I wasn’t expecting to talk about this corner to corner blanket quite so soon; only one day after releasing my new crochet shawl pattern, Harvest Moon, I’ve just added ZZ Block to Ravelry! Phew, it’s getting a bit crochet crazy here at the minute.
Until the 17th of November it has 20% off. That’s the date the C2C CAL 2018 ends!! It’s only a couple of quid anyway, so you’re getting two fab charts for not very much at all. Yes, two! I have included a secret bonus chart too!! It’s called Ziggy, so you might be able to guess what that looks like…
Yesterday, I posted a pic of this graphgan blanket on Instagram and instantly loads of phone friends said I should release it as a pattern. There was also mass agreement that it’d be OK to just release the charts. So, let me be clear, this is a chart only pattern. No written instructions for the C2C stitch are included (but you can find those in loads of places, can’t you?). This means confident crocheters can get their mitts on it straight away without having to wait for me to make up a new sample. There is, however, a full page of notes and advice on measurements and yarn.
I made it super fast. There was lots of car crochet going on last weekend and it was mostly made en route to see my family. Because I made it so quickly and because I was in a car with loads of tangled balls upon my person, I made the error of “rectangling” it about 4 rows too soon. I also rushed the initial design and it doesn’t please me 100%. The bungling, therefore, means that I can’t produce a whole pattern without a perfect sample. But I don’t want to stop others from starting now. Give me some time and a full-on pattern will be released but for now, I think this is a good alternative.
The inspiration is this bolt of rainbow lightning in my boys bedroom. We* painted it around Easter and ever since then I’ve known it would some day become a blanket. I’ve just about manage to squeeze it in for the current CAL.
Finally!! I promised this months ago and here we are, I have pulled my finger out and made a tutorial for my crochet bobble edging. Rejoice!! It’s over on YouTube, the pic above is the link but feel free to travel HERE to the whole channel.
You can add this edging to pretty much any blanket, scarf, cushion etc. If the multiples don’t work then I’m all in favour of wangling it so that they do! Crochet is not offended by mild cheating. But for you sticklers out there it’s mults of 3, plus 1 and the corners [my corners are (2tr, 2ch, 2tr)].
For the swatch in the video and the rainbow edged striped blanket pictured here, I used Lucy’s Attic 24’s Granny Stripe tutorial. For more details of making a rainbow edged blanket I have a tutorial for that too! It’s HERE.
Just in case you want to know, I used some random acrylic dk and a 3.75mm hook, which might be a bit small if you have a tight tension.
I first came up with a version of it when I made Sandra’s Cherry Heart A Touch of Spice blanket. (This seems like a lifetime ago!). At the time I made a photo tutorial. It’s just ever so slightly different but it will help here if you want pics.
What do you reckon? I can tell you that it’s time consuming, and on a giant blanket you might get a bit miffed of having it take so long. However, it’s worth persevering as it looks great!
I wanted to call this granny square blanket “Easy Granny and her Rainbow Edge,” but I thought it sounded a bit saucy. It’s now just a Rainbow Edged Granny Square. It is a very traditional sort of crochet granny square blanket, but actually, it seems quite popular at the moment. Rainbows are in!
I posted the above picture on Instagram yesterday, and the response was really positive. There were loads of lovely comments, and that surprised me. I love that the simple granny square gets so much attention.
Read on for more details about how to crochet a granny square blanket with a rainbow border. There is also a video tutorial for how to crochet a granny square with a rainbow border just below.
Video Tutorial for Rainbow-Edged Granny Blanket
Some Granny Blanket Details
When I was making this granny square blanket, I turned it at the end of each round to prevent it from twisting. I toyed with doing that for the rainbow border, but in the end I decided I wanted all the colours to have a “right” side. I joined each rainbow colour in opposite corners, again to avoid the dreaded twist. (I talk about this in more detail in episodes 10 and 11 of the podcast, actually, you want to check those out).
Granny Blanket Measurements
This rainbow-edged granny blanket measures around 89cm (35 inches), which is plenty big enough for a baby blanket that’ll see you through to the toddler years.
Good Yarn for a Granny Blanket
I used Stylecraft Special DK yarn as it’s perfect for handmade baby blankets. Acrylic yarn is easily washable and quick to dry, which is essential for a crochet baby blanket.
There are two whole 100-gram balls of Cream for the main body of the blanket, which, as you’ve probably guessed, is literally just a standard granny square.
