May I present my finished blanket?

Hello, and welcome to my blanket REVEAL!!!!!!! Yes, today is the day, the day that officially marks the end of my crochet blanket project. Such a strange feeling, when it's been so vital a part of my life for the past, gosh, not sure how long. I feel ever so slightly "something's missing", but mostly excited I've finished this huge great big piece of crochet. I can now say that I have well and truly entered the "sisterhood of the crochet blanket", something I've been hankering to become a part of for a long time. And that is why I've given this blanket the name of, "the Sisterhood crochet Blanket"!

So shall I get going on my reveal?

I was jus having a look back through my blog posts, to find out when I first mention the blanket, and I found this entry here.

That blog entry is dated April 29, 2009. And in it I show some squares I have already crocheted, I reckon about two weeks worth of squares. So shall we say I started the blanket about the second week of April? So......... April, May, June, July, finished first week of August, about four months then. I took about four months to make this blanket. That was doing a bit when I woke up in the morning, with a cup of tea, in bed, some more during my lunch break, and most evenings for a few hours, whilst watching the television.

I have done some tutorials, (in the freebies section, top of my left hand side bar), and the pattern for the crochet square.

Do you like the way the sun is shining through the holes that create the diamonds in the blanket, in the photo above?
It was a lovely sunny day yesterday, when I strung up a washing line and pegged the blanket to it. I took these photos prior to photographing the blanket on the bed. I could not stop snapping away, having never seen my blanket like this, I couldn't stop looking at it. Just incase you're wondering, I didn't block the squares for my blanket. Very lazy, I know, but I am finding that the weight of all that yarn, has a smoothing effect when it's spread out!

 
 
 

 

Here we go! I thought you'd like to see what it's like on the bed.

It's too warm at the moment to have it on the bed during the night, so it goes on the bed during the day for display purposes only.

I suppose I should count the number of squares in the blanket shouldn't I?

I've just sprinted upstairs, and counted.

Seventy two! Yes, 72! I had no idea I'd done so many. And that doesn't include the ones I rejected because they were too dark, or the fact that I made too many, so they couldn't all be used.

And then there's the border, after I'd crocheted together all the squares.

I started the border with stripes of different colours, but then decided to vary it a bit with crocheting three trebles into the one space below. I quite like the effect of it, and the simple scalloped edging.

I think that just about covers it! Oh, I have to say, just before I go, I love my blanket! I don't know if I said those precise words? Yes I love it, and I loved making it, choosing the colours, combining them and all that lovely stuff. I had a ball!

I have the ball bands from the yarns I used, so I can give you a list referring to these.The yarn amounts I've given you, please don't take those as the exact amounts, because I may have mislaid some ball bands along the way, but it gives you a general idea of the amount of yarn I used. It was mostly acrylic, to make it affordable, but there were a few balls of the expensive Debbie Bliss yarn thrown into the mix. It was really all about the colours, and if I had to buy a more expensive yarn to get a nice colour, I just bit the bullet, and went for it, grimacing a little.

The colour I used the most of was Patons Smoothie DK, 100g, colour 1095, (that minty colour). This colour was used for the last row in all the squares, and for the border round the whole blanket at the end. I used about 15 balls of this. It's an acrylic yarn with a slight sheen, and feels like cotton. The only drawback was that the strands separate a little in this yarn, but I got used to this very quickly.The other colours I used in this Patons Smoothie DK, 100g were:

1050 x 1
1025 x 1
1058 x 1
1092 x 2
1093 x 1
1094 x 2
1096 x 3
1010 x4

I then have other miscellaneous yarns I used, all DK:

