Sunday 8 June 2014

The End… and a Mandala

Yes, I can hardly believe it but I've come to the end of the Granny Square Blanket project.  I completed the edging this morning, weaved in the last few ends, washed it, and put it on the line to dry in the sunshine.  So this is the last you will see of the Granny Square Blanket (perhaps you're pleased with that!).

Funnily enough, I was nearly sad as I was completing the last round… does this mean I should start another blanket??

It ended up being a good size, once I'd added the border and measures about 1.5m x 1.2m which is plenty big enough to wrap yourself into.


I used up all the part balls I had left (which weren't that many!)
and made 5 rounds of squares all around the blanket.

I purchased one last ball of purple
wich was my very last row of squares.


I then made up the cream edging as I went along.  I knew from the beginning that I wanted to end with cream to tie in with the cream centres of all the squares.   I also wanted a "scallopy" thing but ended up trying about a dozen different versions before settling on the one above which I am pleased with.  It was done in three rounds.



And here it is on the washing line,
blowing gently in the breeze
and warmed by the wonderful June sun
we were enjoying today.

* * * * * * *

As this is a crochet post, I decided to add this other little bit of crochet I completed today.  I am sending it to Lucy at Attic24 so that I can take part in the big Yarndale 2014 Mandala Display.  I started off following a pattern but then improvised half-way around.  The colours would not be my favourite choice but I had a very limited amount of cotton on hand with which I could made this mandala so I used what I had.  That red is so bright it's quite hard to photograph.   Mmmm, unless I made it in wool, I have a few more colours available (ones that were not in my blanket)… will I send this one or will I make another?

I think it's fun to take part in a worldwide project like that.  I look forward to seeing what it will look like with all the mandalas put together.



Best wishes,
Frivole

20 comments:

  1. The blanket is wonderful! - and yes, of course you are going to miss working n it, that's one of the hard things about finishing an absorbing project - you have to choose something else! How about the Babette blanket, that's a bit more intricate, with different sized squares, and should keep you going a lot longer. I had no idea what a mandela was until I followed the link.

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    1. Oh, choosing something else is not a problem! I always have gazillion projects I want to make! I'm quite keen on a crochet garment next...

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  2. Very lovely...those projects are always nice to see finished, and sad to let go off. I usually pic another and always have one going :-)

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    1. one… two… three… or more projects on-going! :-)

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  3. Beautiful, beautiful blanket ! I love cheery colors in cold, hazy winters ...
    The mandala is nicely done too :-)

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  4. Wonderful project and great idea using all the partial balls for an edging.

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  5. Wonderful blanket! I like the way the final round links to the squares. I sometimes find myself reluctant to finish a project, especially a big one like that. Like Maureen, I will have to find out what a mandala is.

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  6. Your blanket is wonderful! I would not feel sad over finishing it. After all, you can snuggle under it any time you like! The mandala is very pretty. I like the red!

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  7. Your blanket is awesome!!! :)
    Your mandala is wonderful!!! :)

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  8. Great blanket, I love the bright vibrant colors.
    Some times I feel like knitting the same shawl twice. But that feeling only lasts a second until another beautiful design comes around.
    Remember how the little squares vexed you a bit. Lol have a good day. Beautiful weather here as well.

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  9. The blanket is lovely. I love the mandala, too - especially the red.

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  10. That is a great blanket!! I am amazed that you hung it on the line. Does that mean it is not heavy?
    Mandala strikes me as a new word for d,...

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    1. Yes, you are right of course… just a more colourful and fun version of the d… ! :-)

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  11. fantastic ... colours speak for themselves ...

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  12. Just gorgeous and really like the edging! What a great use of leftover yarn and a fun challenge of picking the colors. It was interesting to learn about the color chart. Crocheting and knitting can be quite relaxing without the fear of missing joins or having wrong knot counts as in tatting! And it was so portable, plus you didn' t seem to mind sewing the squares together later on. You can always make another one!

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    1. Hi Kathy,

      Yes, I do find crochet relaxing (though some simpler tatting can be very relaxing too). I actually attached the squares as I went, not afterwards. Although I did a batch of smaller squares of four rounds at one point so that I could carry them around and then did the final round and attached afterwards.
      I particularly enjoyed getting to the edging at the end and just going around one great big square!

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  13. I LOVE YOUR GRANNY SQUARE BLANKET!!

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  14. Beautiful round mandala... thanks for sharing with us. Want to share some lovely mandala designs. Please have a look @ http://www.fairdecor.com/-round-fringe-mandala

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