For the colourful, rainbow bright border (which is rounds of UK trebles / US doubles), it was probably half a ball of each of the following:
Lipstick,
Spice,
Citron,
Pistachio,
Kelly,
Aster,
Lobelia,
Violet,
Fuchsia.
A bit more of the last shade was used as I went around the blanket twice with it (once with a UK treble stitch around and once with some little crochet bobbles).
The blanket was a commission for my friend, whose sister-in-law is expecting, so she dictated the shades used. They worked beautifully.
Crochet Mini Bobbles Border
The border is a simple bobble crochet edging worked on the wrong side of the granny blanket. I’ve used it a few times for crochet blankets, and I really appreciate its simplicity. I don’t always think it’s necessary to have a majorly fancy crochet border, especially when there’s a shed ton of colour going on.
Working the Granny Blanket Corners
There are a couple of mistakes! Nothing that would jump out at a non-crocheter, but I know that they’re there. Probably my biggest bungle was the indecision about the corners.
When it came to the border, I started with a few rounds of (3tr, ch2, 3tr). It was starting to look bunchy, and rather than frog back the three or four rows I’d done, I just started working (2tr, ch2, 2tr) instead. Just that small change made me feel a bit better about how it looked. There are a couple of other minor things, but I’m just not going to tell anyone. Is that bad?!
If you’re new to crochet, then I also have a video on YouTube to accompany this “pattern” Please do go and have a look. It shows more detail about how the granny square is put together.
Below are some more pictures, I took a whole load! I’d love to see if you make one too. Cheers. X
If you make a blanket, please let me know! Aaaaaand, how about taking a look at some of my other free crochet patterns? I think you’ll enjoy some crochet inspo!
It feels like this pretty crochet granny blanket has been in the making for aaaaggess. Relatively speaking, that’s probably not true. I started making granny squares because I had leftovers from the Crazy Chevron blanket I made back in February.
Trying (unsuccessfully) to reduce the yarn stash has been the aim for quite a while. For this chap, a few colours were swapped depending on what there was most of in my “collection”. I only bought two extra balls to complete the blanket.
If you watch my crochet podcast on YouTube, you’ll have heard me go on about this in nearly every single episode so far! I thought you guys might be interested in a blog post, too, and it’s a good idea to have all the info in one place. So here we are!
Connie’s Crochet Blanket
This colourful crochet creation is now called Connie’s Blanket. I didn’t know when I started that it would end up as a birthday present, but at some stage or other it decided (not me), that that was what it was!
Crochet Blanket Stats
Connie’s Blanket is made up of 130 squares (10×13), which were attached using the Join As You Go technique. The pattern and construction are similar to a blanket I made a few years ago. That one is nattily entitled Crochet Circles in a Square blanket. That blog post has links for all you need if you’re going to make a granny square blanket like this. I’ll break it down here too…
Crochet Circle pattern. The difference in Connie’s blanket is that I used a magic ring to start each circle, and there were no chains between the treble crochet stitches (US dc’s) of the first round. Oh, and no double trebles on the joining round, just some trebs.
Here is one of my Join As You Go tutorials. It’s for another granny project, but the principle is the same.
Yarn Stash Used
I used Stylecraft Special DK in the following colours: Duck Egg, Spring, Fondant, Fuschia, Shrimp, Lobelia, Apricot, Grey, Kelly, Cloud, Mustard, Wisteria,
I made all the inner circles first (well, most of them – I kept adding more when I saw I had enough yarn for more rows), then evenly distributed those between the shades. I haven’t checked, but I reckon they’re all unique.
The border is dead simple. Three rounds of Grannies, 1 row of UK treble stitches (US dc) and a simple scallop edging.
To jazz up the edge a bit more, I ended up doing this: Starting in a dip (between scallops): *(ch2, 1dc after next treble – so between the tr sts) x4, ch2, 1sl st in the dip; rep from *.
And here is a YouTube crochet podcast where I chat about the blanket (and episodes before this one tbh!)
And that’s pretty much it. Granny Square blankets like these are one of my favourite things to crochet. I don’t know why, they just are! What about you? How do you get on with granny blankets?! I know some people think they’re naff and old fashioned, but I can’t help but love em!
Helloo!! How’s it going? It’s all crazy here at the minute, I have many “things to do” lists strewn about the place! One thing I can tick off the list is: Stop worrying about the Geo Rainbow C2C blanket pattern. It’s out now! This month’s Inside Crochet (issue 90) is in the shops. There are loads of great patterns in there, but when I opened its pages, I went straight for my colourful crochet blanket.