Patons Diploma Gold DK, 50g, colour 6125 x 1
Patons Diploma Gold DK, 50g, colour 6231 x 2
Patons Diploma Gold DK, 50g, colour 6247 x 1
Patons Fairytale Colour 4 Me DK, 50g, colour 4958 x 1
Patons Fab! DK, 100g, colour 02312 x 1
Patons Fab! DK, 100g, colour 02323 x 1
Hayfield Baby Bonus extra value DK, 100g, colour 850 x 1
King Cole Big value DK, 100g, colour 11 x 1
King Cole Baby big value DK, 100g, colour 229 x 1
King Cole Baby big value DK, 100g, colour 231 x 1
King Cole Smoothie DK,100g, colour 806 x 2
King Cole Merino blend DK superwash wool, 50g, colour 162 x 1
King Cole Merino blend DK superwash wool, 50g, colour 771 x 1
King Cole Merino blend DK superwash wool, 50g, colour 773 x 1
King Cole Landscape DK, 100g, colour 469 x 1
Mia Baby super coloursoft DK, 100g, colour 70 x 1
Cygnet Pure Merino superwash wool DK, 50g, colour 2837 x 1
Cygnet Pure Merino superwash wool DK, 50g, colour 2817 x 1
Cygnet DK, 100g, colour 065 x 1
Cygnet Silcaress DK, 50g, colour 3330 x 4
Cygnet Silcaress DK, 50g, colour 0130 x 2
Pure, Gold DK, 100g, colour 004 x 1
Pure, Gold DK, 100g, colour 18 x 1
Pure, Gold DK, 100g, colour 197 x 1
Stylecraft Special DK, 100g, colour 1390 x 1
Stylecraft Special DK, 100g, colour 1132 x 1
Stylecraft Special DK, 100g, colour 1263 x 1
Stylecraft Special DK, 100g, colour 1130 x 1
Wendy Peter Pan DK, 50g, colour 305 x 1
Sirdar Click DK, 50g, colour 4314 x 1
Sirdar Click DK, 50g, colour 4315 x 2
Jarol Heritage classic DK, 100g, colour 108 x 2
Sirdar Sublime DK,50g, colour 0050 x 1
Debbie Bliss baby cashmerino DK, 50g, colour 340016 x 4
Debbie Bliss baby cashmerino DK, 50g, colour 340019 x 1
Debbie Bliss baby cashmerino DK, 50g, colour 340013 x 1
Debbie Bliss baby cashmerino DK, 50g, colour 340006 x 1
Debbie Bliss baby cashmerino DK, 50g, colour 340026 x 1
Debbie Bliss baby cashmerino DK, 50g, colour 340203 x 1

Love Vanessa xxx

Comments

[Betty Anne]

Wow -- BEAUTFUL -- I love the colors. I love how you displayed it on the clothesline -- did you choose the clothes pins to match -- they add something cool to the photo.

[Anna]

A piece of art! So very beautiful!

[Marilyn]

Vanessa!!! What a beauty. You must feel so proud and happy and such a sense of accomplishment. If you never do another thing (:-o) you will always have this to show the world. Love all the photos, the sun shining through, the border.....everything. WELL DONE and don't stop smiling......
Marilyn

[Hen]

Oooh, aaaah, it's fabby, stunning, beautiful, my friend; of course with your taste I knew it would be! Congrats and very well done indeed. Do you feel a bit sad or bereft now it's over or are you just so so happy that's it's finished in all its glory?
Have a lovely weekend, look forward to hearing what you all get up to. Now, did someone mention wine?
Hen xxx

[Lucy]

G-O-R-G-E-O-U-S!
It is absolutely beautiful, your artistic flair is soo evident in the exquisite colours you have chosen.
It is completely lovely.
Enjoy your weekend, I am already on my second glass of the cold pink stuff!
ps How much do you think we could pester Attic Lucy into writing us a book?!

[Laura]

It's gorgeous, and well-worth the wait for the reveal! Thank you for putting up lots of pictures - it helps to be able to see all of the loveliness!

[cathleen]

BEAUTIFUL! But you know what I adore the most Vanessa? I LOVE how your shoes and your clothespins match your blanket perfectly. Sweet photos! So inspiring! And I really loved your photos a couple of days ago with all the animals...especially the duck looking into the camera. My grandgirlies loved it too!!!! Oh, and one other thing...a big CONGRATS that Jane Brocket mentioned you on her lovely blog....how cool is that? What a thrill! Lucky, lucky YOU!

