Tuesday 27 January 2015

Finished at Last!

It has been just over a year in the making but my my Knit a Block a Week Blanket is finished at last.... 




You must forgive me for the picture overload but I'm trying to get a photo of each angle







I can't tell you just how pleased I am with this blanket.  I had no idea if it would work or not.  My original plan was to place a plain cream block between each patterned one, but I got bored making the plain blocks and decided to make a sampler blanket instead.



Some of the blocks didn't turn out six inches square some were bigger and some smaller, knitted blocks don't sew up as well as crochet ones either so I thought there was no way the blanket would look good when it was sewn up but it does!



It's so interesting to look at too, of course I had to take it to the Day Unit to show the ladies because they have seen me knitting the various blocks throughout last year and have been asking me to bring it in to show them, they loved it so much I had to leave it with them for a while just so they could admire it.


and stroke it because I lined it with fleece which is great idea for hiding all those ends it means as long as they are tied off securely you don't have to be quite as meticulous and neat with the weaving in or really you don't have to bother because the fleece hides them all and...



It feels so cosy and warm


I cut the fleece to size and then zig zagged around the edge with my sewing machine, folded it over one cm all around and then crocheted sc around the edge of the fleece through the two layers using a thin metal hook, tricky but entirely doable.  

I added a sc border around the blanket then I crocheted them both together with three rounds of sc.  For the final round I used crab stitch or reversed sc.



So there you have it...


My two favourite living room throws, both lined with fleece and super warm to throw over your lap on a chilly winter evening.  I need to make one more because my daughter and daughter in law grab one each when they come to visit and I need one for me :) 

You can find the tunisian crochet throw how to here

Materials
I used Marriner DK yarn which I had in my stash in shades of cream - emerald - mint - saxe - sky - turquoise

Pattern 
Made with blocks from the book 200 knitted blocks by Jan Eaton you can see details of all the blocks I used here. If anyone would like to know the exact blocks I used and the layout please let me know.

I hope you like it as much as I do, has it inspired you to make one too? If you can't knit it's a great way to learn or perhaps you would like to join in with the 200 crochet blocks challenge which I'm hosting this year.

Hope your week is a good one :)

Linking with
















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46 comments:

  1. Linda, that is awesome. Lovely colours. Each square is beautiful and your work is so neat. I liked the idea of lining with fleece.
    Have a nice day.

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  2. Linda!! This is stunning!! You must be so very pleased with this blanket, and now you can have it across your lap and admire all those beautiful, intricate squares! I just love the colour combination too. Perhaps I will get that book out again and start up this year. I made a few squares, but I found I didn't like the yarn I was using, and then I just never went and bought something I liked. What a great idea to back it in fleece. That's one stumbling block for me, is I don't understand how to finish the blanket off in knitting as I don't want a "wrong" side. I guess there will always be ridges on the back where the blocks are joined? May I ask what stitch you used to join the blocks? With the fleece backing I realize it covers the wrong side. Also is this yarn wool, or a blend ... being able to wash it easily is also a consideration for me. Thanks Linda! Wendy x

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  3. It's gorgeous! Love the colors and what you did with the fleece lining. It is a treasure for sure. Congratulations. Have a great day. Heather

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  4. Wow. That is gorgeous. I love it and I like the colors you choose.

    Lisa

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  5. Wow!! That's just superb ! Great job, Linda!!:)
    It must have been fun making different blocks. I too feel the same, making same blocks turn monotonous and joining them even more. Yours is lovely and I like the various shades of blue that you have used :)

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  6. Gorgeous !!!!!!!! You did a great job !!!!!
    Hug
    Anna

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  7. Beautiful Afghan! You've done a perfect job.

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  8. Absolutely stunning, Linda! Congratulations on a beautiful finish :-)

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  9. This is stunning Linda! I can see why the Day Unit ladies wanted you to leave it with them. There is so much to look at and take in. Gorgeous colours too. A truly wonderful blanket :)

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  10. Linda, wow!! It's gorgeous! You should be very proud and thrilled with it. Just lovely. Great job finishing!

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  11. It is gorgeous, I could spend hours just looking at it and feeling all the different textures. Well done for completing such a mammoth project and thank you for joining in with my first handmade Monday.

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  12. Wow, wow, wow!! This is amazing. The colour theme is well thought-out. I have been known to line blankets as well. That was a good idea.

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  13. Oh wow!! Your blanket, Linda, oozes so much gorgeousness! One's eye could look at it forever. 'Tis serendiptous you got bored knitting with the cream as the addition of more patterns is perfect! This blanket is so inspirational.....I take my hat off to you!!

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  14. Amazing! I love the different pattern and colour combinations. :) Well done Linda - it's just lovely. x

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  15. Wow! Linda - another BeAuTiFuL blanket! Didn't realise in your weekly posts that the squares were so well colour co-ordinated!
    Fab fleece backing too.
    What an inspiration you are - keep up the great work!
    Ali x

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  16. This is such a special blanket! I loved reading about how you knit different squares throughout the year. It's really beautiful and the way you put it together looks fabulous. The squares line up exactly as though it's a quilt. What a smart idea to line this blanket. Your work is so professional. You should be so pleased :)

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  17. This is beautiful, I love the colours. I like the fleece lining too, a great blanket to snuggle up with :)
    Jan x

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  18. Lovely blanket. Colors coordinate very nicely. You should be proud! Thanks for sharing.

