Works-In-Progress

I've been eyeing this pattern for awhile and finally decided to jump in.  I would love to make a traditional granny square blanket but at least for now I just don't have the patience to weave in all those ends. This one big granny square blanket is working up fairly fast and with only two ends to weave in per round it's not nearly as taxing.  It's made from Cotton Ease which is one of my favorite yarns.  Being a cotton blend it is much softer to work with than 100% cotton and rates high on the squeeze-ability scale.  I love the colors that are available, I just wish there were more of them. My youngest son has already claimed this blanket while Stripey goes to my oldest son. Next in the queue will be a blanket for my daughter.

My sister and I were talking the other day about what great gifts blankets make.  I love that I can make this for my 9 year old son and he will be able to use it just as well now as he will in college, his first apartment, married life, etc.  When you think of it that way then the time you put into it seems so minimal and worthwhile.

This is my other WIP that is just for me.  It's a long (about 6') and very soft shawl/wrap (shawl sounds so old lady-ish and wrap doesn't sound warm enough).  Done in shell stitch, I'm going to edge it with that rust color (in the picture it looks more orangey than rust but it's not).  I'm about half way on this project but it's moving along pretty quickly too.

For the wrap, I was inspired by the color combination of the Cafe Curtain (pictured above) from Vintage Crochet  - one of my many favorites from this book.

I'm hoping to have some things in my shop for Easter too but with it so early this year and my studio a huge mess it won't be easy.  I do have plans for Mother's Day though!

Comments

[Gabrielle]

My very first crochet project was a granny square blankie for my daughter. Sadly it is now a UFO but I'm currently crocheting another granny square with Red Heart yarn. I love the simplicity of grannies but when I make them I don't weave in my ends, I just carry them along a bit as I am crocheting over them. So much easier - I guess it means you have some contrasting threads which are obvious on the wrong side, but if you're not showing that side I don't think it matters. :)

Good luck with it! Gabby

[Beverly Nulik]

I like your crocheted square, the colors are soothing.

I used the same pattern to make 25 lap covers for my family and friends for Christmas. I crocheted 35 to 40 rows for each cover. I used Simply Soft Yarn by Caron, in their Brights Collection.

My Avon lady felt left out so I'm finishing her one right now.

[Gina]

Unbelievable! That blanket is the same pattern my mom made for me as a babe, and "Stripy" is an awful lot like the one my husband's grandma made for him. She did a neat variation to make it extra tough for a boy (and very cozy) by using double strands of yarn and changing just one of the two strands each row. For example, row 1 would be red and white, row 2 white and yellow, row 3 yellow and green, etc. Glad to find your blog, and I'll be looking for that granny square blanket pattern to recreate one for my little girl (my son was given the one that was mine).

[Gina]

Unbelievable! That blanket is the same pattern my mom made for me as a babe, and "Stripy" is an awful lot like the one my husband's grandma made for him. She did a neat variation to make it extra tough for a boy (and very cozy) by using double strands of yarn and changing just one of the two strands each row. For example, row 1 would be red and white, row 2 white and yellow, row 3 yellow and green, etc. Glad to find your blog, and I'll be looking for that granny square blanket pattern to recreate one for my little girl (my son was given the one that was mine).

[Margie Scott]

I love your color combinations!!! Your work is just beautiful.

[lynne]

The colours of your granny square are just gorgeous. I love browns and blues and browns and pinks.

[Gretchen]

Like everyone else, I love the color combinations in the granny square. I gave up crocheting over a year ago (for sewing!), but your work making me want to get my yarn out!

Beautiful work!

[Ellen]

I'm a bit intimidated by crocheting ~ I think it's the 'figuring out' which hole to put the hook into ~ I end up with a piece that goes awry. I am, however, using the same Cotton Ease yarn (charcoal grey) to make a sweater. So far, so good, but the stitch is a bit boring.

[Kristin]

Oh my gosh... that granny square blanket is GORGEOUS!! I may have to try something like that soon. You are so inspirational :)

Also wanted to let you know that the drawing has been completed on the blog for the grand giveaway!! I am also holding a poll for another prize for the winning name. :) If you have a moment, stop on by and cast your vote!

[chronicler]

What a great combination of colors! I love them and the idea of a giant granny square sounds great! Keep showing us pics of it and your progress!

[CQMadhatter]

Love your work, I have been crocheting since I was old enough to hold a hook. Mom taught me. I did so many granny squares that I had to hide the ends, that I finally decided to crochet over the ends as I go up to the next row-it certainly makes it easier. Hope you get to join an exchange where you get other people's work - I still have a sweater I made from an exchange 15 years ago.

[CQMadhatter]

Love your work, I have been crocheting since I was old enough to hold a hook. Mom taught me. I did so many granny squares that I had to hide the ends, that I finally decided to crochet over the ends as I go up to the next row-it certainly makes it easier. Hope you get to join an exchange where you get other people's work - I still have a sweater I made from an exchange 15 years ago.

[gkgirl]

i cannot even
begin
to tell you
how much i love the colors
in that granny square...
seriously love...
like..
well..
seriously.

sigh.

[carolyn]

my favorite colors!

[Pattie]

Love your giant granny! I've always wanted to make a blanket with cotton ease yarn, I've only used acrylic in the past. Pretty shawl too! I was looking at "vintage crochet" on Amazon and thinking of ordering it.

Pattie

[christine]

absolutley lovely! I love crochet, and you color combination choices are gorgeous!
Can't wait to see the finished thing!
xoxo
Dollybelle

[christine]

absolutley lovely! I love crochet, and you color combination choices are gorgeous!
Can't wait to see the finished thing!
xoxo
Dollybelle

[Diane]

Love the colours on the grany blanket - so peaceful and serene.

[Dawn]

I do love blankets, you can never have to many. The shawl looks so beautiful. It couldn't be anything but elegant.

[maryse]

i love giant granny squares and yours is looking great. but you know, you can crochet the ends in in the back of the stitches as you go along. that's what i do. so at the end, all you have to do is trim them a little with scissors. easy peasy.

[Chris Howard]

I love the large granny square. I actually saw one in a magazine not too long ago and thought it would be neat to try. I am a newbie crocheter and am currently working on my very first blanket, your vintage vertical stripe pattern. So far, it's going pretty good. Thank you so much for inspiring me to take up crochet!

When are you going to have more lovely little mushroom houses and pincushions? My Fall Mushroom house is getting lonely :)

[denice]

Love your color combos! Just finished my own very first project after considerable effort -- woo! Now I can't stop looking at it. :) Thanks for sharing!

[Elizabeth]

God bless your determination. Every time I start a giant granny square, I get so far and get bored and off it goes to the WIP purgatory. The colours are wonderful. I like to make things for my boy as well that aren't going to look too babyish to keep forever.

[denice]

Love your color combos! So pretty! I just finished my first crochet project (it's been a long time coming) and I have a new love. Thanks for sharing! :)

[Rebekah]

loving the colors on your granny square afghan! Creating a giant square is a great way to avoid seaming and tying loose ends!