[Emma]

Oh, I've died and gone to blanket heaven. Exquisite. The sun has come out and so has your blanket. Emma

[Lorraine]

What a simply stunning crotchet blanket. I have made ONE square like your pattern, but just to try the pattern out. It really is beautiful. I think once I've finished my Big Blue Blanket, I might try something like this, although I can't imagine it will ever turn out as gorgeous as this!

[Bee]

You have such a talent and eye for colour Vanessa but I have a couple of your children's books so already know this! :-) It's a beautiful, beautiful blanket. Do you crochet at your knitting group or do you have a knitting project at the moment?

[SharonK]

This is absolutely beautiful. You have every right to be proud of yourself, what a masterpiece. I hope to follow your pattern for the next blanket I do when I have finished my current one.

[Jacqueline]

The wait for the reveal was worth it. Your blanket is beautiful, the colours go together so well. The border really finishes it off, and I love the way it drapes down over your bed. I have made a small granny square blanket, but it is not as spectacular as your blanket, or indeed Lucy's one.

[Sew Recycled!]

That is absolutely gorgeous, you must be very very proud!
Well done!
Emx

[Sarah]

I found your blog this week and just wanted to say how lovely it is. I am also a fellow green converse lover and knitter and crocheter. Your blanket is fantastic. Congratulations!!

[Heather]

Your blanket is BEAUTIFUL. absolutely beautiful. :-)

Heather xx

ps I found you via attic 24 and I agree, Lucy needs to publish a book!

[Gill]

Just found your blog via Jane Brocket's blog and as well as your lovely crocheted blanket, I enjoyed the tour around your studio. I work part-time as an architect and spend a bit of every week working on a picture book idea I have. I enjoyed seeing how you organised your working space.
I have been knitting since my middle daughter was born 9 years ago and have just taken up crochet (inspired by Lucy at Attic 24). I have begun my first blanket. It is very addictive.
I blog about what I'm up to at littlehillbigsea.typepad.com.
Enjoy the blanket, it's really lovely. I'll drop in again and see what you're up to. Thanks for sharing, Gill.

[Lisa]

Delightful. Joyous. Cosy.

And you simply must remember to take it on holidays with you to casually drape over a horrid piece of furniture!

Lisa xoxo

[Mummy Boo Bear]

Ahh the wait is over. What a wonderful bit of craftwomanship! as a non crocheter myself I can only dream of tackling one square of such a beautiful blanket.
You are very talented. And I love the colour combinations. But then being as its yourself that made it I knew I would.

Mind you I find after a very successful project I always feel a bit lost berift even. I find it hard to start on another project straight away. Like I have lost an old friend. Sad I know.

Hope you have a wonderful weekend.

MBBx

[Cath W]

You know Vanessa, as I read your posts about the blanket I thought "nice, but not really my sort of blanket". But you know what - it IS my type of blanket so just post it on over to me and all will be well. Now. Come on!!
:)

[Ponytail]

I've also just come over, after being at Yarnstorm, and wow ! what an introduction to a new blog ! That blanket is fantastic. I'm crocheting one at the moment, a sort of patchwork of any wool I have left over form patterns, but yours is so much nicer than anything I could have created. Well done !

[Liz]

Wow Vanessa - the wait was certainly worth it!!! It is beautiful! The colours have come together amazingly!! I can understand why you wanted to take so many photos!!

Love it love it love it!!!!

[bakeandsewblog]

WOW Vanessa, it is STUNNING. I didn't expect it to be so colourful (This is not a negative comment), it just never looked like that when it was just little blocks. Amazing. You really have made a Sisterhood blanket and you should be very proud. No one wants to wish the summer away - but - I bet it will be super cozy when it gets a bit colder!.

xx

[Tina]

Oh, it is absolutely wondercrump! I love it!! The colour choices are delumpcious and scrummy! :) I want one too, but my crochet skills are cruddy! I have plans to make some cushion covers for my living room makeover, so I might attempt some crochet as well as knitting. I take my hat off to you for making something so huge...such patience and endurance! It is beautiful. :)

[Beth P.]