I made the front cover! Excuse me for getting excited; it’s very new. I’m mega proud of what I’ve achieved over the last few months, and I’m taking time to shirk off the modesty and say “yay me!”. I absolutely believe everyone should do this from time to time. Just stop and tell yourself how great you are, because it’s true! Stop worrying about others and concentrate on yourself for a while.
The idea of using geometric design in a crochet blanket popped into my head around October/November, and the first stitch was hooked at the end of December.
The design inspiration was born from a crochet cushion I made last August. This one….
It’s funny where ideas take you. I liked the geometric pattern, but there was no way I wanted to make a whole blanket out of teeny single crochet stitches (even though I have since done exactly that with a chevron blanket). The best way of getting the look I wanted was to use corner-to-corner crochet (aka diagonal box stitch).
A Corner To Corner Masterclass!
Not only do I have a published crochet pattern in this issue, but I also have an article on how to work the corner-to-corner stitch.
I submitted the finished Geo Rainbow blanket in February; in May, I was asked if I fancied writing a “mini masterclass”. I said yes because you can’t say no, can you?!
For the article, I crocheted a swatch, photographing each stage so I could show how to do all the key bits of c2c. Breaking it down was fascinating. It makes you realise just how much work goes into all the crochet that we do. Think of all those twiddly twists made with hook, yarn and hands!
A lot of yarn is used at the same time. It’s so much fun to see it all jumbled together. I was (surprisingly) pretty fastidious about keeping it well organised. There’s no way you want this lot to get into a proper tangle. Tidy bobbins are key!
The people behind the magazine would like to take my blanket to Yarndale festival this year! How fab is that?! I do hope I can make it up to Skipton for September. I don’t relish driving for 5+ hours on my own, but I’d love to go… dilemma.
Corner to corner crochet is really popular at the moment. It’s such a versatile stitch, and in part, I think its popularity is down to the fact that you can “draw” with pixel-like blocks. I “drew” a colour-block, geometric pattern, but you can pretty much create any image you like.
What do you think? Is C2C something you’d like to try? Have you made a graphgan before? I’d love to hear. Do let me know. Cheers. X
At the beginning of April, a friend got in touch with me and asked very nicely if I would crochet a baby blanket for another friend. I liked the ideas she had and fancied having a go at something different. It was nice that I could crochet a brainless ripple, but there was also going to be something interesting in the mix as well.
Cute Crochet Elephants
I know that the baby in question is having a safari-themed nursery, and because grey was to feature in the blanket’s colour palette, elephants sprang to mind. I did a quick search online and came up with these cuties. The elephant crochet pattern is from Repeat Crafter Me, and it’s exactly the sort of thing I wanted.
I like how the secret elephants are hidden inside when it’s folded up. You might think it’s a boring blanket. But tumble it open and the cuteness is revealed!
All the crochet elephants go from trunk to tail across the bottom of the blanket. Really rather pleased with that idea!
For attaching the elephants to the blanket, I paid lots of attention, ensuring the sewing stitches didn’t show on the other side. It meant inserting the needle through the fibres of the yarn rather than poking all the way through. The idea of safety eyes was dismissed for the same reason (they’d poke right through to the other side).
I forgot to take pics of the other (wrong) side to prove that there’s nothing on show. Watch my latest crochet vlog, the evidence is there!
The yarn used is Stylecraft Special dk as it’s perfect for baby blankets. I ordered the yarn at the same time as the release of the new shades, so I knew Buttermilk had to be part of it. It’s like someone has added mayonnaise to the Mustard. They go very nicely together. Also in the mix are Teal, Sage and Grey.
And let’s not forget the ubiquitous Neat Ripple!I have no idea how many times I’ve made Attic 24’s Neat Ripple! So many! I did 8 pattern repeats and 64 rows before adding the grey. At each end, I added a ripply row of grey and then a straightening row.
Then it was just a case of making a couple of rounds of UK trebles before going back to Attic24 for the edging, which was pilfered from Lucy’s original Granny Stripe. Phew! What do you think? I like it! Anything with grey and mustard floats my boat, though. Grellow, they call it.
