Tuesday 5 November 2013

Seaside Patches Blanket....Ta-Dah

Hello Lovelies,
 At last ...it's a happy, happy Ta-Dah day :0)

 The last time I  had a full sized crochet blanket to share with you was back in February 2012 ....how did that happen ?

I started this latest blanket just over a year ago and you can read about it's inspiration and the reasons behind my colour and pattern choices  HERE


Soon the first row was complete.....



By December I had 100 solid coloured, four round granny squares.
In this project I've used the brilliant " join as you go" method. The best tutorial I know for how to do this is HERE..........



Sadly my momentum didn't last. In the early part of this year I spent quite a lot of my limited creative time drawing. And then when I picked up my hook again I decided to start ANOTHER BLANKET ( which is still a WIP )

In July my thoughts always turn to the seaside and I loved the way the colours in my blanket matched the colours in this photo of Cornwall so well.............




In August I took my blanket to see the Cornish coast and I have happy memories of sitting outside our caravan, watching the sunset over the ocean and relaxing with my hook.....


Progress then became slow again , a few squares were added now and then, but the end still seemed a long way off.
Then , as the weather cooled in October I found a new impetus. 
A few rows were added early in the month, then during my week off I really made a concerted effort to fit in some crochet time..........



By the end of that week my blanket looked like this..........

280 squares with all the ends sewn in ( rubbish photo, sorry )

I've learnt the hard way that sewing in all the ends after the fun crochet bit is done is horrible. So now I always do them as I go

I leave quite long ends in my crochet...about 6 to 8 inches. It makes the ends so much easier to deal with . I weave in about half of this length , then snip off the remainder. 

Then it was just the border. I say " just the border" but it's an important part of a project like this. It can made the difference between an O.K. and a great result.
 I used THIS method to avoid a wrinkly edge and took inspiration from THIS blanket  for the design........


All those busy squares needed framing with colours that wouldn't compete for your attention too much. So I've used a limited number of the blanket colours and I didn't include any of the lightest shades..........

I think it turned out great.

The edge is just a round of U.K. double ( U.S. single ) crochet. I was going to add a wavy edge too but middle son ( who's blanket this is ) said he preferred it plain.....I think he made a good choice.

And here is the finished blanket

TA-DAH.........


Oh , it may have taken me ages to finish , but I'm SO PLEASED with how it turned out in the end.

I love the range of shades from white to the darkest (Teal )
I love the completely random positioning of those colours. I didn't give too much thought to what colour came next , I just made sure each square was never next to the same colour.

It's not the biggest blanket I've ever made, but  it's long enough to cover you from your chin to toes, perfect for snuggling on the sofa when it's chilly............


It measures 64  by 42 inches.........

It might not be as attention grabbing as some of my more colourful projects, but it's very easy to live with....

I LOVE the seaside pallette so much...calming and fresh. Happy without being too shouty.....does that make sense. The design is quite solid too, with only small holes in the granny squares, so it feels warm and cosy.

I liked seeing the sun shining through it on Sunday morning, but it was pretty chilly and breezy in my sad looking November garden..........


I quickly took these pictures then headed back indoors to the warmth of the lounge.

The next time I looked this blanket had already been scooped up and put to good use........

and that really made me  happy :0)

For those of you who might like to know some yarn details...I used my usual acrylic yarn....  Stylecraft special double knitting in the following colours

Teal, Aster, Camel, White, Cloud blue, Denim, Cream, Meadow, Sherbet, Aspen, Turquoise and Silver

and a 4mm crochet hook.

So it is also an easy to care for, economical blanket.

If you would like to know how I make my granny squares do take a look at THIS tutorial.
 The border is ten rounds of granny clusters, that were so speedy and great fun to do after all those little squares.....I felt like my hook was flying along at lightening speed :0)
This whole blanket was a joyful , simple project that turned out even better than I hoped it would.
And middle son loves it.
Happy , Happy , Happy.
Jacquie x

83 comments:

  1. It´s gorgeous! Lovely colours, definitely seaside!

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  2. I like very much ¡¡¡¡¡ Lovely colours ¡¡¡¡¡

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  3. It's gorgeous! Your color choices are perfect together. Congratulations on finishing!

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  4. Such a beautiful blanket! Love the colours! Did you use 1 ball of each colour, or did you need more? I'm looking for a new product and perhaps this is the one, but I'm always in doubt of the quantity of yarn I need (hope my English is good enough) :-)

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    1. Hi, thanks for your comment.
      It took less than one ball of each colour to make the squares. You may need a bit more for the border but I'm not sure as I have a lot of this yarn anyway.
      Hope this helps.
      Jacquie x

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    2. Thank you very much. It's so nice of you to share your colour choice with us. I really love the colours you used! I will surf the internet for Stylecraft. Thanks again. x Conny

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  5. I mean........a new project...... haha

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  6. This is great!!!Huge work has been done, but it's worth it!!!! Just magical!

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  7. great blanket, good story. congratulations!