Vanessa! It's just stunning in a happy, homey, comfy, colorful kind of way. I especially like the border. Beautiful! You should be very proud!

[Karen]

Vanessa its gorgeous, the colours are perfect. I think its the nicest blanket I've ever seen, you are a very clever girl. Not sure I'd have the patience to make something so big but I have just crocheted a little hammock for a toy rabbit after youngest son saw one in a shop. Have been on the beach this evening and it was perfect and so peaceful. Have a lovely weekend. Karenx

[Marie]

Awesome, what an achievement! I'm so impressed with this lovely blanket.

[Mrs Bun]

Are you still staring at it? Bet you are becasue it's just so beautiful. All those hours of hookiness and then to end up with a flower garden on your bed. Completely worthwhile.

Lisa x

[Gerry Hook]

I have to say: ditto
to all the comments above
BUT, what I like: THE HOLES
What a wonderful secondary interest to all the lovely colors. Perhaps secondary does not cover it all, but the holes are just as wonderful a surprize as the finished 'blanket'. [Though blanket is not what we refer to when we speak of a crocheted 'cover' We refer to them as afghans.]
Love, love, love it, talented Vanessa.
Hugs
Gerry

[Sarah]

It's absolutely lovely. It makes me want to do some knitting!!!

[Jaki]

OMGoodness! It is gorgeous!!
I have a serious case of blanket envy, love the colours and the design.

[Charlene]

Your blanket is SIMPLY STUNNING!!

Congratulations on such a wonderful work of art.

I am so in love with the colours you used and how well they go together.

BTW - the sounds of koala's mating is far worse than possums!! LOL

[Natalie]

oh it's beautiful! so colourful & pretty - you really wouldn't guess that there wasn't a "master plan" behind the colour scheme.. Feeling even more impatient to get started on my own first blanket project now, what a gorgeous colourful blankety week it's been!!
enjoy your weeken :o)
Natalie x

[Ute]

WOW!!!!!
Your blanket is sooo wonderful!
Wunderschön!!!!Wunderschön!!!!

liebe Grüße
Ute

[maggie]

Well, it's beautiful and just like you to have pegs that matched!!!!

[Lesley]

Well, the wait was absolutely worth it! Beautiful, beautiful colours and beautiful workmanship (or should that be, workwomanship?) lol! Anyhow, very, very well done. What an inspiration.

[The Curious Cat]

You must be so proud -this is truly a piece of work! I wish i could make something like that! xxx

[Helen]

I think that you have just earned the title of "Head Sister" of the sisterhood of the crochet blanket. That minty green is such an unusual colour and makes your blanket stand out as being different. Very well done! Take a bow. Helen

[Isabel S. / Lisbon-Portugal]

Dear Vanessa, what can I say ??? WOW !!! Won't be enough!! I LOVE your blanket, the colours you choose, the squares with the little flower, the border, everything is absolutely GORGEOUS.Be proud of it because you've done a marvelous job! Perfect!Congratulations!
Love xxxxxx
Isabel

[Helen Lambert]

Just got back from an amazing holiday and the first blog I looked at was yours and what a treat the finished blanket AWSOME Vannessa...AWSOME....just beautiful.....

[Anna-Karin, Sweden]

It's absolutely beautiful!!! So nice colours, and the bed looks really gorgeous with it.
:)
Anna-Karin xxxxxxxxxxx

[penny]

Truly,truly beautiful blanket and so quickly made! And stunning photos too, you deserve that glass of wine!

[lisette]

BEAU-BEAU-BEAU-TI-FULLLLL!! Love it! Amazing much work and soooo beautiful done!

[Ita]

This blanket is beautiful.. I can't wait to make one of my own.. Thanks to your tutorial I found a new way to make a blanket.

[driftwood]

it's just gorgeous Vanessa, love love love the colours and the design xox

[Nicki]

Oh wow. That's gorgeous....you must be SO PROUD.
If you get bored with it,need the storage space, that kind of thing....I don't mind looking after it for a while for you.
Just let me know.......!

Nicki x

[Lucy]

Absolutely beautiful! How clever you are!

