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