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  8. A really great ta da! You are right about the colours being seaside colours, they look great, and you did so well with the randomness. Lovely to see it in use already. xx

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  9. A beautiful blanket Jacquie, I love the colours and design.
    luv
    irene
    xxxx

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  10. WOW Jacquie, it's a stunner and the seaside colours are perfection. Another labour of love for you and your family to enjoy xxx Beautiful! X Penny

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  11. What a beautiful blanket Jacquie! I love the colours too - very restful! Absolutely beautiful!

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  12. I am inspired to have a go and I used to work in Porthleven so feel randomly connected to your lovely blanket. Eco Ethel xx

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  13. Well done, it is beautiful. Love the colours.

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  14. Beautiful! Love the colours reminds me of happy summer seaside times :) x

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  15. It's really lovely, well done on getting it finished, I still have 3 on the go!, I love the colours you have chosen they really blend naturally together. :)

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  16. Such a pretty finish! I am sooo tempted to start a granny blanket but I have to hang on till I have slightly fewer WIP's

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  17. That's really lovely! I love how you managed to randomize the colours so well, it's perfect! The colour scheme is so beachy and lovely....very restful. I do admire people who crochet gazillions of squares...I tend to stick to stripes. :) xxx

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  18. What a wonderful quilt, worth the wait. A great choice of colours. I have 300 squares to stitch together for my first blanket. I'm just going to do it, and not worry about a pattern, the colour scheme is scrappy, so hopefully a random effect will be better. Thank you for all the links.

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  19. Such a beautiful blanket... I am loving the colours and also the random positioning of the squares. Gorgeous.

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  20. Beautiful :) Love the colour work. I've made a similar blanket/wrap myself (lot smaller) but I didn't include teal. Love the effect of the dark patches though!

    x

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  21. Congratulations Jacquie is really very beautiful! I know the feeling you have after finishing a job like this because I tried it myself recently, you and Lucy are a source of great inspiration for me!

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  22. Well done one being so determined to finish! I have just started another blanket, mainly to warm my knees on these colder nights. I feel so much at home with the crochet hook in hand! Gorgeous colours and the edging is lovely xx

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  23. Oh it's just lovely Jacquie. Yes, perfect seaside colours - I can almost hear the gulls!

    Sewing ends in as you go is definitely the way forward, I can feel my heart rate rise just thinking about the number of ends in this!

    Heather x

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  24. This is just what I wanted to see right now! I taught myself to crochet in September and decided to make one or two granny squares a week so eventually I would have a blanket because I will be graduating university in summer and moving into my first ever house. I have done 11 squares of a 10 by 10 blanket and was wondering if I should join the first row and sew the ends in... thanks to you I am going to teach myself to do it this evening.

    There will be pictures going onto my blog http://sophiesewandsew.blogspot.co.uk and it would be fab if you could see what you have inspired me to do.

    Sophie x

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  25. This is a beauty! Congrats! I love the colours.

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  26. Wow! What a lovely blanket! Did you block it at any stage Jacquie ? I am in the process of joining my first granny square blanket just now, so am curious to know. Love your blog!
    T.

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    1. Hi Trish, no it's not been blocked ....I don't find it necessary.
      Jacquie x

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  27. It's lovely, the colours are beautiful. I always find the urge to do things with wool when October rolls around. I love that there are memories woven into it as well. Very inspirational. I have a bag of wool just waiting to be a blanket.

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  28. Wow 280 squares and such a lovely result, great job!

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  29. It's gorgeous such wonderful soft colours, you've caught the colours of the Summer seas perfectly, Sherbet is my favourite of all the Specail DK colours.
    Clare x
    http://summerhousebythesea.blogspot.co.uk/

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  30. Its lovely! I love the colours and the edging perfectly finishes it off. Well done! I must get back to my own, knitted, blanket...changed my mind about some of the squares which I need to redo, so its put me off, but will be worth it in the end...keep going... Gorgeous! Jen

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  31. Your blanket is absolutely beautiful.
    I love your seaside colour palette. The border is lovely.
    Margaret

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  32. The colours really do remind me of the seaside (which I am missing as our caravan season has ended until March next year) . I am glad middle son likes it - will he have it on his bed or is it for snuggling? xxx

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    1. Hi Lily, thanks for your comment.
      It's on the sofa for chilly mornings at the moment :0)
      Jacquie x

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  33. Perfect and inspiring. I love it!! I put it my to do list.
    Szilvi x

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  34. Fantastic. Wonderful colors, and the simple border sets it off beautifully.
    I'm currently making a ripple and am no where near finishing it but am already thinking of border ideas. Do you have any advice?

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    1. Hi Emma , this post http://bunnymummy-jacquie.blogspot.co.uk/2011/11/baby-ripple-ta-dah.html
      may help
      Jacquie x

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  35. Lovely blanket. I like your border. With so many lacy borders now doing the rounds, it's refreshing to see a simple border that still looks very nice.
    Feet up now!

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  36. Your crocheted blanket has turned out so very well! The colors have a graceful rhythm to their arrangement, and the your choice of colors for the border is perfect.

