I'm on a total crocheting binge and word is spreading around my family so I have a few victims to help feed my addiction. One of my aunties wanted a shawl sized blanket to take with her on her beach walks now that winter is fast approaching. I suggested a coastal ripple blanket style that I had seen on Attic24. I had no idea how to do this but I was sure I could find a tutorial that would get me hooking it fast.
I much prefer a visual tutorial over a written pattern so this tutorial here did the trick. Gosh though, I filled up the swear jar and used up the patience of a saint trying to get it at the start - no tears but lots of pulled out hours of work, never the less I cracked it! The pattern, once mastered, is really quite rhythmic and I wonder now how I took so long to 'get' it - must have been a blonde week :)
This photo really hurts my migraine brain!
For those of you interested, and for my own future interest here is the low down on the making of the blanket....
I wanted to mimic the colours of and around the ocean - sand, sun, sea, and sky. I'm finding it tricky to get my hands on a good array of coloured yarn, but I finally settled on Myboshi from Spotlight. It's 30% merino wool and 70% polyacrylic, machine washable and used a 6mm hook
I ended up doing a foundation chain of 204 + 3.
I wanted to mimic the colours of and around the ocean - sand, sun, sea, and sky. I'm finding it tricky to get my hands on a good array of coloured yarn, but I finally settled on Myboshi from Spotlight. It's 30% merino wool and 70% polyacrylic, machine washable and used a 6mm hook
I ended up doing a foundation chain of 204 + 3.
One ball of myboshi 50g did 2 rows of 207 stitches. In total I did 4 rows of each (except for the dark orange) using 2 balls of each. The boarder took 1 and a bit balls of the dark blue.
Don't even talk to me about the boarder...I had to pull it out many times - I stupidly started and almost finished it on the wrong side (lesson learnt, won't do ever again!!) but to make it a straight boarder instead of a continuation of the wave it is tricky. There is a tutorial for it on Attic 24's pattern or you can google/youtube it, but its basically increasing and decreasing - I ended up just making it up - starting at the top of the rise it's 2 sc, 3 half dc, 1 dc, 1 tr (you are in the bottom of the dip, now head back up the to the top) 1 dc, 3 half dc, 2 sc, Let me tell you it is a nightmare to do on the foundation chain end, and if by any miracle you are reading this and have found a way that is easy, please share it with me!!! The sides are just 2 dc into each row - into the last of the dc on each end, capiche? I'm not sure I follow either!!! hahaha
Ciao, Jan x
OMG that is awesome...I sat on the couch watching TV last night looking over at my crochet blanket all very lonely on the other end of the couch....it's getting cooler here so I should start doing it but when I was "hooked" in January it just got so hot and I had to stop. That looks amazing you must be so thrilled with your efforts and of course the receiver of said shawl. How's the hunt for the sewing machine coming along? I bought some "dashound" fabric to make a skirt for Sienna's best friend for her birthday (actually I was making this skirt for her and then I text her Mum to find out when her birthday is...June...so she can get it then). Regards Kathy A, Brisbane PS>>> that ripple blanket was in fact the reason why I wanted to get back into crocheting myself. Here's a market bag for you to crochet....
ReplyDeletehttp://www.craftsy.com/project/view/lacy-v-tote/5358?NAVIGATION_PAGE_CONTEXT_ATTR=PROJECT
Also my favourite Waffle Blanket from Suburban Jubliee.
http://suburbanjubilee.blogspot.com.au/2011/02/waffle-crotchet-tutorial-from-blankets.html
thanks for all that Kathy, I was chasing your email address on your blog but can't get it? I got a sewing machine and....I actually altered one of my daughters skirts that was too small by adding and elastic waist!! I can't say I really enjoyed it but I did it. I've brought some material (far out it's not cheap is it!!) to make a single layer skirt for my first try. I couldn't find any fabric as pretty as the lot you made Siennas skirt in nor could I find the thicker bias but I'll get into it in the coming weeks and do a blog on it - hopefully it works out!! Thanks for the inspiration and by the way, get onto that crochet!! :)x
DeleteThat looks fantastic...my kind of modern crochet! My, you are a talent Jan :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Jem you are very kind x
Deletewow, so talented! I have never tried to crochet before :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Tandy :) Why don't you give it a try? I can't imagine not doing it now!
DeleteWhat an absolutely gorgeous blanket Jan! I love the soothing effect of the colourful ripples :D
ReplyDeleteThanks Lorraine x
DeleteOne of the girls in my knitting group is doing Attic24's Cosy Stripe Blanket I'm thinking that might be my next project. I reckon you've totally mastered the ripple - the good thing about crochet is it's so forgiving :) The colours are just beautiful - was it hard to give it up?
ReplyDeleteSnap! I've just started the granny stripe blanket - you can order the yarn for the pattern too which is great and even though it came from the UK it was cheaper than getting it here. It was hard to give up but when I know it's going to a good home I hook more love into it ;)
DeleteRegarding doing your edging on the foundation row, there is a technique for crocheting where you do not start with a foundation chain but basically create it as part of the first proper row of crocheting. It is something i intend to try with my next project but apparently it gives the crochet good tension and also makes it much easier to work edging around. Try googling "crochet no foundation chain" there are plenty of tutorials and YouTube clips. Also, if you are a member of Crafsty they have some lessons available on their site I think. If you haven't heard of Craftsy I highly recommend it for crochet, knitting, sewing etc tutorials, some of which a free. Just bear in mind the U.S. crochet terms are different to australian/uk terms (us double crochet = Aus treble)
ReplyDeleteThanks for that Melanie - I learnt using US terms...Isn't youtube and google just a valuable tool!! I'll have a look at that technique as it sounds perfect for this.
DeleteRegarding edging along your foundation chain, you might like to try the technique where you do not start with a foundation row but but basically create it as part of you first proper row of crochet. This is a new technique to me but one I intend to try on my next project. Apparently if gives your work great tension and also makes edging along it much easier. Try googling "crochet no foundation chain" - there's plenty of tutorials and YouTube clips. Also, if you haven't already discovered the Crafsty website, I can highly recommend. They provide lessons, some of which are free for learning al manner of new techniques in crocheting, sewing, knitting and many other topics. They definitely have info on doing away with your foundation row of crochet (you just need to be mindful that some US crochet terms are different to the Aus/UK terms eg US double crochet. = Aus treble)
ReplyDeletewell done! it's a beautiful shawl blanket! can't wait to see your next one
ReplyDeletei read Attic24s blog too! love her crazy colour blankets as well
thanx for sharing
Thanks Selina....I'm loving the new one :) can't wait to share it with you all
DeleteYour crocheting is really gorgeous. I just love all those colours. And it looks so perfect. I once knitted a jumper where I had to keep unraveling it to correct my mistakes - so annoying xx
ReplyDeleteThat's very kind of you Charlie :) I can't take to knitting - I just find crochet so forgiving and so quick compared to knitting. Thanks for stopping by x
DeleteI've always wanted to knit and crochet but my hands never listen to me! You make it look so simple!
ReplyDeleteLove your ripple blanket! I'm currently doing the granny stripe in rainbow colours using Attic 24's pattern. Next I will be doing the granny stripe in the colours that she has used.
ReplyDeleteI have used this tutorial to learn the Foundation DC chain:-
https://www.youtube.com/watch/?v=YGPkRHF0rUw
I found it easy to understand. I have been crocheting for just under 2 years and learnt off this website:-
http://www.craftyminx.com/crochet-school/
She teaches crocheting into the "hump" of the foundation chain. That way, the other side is nice and neat. Check them out to see if they help.