looks on each side.

My Cosy Stripe blanket is approximately 45 inches/115 cm wide and 50 inches/128 cm long; and weighs 600 gms ( 4 x 150 gm cakes)

It is still chilly in the evenings here in Jo'burg SA, and I am thinking we may yet have some really cold weather before winter is over, so my new Knee Rug fits the bill beautifully!

Keep well, find something good in every day,

much love Pat xxxxxx

Happy Flower Blanket

Good afternoon dear readers!

  I really love making blankets, especially the kind with squares and a beautiful border .. and so, it was with great delight I came across a lovely easy square called the Happy Flower Block, that I could see making up into a gorgeous knee rug.

  Find it here on Annie's Place blog.

Here is my version made up with Stylecraft Special DK in colours Raspberry, Magenta, Bluebell, Wisteria, Fordant and Parma Violet, with joining rows and border in Parma Violet. It is a super colour to use as the base colour in a blanket that has blues and purples, not quite grey, not quite lavender, just a good mid colour.  I used a solid method of joining the squares from the  Patchwork Heart. Hook size 4mm. I made 80 squares.. 8 squares across by 10 squares long ..  of 11cm x 11cm each and the border including the row of single crochet in blue is about 5.5cm. Final measurements are 120cm x 100cm. 

The border is made up of two rows of shells, with a final row of single crochet

The how-to will follow in the coming weeks.

The reverse side is really neat, and I am very disciplined in sewing threads in as each square is completed, millions of threads to take care of is not my thing!

The reverse side

The Happy Flower blanket has a new home with a dear friend of mine,

 Delia .. a lovely and gracious lady.

So happy you have stopped by, thank you!

Much love to all, Pat xxxxxxxx

Riley's Blanket

My gift to my grandson this year for his birthday is this checkerboard granny square blanket.

 I enjoyed crocheting this simple yet quite dramatic blanket ... it was just so good to settle down to the gentle rhythm of making plain monocolour granny squares, joining each one as it was finished, and watching as it grew and grew.  In no time the blanket was complete and it was time to add the border.  Because the squares were plain charcoal and red, I decided to jazz up the border a little with five rows in alternating colours .. very happy with the end result. 

 Some pattern details:

• Terms are US.
• I used a DK yarn in colours of charcoal and red and a size 4mm hook. 
• Each square is made up of five rows and then a sixth row as the joining row, and is one solid colour, either red or charcoal throughout. The square has no stitches between the 3dc groups, except on the corners where I used 2ch to separate the two 3dc groups to form the corner.  
• Each square measures 15cm/5.75in with 48 squares in total; ie 6 squares across and 8 squares in length.  The blanket measures approximately 128cm/50in x 98cm/38in, the border included. 

•  I turned my work over after each row. I have just recently started crocheting my squares this way, and am delighted by how neat and "square" my work is, with no twisting or unshapeliness (not a word but you get the drift I'm sure)
• I used the join-as-you-go joining method.
• I finished off the border with 3 rows of sc in red. 

 

 I hope to have a photo of Riley and his blanket to show you shortly .. I will add it to the bottom of this post.

Cheery bye till next post

Pat xxxx

Another baby blanket update!

Hello again!

Just a quick update on the third of the baby blanket trio I finished in April .... this is such an easy pattern, I loved making this gorgeous 12 point Baby Ripply blanket.  I posted pattern details on this previous post.

Have a most wonderful day

Pat xxxxxxxxx

Pretty in Pastels

 Pastel colours are so pleasing to the eye.. I love using 

beautiful pastel shades together..

Baby blankets are my current fancy.. 

make up in no time at all..

I happen to have pastels colours aplenty 

and I had some squares already waiting 

for a new home..

This is a lovely square.. 

they look beautiful joined together.. 

using the 'continuous join as you go' map and

the join-as-you-go method

Adding a good generous border..

I love generous borders don't you?

Some granny squares, still just my most favourite 

of all the squares.. 

next up for a beautiful border..

not quite decided what form it will take just yet..

Shades of green, blue and turquoise.. 

and following this great tutorial..

I have never turned my work over after each row

before and I love the new textures I am seeing.. 

