Labour of Love Blanket

Not for a second did I think that my throw-away comment on Instagram would be taken seriously, or replied to by so many people.

You see, I'd started this project waaaaaaaay back a billionty years ago, after a meeting with the Stylecraft gang up at headquarters, when they first unveiled their new yarn; Linen Drape. Oh how me and my fellow Blogstars ooooooed and ahhhhhhed over its lovely colours and of course, its, er, drapey-ness. Perfect for a so many projects, but I fancied a big granny square.

So I started it. 

And I enjoyed adding rounds here and there.

And then it got a bit lost in everything else I was doing and I realised that I just didn't have the time to complete it. So I mentioned this on IG and the comments started coming in ...

... and it wasn't just people admiring the colours (because they ARE gorgeous); there were a few people who genuinely wanted to finish it for me.

I chose Ruth from Labours of Love Crochet (find her Instagram account here) because I've spoken to her (in the social media sense - you know what I mean) several times, and she's always struck me as such a kind, thoughtful and genuine soul; just the person I could trust to do this for me. And that was it - I sent the blanket and yarn and after a few short weeks and messages about colour choices and bordering (I left these to her discretion), Ruth had finished it for me!

And it's PERFECT - honestly - you cannot tell where I started and she has finished (except for a sweet little stitch marker Ruth added) - our tension and stitch formation are exactly the same and her colour choices are gorgeous.

Ruth, here's a BIG THANK YOU from me (and all the free patterns from my shop you'll ever want).

And so, it seems only right that it be called:

The Labour of Love blanket

Here's all the pattern details for anyone who would like to make their own (and no, you may NOT ask Ruth to finish yours!):

You will need:

Stylecraft Linen Drape 1 x ball each of Natural (3901), Lime (3902), Wheat (3903), River (3904), Peacock (3905), Coral (3906), Sangria (3907), Cranberry (3908)

4.5mm hook

Finished size approx 95 x 95 cm (depending on tension)

Tension - using a 4.5mm hook, we made 9 rounds to fit 10 cm / 4 in

Pattern 
The blanket is made using a classic granny square pattern (see below). To prevent the square from twisting, we turned it over every round and worked in the opposite direction.

Make a standard granny square, changing colour every round in the following order:

Cranberry, Peacock, Lime, River, Natural, Lime, Sangria, Coral, Wheat, Cranberry, (10 rounds)
Peacock, Natural, Lime, Cranberry, Coral, Wheat, River, Natural, Peacock, Sangria, (20 rounds)
Coral, Lime, Wheat, Natural, Cranberry, River, Coral, Sangria, Lime, Natural, (30 rounds)
Peacock, Natural, Cranberry, River, Sangria, Coral, Lime, Natural, Sangria, River (40 rounds)
Cranberry, Wheat, Peacock (43 rounds)

Border
This is where you'll play yarn-chicken a bit, depending on tension. Ruth managed to make 8 rounds of linen stitch (pattern below). Make colour changes in the following order:

Sangria, Natural, River, Cranberry, Wheat, Coral, Peacock, Lime (8 rounds)
In Coral make a sl st in every stitch.

Beautiful border of simple, linen stitch

Granny Square Pattern UK Terms

Ch 4, join with a sl st to make a ring.

Rnd 1: 3ch (counts as first tr), all into ring: 2tr, 2ch, *3tr, 2ch; rep from * twice more, join with a sl st to top of 3ch. (12 tr, 8 ch)

Rnd 2: sl st across to 2ch-sp, (3ch [counts as 1tr throughout], 2tr, 2ch, 3tr) in same 2ch-sp, *(3tr, 2ch, 3tr) in next 2ch-sp; rep from * twice more, join with a sl st to top of 3ch. (24 tr, 12 ch)

Rnd 3: sl st across to 2ch-sp, (3ch, 2tr, 2ch, 3tr) in same 2ch-sp, *3tr between clusters, (3tr, 2ch, 3tr) in 2ch-sp; rep from * twice more, 3tr between clusters,, join with a sl st to top of 3ch. (36 tr, 16 ch)

Rnds 4 onwards: sl st across to 2ch-sp, (3ch, 2tr, 2ch, 3tr) in same 2ch-sp, *3tr between clusters to corner, (3tr, 2ch, 3tr) in 2ch-sp; rep from * twice more, 3tr between clusters to corner, join with a sl st to top of 3ch.

