Starburst Flowers for Spring

Pink and green 

has been a refreshing change

 on my hook this week!

Oh what a pleasure it is choosing new colours for a blanket!

My Stylecraft shade squares have been out again

 and I've enjoyed playing

 with these little samples of colours immensely.

I have chosen

Stylecraft Special DK

in

claret

raspberry

pomegranate

pale rose

fondant

candy floss

soft peach

parchment

spring green meadow

and

khaki

My pattern is the starburst flower by Jane Brocket

 which was in Mollie Makes issue 2

 and is also in her book The Gentle Art of Knitting

To increase speed

I make all of round 1 first

then all of round 2

I find this helps my productions rate

 as your fingers and brain remember the stitch pattern

 and there is no time wasted from changing colours

 if you make in batches of the same colour

This pattern is very close

 enabling the ends to be crocheted over

 as you work on round 2 and 3

working in batches helps make sure

 there are an equal amount of each colour too

The next job is to turn the circles into squares

 and for this I am using parchment

I am using the flat braid join on this blanket 

to add more texture

do come back next week to check on my progress!

The colourful flower square blanket

 is now complete

 and waiting for its red border

 here is a lovely daylight shot

Thank you for all your lovely comments

it pleases me much

 to know that my humble little pag

e is an encouragment to many of you!

Happy hookin friends

Heather X X X

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

X X X