I’ve been aiming to make a number of Christmas gifts this year and having started a crochet blanket (that has been occupying quite a bit of my time) I thought that I would share a few pics of the progress.
The whole thing started a while ago when I had the idea of making a large lap blanket as a gift.
Whilst out having a mooch around town the other week I stumbled across this luscious space-dyed yarn.
It’s by Jarol. The range is called New Arrival and the colour that I got was shade 318 “Merlin”.
I found it at a local discount store for £4 per 200g ball. (They only had two 200g balls so I got both). I have since seen it online for between £3.60 and £7.50 so can hopefully restock if I need to.
The space-dyed colouring was the thing that attracted me the most. I thought that it would work well as a large granny square lap blanket as the colours would be quite eye catching.
I knew a basic granny square pattern so chose to use that (rather than complicate things by learning a new one for such a large project).
Over the space of the first weekend I actually ended up crocheting for fourteen hours!!! It’s not a wonder that my shoulders and hands ended up aching a little, lol.
Anyway, the first two day’s effort gave me quite a good head start.
After this point the rounds were now taking about an hour each to complete so I was only managing to add a couple of these per session after that.
When I got to the end of the two 200g balls I had a granny square almost 40 inches square!
I still had a little yarn left but it was only enough for about 3/4 of a round. As I was aiming for a blanket of about 50-60 inches square I now had a choice to make – do I get more of the same yarn and make the whole thing from it OR do I start adding some solid colour bands around the edge (that would coordinate with the colours found in the main block)…?
If you’ve followed this blog for some time you might guess that I’m not always good at making snap decisions when it comes to making things.
In fact, I’m still deliberating! Lol.
What would you do? Please let me know in the comments section below as I just can’t decide!
Help please!
GENTLEMAN CRAFTER 
I would have to use same colour it would drive me mad to compromise such a good effort,
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I think I would opt for a plain colour contrast – picking up on one or two of the colours in your present yarn. Try taking it to somewhere where you can offer it up against the plain colours to get an idea of how it would look? If it’s for a lady then the cerise pink would look lovely. Black I feel is too dark and pale colours too much of a wishy washy contrast. You need to keep it bold. Good luck. Look forward to seeing pics of it finished.
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Oooooooh….beautiful colors and great work!!!! If it needs to be a lot larger, and you might have a problem matching this same yarn, I would use three rows of each color you are already using ending with the darkest color. Please be sure to post your finished work of art!!!!
Jan Castle in Salem, Oregon, USA
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Thank you. Will do Jan :)
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Hi John this is gorgeous and will make a fantastic gift. I wonder what your decision will be. Hugs Jackie
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Hi john!
Think you got enough suggestions without me poking me nose in as well!! Lol!! Love the colour tho. & would to see the finished blanket. I made baby blankets for my last 2 grandsons. Multi pastel colours in blues, yellow, pink, green & white – the first one was in 2″ granny squares & took ages to crochet them together! The next one one I thought I’d do something bit different. Still granny style but hexagons instead of squares, & about 4″ in size. Looked great but took even longer to crochet together! Not as easy as squares!! But they were well recirved & appreciated!
Keep up the good work John, love your blogs.
Carole
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Hello John
I think I would put the colour blocks around the main square to finish off with perhaps a final border of a single row of each colour?
Thanks for sharing your crafty makes.
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The first thing I thought when I saw your photos was that it needed some black to bring it to life so I’m in agreement with Helen. Great work by the way!
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Hello John,
I have been receiving your emails for some time now and would like to share with you a card inspired by one of yours. Not quite as elaborate as yours.
Thank you for all the inspiration! Unfortunately I could not find the stamps you used, however I was able to find one close in design.
Hope you like it. Cheers, Lola.
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Thanks Lola, was the picture attached or sent via email as I can’t see it …
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Lovely!! I too am crocheting a blanket to use up various odd balls. When I reached the point where I could no longer use the same colours, as the yarn was thin on the ground, I opted for adding two new colours and doing three rounds rather than the two I had been doing in each colour. My final colour is a biscuit tone and I am doing three rounds and then one more that will be picot. That’s 2 trebles, two chain, two trebles in the space rather than three trebles. If I still tweeted, as kittykatanga, I’d tweet you a pic.
I reckon you should choose a couple of colours, maybe three, that pick out colours in your scrummy yarn. Do a few rounds for each and then picot the edge. Then pop it in a Jiffy bag and send it too me!
:)
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How about a picout edging in matching yarn and then thread a thin ribbon around the edge just in from picout and then use a ribbon maker to make a double bow for each corner that you loop in…..thats how I finished my Nananas ones off…..gives a very pretty finish….and my Nananas loved them John and proudly use to show them off lol
Would love to see finished item with whatever you decide :-D
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I would do a couple of rows in the pale blue then finish it with either the dark blue or the pink. Love it John well done.
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Hi John,
Lovely gift for someone, I think a plain contrasting colour to finish off would be nice. Good luck.😊
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get more wool, end with a darker colour of the mix if you want the contrast. will post mine soon LoL
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I agree with Bev, it is looking great so far, would love to beable to do this,
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Looking good. I would go for a totally different look and introduce a couple of black rows in between the main colour. I started crocheting this year and am in the process of making a white christmas tree skirt with poinsettias. It’s turning out well.
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Ooo, that sounds gorgeous!
J :)
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I know what you mean I have the same problem I would use the same colour then if not big enough put a contrasting colour on
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Personally I would go for more of the same wool and finish the edge with a contrast wool of no more than an inch or two, I feel that there is too much left to do that it would look like you’re out of wool. Not having enough to start with I would have considered alternating blocks of a few inches of the variegated then contrast which would show it was intentional…….. Love the colour by the way, just my twopenneths worth, I only started teaching myself this craft recently and not actually made anything yet :-( so very impressed with how much you did in a couple of days.
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Keep going Roseann! :)
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Same colour, depending on who it is for, you could put a tassel
In each corner or a fringe around the edge! I am old so this
might be old fashioned!! It looks good though.
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No such thing as old fashioned, just vintage and retro ;)
J :)
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Love the colour. I can’t crochet :(
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Why not make it your challenge for 2015?
J :)
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Would be a great idea I think pink personally
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Love the colours John I would finish off with a co ordinating colour to finish off firstly because it’s always nice to start another colour and secondly I think the contrast will complement the design nicely. Think a dark plain blue would be great. Good luck.
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i think i would be tempted to see if i could find something to match one of the colours and do a border in that, if not go for all the same, but i suppose it depends on if you can get any more too.
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I would stick to same colour! Easy
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A row of each of the three colours would look good
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I’d finish off with a border of same yarn- shells for example -Tis lovely-well done 🍄💖
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