Willow Blanket tadaa!

A few weeks ago

 I shared with you the delightful willow blocks I was making

Using the pattern from

200 Crochet Blocks by Jan Eaton

I set about making 49 of these 6 inch squares

in beautiful shades of Stylecraft Special DK

using a 3.5mm hook

I have used

Stylecraft Special DK

1 each of claret, copper, spice, gold, mocha,

 meadow, teal, plum, grape and raspberry

with 3 dark brown for joining

The pattern was easily memorised

 and soon I was making without the book!

Loving the lace pattern

 which shows so clearly when the blocks are made in a single colour

I decided on a very simple join ...

working in dark brown I used dc with wrong sides together

 as I wanted the join to be minimal allowing the blocks to shine!

then for the border I chose something deep and lacey

from Crochet Borders by Edie Eckman

which you can buy from Amazon

I am absolutely delighted with this plain blanket

which has been made as a wedding gift.

It was lovely to have the opportunity

 to create something new and different

 which I know will inspire future orders.

I hope you like it too!

happy hookin

Heather

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Colour is everything

Oh how I love starting a new project

choosing the colours

is the best part!

this weeks delight has been a toddler snuggle blanket

in the most gorgeous bright shades

of saffron shrimp fondant magenta and spring green

Oh how I love Stylecraft Special DK!

my colour inspiration

 came from a colour palette by the wonderful

Design Seeds

and I have been delighted with the results

I have used a 4mm hook to make these starburst flowers

 using the Jane Brocket pattern from Mollie Makes issue 2

arranging these beauties is always such fun

as I ponder where they will sit

edging is always a favourite part as it makes the colours sing

I use the continuous join as you go method

 and love how fast the blanket comes together

with the bonus of no ends to sew in!

and finally

to complete this order

 is also a cute little matching dolls blanket!

 

To help those of you who are wanting to try this pattern

 I have made a collage

 showing the life cycle of a starburst flower

it uses 3 different stitches which makes it fun to make

... beware they are addictive!

I find the quickest way to make a blanket

 is to work in batches

 making all of round 1, then all of round 2

 and then round 3 ...

 this way your hand and brain remembers the stitch 

and I find that it gives me a better production rate

 and it is easier to plan equal amounts of colours too!

I hope that my work continues to inspire you!

Thank you to the many lovely ladies who write

happy hookin!

Heather

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