Completed Project: Granny Stripe Crochet Blanket

I am so proud of myself for persevering with this blanket and finishing it off (See previous post here about my failed attempts!) While it may not be perfect, it's still very usable and (I think) looks pretty great!

If you would like to have a go at this blanket, visit Maybe Matilda and check out the pattern here. The very BEST thing about this pattern is that there are step by step photos.  I don't know how many times I had to go back and refer to the pictures to see if I was doing it right. So helpful. I really don't think I would have attempted it without the pictures (so Rachel if you read this, here is one very grateful fan!)

I adapted the design to suit the wool that I had on hand. I used a 8ply DK acrylic wool, and used a "K" 10 ½ 6.50mm hook. The multi-coloured yarn is Moda Vera "Marvel" not sure of the colour number, bought from Spotlight. The green and blue is a super cheap brand from our local $2/discount/junk/bargain shop. The brand is Needle Art and also 8ply- at the bargain price of $3/ball for 100g (!). Because this was a first time project for me, I didn't want to spend heaps on a really nice wool for something that may or may not turn out well! 

The original pattern was crocheted using worsted weight yarn, which is a little thicker, so I did four rows before changing colours so I could get the same striped effect. I also did more rounds for the border because of this too. I'd be keen to try it in the thicker weight, as I imagine it would crochet up a lot quicker- and use less wool! For the finished blanket, I needed just over 1 ball of the rainbow, and almost 1 ball each of the green and blue. Because I made lots of mistakes in the beginning, I wasted used a lot of yarn to start with. I am annoyed about that, but at least I have learnt now what to do!

I also "blocked" the blanket. And by blocking, I mean steamed it with my iron and the ironed the "wrong" side. I ironed it with a tea towel over the top so the iron wasn't directly on the yarn. It actually really needed this, not so much for the shape (can't change how I added stitches) but more to relax the yarn so it was softer and snugglier and also to help the border lay flat. I know that there is a bit of controversy about blocking acrylic yarn in which some people say you shouldn't do it, but I read a few tutorials and blogs when I made this scarf and I can't see why not. I should have taken a few photos of the texture before I blocked it, but once I steamed the blanket, it really softened up nicely. You can see in some of the photos that the yarn has a slightly "flat" appearance, as the fibres in the yarn have relaxed. Once I took a few nice pictures for this post, I gave it to my son who immediately started carrying around and now will not sleep without it! I don't think I would have got the same reaction if I hadn't blocked it as it was quite stiff. Anyway, those are just my thoughts. I haven't ruined anything (acrylic) so far by this method!

 Below you can see how I went wrong with my edging. The top of the blanket it where I cast on, somehow about a ⅓ of the way though, I must have adding in extra stitches, so you can see the bottom is wider than the top!

I'm not hugely keen on the colours! I think maybe a little too bright and garish?! Some how it does sort of work though! And I have to say, it does photograph well! Perhaps the combination of the super-bright colours and the wood?