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.

I

 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. 

Babys green knitted jumper.

I would have made this quite quickly if it hadn't been for the pattern on the bodice, as usual I had to really concentrate and still I made lots of mistakes, so after much pulling out and re knitting I finally finished it.  It took me a week because I kept putting off sewing it up.  I do like it, it was taken from the woman's weekly knitting magazine.  That magazine was such good value I have made so much out of it.  This little top should fit a child 12 months.  Small things are sooo cute.

Field of flowers blanket

Now this was a challenge, again it only took me four weeks which I think is good because the motifs are so small.  I found it very challenging to join them all together all 220 of them but I did enjoy making them.  Once I had  put each motif in place I had to stitch them, I found it easiest to join them seven at a time into circle type shapes then join five across and five down and fill in the gaps.  I  tacked them all together gently turned the blanket over and then stitched it up, it seemed to take forever,  I then edged it with two rows of dc but didn't have enough green to do the final crab stitch row so finished it with the lilac.  I love this little blanket, it was so much work and I may have difficulty parting with it.
The motif for the blanket was taken from Melody Griffiths 201 crochet motifs, blocks, projects and ideas.


From this 

 

 to this

The 

The fThor me2012010

MThe 

20

                                                         

Angel Hearts

Everyone seems to be making little Teds and toys so I wanted to do something different for the angels.  I have been trying various heart patterns and it is still an ongoing project really.  I will add to this post as it progresses but for the moment I am satisfied with these made with DK yarn,  I found it difficult getting the top of the hearts to match but I think I have cracked it now.  I have made some in four ply and will add those later.

These hearts could be filled with lavender or your favourite herb and given as a gift for someone special in your life or just as they are for Valentines day. :)

 

Pink Hearts made with 4ply wool then edged with dc and crab stitch, finished off with a little white crochet flower in 2 ply wool with a tiny purl bead in the centre

Blue hearts again made with 4ply wool and edged with dc in a wavy pattern and finished off with a white crochet flower.

Lilac heart made with crochet cotton in 4ply and edged with white fine crochet cotton.  Three little flowers made in the fine cotton centred with pearl beads complete the story.

.

Bringing them all together, I enjoyed making these little hearts and I think they are very effective and pretty I find it hard to choose a favourite.