Well, hope as we might that word that everyone hates just won’t go away!
I thought you might like to see the current progress on the Brexit Blanket, so here it is up to date!
Temperature blanket – the beginning
Having worked with three round grannies for the last two years I’m found it difficult to get into a rhythm this year.
Gone!
February is now well established. The freshness of the New Year is over and we are thankfully able to look forward to spring. It hasn’t been a springlike weekend here, though, with unwarranted snow, something that is very rare here.
This was the view from what I euphemistically call my ‘workroom’ on Friday. Saturday’s view was similar but at least the sky was bright and blue.
New this year, this little blue gem was a pleasure to behold, but his purple neighbours disappeared. They are visible again this morning as the last of the snow vanishes. It arrived on Friday and Saturday, stayed still on a beautiful Sunday and was almost all washed away by drizzle overnight. I hope you are all enjoying safe weather. Continue reading “Gone!”
Stashbusting Stone, the block!
An email and a comment yesterday have prompted this post. The questions were similar in that they wanted the name of the block. In truth, I have no idea. I didn’t follow a pattern but just played around with a conventional granny square, and this was the result. You must bear in mind that I was using scraps for the centres, so that partly played in the construction.
Here are details of how the final block was made. All details are in UK terms.
I began with a magic loop and then 4 chain stitches. Now a sequence of 2 trebles and 1 chain was repeated, into the magic loop, 7 times. One more treble made and slip-stitched into the 4 chain gap completed the circle making the equivalent of 8 small blocks interspersed with a chain. Gently pull the centre loose end to close the hole (see the note* below) and weave in the ends.
* This may seem obvious, but some blocks, like this one, are better if the hole isn’t closed tightly. To regulate the size of this centre I inserted a crochet hook into the hone before pulling tight.
I’ve included finished blocks in the above as a reminder of where we are heading.
Turn the block over before each new round.
The new colour is joined into one of the 1 chain spaces of the previous round. Once again make 4 chain.
For this round clusters of 3 treble sand 1 chain are made into the next 7 spaces. Lastly 2 trebles made just before the 4 chain and the round completed with a slip stitch into them.
At this point I weave in the ends almost to the end, but then secure them with the next round before trimming. If you do it differently it really doesn’t matter.
Now the block just needs squaring up.
Join your new colour in any one chain space. Start with 3 chain (not an error, 3 chain) followed by 3 trebles into the same space. (This is the first part of one corner. Note – no chains between clusters now, except in the corners. )
Now work 3 trebles into the next space, followed by a corner into the next one. Corners are 3 treble, 1 chain, 3 trebles, all made into the same space.
Complete all sides in this fashion until the last middle 3 chain block. The last corner of this round is finished with 2 trebles and a slip stitch into the first 3 chain of the round.
Don’t cut the yarn, make 3 chain and turn the block around for the final round.
Begin with 3 trebles in the same space as the 3 chain and then the final round is just like a conventional granny square. Begin and end as described above, corners worked in the same way, 3 trebles, 1 chain, 3 trebles, a 3 treble cluster goes into each gap of the previous round and a final 2 chain to link in the last corner.
Written in haste, so let me know if these are too scanty, but have fun and let me know if you try it out. I’m sure at least one other description of this will appear shortly on another blog. I’ve noticed that that has happened a few times. Just remember that you saw it here first!
The end!
There is tremendous satisfaction when something comes to an end … and it’s on time!
Do you remember the above? It’s the first Temperature Blanket I made which covered the seasons from December 2016 to the end of November 2017. Each season was edged with a different colour of Stylecraft Special DK, namely Parchment for winter, Stone for spring , Camel, the summer colour and Gold for autumn. Continue reading “The end!”
Transition
Christmas has gone, but 2018 is not yet over. Did you have a good time? We spent the holiday with family and it was good. I managed a little crochet, and thankfully didn’t have to hide it away to get my daily ‘fix’.
I currently have five projects that need finishing, and one will be almost there by the end of this year. It’s only a small throw, but I’m enjoying it. The colours are based on one of the Five Colour Friday squares. These have taken a bit of a backseat on the Web, but are still in progress.
Finished ..
.. and perfectly timed for Christmas. This granny square blanket has been quietly growing while other things went on.
I’m really pleased with it – the dark grey really makes the colours pop, but isn’t as harsh as black. Today another blanket begins. As before it will be a square a day for 100 days, but this time the squares will serve a dual purpose. Continue reading “Finished ..”
