skip to main |
skip to sidebar
I decided to try doing a temperature blanket again this year. My first attempt was last year and I made a few mistakes, that hopefully I learned from. Mistake number one, was that I chose a stitch that was too large. It soon became very apparent that my blanket was going to be humongous! But I was already well into the process before I realized, so I plunged ahead and ended up stopping in May. My second mistake was not realizing that even though we have extreme temperatures here, a lot of the time it hovers in the mid range so I had better like those colors -- a lot! Last year, those colors between 50˚ and 70˚ were yellow and orange, which aren't the worst colors in the world, but there can definitely be too much of them. They're better as highlights -- the center of a flower, for example, is just right.
To solve the first problem I chose the smallest stitch I could find -- the linen stitch, or sometimes called the moss stitch. It is basically smaller than a single crochet because the stitch goes down into the space in the previous row. I also used a 4 mm hook which is smaller than I usually use. My only worry at this point is that it's going to be too stiff! But, we'll just have to see what happens! That's how I like to live anyway. Life is boring with too much certainty. I did start and pull everything out at least twice before I fixed on a good width and hook size. After the second time I even decided to measure and do actual math! There is a first time for everything. It should turn out to be a normal size for a human blanket which will be nice.
For the second problem, I decided to not use any yellow at all! There, that was easy. I still don't have my absolute ideal color palette, because I am trying to use up some excess yarn that is idling around the closet being useless, but it should be more pleasing this time around. I am using Stylecraft DK and crocheting the high temperature that was reached each day.
less than 5˚- lobelia
5˚-19˚- lavender
20˚-34˚- turquoise
35˚-49˚- teal
50˚-64˚- grass
65˚-79˚- clematis
80˚-94˚- fuchsia
95˚+- currently undecided
So here is the first month:
New Year's day did not reach 5˚! But we've managed to get above it the rest of the time -- and several days over 50˚! Our weather is all over the place! I can see how this would be a boring exercise in more temperate climes -- a risk I'm willing to take someday (hopefully), but for now, this is making the winter a little more exciting.
Ta-da!!!! The first blanket that I made for myself (and Matthew) is finally finished! It took over a year, but I did make about six other blankets in that same time 
😁 I should've waited for better light to take pics, but I was too excited. 378 flowers -- each of them unique, done pretty randomly, and I just happened to have the exact right amount as I was finishing my last row -- so serendipitous! Can't wait to cozy up in it, haha! Perhaps in the fall?
I first saw this blanket on pinterest linking to a blog in the Netherlands -- I'll include it here: (african flower blanket) and I was distressed to find no information on a pattern or colors -- not that I usually include those sorts of details in my posts either, haha! But I'll turn over a new flower petal and include some of those specifics. I found a pattern and tutorial at Heidi Bears and just did the first four rounds. I decided to used Lucy's hexagon join as you go method so I saved the gray section for the joining stage. All of the yarn is Stylecraft from Wool Warehouse and I used these colors:
✽ sherbet ✽ turquoise ✽ empire ✽ grass green ✽ petrol ✽ violet ✽ spring green ✽ duck egg ✽ lobelia ✽ cloud blue ✽ aster ✽ bluebell ✽ aspen ✽ lemon ✽ teal ✽ white ✽ silver ✽
I did it all very haphazardly -- more organized people would probably cringe at my method, or lack thereof. For a while I would do a pile of centers of one color, and then change the next rounds and then I did piles of using only two alternating colors instead of three... pretty random. And then with joining I never even figured out ahead of time how many I would need in each row! I just had all of the flowers in a bag, pulling one out at a time and only putting it back if the colors were too similar to what was directly around it, hoping I wouldn't get to the end and have only bright green left! I joined them by doing a sort of herringbone pattern back and forth while the rows got longer in each direction. I thought I might have to go back and do a few more, but as a mentioned above, I miraculously ended up with the exact right amount! How freaky is that? I love magical things. I first thought I would have a curvy edge, but then decided I liked the look of straight edges better so I did have to hurry and do some half hexagons in the silver before I could start the border. I used the border from a blog called dover and madden. I did the first five rows wrong at first! It was so frustrating! At first I couldn't figure out why it didn't look right, but by the time I did realize I was very far along -- this blanket is humongous! But I knew that I would be happier if I started over and did it correctly and it is true! I always have to tell myself that it is not about finishing a project -- it is about the PROCESS! So, it is fine if I have to spend a little more time. It's not like I had a deadline hanging over my head. I think it is one of my favorite borders ever. There you have it! If you have any questions, I'd be more than happy to answer them!
My little Phinney saw me making blankets for all of his older siblings and started asking me when I was going to make one for him. I hadn't necessarily planned on starting another so soon after finishing Ibby's, but he was so earnest that how could I refuse? He really likes rainbows, so I chose to do this one from The Purl Bee. They sell a kit, but it was $1 million, or $780 to be exact. Either way, prohibitive. So I set out to find 42 colors of yarn -- not merino wool, not hand-dyed -- being different colors was pretty much my only requirement. I soon found that this project was not achievable using only local sources so I carefully perused the colors available at the Wool Warehouse in the U.K. and hoped for the pixellated, internet funny colored, best. I ordered everything on Dec. 23 and I can't remember exactly when the very large parcel arrived, but as soon as it did I got right down to business. It is actually a bit embarrassing that I was able to finish the whole thing in about a month -- I truly did manage to make dinner most nights and keep up with laundry! I just tried to have it on hand to work on some squares wherever I may be -- except church. I still refuse to crochet there, even though I am just sitting there... hmmm. Maybe someday. I get so impatient when I'm working on things -- I just want to finish as quickly as possible! I refuse to comment on the number of korean dramas consumed during this time.
::rainbow in embryo
::rainbow in stacks
::rainbow grid
::together at last
::happy boy with his rainbow!
*update I thought I should add which stylecraft colors I substituted for the ones offered at Purl Soho. I also have a chart that I made if anyone is interested.
✽ candy floss ✽ fiesta ✽ bright pink ✽ fondant ✽ soft peach ✽ pomegranate ✽ raspberry ✽ shrimp ✽ lipstick ✽ matador ✽ claret ✽ gold ✽ spice ✽ copper ✽ camel ✽ saffron ✽ sunshine ✽ citron ✽ lemon ✽ bright green ✽ lime ✽ meadow ✽ petrol ✽ sherbet ✽ spring green ✽ aspen ✽ turquoise ✽ aster ✽ teal ✽ cloud blue ✽ royal ✽ denim ✽ silver ✽ grey ✽ graphite ✽ bluebell ✽ lavender ✽ wisteria ✽ violet ✽ plum ✽ magenta ✽ clematis ✽
The yellows and the greens were the most difficult to match, I thought. And some of the ones I thought I would use with the pinks I ended up using with the purples.
