A Blankety Ta-dah......

A few years ago, I stumbled across the most heavenly image on Pinterest. From the moment my eyes lay upon it, I was deeply in love. It was the most gorgeous blanket I think I had ever seen. It ticked every box for me. The colour, the texture, everything about it was simply gorgeous. I clicked on the link and it led me here.......to what I found to be one of the most gorgeous blogs. Completely new to me, I drank in every post and marveled at the use of colour, and just wanted to jump and shout to Haafner how utterly wonderful I thought her blog and her work was (without sounding too much like a nut job!).

Haafner has become a lovely blogging friend over the past few years, and I always vowed to make the blanket I had fallen in love with. Haafner, had very kindly put up a post on how to make the very gorgeous blanket here. Isn't it really gorgeous? Maybe a lot of you know Haafner's blog, and indeed know this blanket. It has been on my 'T0 D0' list for quite a while. It's always the way though, that with the blankets I think I want to take my time with, I take the longest to work out what I want to make it in etc.

I simply adored Haafner's colour scheme of pink and brown. Two of my favourite shades together, but I wanted to not stalk her blanket and her colours too, so I thought long and hard and settled on a natural for the main part. That was, until I saw some lovely brown yarn at my local craft shop, and I sort of knew there and then that it was destined to be for this blanket.

So, with the main part being brown, I thought the edging should perhaps be a neutral/oatmeal shade. That was my plan. I wasn't sure at the beginning which room this blanket would end up in......my bedroom or in the living room. I decided that perhaps the bedroom would be nice if it was going to be large. The popcorn stitch makes for such a textural blanket and I thought it would look really nice on a bed.....and I love layers and texture on a bed.

I had been searching for a particular type of bedding in a particular shade of pink, and came across it in Zara.....

(Image copyright of Zara Home)

I thought the brown would go so nicely with the pink linen, so my mind was made up. I had also bought a few balls of some gorgeous barely there pink. I had been itching to make a throw with it, but wasn't sure on a pattern. I'm still not, but I saw that the pink of the bedding was very similar to the pink of the yarn ball, so I changed my mind with the natural border and went for the pink instead. To make a bit of a contrast, I then edged with an oatmeal/ochre shade.

I have LOVED making this blanket. From start to finish I have totally loved it. I made a big blanket. I don't know why I end up making big blankets. I think maybe, because they really do get used in my house, and quite a few tend to snuggle under them in one go.

The pattern was so yummy, and such a joy to work on and I have to give Haafner the biggest squishiest hug for making such an awesome tutorial. It is gorgeous, and very touchy feely. It could probably do with a bit of blocking to make the squares blend together a bit more seamlessly, but I'm thinking maybe the heavy weight of it may well do that, and when it's being used and pulled about! I'm all about the lazy here!!!!!!

Okay, so a few facts about it:

I made 30 squares (each taking an hour and 15 mins to make). I used DK weight yarn and used a total of 16 and a little bit 100g balls, using a 4mm hook. The brown yarn was WI Premium Acrylic yarn bought from Hobbycraft (£2.20 a ball and currently 3 for 2). The pink edging was made using Sirdar's Cotton Rich Aran in shade 'Blush' (just over 100g). The final edging was made using Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino in 'Amber' (about 30g).

This blanket is heavy....and incredibly warm to snuggle under, so I'm guessing it will be fab for winter nights.

It has occurred to me, that I made a scarf in shades just like this here

which was inspiration from this image here

Maybe these colour combinations are ones I am subconsciously drawn to. 

So there you have it, The Popcorn Blanket by Haafner.

Haafner, it is everything I thought it would be. I have truly loved working on it these past few weeks. It feels amazing, we all cannot stop touching it, and the Bear's really love it too! Thank you so much for this tutorial and pattern, it really is awesome! 

Haafner makes the most beautiful blankets. Check out her most recent one on her blog here. It's gorgeous and swoon worthy.

Right, I am off to go make a creamy coffee and snuggle under said blanket with Baby Bear.

Cheerio

xxx

Getting To Grips........

Seriously, where is the time going? I'm starting to get that 'edgy' feeling in my bones. I seem to get it this time very year. The onslaught of family birthdays and then Christmas. I vow to get ahead of myself every year in January. I vow to relax and not get so fidgety. It's no use. It just is the way it is. It's me. ARRRGGGHHHHHHHH.

Anyway. The past couple of months have sped by at an alarming rate. I am drowning in school appointments, school trips, school social events, and the ever increasing house maintenance. I'm not sure how people manage to look like they do all of this with such ease. Because I well and truly SUCK at it, I can tell you.

Cold brewing, and Autumn well and truly setting in, I sort of threw it all up in the air and decided that blanket finishing was in order, AND, an October Mantel was also in order.

Okay well, on the blanket front, I sewed in the last loose thread this morning, and it is officially finished! Woo hoo.  It took a while to do the border as I kept changing my mind as to what I wanted. I settled for something hopefully quite simple but effective in the end. 

OH MY WORD, total blanket love, may I just say. It got the thumbs up last night as Big Bear snuggled up to me on the sofa as I sewed in ends. Half draped over him, he proclaimed that this was indeed a rather nice blanket that I had made! Praise! It actually makes it all worthwhile. The blankets get used and abused and loved for sure.

I'll do a proper post with pics later on in the week if the light stays okay. It will be for my bed, but it may stay downstairs and sofa lounge for a while. It's quite big, so a few of us can squish under it at one time.

Now, for the October Mantel. If you have read my blog for a while, then you would know that I am no stranger to a bit of a Mantel make-over. It's my one little place where I do really rather like to faff with stuff. I usually change it here and there each month, even if only a teensy tiny bit. However, I find October difficult. It's Halloween month, and, again, if you've followed my blog for a while, you'll know I have a deep loathing for that pumpkin orange colour. My two worst colours, that pumpkin orange shade........and black. YUCK. So, October, colourwise doesn't really do it for me.

Now, I do admit, that in the last few years, I've began to tolerate other shades of orange. The palest shades of orange...and really only when teamed with pinks. But, that deep dark horrid shade of pumpkin orange, I still cannot get on board with. Sorry all you pumpkin orange lovers.

Anyway, Getting my pinterest fix, I began to see all the seasonal pics flood in, and low and behold, I saw the most delicious seasonal gatherings....and not a hint of orange in sight. 

I gathered a few white pumkins and got a couple of others that were orange (I know, I actually put a couple of orange ones in a basket to buy. I was proud of myself that I did it without vomiting), and then I got home and quickly painted them pink. ha!

 

Voila. An October Mantel I am actually happy with. I feel seasonal, but in my own non orange way.

Gotta love Pinterest.......and paint.....

xxx

My View.....

I'm sat trying to crochet the edge of my blanket. 

Yippeeeeeeee....woohooo......nearly finished.

I looked up and this was my little view. 

What a bright and happy little view.

I wish I could snap shut my eyes and a picture is taken, but instead I had my trusty camera to record such a bright little happy memory.

After several days of grotty weather and torrential downpours, today is sunny and really rather lovely.

I'll just carry on, with my bright little view.....and maybe...just maybe.....I'll have a finished blanket by the end of the day.....

xxx

Going Back......Pastels...

Okay, so after my last post, I guess I couldn't keep the pastels hidden. So here are some from the archives.....

Ahhhh, it's been so nice re-visiting some images. I've not yet had the desire to read through past postings, so it's been nice to just catch up on what I found interesting enough to photograph. It's been fun. I hope you have enjoyed the photo blasts too! 

xxx