Purple Suns Blanket

This blanket was so easy to make and has turned out very striking. I love the bright cheerfulness of it and as this is going to a charity, I'm hoping someone somewhere will be cheered and warmed when using it.  

The motif was taken from my Melody Griffiths crochet motif book so I am getting some good use out of it after all.  I did adapt the motif so that it was quicker to make and the finished product looks nearly the same as the original so I saved a lot of time I think.  

Deciding the colours is always a big part of the blanket making process, it can be fun but also very frustrating if you don't have enough of the colour you wish to use.  This time I was ok for the large motif but deciding the colour of the small motif took a while.  

It went from light teal, to orange and then finally I decided on yellow which I think was the right decision in the end.  The purple colour for the fourth round of the motif was wool donated from a lady at work, it came in hanks and I got a some of the ladies at work to help me wind them, Mary C, Mary B and Ellen.  They were all delighted with the finished product because they had a hand in making it in a way.

It took 49 large motifs and 42 small. As always the sewing up was the worst part.

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 An idea is forming for next blanket but other things are taking precedence at the moment, I can say that it involves lots of flowers so watch this space :)

Motif Pattern

I used a 4.5mm hook and Dk wool on the thicker side. The finished blanket was 3'x3'.

Of course any colours can be used, the ladies at work named my blanket for me, you can be creative with names and colours.

Octagon Motif

Colours ABCD

Using A make adjustable ring

1st round :- 3ch, 15 tr into ring. Fasten off

 

Join B in same place as ss

2nd round :- 4ch, (1tr in next tr, 1ch) 15 times. Fasten off

Join C in next 1ch space

3rd round :- 3ch  Bobble Stitch using two trebles for first bobble then 3trbobble, 15 times making 16. altogether.  ss in 3ch. fasten off.

Join D in any 3ch sp

4th round :- 3ch, 3tr in same sp, 4tr in next sp, 2ch, (4tr in each of next 3ch spaces, 2ch) 7 times, ss in 2nd chain. Fasten off

Finished motif   

The filler squares are simple treble squares. You can find a great tutorial here  (you only need to work  two rounds for this blanket)

This idea for this blanket is from Melody Griffiths 201 crochet motifs, blocks, projects and ideas.  I adapted the pattern to make it easier for me, but the finished result is just as nice.