    May I also mention how much I agree with you about the charm of those little river cottages.

    xo

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  37. So pretty! :) I really like the colours :)
    - Kristin -

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  38. I just Love your blanket!!! The color combo is one of my favourites (it sounds to me like ocean breeze - so fresh and solid as you´ve said) and very easy to match on a bedroom´s boy. I have a 11-year-old boy and I think he´ll love it too. Oh, and the border is great!!! love it, love it!

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  39. FANTASTIC !!!! IT'S JUST SO BEAUTIFUL :))))
    Thank you for all inspiration ! You are Great !

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  40. I have enjoyed seeing this come together! It is completely stunning! Are you keeping it?
    XO Kris

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  41. Beautiful seaside inspired coloured palette for your latest blanket! Well done. The results are lovely!

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  42. Beautiful! Very artistic in your eye for color and color groupings. I love this blanket.

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  43. Beautiful! I remember finding your blog around the time you had started this project and I have loved it since then. :)

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  44. Wow, it was quite a labour if love but well worth it. Looks fabulous and am sure will become a much love part of the family. I'm working on a ripple crochet blanket, it's taking me some time and dedication, not quite as portable as granny squares which isn't helpful!

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  45. A very beautiful finished blanket, so worth the Ta-dah! Thanks for taking us through your journey for this blanket, I have to say I absolutely LOVE it :-)

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  46. I love your blanket - fabulous colours:) x

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  47. Absolutely stunning, I love it, and the colours!! So spooky, I am just finishing off a very similar blanket in nautical colours, but I adore yours. This is the second time in 2 days I have been inspired by camel, a colour I hate on it's own but it has that lovely seaweed acid green hue to it in the gorgeous colour spectrum you have used. I was so sure a couple of the colours were not Stylecraft, how wrong was I? (I am ashamed I didn't realise it was camel!!) Now onto the next project, lovely! Fiona xx

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  48. Reminds me of the colors of lake Michigan (home for me). The colors just call to my heart. And the border is just perfect.

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  49. It's a beautiful blanket - well done you.
    Love from Mum
    xx

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  50. Beutiful blanket I love the colors and the size is perfect, thank you for your tutorials, as a beginner crocheter I find them really helpful.

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  51. Lovely blanket, beautiful colour way, it is so good when it's put to use straight away :) Barb.

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  52. Fantastic! Very beautiful and cosy))) Love the colors.

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  53. What a lovely blanket - I'm sure it will have many years of use by your son. :)
    Have you got your next project linked up? I always have more ideas than time!
    Thanks also for the pear crumble cake recipe - it was perfect for the weekend with visitors. x

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  54. This is spectacular, Jacquie! a beautiful blanket!
    and the creative process! and photos! absolutely everything!
    Congratulations, a Jacquie! great job!
    Kisses from Catalonia!

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  55. What a beautiful border to finish off the blanket. Lovely. There's nothing better than a homemade blanket - wraps a person with the artist's love. :)

    Always,
    Kimberly

    www.jandkalways.blogspot.com

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  56. Gorgeous and oh my how much hard work you put into it, it was worth it! Colors are amazing, indeed like seas and sand and all seaside things!

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  57. Hi, I follow your blog and this is the first time I have commented. I see so many making granny square blankets using blues, and although blue is not my favorite color, this blanket is beautiful. I love everything about the colors and the random color placement. Just love it!

    www.rusticfarmliving.blogspot.com stop by and visit, Thank you

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  58. Love it. What a sense of achievement when a project is finished. Love the seaside colours.
    Jacqui x

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  59. It's beautiful! I love the soothing colours and I do agree that a border really finishes it off well.

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  60. Lovely, lovely, lovely, lovely, lovely.....what more can I say! :) x

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  61. It's just lovely and finished just in time for the cold weather. I'm sure middle son is going to really enjoy it. :)

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  62. Another lovely blanket Jacquie ~ I love the seasidey colours too :O)xx

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  63. Just beautiful, what a lucky lad!

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  64. The border works really well, definitely a good use of the darker colours to frame it all. It's weird isn't it how different it makes it? I hope it keeps you snuggly and warm!

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  65. It's an absolute T R I U M P H !

    I adore it! BEautiful colours, and love how the border ties it all together so nicely. It might have been a while in the making, but definitely worth it :)

    Jones x

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  66. Beautiful! Agree about the ends - have got lots of WIP due to not working ends in as I go!! Tut Tut to me!! Still trying to get my head around the join as you go method - it looks easy but I'm struggling a bit with it - do you find you have to plan ahead to use it?

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  67. Love it! It's so pretty. I just finished a large blanket based on your twin ta dah post. You always make such lovely things.

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  68. Hola, este blog es muy bonito. Hay unas cosas geniales. Me uno y te sigo así no me pierdo ninguna entrada. Un saludo

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  69. This blanket is beautiful, I love your choice of colors, well done! M

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  70. Well done Jackie - it looks AMAZING!!! I have all the wool to make a sea themed ripple blanket - just need the time!
    Tina

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  71. Your blanket is gorgeous! You should be very proud of your finish.

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  72. Very pretty blanket and I love all your pictures during your walks :)

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