Starting a new blanket is an adventure that involves: problem solving, imagination, color theory and a sprinkle of hesitation all within the process. I love it!
Picking the colors and wools
For this blanket, I decided to go a different route from my usual when picking the color palette. See my blog on my usual process here! I started collecting imagery that I felt was relevant/trendy and made me feel excited about creating [see my board on Pinterest]. Spring was on the way, and I knew I would likely finish the blanket in time for the season, so a palette that reflected this was important. I found a relaxing, simple, still life of strawberries and daisies.
Deciding on this image as my inspiration, I then proceeded to pull apart my yarn collection - looking for any skeins that fit the palette. Lots of reds, pinks, whites, creams, some yellows, greens and even browns. To simplify the palette, I eliminated all the skeins that would not be large enough to complete a blanket. I arranged around me what I was left with and started analyzing the different combinations. I did not want a scrap blanket but rather a blanket with a recognizably-continuous pattern throughout.
I left myself with the following colors:
I went back and forth on my selection. I knew that I would struggle with making a big enough throw, but I loved the colors and was determined to make it work.
Deciding on a Pattern and Layout
Once the colors were selected, I went about searching Pinterest for a suitable pattern. I found a pattern for a granny square that I really liked because, if used well, it could look like a collection of strawberries. I went about testing this pattern. At this point I should point out that I used 3 balls of DK yarn and 2 balls of aran weight with a 5.5mm hook for this blanket. Because of how I wanted the colors to appear, the first two rounds used the DK yarn and the 3rd round was going to be an aran weight. Aran weight is a thicker yarn than DK.
The pattern, however, used very close stitches. When I started adding the aran weight for the third round, I realized almost immediately that it wasn’t going to work. The inside rounds started to distort far too much. Over the years I have learned that a thicker yarn can be used on the inside rounds and a thinner on the outside rounds, but the vice versa seldom works and usually causes a very wobbly and uneven square.
To make my vision happen, I decided to go with old faithful - the traditional granny square. This pattern has genuinely never failed me. I did change up the way I added the green layer because I had the least of this color, and needed it to stretch as far as the others. The final square below!
Working on the Blanket
Once the color palette and square pattern were decided, all that was left to do was complete the blanket. I began working on the squares first - naturally. Initially, I started making completed squares, but after about 5 squares, the constant change in tension due to wool weights began to bother my hands and wrists. I started to then create just one round at a time. You might think that I would make as many of that first pink round as the ball of wool would allow - making little squares until the skein was gone. However, I was concerned with the amount of the other colors I had and did not want to make more than I was able to use.
I started by making about 10 of the first little pink rounds and then I would add the second, bright red, round to all of those pink ones. Then I would add the third, darker red, rounds to each growing square. And then I would do the same with the green and cream rounds until those ten squares were completed.
I worked this way, sometimes changing how many squares I did, until I ran out of one color. In this case, it was the bright red that ran out first; rather than the green as I originally thought. I was left with one and a half skeins of the cream and a skein and a half of the dark red. There were not enough of either the pink or green to create any sort of intentional-looking pattern going forward.
As all crocheters and knitters will know, the next step is cleaning up. I have a love/hate relationship with this step in the process. Once all the squares were done, I had to weave in the ends. However, I did discover that there is a creator on etsy who spins yarn from scraps! I think that is so cool, and an amazing way to make a singularly unique item. For this reason, I enjoyed weaving in the ends because it meant collecting my bits and pieces of “unusable” scraps. Knowing that once I have enough collected, I can send them away to turn into something new!
Anyway, it took some time, but after finally weaving in all of those ends, I was officially able to start sewing the squares together! I prefer to use the mattress stitch because it’s invisible and uses less yarn.
With the remaining yarn I made the decision, after quite a lot of pondering, to make alternating rows with the cream and the red. There was less of the cream, so I used that first to allow it to stretch a little longer. Then I added the red layer. I kept going like this until the white ran out. I then finished the blanket with the remaining red yarn, which allowed me to add three more layers. This is what I love about using only the yarn that I have rather than going out and buying just enough yarn to make something. Much like the Autumn Color blanket I recently sold (see below).
The Autumn Color blanket was able to have consecutively-numbered rows because I made sure to purchase the right amount of each color I wanted to use. However, with the Strawberries and Cream throw blanket, I decided to use only the yarn I had on hand from previous “Oh this is pretty!” purchases. I knew from the start I was going to need to do some problem solving - and oh how I love problem solving! Using only what I had, I was able to create a completely unique blanket that would likely not have existed if I had gone out and purchased all-new or additional yarn.
I am quite proud of this throw blanket! And I’m so excited for the next one!!! Link to a sneak peak!
If you are interested in purchasing this throw, or would like to browse my other available blankets, throws, and products check out my Etsy here!
Click the images below to see the full reels and the Etsy listing!
As a little bonus material, below are the books I am currently reading:
Why are We Yelling by Buster Benson (as audio book on the SimplyE app)
Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance by Barack Obama (as a physical book)
Terms used:
Aran weight: this is the UK term, and I believe* the American version is heavy worsted or 10ply. This weight usually uses around a 5mm hook.
Double Knit: this is the UK term. I believe* the American version is #3 or light weight yarn.
Weight: this does not refer to the actual physical weight of the wool, but rather the thickness of wool strad.
Wool: Again, this is UK terminology. Wool tends to refer to all yarns regardless of material. Sometimes I go back and forth between using “wool” and “yarn.”
Skein: this is the technical term for what a single ball of yarn is called.
*I did not properly get into knitting and crocheting until I lived in England, and the USA terms still confuse me quite a bit. There seem to be so many ways to classify a weight!
コメント