Jewel crochet blanket

Yes, you've guessed it, I've started another blanket. My major excuse is that I have run out of the grey wool for the blanket I started making in Wales. I need to ring the shop I bought it from and ask very nicely if they can send me some more. In the meantime I needed a new project to keep me sane so I turned to my "still can't believe I haven't used it all yet" stylecraft stash. I am sure I have a neverending supply of this stuff, the basket I keep it in just never seems to look any emptier. Maybe my husband keeps putting more wool in there every so often in an effort to keep me quiet!

I had always wanted to make one of these classic retro blankets with bright jewel like colours against a black edging. It just reminds me of the 1970s, garish and colourful - none of the colours matching but who would care? In fact, these photos don't do the colours justice as they are really bright. I thought I had taken more photos of this blanket but I couldn't find many and they are all a bit lacklustre compared to the blanket in real life. I have obviously been spending more time crocheting the thing than taking fancy photos of it.

I know a few people have been making these one colour per square blankets around the blogging world, inspired by Cherry Heart and I can completely recommend making them - fewer ends to sew in, quick and easy to make, no fretting over colour combinations. I just wanted something a bit different and when I spied the ball of black against all the brightly coloured balls of yarn in the basket, I just had to make a retro blanket. In fact, this blanket was decided upon within about 10 minutes as I needed a project to take with me to the park at the end of the summer holidays. Nothing like making snap decisions. I started off making the squares and then crocheting them together as I went along (a la Attic 24 - joining as you go method) but I have since crocheted 4 squares of each colour until I have a nice big pile and then joined them in one fell swoop. This is extremely satisfying as the blanket seems to double in size overnight.
 

I have been keeping all the squares I am yet to join in this cute project bag that my sister bought for me. It is quite squidgy but has a wire inserted into the top of the bag so it keeps its shape and means I can find the right coloured square really easily. Love it.

Talking of my sister, we went away this past weekend with my Dad  as a father's day gift - to research the family tree a bit further and visit the area where we originally came from over 160 year ago (Cork, Ireland). We had a fantastic time and my sister asked me to teach her to crochet. Well, she has well and truly got the crochet bug and was even crocheting on the flight back. After making a length of trebles, she had a go at making a granny square, seen below being used as a coaster by Dad. I told her she would have to make a scarf as a first project, to which I got a very quick no as she now lives in Singapore - round the year 30 degrees heat. Not really scarf weather! She will be making lots of coasters, placemats and throws instead. Hope she finds a good yarn shop out there.

So that's what has been happening around these parts lately. My husband is hosting a film club night this evening so it will be nice to have a glass of wine, chat to some old friends and join a few more squares onto this blanket whilst watching the film. Not sure which film has been chosen yet though, may be something I am really not interested in or a subtitled film - I haven't mastered the art of crocheting whilst reading subtitles yet!