craft Crochet handmade

It’s A Year Of Blankets (Apparently!)

July 21, 2015

Somehow this year, I’ve become quite fixated on making blankets. Just when I get finished on one, I’m suddenly making another. Mostly, I make them for the special people in my life. There’s really nothing like giving the gift of crocheted cosiness to let people know you care, right?

Here’s where I’m up to in my impromptu Year Of Blankets…

 

age before beauty blanket by pip

 

I finished the Age Before Beauty Blanket in January. You can find out how to make it here. I made this for myself – to celebrate my age. Each strip is made from 46 stitches – and that is how old I am at the moment.

striped blanket by pip

I made this striped blanket for Becca for her birthday. Becca’s boyfriend is my son Max. This blanket is a fun one to make. It’s just rows and rows of treble stitch (which is DC in the USA!) It is BIG and snuggly.

blacket for rin by pip

 

Rin is my eldest kid. She’s 27 years-old. She doesn’t like colourful things (gasp!) That’s okay though because I made her a BLACK-et instead. It’s rows of granny stripes – made with a 5mm hook and 8 ply yarn. Too easy and super quick to work up!

 

pompom granny blanket by pip

 

I made this blanket for Defah. Defah is one of my favourite ladies. It was really fun to make because I love mixing colours SO MUCH. I added a pompom for each member of her family (including the pup!) I think this is my second favourite blanket I’ve EVER made. This is my first. They’re neck and neck though.

 

cheery wave ripple blanket by pip

 

I made this blanket for Gemma. Gemma is my dear friend. It started off as a baby blanket (she’s having a baby!) but ended up a Mama-and-Baby blanket (because mamas need to stay warm WITH their babies, right?!) I’m making her a smaller blanket too, so that she has one to put in the pram… one that’s not HUGE like this one. This one would trail through puddles and get caught in the wheels. An extra smaller one made sense and two blankets are better than one, right?! Here’s how to make this blanket.

I am working on 3 other blankets at the moment. One is for Gemma’s baby. One is for my Nan. One is for me. I will show you those soon!

I really like making blankets.

pip signature

 

Note: The tip-top blanket – complimenting those cute Michelle socks – with the pompom edging is the one from Craft For The Soul. The pattern is in that book. I made that one just for ME. It’s in the window of our not-a-shop-anymore at the moment, showing off.

23 Comments

  • Reply Kay July 24, 2015 at 7:55 AM

    How can you complete so many blankets in that time?! I am a bit of a newbie when it comes to crochet so for my third project – a sampler blanket – I kid myself that it is a scarf, so I will still have something useable if I give up

    • Reply Meet Me At Mikes July 24, 2015 at 12:06 PM

      It just takes experience, I think… and persistence. When I started crocheting, I was really slow and QUITE crap at it – but over the years it has become MUCH easier and speedier too! x

      • Reply Kay July 26, 2015 at 3:59 AM

        I will stick with it then and get beyond the ‘scarf’ stage then – thanks for the encouragement!

  • Reply Kirsty July 22, 2015 at 8:35 PM

    I saw that blanket today, in the window of your “not-a-shop” shop. I smiled, and stared at the pretty colours in your window display.

  • Reply May July 22, 2015 at 1:47 PM

    So many snuggly blankets I really love them. There really is no better present.

  • Reply Rose July 22, 2015 at 8:16 AM

    Making blankets for people you love is something so super special. I just finished a very plain chunky knit rug for my daughter Alice and took great delight in wrapping it around her and delivering a big hug.
    My dearest friend passed away early this year and I had made a beautiful crochet blanket for her when she was ill. I told her wee daughter (10) that when someone makes you a blanket you can have a hug from them at any time by wrapping the blanket around you and feeling the love.
    Special things blankets!

  • Reply Georgina July 22, 2015 at 12:45 AM

    I’ve just finished my yoga blanket as I type this. 8 balls of alpaca mix chunky wool that started out solely for yoga and became rather too large after all. Perfect to winter snuggling under I hope. Now I’ve got to finish my giant granny square blanket – only another 20 or so rows to go! x

  • Reply PriddyPriddy July 21, 2015 at 11:32 PM

    I’m a mum of six and I’m working my way through a list of special blanket requests, each stitch carries a lot of love x

  • Reply Frances July 21, 2015 at 10:46 PM

    i think its great, i want blankets everywhere! they are perfect on the sofa to cuddle up in in the winter, or even on a cool summer evening (i live in the uk after all!), perfect on the bed for chilly nights and chilly mornings, perfect in the kids room for beds, use as dens, picnic blankets, to wrap kids up in when they feel poorly, one for the pram, one for teddies…. we even brought two of my blankets with us when we went for a seaside holiday in a caravan the other week. so many uses! you can never have enough. i just wish i had more hours in the day to hook them up! your colour and patten choices always inspire me! Xxx

  • Reply Mel July 21, 2015 at 10:09 PM

    Do you have a pattern link for the black-et? I know you said it was easy but I’m not sure how to do the granny rows… #newbie

  • Reply Erin July 21, 2015 at 9:53 PM

    Thanks for sharing, Pip! Love your use of color. Where on earth do you find neon yarn?
    You’ve done such an amazing job of turning what is considered to be an older craft fresh and new. It inspires me to get back into crocheting!

  • Reply Little White Dove July 21, 2015 at 9:16 PM

    So many gorgeous blankies! I’m with you on the blanket making addiction Pip, there’s a special kinda satisfaction achieved when you’ve turned a ball of yarn into a blanket that keeps someone warm and toasty and feeling loved. And the repitition. And the colour. And the yarns. So much to love. X

  • Reply Sarah July 21, 2015 at 6:18 PM

    Hi pip 🙂
    I love that beautiful colourful one too, so much fun! I’ve been making lots of blankets too and have been going through so much yarn! Any tips for keeping the cost down? It really adds up making blankets!
    x

  • Reply Amber July 21, 2015 at 4:28 PM

    I love all of them! I am making a chevron blanket at the moment, it’s a lot of work but it’s worth it. 🙂

  • Reply Claire July 21, 2015 at 4:20 PM

    Hey Pip, which is the fastest to make? I want to make my dad one in a hurry and was thinking 6mm hook and 8 ply yarn. Do you think that would work? Would be very grateful for your advice.

    • Reply Meet Me At Mikes July 21, 2015 at 4:37 PM

      The granny stripe (which is what I used for the BLACK-et) is super quick. I think a 6mm hook and 8ply would work really well! x

      • Reply Meet Me At Mikes July 21, 2015 at 4:38 PM

        (Obviously I used only one colour – black – so there are no visible stripes – but you could use a few colours – or just one like I did)

      • Reply Claire July 21, 2015 at 10:01 PM

        Thanks Pip

  • Reply Isabel July 21, 2015 at 3:06 PM

    Oh my gosh, Pip. You’re a machine! 5 blankets down and the year is only just half way through. I’ve been working on the striped blanket (no. 2) for a friend’s wedding gift, and it’s taking ages. I think I made it too wide! Oh well. Thanks as always for the craft inspiration x

  • Reply Michelle July 21, 2015 at 1:46 PM

    They are all gorgeous.

    It’s cool when projects morph into a theme.

    Inspiring as always

    X

  • Reply Jennifer July 21, 2015 at 1:15 PM

    I love them all. I’ve never seen an all-black blanket before but it looks beautiful. I’m working on a small throw with your Cheery Wave pattern right now and enjoying it a lot. 🙂

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