I can’t believe I’ve actually finished it. Way back at the very start of January, with a determination to be more creative in 2013, I learned to crochet and embarked on a rather ambitious project to complete a granny squares blanket. I thought it would take me 144 days, a day per square (I conveniently forgot I’d have to join all the squares and then edge the blanket), and by my calculations in reality it took me 204 days (taking into account my yarn-related false start). Some weeks I raced through the squares, and then on busy work weeks my hooking often slowed to a complete halt. In fact, you’ll notice the blanket has some squares hooked in a single colour – I reserved this tactic for weeks when my brain was so stretched I was unable to make colour combination choices but in an effort to continue to create squares I simplified the design.
It’s not the hugest blanket in the world, but it’s a perfectly adequate lap blanket for me when I’m sat on the sofa, and I love the colours that were inspired by our living room rug.
This blanket is far from perfect, but that doesn’t bother me at all – I like seeing the evidence of what I learnt along the way. The biggest challenge for me was getting the tension right. Once that was sorted, hooking became so much more relaxing and comfortable. Changing the tension halfway through did mean I ended up with squares of different sizes, but the blanket still came together when they were all joined.
The last detail is the edging. Rather than hook separate edging that then needed to be attached, I opted for a few rows of double crochet and then a very simple picot edge to finish it off.
When I finished the last stitch I felt triumphant, proud and bereft all at the same time. I’ve been working on it for so long that I felt lost without squares to hook when I had a spare minute. Sitting on the sofa in the evening without all my yarn, scissors and hook scattered around me felt exceedingly odd.
And so I did what any self-respecting crochet-lover would do. I immediately started a new project. I think this affirms my hooky addiction, and I’m happier now I’ve got something new on the go. As soon as I started to join all my squares and the twins could see the blanket take shape they requested one each for themselves. The hooky happiness is set to continue for some time yet…
BEAUTIFUL! I so need to learn how to crochet. Love the colours you chose. x
Thanks Molly. I can’t really take credit for the colours as I did take them from the rug, but I do think they’ve worked brilliantly together. I love crochet but I know you knit – I haven’t mastered that yet!
FAB! Adore the blanket, I would love even a pinch of your creative flair! And I am borrowing your fab clipboard photo frame idea 😉
Thanks so much! And you’ve reminded me that I did mean to blog about the clipboard photo frame idea but (as usual) haven’t quite got it finished enough for a blog post!
Congratulations on finishing your blanket. It is great feeling to finish a project (and start the next one). I’m getting close to finishing a granny square blanket for my son. I have kept the colours in the squares simple because I’ve used lots of different textured wool. Unfortunately it has taken me so long that he is not interested in it.
Your blanket sounds lovely – and I’m sure your son will be interested in it once it’s finished. My two showed no interest at all in mine until I started joining the squares.
It is gorgeous. I love seeing it finished after all those FB chats about it. I am sick with jealousy over your beautifully styled shots of the blanket – I make so many beautiful things but I really need to work on how I photograph them.
I’m sure you could get lovely photographs too – you have a great eye. I think the thing to remember is that you have to put in quite a lot of effort to get the perfect shots. I also clear all extraneous stuff out of shot – our house isn’t really that clutter free. And I look at how other people have shot similar items so I can get an idea of what works best before I even start. X
Oh it is beautiful – well done you, enjoy it
Any hints as to what the new project is???
Thankyou! I’m working on a blanket each for the twins – four giant granny squares each. Hoping to get them finished for their birthday at the beginning of Sept.
Then I should really try to learn how to do something other than a granny square 😉
Looooooooove it!!!! xx
Thanks muchly! x