[sammmmmmmmm]

I'm so impressed!
I found you via kitchen pink hope thats ok
I do hope you going to leave this in your will so that it never leaves your family
xxx

[lulu]

its so lovely..You did a great job!!!

[Bertie Meadows]

Hello Vanessa, WOW, gorgeous blanket, gorgeous colours, gorgeous photos of blanket, just simply lots of gorgeousness!
Bertie x

[quiteahandful]

Your blanket is stunning, and I see your beautiful watercolour palette in every square. It is just like one of your paintings and I think it is the nicest blanket I have seen in the blog world. Thank you for sharing it with us all.

[Karoline]

It's absolutely gorgeous, congratulations

[Shelly]

That blanket is amazing its actually a work of art...
I have to tell you that I followed your instructions for knitting a granny square, and you achieved something a crotchet teacher and 3, 2 hour long lessons couldn't (not to mention the £65.00 I forked out)
I had a eureka moment and made a granny square in my lunch hour.
So thanks for that, and for sharing your lovely blanket with us.

[Shelly]

doh! I did of course crochet the granny square not knit it..

[melanie galloway]

Fabulous, I love it so much, it is beautiful! xxx

[Anne]

Oh so very beautiful - I just love your blanket especially the minty color which happens to be my favorite color!! Congrats on a job well done.

[Cherry Cabban]

WoW, it really is fantstic all the pain making it was worth it. I will photo Granny's blanket and you can let your readers see it. Great Grandson George now has it on his cot! And great Ganddaughter Millie said 'ohh Grannie I really like the silver bits'
Well done another great achievement!
LOL
Mummy

[Sharon Peters]

A M A Z I N G !!!!!

[Paula]

LOVE it soooo much really beautiful, I have been waiting for your reveal :0) will be back on my blog soon, and I have started my sisterhood blanket so will put piccies up when I get back from hols next week.

Paula (rayofsunshine)

[melmel]

Its simlpy stunning!x

[brooklyncodger]

I love the border—nice zip of hot pink, and the stripes contrast so well with the squares, and they hang down the side of the bed, with the squares on top. Dig it!

[hilary]

I'm inspired to at least have a go at making a blanket but I am quite sure it won't be nearly as gorgeous as yours! The colours of your blanket are soooo beautiful - a talent I definitely don't have.

[melissa]

oh my. wow. goodness. lovely. wow. DANG! that sure is purty!!!! Deliciously lovely! Good work!

[Pippa]

Oh, that is soooo beautiful!! How lovely to wake up and see that each morning and to snuggle up in bed with a good book, surrounded by such a gorgeous blanket!!

[Kymm]

It's beautiful! I'm a blues/greens/purples girl in most things, but every time I see some lovely handmade blanket in these happy colors like these, I think "I need a happy blanket." Enjoy it!

[Anne@andamento]

What a beautiful blanket! Fantastic job completing it so quickly.
That's some amount of yarn though, I may just stick to a cushion cover when I eventually make my crochet debut...

[Calico Kate]

OH WOW! You must be so proud. I am so impressed and really envious too! I MUST LEARN TO CROCHET!!!!!
CKx

[Cathy]

It is stunning Vanessa, well done you! I adore that soft aqua colour - it gives it a wonderfully vintage look, a bit like the colours in those old paisley bedspreads! Thank you for sharing xx

[Irene]

Simply beautiful.Lovely color choices and a pattern that brings out the best of them. Bravo.

[josiekitten]

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am completely in love with your blanket! It is absolutely Beautiful! I want one! Thank you for sharing it with us.

[Connie]

Your blanket is so, so, so beautiful. Thank you for sharing it. I loved each and every picture! What a great accomplishment.

[Beata]

Gorgeous!!!!

[Pernickity Witch]

Wow. Simply, Wow!

[Inga Helene]

Wow! What a gorgeous blanket! Just love the colors

[Naomi Rainford]

so pretty i love it! why don't you use the left over squares for a cushion to match! lovely well done!

[Air Jordans]

The man who has made up his mind to win will never say "impossible".

[tory burch outlet]

A constant guest is never welcome.