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  19. Fantastic, beautiful harmony of colors and patterns!!!

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  20. Wow, Linda, it is truly gorgeous. I sat looking at all the photos and picking out which were my favourite blocks.... congratulations on finishing it and finishing it so well!

    And thanks for showing us the fleece lining - I was just thinking about something similar the other night while I wrestled with ideas for a scrap blanket. I don't mind making lots of blocks but I hate the weaving in, and I wondered if a fleece or flannel backing might solve that problem. Now I know it will!

    :)

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  21. Fantastic Linda!!!!! It was so much watching you work on all the various squares last year and they have come together beautifully. The colours all work so nicely together and really show the different designs so well. I love your fleece backing too, how snuggly and warm will that be!! You should definitely claim this as your blanket, everyone else will have to share one of your other ones! So clever of you to put this together so beautifully!! xx

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  22. This is amazing! I love every single square. I can't even imagine the time it took to line all those individual squares up. Love the idea of a fleece backing. Anything to avoid weaving in those ends! Great job!!

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  23. Love it...love it...love it.,.....and YES....it has inspired me to make one too, well...maybe not as large, but one square a week I should be able to manage! And as it does not get as cold here, it doesn't need to be as large, that's my excuse anyway! lol

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  24. I am in total awe of this. Glad you didn't have plain cream ones between each patterned one as I think this truly lovely. My daughter will be jealous too as she always asks that I fleece line knitted/crocheted blankets and I am yet to indulge her. Am not sure whether I should let her see this post... A beautiful make to treasure. Priceless x

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  25. What an amazing job! I also love that you have a lining. I must try it next time, but sewing intimidates me...

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  26. So beautiful! I love this color combination, my favorite.

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  27. You are welcome to join us next wednesday :)
    Use the photo for link up on your blog, that way you wont forget it ;)
    Link up party every Wednesday

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  28. I am so, so pleased to see your stunning blanket. I've just started to knit some of the blocks from the same book, just to use up some of my stash and I was wondering what to do with them - now I know! Great idea to line it with fleece. I'm sure mine won't turn out nearly as nice - I'm quite new to knitting and my block sizes seem a little variable! Thank you for the inspiration. x

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  29. No wonder you're pleased Linda-your blanket is amazing! Such beautiful colours and varied textures. Great idea to line it with fleece too, no wonder it is fought over by your daughter and daughter-in-law!
    Best wishes
    Alison xx

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  30. Congratulations on completing your blanket - its obviously taken a lot of time and effort but well worth it. I love your colour combination with the blues

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  31. Wow! Fantastic! I love all the textures and especially the leafy square.

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  32. That is so pretty, and it is really nice to see a knitted quilt. I love the variety in the blocks, and the fleece lining is such a good idea. Inspirational.

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  33. Oh my gorgeous Linda this blanket is perfectly awesome, it is so interesting to the eye too with each block telling it's own little story. Lining it with fleece is such a lovely idea, I can just imagine just how cosy this blanket must be. You should be proud of this make Linda, it's beautifully made and a perfect family heirloom xx

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  34. Absolutely beautiful, you must be so pleased. I've used fleece as a lining and it works really well.
    Penny (Planet Penny)

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  35. Hi Linda! Your blanket is so beautiful! What a fantastic idea to put fleece backing! Makes it soft and warm and hides the ends as you said. x Teje

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  36. Wow! That blanket looks amazing! I think it looks so much better as a sampler blanket than just plain squares xx

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  37. That blanket is absolutely wonderful Linda, you should be so pleased with the way it has turned out.
    Hugs,
    Meredith

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  38. Linda I just have to tell you that I think this sampler blanket is so interesting, the variety of stitch patterns and color choices are quite an accomplishment. I commend you for sticking to it and just look at what a pretty result. I think it clever that you lined it with fleece. I have seen baby blankets lined that way. I bet it is cosy warm. How much fun too is trying so many new knitting stitches. I seem to rely on the same old, same old ones. How boring am I then, lol.
    Susanne :)
    PS If you still are interested in that slipper pattern please send your address to my yahoo email. I know, shame on me for promising it way back when.

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  39. It is so exciting to see my button underneath your photos! This blanket is gorgeous! I love sampler blankets - they are just sooo much fun, and never boring during the process of making it. I know how rough it can be to continue chugging along on anything larger than a baby blanket.
    Alexandra
    EyeLoveKnots.blogspot.com

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  40. EXQUISITE! - Love those Textures and Colours! And your "tension" is bang-on! - Can't wait to see What's NEXT!
    :-D

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  41. What a beautiful blanket. If only I knitted a bitty bit better...LOL This makes me want to push my knitting skills up a few notches...like many!

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  42. Wow, fantastic, Linda! Really great job. My eye catcher on this blanket is the square with the three leaves :-). Many thanks for your sweet comments and the February link party!! Hugs, Nata

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  43. Great work! I like all the different squares, but I especially love the dark-ish green one with the intricate cable down the center.

    Thanks for sharing at the Yarn Fanatic Party! I hope to see you there again!

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  44. WOW!! I abosolutely love this!

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Thank you for your visit, I will always answer any questions but due to time constraints I'm not always able to reply to your comments, please keep them coming I read and appreciate each and every one. xx