Anyway, I’m late for an evening walk that I must do. I’ve been very lazy recently and have done no proper exercise. And I need to go to the shop for bread and milk…
Hello!! How is everyone today? I feel a bit funny. I think I’m slightly overwhelmed. Thank you so much for being so very kind about my first foray into crochet vlogging. It was absolutely awesome to hear from all of you. I go from being all casual about it to feeling extreme nervousness. I think it mostly went well.
I’m looking forward to filming another crochet vid next week, and I am wavering ever so slightly about filming a crochet tutorial this afternoon [edit: I tried, ugh, it was bad: tech issues, focus issues, brain issues. I will try again]. If you didn’t see my last post, please check out the crochet vlog here. Anyway, this is a crafty catch-up, so let’s get moving…
A Stash Busting Crochet Blanket Idea
I still had lots of Stylecraft Special dk left from my Crazy Chevron blanket, so on Sunday, I made 48 little crochet circles. I was thinking baby blanket. I was also thinking of doing a continuous join-as-you-go. I can’t do one of those, though. I guess that I’d need a minimum of 4 balls of the same colour for that. This is part of an ongoing stash-busting endeavour, and I’m trying to avoid bringing in more yarn. I kind of did buy two extra balls for this already, and I’m going to run out of the blue (lobelia) soon. Oh, it’s an instant fail.
All 48 crochet circles now have three rounds. I could square them up to join-as-I-go and use different colours, but would it be more interesting to try something new? Eeh, I don’t know, there’s no rush, is there? I think I’m going to go for more, too. Apart from the lobelia, there looks like there’s enough for another 48 circles. Any joining suggestions?
At the beginning of last week, I got a lovely surprise when Posty brought a parcel to my door. I wasn’t expecting it, but I knew instantly who it was from because of the massive label greeting me on the box. This Rowan Stonewashed yarn was a gift from my friends (I can call them that now, can’t I?) at Wool and The Gang. I’ve been lucky enough to have been sent their yarns before. If you fancy checking them out, you can read about my mohair experience here. And my gargantuan (yet super warm) Foxy Roxy scarf here.
If I’m being totally honest, the stonewashed yarn is not what I’d normally go for. But they asked me to play with it, and that’s what I’ve done. I like it, and I’ve enjoyed being coaxed out of my comfort zone. I’m always up for a yarny challenge!
The yarn is a collaboration with Rowan Yarns, which I classify as high-end yarn. There are free patterns on the Rowan website for garments and shawls using this yarn. I couldn’t put my finger on what it reminded me of for ages. It’s marble! It reminds me of marble! There’s kind of an Art Deco quality to it, whether or not that was what was intended!
I’ve made three little crochet purses out of the two balls they sent me, and I’ve made some snazzy tassels too. I’ve not put the zips on yet, so I’ll come back with pictures when they’re done.
A Crochet Bag With T-Shirt Yarn
Next up is this cute little crochet bag I put together. During half term, the boys and I went on the bus to Exeter to visit the dentist (living the high life) and happened to fall into Flying Tiger. I came out with two balls of t-shirt yarn, and I won’t mention the bagful of other random stuff.
I’ve briefly shown on the new crochet vlog a spiral technique I started. The spiral turned into a bag, and the bag has turned into a written pattern! Just like that!
Well, not just like that. At this point, I say a massive Thank You to my IG friends (including my fellow WordPress pals Eleonora of Coastal Crochet and Teresa of Shirley Rainbow) who tested the pattern for me. Majorly helpful, without you, the pattern would have been a mess, so thank you very much indeed!!
I’m now going to bombard you with pictures of a giant granny blanket….
This has been another crochet stashbuster for my leftover yarn. I’m so happy to have finished it. I didn’t know it at the time, but it was destined to become a birthday present for someone in the family. Stylecraft Spesh DK again.
All the colours that had nowhere else to be but with each other. I rather like it. A proper Granny blanket, don’t you reckon?!
Such is my commitment to getting this to its destination, I managed to drag myself to the post office even after I’d fallen over and torn a hole in Brand New Jeans!! A week later, and Youngest boy is still asking why I fell over.
Because I did. It was slippery, it was down a steep slope, and I was wearing New Clothes. That’s why! There’s nothing quite like holding back your own tears whilst a boy of nearly four cries for cuddles with Daddy… because Mummy fell over.
For a relatively small blanket, this zigzag chevron blanket seemed to take forever. I’ve made crocheted chevrons before, but not for a long time. I now know why. Every stitch is so small that the build-up is mega slow (yet very much worth it).
