Recently I've been making project bags for my cross stitch business and have been working with some lovely fabrics to make patchwork panels for the front of the bags. My latest ones have been made using Moda's Willow collection and whilst I was sewing I noticed how nice the fabric colours looked together and felt inspired to go through my yarn stash and match them to make a blanket.
I'm still trying to stash bust so I've matched them as close as I can with what I had! It's a mixture of brands but they are all acrylic dk weight.
Cygnet DK
- Mustard (I've got a horrible feeling this one has been discontinued! I'm not sure of an equivalent, its quite a unique shade! You could try a khaki shade)
Stylecraft Special DK
- Blush
Scheepjes Colour Crafter
- Nijmegen
- Coevorden
- Delfzijl
- Goes
- Ameland
- Dordrecht
- Ommen
- Burum
- Kampen
Yarnsmiths Create DK
- Off White
I've been wanting to make a simple granny stripe blanket for ages, I can't remember the last time I made one and I really fancied making a big randomly striped one! I've used Attic24's granny stripe pattern.......it's really easy and a great stitch to settle down with after a busy day.
I can't tell you how many chains I made for the foundation chain, I don't count them all, I just work to the multiple which in this case is 3+2 until it's roughly the width I want the blanket to be. I'm less likely to lose count by doing it this way! I'm using a 4mm hook but you would use the hook size that works for your tension and your chosen yarn.
I frequently get asked how I deal with the ends especially with these really colourful blankets with lots of colour changes! It does depend a little on what I'm making but I'm afraid I don't have any special tips, tricks or shortcuts for it as I'm a bit old skool when it comes to ends!.....I like to sew/weave them in the traditional way.
I know some of you like to crochet over your ends but granny stitch stripes leave gaps and personally I would only feel comfortable crocheting over ends when it's a closed fabric like moss stitch for example. There really is no right or wrong though, just find a method that works for you and what it is you're making. If you'd like to see a video of how I'm sewing the ends in on this particular blanket you can find a reel showing how I do it on my socials (it certainly got the crochet police out in full force when I posted it!)......just remember though that the way I do it is just my personal preference, you don't have to do it the same or like how I do it.
I guess my best advice for ends is to see them as another part of the blanket making process just like choosing the yarn and pattern is rather than a necessary evil. Make a night of it! Get the snacks in, put something on the box and crack on! I'm not very good at sewing them in as I go along but that's obviously a good habit to get into if you've got a lot of colour changes.......I really should take my own advice!
Anyway for now this is a work in progress, it's a big one (about 120cm wide) so it's going to take me a while but I'll update my socials with my progress and will update the blog when there's more to share.