Hello! Lovely to see you! Did you have a good weekend? Hope so! We had a lovely weekend, that went by in a flash, which always seems to be the case these days. If only the weekends were three days, instead of two!
I re-a-ll-y neeeeeeeed this cup of tea. I really do need it. I've had a stinking headache all day, it feels like one of those aches that are caused by the close weather, and only a storm or something similar will break it.
I worked on the border for my crochet blanket this weekend. The more rows I do the more I enjoy it. The colours are starting to build up, and contrast, so the border is becoming more interesting. The more rows I do, the more balls of yarn I use. Blimey, this border is eating up the yarn! I use a ball per line of colour, or close to a ball.
It feels slightly crazy, and extravagant, the rate I'm getting through balls of yarn. I suppose I didn't notice it so much when I was making the squares, being over a smaller area, and using so many different colours.
And rather than just doing lines of trebles (UK trebles), I'm starting to introduce clumps of two trebles into the same stitch, just to make it a bit more interesting for myself. I quite like the effect too.
I've got a few things to show you from our weekend, but I'll keep those for another time. I'm obsessed and totally engrossed in my blanket at the moment, and I just want to get back to it, itchy fingers, you know what I mean?! So I shall see you tomorrow dear readers. Take care. Love Vanessa xxx
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Every colour you add seems the lift the one that went before! Artistry at it's best! t.xx
Posted by: kitschen pink | July 27, 2009 at 06:57 PM
I was having the sh*****st month.
And then I saw your blanket.
It's SO beautiful that it bought a sting to my eye and a leap to my heart.
It looks as if it's like having all of your childhood ice-cream dreams wrapped around you.
You've inspired me.
Thank you.
I hope you don't mind, but I'm going to have to make my own.
Posted by: rockpool candy | July 27, 2009 at 07:10 PM
The blanket looks just gorgeous. Especially twinned with the funky tights/socks/slippers/mug, need I go on?! Please finish it soon, really looking forward to the grand reveal. Where will the blanket live? Have the furry friends got their eye on it?
I think you'd love Sarah Raven's garden, the colour is fab, you can't really convey it via blogger's little photos. She obviously thinks about colour constantly, the napkins were all multi-coloured, as were the paper bags for purchases. Top woman!
Hen x
Posted by: Hen | July 27, 2009 at 08:02 PM
I LOVE your socks/tights!! I want a pair!!
xx
Posted by: Nicola/smilernpb | July 27, 2009 at 08:03 PM
Your blanket is looking so nice, I love the way you are doing your edging, it gives it an interesting twist. What kind of wool did you use, it has a lovely sheen to it? I am knitting something at the moment, and it is going very slowly. The thing I really like about crochet is you see virtually instant results. I am trying to be disciplined, and finish the knitted article before I start any new crochet, or any other project.
Posted by: Jacqueline | July 27, 2009 at 08:08 PM
But just think of the room you'll have for more and more balls of yarn to replace these. It is just getting betterer and betterer.
Will try having ago at crochet with your instructions soon. It is how to get the stitches off that confuse me as I don't hink that one uses ones first finger and thumb nails!!
CKx
Posted by: Calico Kate | July 27, 2009 at 08:17 PM
Dear Vanessa
I am sooooo loving the colors of your blanket. I am so thankful for artists like you who can inspire the less gifted (like me) with ideas. I can't find that particular Paton's yarn here in the States, so I have been scouring the Seattle yarn shops for all the colors. I almost have them and can't wait to start my blanket.
Vickie in Seattle
Posted by: Vickie | July 27, 2009 at 08:17 PM
It's getting there.....!!
Posted by: Liz | July 27, 2009 at 08:32 PM
Your blanket is just so fandangly. I love it to bits and am considering printing out the photos and sitting on the couch covered in pieces of paper pretending that I have a blanket just like yours too. Maybe I could give the printouts to homeless people so they could use them instead of newspaper... Mmm maybe that was a bit insensitive... that's what three weeks of school holidays does to you I guess.
Posted by: Kate Bruning | July 27, 2009 at 08:39 PM
Wow! Fab colours! I love your socks too! I wish I could crochet ... like that!!!
Posted by: Victoria Plum | July 27, 2009 at 08:41 PM
PS - love the stripy legs, almost all my socks are a boring black.
Posted by: Jacqueline | July 27, 2009 at 08:43 PM
fabulous work, vanessa, do you mind sharing the make of wool...the colours are so gorgeous
Posted by: elsy | July 27, 2009 at 09:39 PM
oh, my! the blanket looks marvelous + so happy! and your shoes are smashing, too! would you share?! they are only more fabulous due to those gorgeous tights/socks - yum, yum, yum!
Posted by: annri | July 27, 2009 at 09:40 PM
Lookin' good! Yes, crochet blankets DO eat yarn, but then they are nice and toasty when done. I'm addicted to my Ripple at the mo - knitting is suffering majorly as a result - but it's all worth it!
Loving the socks - I think your feet and my Sock Monkey will get on like a house on fire!
pw x
Posted by: Pernickity Witch | July 27, 2009 at 10:11 PM
That first photo is to die for! thanks. Such fun.x
Posted by: Menopausalmusing | July 27, 2009 at 10:37 PM
The blanket is fabulous, but, oh my, I love those slippers!
Posted by: Dianne @ sheepdreams | July 28, 2009 at 01:35 AM
I can't wait to see the finished edge! The colors are so amazing!
Posted by: Laura | July 28, 2009 at 04:35 AM
There's no way I could work on a blanket right now - our temp hit 42 today and I wish I could walk around with nothing on! Kids would have fits though :) We've had a couple of good thunderstorms in the last week and it's SO nice to have some rain and a bit of cooler weather in between the hot days.
Posted by: Nicola | July 28, 2009 at 06:40 AM
I love your blanket and your shoes - my favourite colour! Please, please, please - where did you buy them? Jane x
Posted by: jane smallcombe | July 28, 2009 at 08:45 AM
We are in the same place you and I!!!
And yes, I had to buy 12 fresh balls of yarn just to complete the border on BB, and i STILL RAN OUT at the end!!
Happy Hooking to you!
Lxxxxxxxxxxxx
Posted by: Lucy@attic24 | July 28, 2009 at 08:59 AM
Can I come and join you under that blanket, LOL, I'll bring my own cup of tea, of course. It looks like the most gorgeous, cosy, cuddly, comfy blanket ever, totally irresistible. Great idea to vary the border stitches a bit, its really effective. When oh when will we see it completed, in all its fabulous, colourful glory?
Brilliant pics, btw, just what I needed this morning to get me going. TYVM
Posted by: Lululiz | July 28, 2009 at 10:45 AM
Just to let you know that I heeded your request for photos of my afghans and put them on my three r's blog yesterday... if you're interested.
Posted by: Maggie | July 28, 2009 at 11:59 AM
I love the blanket, socks, shoes and blanket in the distance. This picture is one of your finest! x
Posted by: simone | July 28, 2009 at 04:25 PM
Oh, it's just utterly yummy! Love your stripey socks and green shoes too...oh and your mug...okay just your general taste then! :) xx
Posted by: Tina | July 28, 2009 at 04:42 PM
I freaking love your blanket!
It is seriously fantastic.
Posted by: Kendall | July 30, 2009 at 04:12 AM