Hooray the African Flower Baby Blanket is done! We can all, (especially me) breathe a big sigh of relief. No more pictures of the blanket sitting in the time out basket staring at me. No more pictures of half made flowers, bits and bobs of baby colored yarn, and African Flowers thrown everywhere.
No more cries of, "Help" from the blanket insisting that I start working on it again. It is done, finished, complete! And I am thrilled. All these pictures are sort of junk as once again the lighting was not very good when I took them. But who can wait when a blanket that is already late needs to be wrapped up and shipped out?
I used Tatamy by Kraemer Yarns a combination of cotton and acrylic yarn, and a size H hook. Do I love the yarn? Well no, I think it was kind of splitty. And much to my dismay I found a lot more of it in my stash in the yummy green shown above, that I bought ages ago to make a sweater. Maybe the yarn will behave more if knitted?
There are 58 flowers surrounded by a 1 1/2 in. ripple like boarder. The blanket measures 34 x 39 in., a nice baby size. I love how it turned out and am thrilled to get this one off and to its intended before she graduates from high school.
What is it about me and blankets? I look at all you lovelies out there making blanket after blanket and I am so impressed. I want to be more like you. I want to love making blankets and have them thrown about my house. I am all excited until I get about 1/2 way through and then I just want to cut my arm off. And when I finish, even something as small as this I want to make another one. I swear I must have a personality disorder.
Did you see my little buddy photo bombing the blanket photo shoot in the second picture?
Now onto something new. A basket of yarn potential, what could be better?
I am planning on making Miette by Andi Satterlund. I have been looking at this free pattern for a long time. I am using some of my super sale yarn. I am loving the color and the texture of this Verde Collection, Chesapeake yarn made with organic cotton and merino wool. It feels good to have knitting needles in my hand again. I know I act like it has been ages since I knit Crocheting the last Elise shawl and this blanket made me want to knit. When I force myself to do only one or the other, I want to do the one I have not been doing. Is that a crazy sentence or what?
A new project is a great way to start the week, fresh and clean.
Hope you are starting the week out fresh and clean, too.
55 comments:
It's a beautiful blanket ~ well worth all the hard work! I see that you have used the join as you go method ~ I'm just sitting teaching myself that now and it is an absolute GENIUS method of joining all those crochet bits together. Looking forward to seeing what that yarn in your basket will become too :O)x
Well done you!! I am so pleased and very jealous that you have finished your blanket, I tell you when I eventually finish mine there will be a world wide holiday to celebrate. I love it Meredith it's very pretty and will be well loved I'm sure. I love making blankets but ones made with motifs seem to be never ending. I have started something new as well today, I know, I know I shouldn't but I need the boost the start of a new project brings. Have a great day. xxx
Aww hugs to you and your little buddy, too. He is always so adorable just playing and having fun with his toys. :)
Love the blanket. It looks very cozy. :)
Yum on the yarn. I think the sweater will be awesome made with that yarn. I am looking forward watching your progress on it.
Hugs and blessings always sweet friend.
Lovely blanket!! That cropped cardigan looks beautiful, though I never understand why to make 3/4 sleeves with such a thick yarn. But ofcourse you can change it if you want Groetjes, Gerda
Just gorgeous Meredith, she will love it and cherish it for a long time.
I love doing different techniques too-quilt a bit-weave a bit-keeps life interesting-lol
Love. love. love the blanket, Meredith!! I'm starting to feel that way... arm cutting off thing... just a little on my crochet project. I'm always so ambitious on the size I want... then face the drudge of actually getting it that big! LOL! This is wonderful. I'll be looking forward to seeing that yummy basket of yarn become another masterpiece! blessings ~ tanna
I think it was well worth the long time and the agony of making it - that is a beautiful blanket! Congratulations on finishing it.
Enjoy your new project.
:-)
Hooray for Meredith!!! Lovely lovely baby blanket, colors great, border perfect and an amazing finished gift! Amazing how light can vary the colors so.....and I spied your little guy playing so nicely.
New project looks so pretty, love the style. Stunning yarn and you said sale yarn, great find.
Have fun knitting, xoRobin
Well done, Meredith. The yarn may be splity, but it turned out nicely. Knitting time now. And if you are like I am, you will get the first piece of the garment done and be dreaming of some other project that you want to do.
We all have a personality disorder. It's what gives us personality!
Love the blanket. Fantastic feeling when you finally finish a project that has been dragging on.
Have a great week!
