The Beginners Blanket

If you would like to make your first blanket,

 then carry on reading, 

I will take you through the process of all you need to know!

To begin with most people learn how to make a granny square.

I have a tutorial to teach you with step by step photos to help.

When you have a pile of squares come back for the joining

 and then for the border.

For this beautiful vintage style granny blanket 

I have used 8 shades of Stylecraft Special DK.

You can buy this yarn

HERE

You can of course use your own colours too. 

8 colours is enough to make

 49 granny squares of 7 rounds,

 so you can choose

 a square blanket 7 by 7 or a rectangular blanket 8 by 6.

I used

duck egg, buttermilk, sage, vintage peach, parma violet, grape,

 storm blue, pale rose and duck egg joined with mushroom

I made a rectangular blanket so needed 48 squares. 

This works out nicely at 6 centres of each of the 8 colours.

You can learn how to make a granny square

HERE

Organisation is very important to me.

It makes the process quicker and ensures an even balance of colour.

You can read about how I plan colours 

HERE

I would encourage you to start good habits now

and sew the ends in as you go!

Once the granny squares have 7 rounds,

 they are ready to edge in mushroom for joining.

I use the bed for this next step, to save bending down on the floor!

Lay the squares out in your desired arrangement,

 trying to ensure an even distribution of colour.

I then number each row using a scrap of paper

 and store the piles in a basket ready for joining.

There are many joining methods available.

My favourite is to crochet the squares together to give a strong join.

For beginners I recommend

crocheting together from the back, using UK dc, through both loops.

You can read how to do this

HERE

The join is made in rows of 1 direction first,

 then repeated in the opposite direction.

This makes a strong flat join with a ridge on the back.

Every blanket needs a border,

 just like a picture needs a frame!

I recommend the book

"Around The Corner" by Edie Eckman.

You can buy this on Amazon

HERE

(Please note this book is written in US terms.)

I have used border 27 for this blanket.

The final things I do for every blanket is to wash it.

This has the effect of blocking and helps to settle the joins.

Follow the instructions on the ball band.

For Stylecraft Special DK I wash in the machine

 at 30 degrees using my regular soap powder and softener.

 I then tumble dry on LOW HEAT.

So now the fun begins!

 Go and choose your yarn.

If you have any questions not explained in my tutorials,

 please email me at

 thepatchworkheartuk@gmail.com

 and I will try to help.

Have fun blanket making

I wish you many happy hours of hooking!

Heather

xxx

Juicy Fruits

The last few weeks have been very colourful

 here at Patchwork House,

as I have worked on another order

 for the popular Circle of Friends blanket.

I have been using the pattern written in US terms by Priscilla Hewitt

which you can find

HERE

Stylecraft Special DK

has the most wonderful colour palette

and it is always such a joy to work with a new recipe.

This one which I have named

 Juicy Fruits

 was put together by my customer

 and I'm sure you will agree it is delicious!

To make this blanket you will need

1 each of Stylecraft Special DK in

 pale rose

fondant

fuschia purple

tomato

spice

mustard

pistachio

sage

duck egg

bluebell

and

violet

to be joined with 

4 denim.

You can but this yarn

HERE

Stylecraft Special DK

Working in my production line mode again for speed

 there have been frequent lines and piles on my coffee table

many cups of tea and dishes of sweets

and tons of photo opportunities at every stage.

The most frequent question I am asked

 is how do I plan colours to avoid any repeats

If you missed my popular post a few weeks

 ago written about this very thing you can read it

 HERE

Planning is key

 but it's not hard

 and becomes second nature.

The colours in this lovely blanket

 have given me many exciting photo opportunities to

satisfy my love of crochet mug matches!

Another question I am often asked is about my hooks.

I use Clover Amour hooks

 which have a coated, shaped handle. 

These have stopped the hand pain that I used to get 

and enable me to be very productive, despite health issues.

Storage and organisation of projects in baskets

 helps me to keep my work area (living room) tidy

and makes the squares easily portable

 to another room (bed) or going out (car).

This is a big blanket which is a special commission.

Laying out the squares in Sudoku fashion

 helps me ensure an even distribution of colours.

To join I have used denim

 which has nicely balanced out the hot shades

 of orange and pink.

Once again I have used the flat braid join

 and adapted it to do in the continuous join as you go method.

You can read a tutorial in US terms by Baby Love Brand

HERE

I've been tempted by the vibrant colours

 to eat sweets at every stage!

Now the blanket is in 1 piece and ready for its border.

Come back next week or watch out on

 Facebook

 and

 Instagram 

for the final tadaa!

I wish you all a happy hooky weekend

and as always thank you for your support and encouragement.

This year has been difficult learning to cope with a chronic illness

 and making the decision to leave my job as a teacher.

You can look forward to more regular blog posts

 and many improvements here,

 as I seek to work out my role as a full time crochet artist.

Heather

X X X