Border Pattern UK Terms: 

Rnd 1: In any 2ch-sp, *1dc, 1ch, sk 1 st; repeat from * to next 2ch-sp, (1dc, 2ch, 1dc) in 2ch-sp. Repeat from beginning of round 1 around square until final 2ch-sp, 1dc, 2ch, join to first dc with sl st.

Rnds 2 onwards: In any 2ch-sp, 1dc, *1ch, sk 1 st, 1dc in 1ch-sp; repeat from * to next 2ch-sp, (1dc, 2ch, 1dc) in 2ch-sp. Repeat from beginning of round 2 around square until final 2ch-sp, 1dc, 2ch, join to first dc with sl st.

Final round: In coral, make a sl st in every stitch around.

Granny Square Pattern US Terms

Ch 4, join with a sl st to make a ring.

Rnd 1: 3ch (counts as first dc), all into ring: 2dc, 2ch, *3dc, 2ch; rep from * twice more, join with a sl st to top of 3ch. (12 dc, 8 ch)

Rnd 2: sl st across to 2ch-sp, (3ch [counts as 1dc throughout], 2dc, 2ch, 3dc) in same 2ch-sp, *(3dc, 2ch, 3dc) in next 2ch-sp; rep from * twice more, join with a sl st to top of 3ch. (24 dc, 12 ch)

Rnd 3: sl st across to 2ch-sp, (3ch, 2dc, 2ch, 3dc) in same 2ch-sp, *3dc between clusters (3dc, 2ch, 3dc) in 2ch-sp; rep from * twice more, 3dc between clusters, join with a sl st to top of 3ch. (36 dc, 16 ch)

Rnds 4 onwards: sl st across to 2ch-sp, (3ch, 2dc, 2ch, 3dc) in same 2ch-sp, *3dc between clusters to corner, (3dc, 2ch, 3dc) in 2ch-sp; rep from * twice more, 3dc between clusters to corner, join with a sl st to top of 3ch.

Border Pattern US Terms: 

Rnd 1: In any 2ch-sp, *1sc, 1ch, sk 1 st; repeat from * to next 2ch-sp, (1sc, 2ch, 1sc) in 2ch-sp. Repeat from beginning of round 1 around square until final 2ch-sp, 1sc, 2ch, join to first sc with sl st.

Rnds 2 onwards: In any 2ch-sp, 1sc, *1ch, sk 1 st, 1sc in 1ch-sp; repeat from * to next 2ch-sp, (1sc, 2ch, 1sc) in 2ch-sp. Repeat from beginning of round 2 around square until final 2ch-sp, 1sc, 2ch, join to first sc with sl st.

Final round: In coral, make a sl st in every stitch around.

I do hope you enjoy making your own Labour of Love Blanket, Ruth and I certainly did!!

Sarah xx

Granny Square Day 2019!

Granny Square Day 2019 is finally here!!!

I was absolutely thrilled when Simply Crochet Magazine asked myself, along with fellow designers,  Sharna Moore, Dedri Uys and Katie Jones to be Granny Square Day ambassadors for its 6th year and create our own squares to celebrate this wonderful and ever-popular motif. 

Recently, I've ben enjoying the simplicity of a solid granny square, made in two colours - I think the possibilities of creating patterns by how they are arranged is fascinating and with this in mind, I knew it would be the basis of my design. 

Here's an arrangement of two-tone squares to create a chevron effect. Clever, eh?

Hook up one to join in today, or make loads and turn them into a fabulous cushion or blanket.

Textured Solid Granny UK terms

Special abbreviations: bptr (back post treble) fptr (front post treble)

Rnd 1: Using colour A, 4ch (counts as 1ch and 1tr), (2tr, 2ch, 3tr, 1ch change to colour B, 1ch, 3tr, 2ch, 3tr, 2ch ) in 4th ch from hook. Join with sl st to top of beginning ch. TURN.

Rnd 2: 1ch, 1sl st into 2ch-sp, (3ch, 1tr) in 2ch-sp, 1tr, 1bptr, 1tr, (2tr, 2ch, 2tr) in 2ch-sp, 1tr, 1bptr, 1tr, (2tr, 1ch, pick up colour A, 1ch, 2tr) in 2ch-sp, 1tr, 1bptr, 1tr, (2tr, 2ch, 2tr) in 2ch-sp, 1tr, 1bptr, 1tr, (2tr, 2ch) in 2ch-sp. Join with sl st to 3ch. TURN.