Crochet Chevron Blanket
It took a good week to get into the flow of the zigzag stitches. Once I could see that the colours were making me happy, I sped up and started to enjoy the rhythm of it. It’s a classic crochet chevron pattern, with stitches worked in the back loops only. I used this chevron pattern from Meet me at Mike’s, which has step-by-step photos.
I think I worked 11 multiples of the stitches, maybe 12. I thought that would create plenty of width, but it’s actually a lot smaller than I was aiming for. The nature of the stitch created a concertina effect, with it squishing in on itself dramatically. If I stretch it out, it does look bigger, and I think that if I give it a wash, it should settle down more.
Adding a Crochet Border to Zigzag Blankets
The border was a bit of a pain. I knew I wanted the blanket to have a crochet border, and I also knew that many zigzag blankets don’t have them. Probably for a good reason! The valleys and peaks created by the stitch mean that you have to fill those spaces in.
Sadly, I no longer have links to the ones I used to make the border. However, all the yellow bits in the pic below are worked separately. Then the blue was sort of “coloured in” in the spaces.
I wish I hadn’t added a second row of the cloud blue dc stitches (US single crochets) over the top. It looks a bit messy, and it really doesn’t need to be there. By the time I’d got to this section, though, I’d already unpicked a first, super-ugly border attempt. I was fed up. I just could not be bothered to do it all again (I’d already gone round with the grey at this point too, as I had done the first time too). So if anyone out there fancies having a go, perhaps don’t add a second row of blue!
Crochet Bobble Edging
I thought the grey was going to be the final colour, but the blanket’s recipient (Youngest boy) came over and told me that he wanted the neon pink. He knew what he was talking about. It looks fabulous. I seriously love it! You know, I think grey would have been nice on its own, but now it really pops! (and I don’t use that word lightly- I never ever say “pops”).
There isn’t really a pattern for the full border in its entirety; it’s just pairs of 2 UK treble stitches sitting next to each other and ch1, miss a stitch. It would look something like this in a pattern:
UK terms – Round 1: *2tr, miss 1 st, ch1; rep from * around. US terms – Round 1: *2dc, sk 1 st, ch1; rep from * around.
The bobbles/pompoms are a little stitch pattern I came up with when I crocheted a Touch of Spice blanket nearly a year ago. This time I chained 6, not 7, made my tr5tgr in the 4th ch from hook and chained 2 rather than 3. Pop over to the Pompom Edging blog post and take a closer look.
Order of Yarn Colours
Essentially, this was a crochet stashbuster of a blanket. I had so much Stylecraft Special dk acrylic that it needed to be made into something lovely and not stuck alone in the dark cupboard under the stairs.
I’m going to say that it was mostly random colour choices, but there is a pattern repeat:
Six rows of one colour,
3x two rows of different colours,
4 rows of another colour,
2x two rows of different colours,
finishing with six rows again.
I’ll also tell you the colours because I’m super proud that I remember them all off the top of my head: Fiesta, Grey, Citron, Wisteria, Aspen, Shrimp, Sherbet, Cloud, Kelly, Apricot, Lobelia, Fuschia, Plum, Pistachio.
And I’ve still got enough to make another sort of blanket…because there’s a chance I might have gone out and bought some more… you know, to make up the colours….Soooo…. what next? Granny squares or treble chevrons, maybe a sunburst? I’m torn.
I’ve been thinking a lot about colour for crochet palettes over the last few months. I’m not the only one, either. When I researched colour in crochet, I found a ton of articles and blog posts about it. Many of the articles have looked specifically into colour theory and taken choosing colours quite seriously (colour theory is the scientific approach to understanding how colours go together, it’s sciencey, you can even get twiddly colour wheels to help and everything). I’m not going to go into that, I’m just going to explain an easier way at choosing my colours for crochet!
When I first started to crochet, I didn’t think much beyond what colours I liked and which colours were available. That was fine, but sometimes my favourite colours didn’t translate into yarn very well, or I didn’t know which shade would work best with another. Thankfully, there are far more colours and shades available than there used to be (this crochet thing has really taken off).
What’s Your Crochet Style?
These days, I ask myself what style I’m after or how many colours will achieve a good balance for the picture I have in my head? Perhaps approach a crochet project from a different angle. I take inspiration from different sources rather than turning up at the shop and chucking balls of yarn in my basket. And consider more than just my favourite colours.
