A Summer Blanket Ta-dah (in the Fall)

I've finished my Summer Blanket (named as such simply because I began working on it in the summer). And I've finished it at the perfect time too, as autumn has truly arrived. While I have often reserved blanket making for the colder months, when you think about it, making a blanket in the summer is the perfect situation; working away all summer and finishing in the fall means you will be completely prepared with a new blanket to cuddle under when the temperatures drop.

To say I am pleased with how my blanket turned out would be an understatement - I really love it. The colors, the softness of the yarn, the edging that just finished it off perfectly - it is a favorite project of mine for sure.

It was an enjoyable project to work on as well - I loved making it as much as I love the final product. Every evening, after the girls were in bed, I would settle into in my corner of the sofa, prop up my feet and crochet a few rows. It was both calming and therapeutic and a moment that I looked forward to everyday; thank goodness for crochet and its restorative benefits, I can not count the number of times I have thought that, or proclaimed it aloud.

My blanket currently lives in our bedroom, either in my crochet corner or draped over the edge of the bed where it can easily be pulled on top of my legs when I am crocheting or reading.

But the story does not end there. One evening I was sitting on the sofa with my yarn basket at my feet, leftover bits of yarn from my blanket inside, when I was inspired to make a mandala. Following Lucy's brilliant and simple mandala pattern, one mandala was made, and then another, and then another....I stopped at four for fear that I was becoming a little obsessed. My favorite thing about making mandalas is trying different color orders and combinations. I mean look at these four and how different they all look while they are all made with the same yarns....

Ahh, things have been quite wonderful around here on the yarn front. Lots of time creating and lots of beautiful projects. I am a happy yarn lady....

Blanket Pattern: Happy in Red Diamond Stitch Blanket
Edging Pattern: Happy in Red Granny Stripe Edging
Mandala Pattern: Attic 24 Mandala Wheel 
Yarn: Deramores Studio DK in Pearl, Mustard, Blush, Topaz, Indigo

I'm joining in with the Winter Project Link Party over at Thistlebear. 

A Summer Blanket

I don't often make blankets in the summer, preferring to work on smaller projects like toys, but I have finally fallen in love with the blanket that I started back in March, so as long as it does not get too hot to work on, I'm charging ahead, in full on blanket making mode.

I bought the yarn for this blanket after Christmas for an incredible bargain, and was planning to make a Cedar River Blanket. Unfortunately my squares were not working out, and after several attempts to get the tension correct, using different hook sizes, I became incredibly frustrated and just let the whole thing lie in a basket for a while. I then decided to scrap the whole Cedar River Blanket idea and pick a much simpler design. I settled on a diamond stitch and got to work. After a few rows I was still not loving the outcome so my project sat untouched for another month or so....

But then last week, while I was on vacation, the weather was absolutely gorgeous one afternoon, so I made myself a cup of tea, sat on the deck, and worked on my blanket in the sunshine for two whole hours. It was lovely, and at the end of the afternoon, I finally loved what my blanket was becoming.

Since then it has been all-go, row after row being added, my blanket growing beautifully. We are going away for the long weekend and have a brutal drive to endure so I am going to bring along my blanket to work on in the car - think of how lovely it will be after all those hours when there is nothing else for me to do but crochet.

(I should darn in all those ends as I go. I know this, but I am ignoring it...I'll regret it, I know.)