Oh, and the 'Miette'? Very pretty. Out of my skill range for certain.
The blanket is gorgeous. Starting a new project is always exciting. Good luck with your "Miette"
Yeah! It's gorgeous! I know the feeling when a WIP is nagging at you but you are just not feeling the love! Feel proud! It's awesome and will be well loved by it's new owner! My daughter ( 14 yrs old ) still has a crocheted baby blanket someone made her when she was born ( this was before my interest in crocheting! I was quilting like a crazy person back then! ) she dragged it everywhere and had to have it at night to sleep! ( named it "Blankie" ) She stills wads it up and sleeps with it under her head at night! Old habits die hard... :)
Congratulations! The blanket turned out terrific and I'm sure all your work will be greatly appreciated. The new yarn looks luxurious and I'm looking forward to watching your new project progress. Take care, Heather
Ohhhh it's lovely Meredith!! I am sure whoever receives it will treasure it forever! It's so hard not to start up a new project when you get bored working on the same thing over and over day in and day out so I am taking a break from my hexagon blanket and making pot holders for my kitchen....I just couldn't help myself!
xx Shar
Lovely, lovely! I wnat to make one too. But I have started another pair of socks ..... and am planning on starting a sweater tonight .... and I haven't finished the red cardigan ....
Hugs! Regula
The blanket turned out so pretty!!!
But, I know EXACTLY what you mean about wanting to cut your arm off. The striped parts of my blanket were okay, but that long stretch of solid cream almost did me in. So what do I do when I'm done? I started another one!
What is WRONG with me????? LOL
Yay, wel done!! It's very pretty...
Maybe you can make lots of cushions, they are quicker to make and also very cosy ;-)
Hugs from Mirjam.
Oh Meredith, the blanket is divine!!!! And yes, I saw the little photo bomber immediately! What a dolly boy he is! I have missed a couple posts, and saw the previous one too this morning, of him in his footy pj's...what a cutie!
I am always eager to see what kind of magic you are making with your yarn and needles!
You sure did a nice thing with our friend Susanne! She loved those wrist warmers. You are such an angel!!
xo Kris
Gorgeous blanket!
Well done you! The blanket is beautiful, and I'm sure it will be much loved. I'm just like you when it comes to knitting blankets though. When I was knitting Lucy's baby blanket I thought I was going to lose my mind.
That blanket is absolutely amazing! I know that it will be well loved and appreciated. I, too, saw your little photo bomber right away. He's such a cutie. I would love to have a child's voice in my home again.
I do the same on most projects. Hubby always asks me why I feel the pressure to "get it done, right now!", when it's supposed to be a relaxing hobby. I can't explain to him the need to be making something different than what I'm making now. And I'm sure that just made absolutely no sense at all did it?
Blessings,
Betsy
What a gorgeous pinkie baby blanket! Well done, my dear! That basket of purple yarn looks delicious! Have fun making your sweater. Can't wait to see it.
It's so beautiful, Meredith. Anyone would be honored to have it. I make a lot of blankets but I have to confess that I don't actually love the look of them all over the house. It's not necessarily my preferred style, but they are very useful. My family loves to use them and I adore making them, so I will just have to keep churning them out. :)
it looks absolutely terrific Meredith, well done you!
No new projects this week, both at work and at home it is very much finishing projects already on the go. But Im getting there.
Helenxx
They are going to love that baby afgan! It is so pretty! I know what you mean about putting things off. I am planning to make something for a girl at works baby. Due in April But I keep putting it off. Never sure about my work! Always afraid that the person won't like it. I know that she is one who appreciates home made, but.... Just my insecurities cropping up again. I love the little photo bomber! He is so cute.
Gorgeous. Is this for Greta Rue?
xoxo
Claudia
Oh Meredith, what a beautiful blanket. The colours and design are fabulous and I really want to make this next. Unfortunately I have a few to many WIPs to finish first.
Melanie x
Meredith, that blanket came out just spectacular! Bravo to you to have it done.. and how fun to be on to the next project! I must tell you that I finally found the yarn for my next shawl.. it's alpaca/silk in blood red. I'm going to make it to wear in winter next year. I might take me that long, anyway. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)
ps - love the homey scene with your little sweetie.
This blanket is so beautiful, congratulations on such a wonderful blanket xxx
It is beautiful Meredith, I am sure that it will be well loved and well used, the colours are very pretty, and a lovely combination. xx
I noticed the little buddy right away! :)
Oh, what a pretty blanket - so glad you have finished it. I can't do blankets AT ALL - they are too darn big and take too darn long. Kudos to you for forging ahead on this one!