For me, a good starting point is deciding on the theme I want, which can often be just a one-word affair: neutral, bright, pastel, earth, vintage, contemporary, seasonal, blah blah. Once I’ve decided this, it’s so much easier. There are lots of colours I can then eliminate.
The secret to choosing a good colour palette is probably a mixture of confidence and experience. Overthinking can really take the fun out of it. Stop worrying and just begin. You won’t know if something works until you try it out. If it doesn’t work, then that’s a lesson learned. If it does work, then awesome!
Another secret is this: crochet. A lot. All the time!
Before I go into the easy crochet “cheats” I use, I’m going to mention a little bit about whether to be “Random” or “Organised” in deciding the colours you choose for your crochet projects; I think it could be helpful. I’m usually Random. What are you?
Go for A Random Crochet Palette
I love a bit of random colour selection. To go truly random is a risk that can really pay off. It’s also great for stashbusting yarn. Is random really random though?
It’s fun blindly grabbing yarn and putting it all together in a crochet blanket; it can lead to some very interesting results, but it can also backfire tremendously! Arbitrary colour placement can sometimes get you in dodgy situations, but you might also discover that those weird colours actually look fantastic sat side by side.
My only rule about placing colours randomly is not to have the same shades or contrasts too close to one another. And I think I’ve broken that rule a couple of times, too. Rule-breaking is encouraged!
When I’m making a blanket that’s going to be random, I like to choose a minimum of seven colours. Fewer than that and it’s going to be tricky mixing up the colours effectively. More than fifteen colours and you might lose any colour balance you’re trying to achieve.
Blankets where I’ve used over thirty colours have looked like a dog’s dinner. They’ve also looked pretty good, too, if you’re after something you’d find at Granny’s house. I guess it depends on your crochet aesthetic.
Get Organised With Crochet Colour Selection
Don’t want to risk random? Then everything needs to be worked out before you even pick up your hook. I’ve already confessed that I’m Random, so to be properly organised, you probably shouldn’t listen to me. I’m talking colour wheels, yarn pegs, pre-made crochet squares a la Attic 24 Colour Play and The Patchwork Heart.
It’s really not my area! I’m pretty envious of these super organised people. I don’t know why it doesn’t work for me. Oh yes, it’s because I’m lazy!! Instead of taking the time to organise my yarn stash, you’ll most likely find me sitting in a tangle of mismatched balls, whilst umming and ahhing about what I’ve got enough of to eke out into a small blanket.
If you’d rather be in control of colour choices, then Attic 24 and the Patchwork Heart are definitely the crochet folk you need to visit. You’ll learn about matching warm and cool colours so that the balance brings out the best in all shades. You’ll find out about whether you prefer contrasting or complementary colours too. Maybe once the decision has been made, you could get fancy and choose an ombre style, go for block colours or get your rainbow on! Of course, you’ll then get lost in a sea of crochet and colour, but that’s not such a bad place to be.
Easy Ways to Cheat the Crochet Colour
It’s time to get cheaty. If you’re still struggling with choosing colours for crochet projects then here are a few pointers to help. If you can’t be bothered with a methodical approach and you don’t have the time for a potentially hazardous risk, then these tricks might be the ticket.
1. Copy Someone Else’s Colour Palette!
This is controversial! Find a blanket someone else has made and copy it!
Loads of blogs (including mine) will share the brands of yarn and colour choices so that it’s easy to do. I would add that if you do this, then you MUST credit the creator. If I’ve been inspired by someone, I will always say so.
Copying is a good starting point if you’re a beginner. Gradually, you can move away from this once you’ve got more confidence. Copying will become less literal, and the original design will be more of an inspiration. An homage or something! Look at blogs, Ravelry, Pinterest, Instagram etc.
The circle in squares blanket (pictured above) was inspired by Crochet With Raymond. I loved the colours and grabbed some similar Stylecraft colours. I wrote a blog post about it in more detail.
For this Petal Patch blanket, the colours are from Attic 24’s Harmony blanket but with a different granny square. So I’m mixing it up, developing ideas while still finding my confidence.
2. Use Pretty Pictures To Inspire Your Colour Choices
Find inspiration from pictures. I love finding pictures in magazines and using them as a starting point. What’s particularly brilliant about this is that current magazines will have on-trend colours (if that’s what you’re after).
Even a picture of a person in a room is great. You’ll see the colours of the decor or the clothes the person is wearing and how they go together. Craft magazines are perfect, they’ll be completely switched on with regard to colour palettes and tonal balance. Also, look at books with illustrations.