Rnd 3: 1ch, 1sl st into 2ch-sp, (3ch, 1tr) in 2ch-sp, 3tr, 1fptr, 3tr, (2tr, 2ch, 2tr) in 2ch-sp, 3tr, 1fptr, 3tr, (2tr, 1ch, pick up colour B, 1ch, 2tr) in 2ch-sp, 3tr, 1fptr, 3tr, (2tr, 2ch, 2tr) in 2ch-sp, 3tr, 1fptr, 3tr, (2tr, 2ch) in 2ch-sp. Join with sl st to 3ch. TURN.

Rnd 4: 1ch, 1sl st into 2ch-sp, (3ch, 1tr) in 2ch-sp, 5tr, 1bptr, 5tr, (2tr, 2ch, 2tr) in 2ch-sp, 5tr, 1bptr, 5tr, (2tr, 1ch, pick up colour A, 1ch, 2tr) in 2ch-sp, 5tr, 1bptr, 5tr, (2tr, 2ch, 2tr) in 2ch-sp, 5tr, 1bptr, 5tr, (2tr, 2ch) in 2ch-sp. Join with sl st to 3ch. TURN.

Rnd 5: 1ch, 1sl st into 2ch-sp, (3ch, 1tr) in 2ch-sp, 7tr, 1fptr, 7tr, (2tr, 2ch, 2tr) in 2ch-sp, 7tr, 1fptr, 7tr, (2tr, 1ch, pick up colour B, 1ch, 2tr) in 2ch-sp, 7tr, 1fptr, 7tr, (2tr, 2ch, 2tr) in 2ch-sp, 7tr, 1fptr, 7tr, (2tr, 2ch) in 2ch-sp. Join with sl st to 3ch. TURN.

Textured Solid Granny US terms

Special abbreviations: bpdc (back post double crochet) fpdc (front post double crochet)

Rnd 1: Using colour A, 4ch (counts as 1ch and 1dc), (2dc, 2ch, 3dc, 1ch change to colour B, 1ch, 3dc, 2ch, 3dc, 2ch) in 4th ch from hook. Join with sl st to top of beginning ch. TURN.

Rnd 2: 1ch, 1sl st into 2ch-sp, (3ch, 1dc) in 2ch-sp, 1dc, 1bpdc, 1dc, (2dc, 2ch, 2dc) in 2ch-sp, 1dc, 1bpdc, 1dc, (2dc, 1ch, pick up colour A, 1ch, 2dc) in 2ch-sp, 1dc, 1bpdc, 1dc, (2dc, 2ch, 2dc) in 2ch-sp, 1dc, 1bpdc, 1dc, (2dc, 2ch) in 2ch-sp. Join with sl st to 3ch. TURN.

Rnd 3: 1ch, 1sl st into 2ch-sp, (3ch, 1dc) in 2ch-sp, 3dc, 1fpdc, 3dc, (2dc, 2ch, 2dc) in 2ch-sp, 3dc, 1fpdc, 3dc, (2dc, 1ch, pick up colour B, 1ch, 2dc) in 2ch-sp, 3dc, 1fpdc, 3dc, (2dc, 2ch, 2dc) in 2ch-sp, 3dc, 1fpdc, 3dc, (2dc, 2ch) in 2ch-sp. Join with sl st to 3ch. TURN.

Rnd 4: 1ch, 1sl st into 2ch-sp, (3ch, 1dc) in 2ch-sp, 5dc, 1bpdc, 5dc, (2dc, 2ch, 2dc) in 2ch-sp, 5dc, 1bpdc, 5dc, (2dc, 1ch, pick up colour A, 1ch, 2dc) in 2ch-sp, 5dc, 1bpdc, 5dc, (2dc, 2ch, 2dc) in 2ch-sp, 5dc, 1bpdc, 5dc, (2dc, 2ch) in 2ch-sp. Join with sl st to 3ch. TURN.

Rnd 5: 1ch, 1sl st into 2ch-sp, (3ch, 1dc) in 2ch-sp, 7dc, 1fpdc, 7dc, (2dc, 2ch, 2dc) in 2ch-sp, 7dc, 1fpdc, 7dc, (2dc, 1ch, pick up colour B, 1ch, 2dc) in 2ch-sp, 7dc, 1fpdc, 7dc, (2dc, 2ch, 2dc) in 2ch-sp, 7dc, 1fpdc, 7dc, (2dc, 2ch) in 2ch-sp. Join with sl st to 3ch. TURN.

Join in the fun on Instagram on the 15th August and use the hashtag #grannysquareday2019.

Find our more about Granny Square Day here.

Enjoy the day!!
Sarah xx