I am in love.. 

this is a pattern I will make many times over

I think.. a twelve point circular ripple..

with every row and each colour change I love it more..

Wishing you a wonderful week..

love and light

Pat xxxxxxxx

Stash-busting beauty!

So pleased with how my first stash-busting blanket has turned out! All I needed was white yarn to complete the joining up and the border.

Yarn is acrylic, hook size 5mm. I used this method to join the squares, which creates an attractive defined look to each block.  Most of the squares are conventional Granny squares, with two nice patterned squares thrown in to perk it up!

Pattern for this square is called a Triangle-in-a-Square, fairly easy, takes a bit of practice but is so effective.  (Edit ... just been browsing and look what I found, another take on this fabulous square, take a peek! )

This pattern is by Dly's Hooks and Yarns called Square in a square

The border is in Block St, this link will take you to a good tutorial with pictures on how to do this stitch.

For the border, I worked on the wrong side of the blanket, using white yarn, making 1dc into a stitch, followed by 1sc into the next stitch.  This creates a sort of small bobble on the right side; I wanted to keep the edging simple and quite unobtrusive because the blanket is quite busy. 

We have just had a 'short, sharp shower', ten minutes and it had moved along ... and my thirsty little garden says "thank you" Just spoken to my eldest son in the UK, he tells me he and his lovely girlfriend are heading out to friends, and they are determined to have a "braai' (Barbeque) today, come rain, hail or shine!  Here's hoping for a peak of sun and no showers ..

I hope you are enjoying a lovely Easter filled with yummy goodies, surrounded by your favourite family and friends, bright and sunny weather and having loads of fun.

Love Pat xx

A blanket and two hats!

Gee I've missed everyone!! Life is sometimes too hectic to have a moment to sit and contemplate what comes next!! So even though I have had every intention of getting down to a bit of blog writing, in the words of John Lennon "Life is what happens while you are busy making other plans".

I have had to put my beautiful Stripey Blanket WIP on the back burner for a couple of weeks ..... a Snuggle Blanket for a little niece's birthday present and an order for two hats popped up and have had all my attention.  And to be honest, I have rather enjoyed the diversity in yarns and patterns!

I am using a square based on one of my favourites, the Sunburst square, for the blanket in White, Fuschia, Violet, Crocus (a lilac) and Just Pink, all shades in our Elle Family Double Knit, a really good value for money yarn.  Hook is 4mm, and I am using the join-as-you-go method (link here).

All the squares are nearly up to the last row before the joining row, so my weekend hooky fix is organised!

In between making squares, I have made two hats for a friend's grand-daughter in the UK.  For the one pictured hereunder, I used a pattern that I keep on coming back to .. do you do that? .. it's featured in a Simply Crochet magazine Issue 26, and it has worked up beautifully!  Again I have used an Elle yarn, this one is called Rustic Double Knit and the colour is Cobalt blue, and for interest I have layered the dc rows with 'Seed pattern' rows in Dark Navy.

I hope the weekend is a good one,

until next post

Pat xxxxxx

Stripey Blanket ~ Part 4

I have added a few more rows to my gorgeous Stripey Blanket, despite the searing heat we are experiencing down here in South Africa.  Most of the country is in the grip of a heatwave making working with wool so very uncomfortable!

At the end of Part 3, I was just starting the first row of the Catherine Wheel section.

So:

Rows 35 - 38 :: Catherine Wheel pattern in Magenta, Pomegranate x 2 rows and Wisteria for the fourth row.

Rows 39 - 41 :: Hdc rows in Saffron, Plum and Saffron

Rows 42 - 44 :: Granny pattern rows x 3 rows in Aspen, Bluebell and Aspen.  If you are not familiar with how to crochet the usual granny pattern, you work like so:
3dcs in st, miss 2 sts, 3 dcs in next st, miss 2 sts and so on. I start with 3ch (stands as first dc) then, miss 2 sts, and 3dcs in next st.  Depending on how many sts you have cast on in the beginning, at the end of row you need to end with at least 1dc into the last st.  

 I continue to be delighted by the brightness and clarity of the colours in the Stylecraft Special DK range.  One can practically not go wrong, whatever colours you place side by side.

So nice to see you,

 take care until next time,

Pat xxxxxx