Painted Roses Blanket

I’ve just finished the Painted Roses Blanket. It’s for my friend Em’s baby Lucy’s cot as a homewarming present. I hope they both like it! The pattern is from Cherry Heart This is her second pattern I have used and it’s beautifully clear and easy to follow. I copied her colours as I’ve discovered they can make or break a project and often what I picture in my head doesn’t work out in reality! I like Stylecraft Special DK for it’s price and softness so most of the colours are from there. However their duck egg blue isn’t released until October and I just couldn’t wait so I went ahead with Hayfield’s instead. Not as soft, but a good colour.

I’ve finished quite a few blankets lately:

• The Lilypond which is for sale in my Etsy shop

• An Aran Hearts Throw for my friend Nicole’s wedding present

• A Sophie’s Universe done in one colour, just cream

although that photo is not so good and I don’t have the energy to do another for now:( but maybe it gives you an idea of the intricacies of the stitches

• and I’m currently working on a large Sophie using the colour pack suggested by Dedri

As you can see it’s my usual story of enough energy to crochet, but too little for great photos and wordy blogging! 🙂

Rainbow Granny, Lilypond and Sophie’s Universe

I have been making this Rainbow Granny as a quick, easy make to cover a new day-bed we have. I made it following inspiration from the Patchwork Heart, I love her colour combinations – or “colour recipes” as she calls them. I have used Stylecraft Special DK with parchment on alternate rows. The rainbow rows are: copper, spice, gold, lime, meadow, khaki, petrol, teal, violet, grape, plum, burgundy, and claret. I prefer a denser granny square so I didn’t do any chains between the treble groups, and only one chain at the corners. I went round in a square until I had the correct width and then just continued in the colour sequence until I had the length I needed. It’s been a great blanket to make, so easy so I can watch a film at the same time or if I’m having a bad M.E. day and need something brainless.

For those days when I need more of a challenge, I have started a Sophie’s Universe. There are gorgeous pictures of these creations all over blogland and Facebook.

I’m a bit late to the party and have decided to make my first Sophie in Cream, then when I’m familiar with the pattern I will choose my colour combination. You see, I’m accepting there will be more than one Sophie – they are so addictive! Actually I love the effect of Sophie in a neutral colour; she is so intricate that she doesn’t need colour and in many ways I think colour would detract from her detail. It’s the best pattern I’ve ever used, and I have been crocheting for yeeears! Dedri, from LookWhatIMade must have spent hours writing up the detailed instructions. I love it that she tells you exactly where you should find yourself after each little group of instructions. Perfect. And if it doesn’t seem to make sense, there’s a video at Its All In A Nutshell demonstrating the whole blanket. I’m totally submerged in Sophie’s Universe; I truly love it!

The third blanket I have on the go at the moment is the Lilypond CAL (Crochet-A-Long) by Janie Crow and Stylecraft. I love the colours in this and I’m currently waiting for week 7 to come out next Tuesday. It’s a mix between flower squares and ripple and wave blocks, so great for keeping you interested. I haven’t decided what to do with mine when I have finished, I think I may hang it as a wall-hanging, but the question is where?!