There are times, in any knitting, crochet or sewing adventure when you just want to PLAY! I am in one of those moments now.
Just before we went on holiday last week, I took out the pattern I had bought at Yarndale for Janie Crow's beautiful Mystical Lanterns blanket. I had been sooo tempted to purchase the kit, but I knew I had a lot of 'odd balls' of yarn, left over from years' worth of projects, that I really should use up, so I just bought the pattern. It would also help clear some space in my sewing room, so a double win!
I pulled out everything that was wool or wool blend, DK and in reasonably toning colours. There was quite a bit of it!
The motifs are called 'ogee' in shape (don't you just love that word??) and are very easy to memorise for relaxed crochet hours.
I am making the motifs fairly randomly, but not putting too many dark colours next to each other, or the red next to the purple (oh, no, no no, as that looked awful!)
Here's what I have made so far!
I am doing the motifs in a production line way, by making a whole pile of centres, followed by a batch of second rounds, then the third round. Once I have six motifs completed I darn the ends in. My friend, Lucy, Attic24, will be very proud of me for keeping up with darning the ends in as I go!
As I'm using leftovers from my stash, I am going to work the final round of each motif in cream, to help tie the colours all together better, and use Janie's 'join as you go' method in her pattern. Again, because it's all oddments so far, I don't have equal amounts of each yarn, and seem to have used up a large proportion of the brighter and pastel colours already, leaving the colours below, which do seem a bit, well, brown. Despite trying to make the blanket without purchasing any wool other than that for the edging, I am going to buy three or four balls in more cheerful colours to keep some colourful variety going!
I am absolutely loving this project, pulling out a new colour, the soothing rhythm of every round, and the joy of finishing each motif, and then deciding which is my 'new favourite'. Plus, it's a brilliant 'pick up' project for odd moments of time. Thank you to Janie Crow for such a great pattern!
Now, is there time to do a couple of centres before I make dinner??? Hmmmm...
Donna x
It's looking so good already! And am delighted to see the red looking beautiful in the mix - right decision to keep it in ;) I'll have a look in the studio and see if I have any wool DK oddments I can pass you if you want to add in a few more brights xxxx
ReplyDeleteThat’s so kind of you - thank you! Yes, I definitely need a few more brights and lights as I’m powering through my supply of those rather quickly! This would also be like you’re woven in to the fabric of my blanket :) I’m away this Friday but will be back at Cooper’s on Tuesday. Thank you again xxx
Deleteoh forgot to say - super proud of your ends!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI’m so pleased you’re proud! I’m a reformed woman! :D xxx
DeleteHi Donna,
ReplyDeleteThose 'lanterns' look lovely! I particularly like your addition of that dark blue-greyish colour. It will make the whole blanket look more lively. And I know from past experience that you will be so grateful to yourself for darning in the ends as you go. Having to do them all after finishing the crochet is killing!
I found you via Attic24, like many others. Like you wrote about yourself in your very first post, I am now 'dithering and swithering' about starting my own blog. For me, you are an inspiration. I have not read all your older posts yet, but dip into them now and again. Loved your post about yarndale too.
Thank you so much, Marijke, for your lovely comments. I am so proud to have inspired you to start your own blog! Do let me know when it is up and running so that I can follow you.
DeleteI am loving doing the lanterns. Such rhythmic, peaceful crochet. Wonderful to be using up leftovers too! I think the colour you like is left over from a hat I knitted :) Yes, I feel quite noble darning in the ends as I go!
Thank you for visiting my blog; I do appreciate it x
What a lovely comment! Thank you! I’m so pleased you spent the time reading my blog and I really appreciate it. :)
ReplyDelete