I think that yarn will be splitty any way you work it - it's an S-twist and that's the way it goes.
Love that purple yarn, by the way. It will make a lovely sweater.
Meredith
The blanket finish is amazing!!!!!! I am always astounded by how much perseverance is necessary for blankets……but
your sweater project makes me gasp. I could knit a a dozen blankets before I succeeded at that sweater.
love the purple yarn choice.
Happy KNITTING
It's lovely Meredith, and I'm so glad you've finished it. I know exactly what you mean about blankets. I always fancy making them, until I work out how much time and wool are involved. I do have one I made a while back that I must get around to blogging about. And I've got the start of some wool for another one. I need to come up with a pattern I can bear doing for three thousand hours or how ever long it takes though.
I know exactly what you mean about knitting and crochet - whenever I've been crocheting a lot (as I have been lately) and I think about is starting a new knitting project (and vice versa).
A big HURRAH on the finished blanket! It looks fabulous - even though I don't like pink, I love that combination of green, pink and cream. And the African Flower is one of my favourite motifs. It's just perfect.
Now that is lovely, well done!
wow....it's beautiful....
so very pretty in every way!!
Aww baby blanket. The pattern and the yarn combo is so sweet.
Blanket knitting can be painful. I have a scrap blanket I knit last year that I still haven't weaved in the ends for because I twitch when I touch it, it felt like it took so long.
If I knit and crocheted as fast as you, I'd do more!
Ta-dah! wow I just love this finished blanket, it's so pretty. I have only ever made one blanket but I would love to try something like this at some point, divine Meredith x
Love your finished blanket - I know you say the yarn was spiltty but the colours are perfect and the African flower pattern is beautiful! Well done for finishing it off when it was hard going - always satisfying when one reaches the end of a hard to finish project. Happy Knitting now while you give your hook a rest! E x
That is a gorgeous blanket. You are scaring me now because I seem to be a garment behind you... I have just bought wool for the miette cardigan and I have found yarn for my next Elise Shawl!! He he Jo x
Congratulations! The blanket is amazingly beautiful, an absolute keepsake! It is pretty pretty pretty, give yourself a huge pat on the back!
I'm fickle as anything when it comes to blankets, good intentions, then monotony sets in...but I'm liking the look of your next project! Chrissie x
Your blanket is beautiful, such pretty colours, I think I will have to learn how to crochet an african flower, I need to brush up on my crochet skills first though.
Congratulations my dear. A job well done! It's beautiful. I, too, have had enough of a blanket about half way through. Maybe I should switch to baby blankets...same thing would probably happen though. haha.
Have a good week M!
Congrats! It is beautiful!! You do such beautiful work. Can't wait to see the Cheasapeake sweater. Happy knitting!
Hooray for the blanket finish! I love it.
When I'm crocheting, I want to quilt, and when I'm quilting, I want to crochet. Soon as I get better at knitting, there is going to be trouble. There are never enough hours in a day to create all the pretty things out there.
The purpleish yarn looks yummy.
It is SO beautiful, Meredith! It was worth the final push and effort to finish this lovely blanket
♥ Ana BC
Pretty colors, all--the blanket and the purple for the up-coming project.
Little buddy looked very busy in the background of the picture and so cute!!
Congrats on finishing the sweetest blanket ever! Someone is going to be thrilled with it!
:)
What a truly beautiful baby blanket. The African flowers are just perfect and I love the colours you have used too.
Marianne x
AMAZING!! It turned out really lovely. Completely crushing on your color choices. I have an African Flower blanket half done too...it used to scream at me to pick it back up...now it just totally ignores me when I walk in the room. You might have inspired me to pick it back up.
Have a lovely evening.
What a beautiful blanket and I love the colour of your yarn for your new project.
ukcitycrafter@live.co.uk
oh wow...the blanket is beautiful. I know what you mean about getting halfway through and wanting to cut your arm off. I do the same. That's why it takes me forever (years) to finish one. Your little buddy is so adorable. I miss Ireland being that young...at times:)
It's gorgeous, well done. I love the colours you chose. I also forgot to say well done on not splurging on any wool!! Xo o
This baby quilt is absolutely gorgeous!
Just love it!
The blanket is beautiful!!!
And it turned out beautiful...so lovely.
(((HUGS))) Susanne :)
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