Here is my Fireplace blanket, inspired by fireplace tiles (a special request from my sister-in-law and a great idea).
This green granny curiosity was surprisingly inspired by the Meg and Mog books. I’m not sure I’m keen. It was an interesting experiment!
3. Be Inspired by The Colours of Nature
Go back to nature. Look at a garden you like, where’s your favourite place to be? What mood does that place evoke? Take a picture of a scene that’s pretty and use it. The seaside seems to be an inspiration for many, as does woodland. Maybe some city lights could conjure up a good bunch of colours.
4. Ready-To-Use Colour Palettes
Let technology help you. Design Seeds is a big one. Lots and lots of ready-to-use colour palettes that you can incorporate into crochet. Or you can create your own with palettes with an app.
Try a random colour generator, which can be interesting. On some sites, you can sort by hue, saturation or value. There are apps aplenty that do palette builders. I’ve got one called Real Colours. I’ve been testing lots of pictures from my phone gallery!
Based on colour theory, which I mentioned earlier, is the Adobe colour wheel. It was fun to tinker with, but I’m not sure I’d want to use it all the time.
Anyway, who am I to tell you what to do?! You can choose any colours you like. That’s the beauty of crochet! There are endless possibilities and the freedom to play and have fun. If there are any easy ways of choosing colours for crochet that I’ve missed, do let me know. I’d love to hear about more ways in which I can cut corners!
I completely forgot to write about this cosy crochet blanket. I finished it before the summer holidays. It got a wash and was then stored away before I realised I should probably show it off a bit and then put it up for sale. Actually, now is a pretty good time to do it because the colours remind me of autumn, and that’s just where we’re heading.
Join As You Go Grannies
Amazingly, for me, this is the first time I’ve used a join-as-you-go method for a granny square blanket. Whilst I’ve done plenty of continuous joins, this is slightly different due to all the colour changes. It looks so much better than if I’d whip-stitched the squares together (which is what I always used to do).
The border is quite plain but I didn’t think it wanted flouncy. Just some crochet scallops between every other cluster. In the alternating clusters, it’s just a UK dc (US sc). To stop it from curling too much, there are chains between them.
There’s something about this blanket I really like, and I’ll be jiggered if I know what it is. Maybe it’s the simplicity of it, or it could be the autumn colour palette. I haven’t quite put my finger on it yet, but it doesn’t really matter, does it? I like it because I do!
The Yarn Colours Used
The colour scheme wasn’t a choice I made; it was determined by what I had left hidden in the cupboard under the stairs. Over the last few months, I’ve been making an attempt to get that down to a more manageable collection. I’m trying to train myself not to impulse-buy yarn too. It’s not working that well, I’ve just transferred my lustings to fabric instead.
Anyway, if you are at all curious about the colours, they are Stylecraft Special DK in: Saffron, Gold, Pomegranate, Petrol, Spice, Parma Violet, Khaki, Spring Green, Magenta and Lavender. It’s deffo less than a ball of each, but I couldn’t tell you how much exactly, as none were full balls to begin with.
It’s a blanket that I wish I’d made bigger. Well, I couldn’t; didn’t have enough yarn stash! I hope that it finds a home…
Tour Of Britain: From Crochet to Cycling
In a complete random change of subject, I popped out to have a very speedy look at the Tour of Britain this morning. This was at the end of my road, just before midday today. I timed it very well; I was out and back home within fifteen minutes.
I wasn’t expecting to talk about this corner to corner blanket quite so soon; only one day after releasing my new crochet shawl pattern, Harvest Moon, I’ve just added ZZ Block to Ravelry! Phew, it’s getting a bit crochet crazy here at the minute.
I made it super fast. There was lots of car crochet going on last weekend and it was mostly made en route to see my family. Because I made it so quickly and because I was in a car with loads of tangled balls upon my person, I made the error of “rectangling” it about 4 rows too soon. I also rushed the initial design and it doesn’t please me 100%. The bungling, therefore, means that I can’t produce a whole pattern without a perfect sample. But I don’t want to stop others from starting now. Give me some time and a full-on pattern will be released but for now, I think this is a good alternative.
The inspiration is this bolt of rainbow lightning in my boys bedroom. We* painted it around Easter and ever since then I’ve known it would some day become a blanket. I’ve just about manage to squeeze it in for the current CAL.
x
