Category Archives: blanket

FO Friday: Queen City Advent Granny Stripe

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My Queen City Yarns Granny Stripe blanket is DONE!

Pattern: None really. I chained 245 stitches and followed a basic granny stripe recipe

Yarn: Queen City Yarns NoDa sock and some Amber Waves of Fiber Cashmere sock and some Knitting Fever Teenie Weenie Wool

Hook: G Hook (4MM)

This monster of a project consumed all of the 2,600 yards of yarn in the advent kit and another 200 yards from the skeins I picked to be able to eek out the full blanket. I strategically used the Amber Waves and Knitting Fever yarns to work the Christmas-y stripes in between each day. I doubt now that it’s finished you can tell which stripes are the alts!

The finished size is definitely a throw or lap blanket. I didn’t bother to measure but it fits me nicely in the recliner. The biggest joy? All that yarn is now out of my stash and into something I can enjoy. This won’t be my last crochet blanket but I do think I will go back to knitting and spinning for the next little bit.

Happy Crochet!

Near The End With Day 23

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I should have made more progress this weekend but I almost done with Day 23 on this granny stripe crochet blanket. It’s fairly large but I’m still stubbornly considering this a travel project! (probably will need a good wash…)

I thought I was starting to deduce the color scheme of this Queen City Yarn advent calendar. It’s not exactly a fade or a rainbow…..but maybe a cousin of both?

Now…..let’s finish this!!! Happy Crochet!!

Sooooooo Close

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I really busted my butt this week on this granny stripe crochet blanket. I didn’t finish it for the Super Bowl a few weeks ago and so my mojo stalled. But I really want this finished snuggly blanket. So I worked diligently all week to get from Day 15 to Day 22. My hands hurt a wee bit…

This thing has been to 4 hour allergy testing appointments, work lunch meetings and everything in-between. I encountered many compliments along the way on this blanket. Makes a crafters soul grow three sizes…

There are three mini skeins left and then the contrast border. I want to make the finished end look like the beginning. Thank you mild OCD.

Happy Crochet!

Starting Day 15

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Thanks to some time off work and time in medical waiting rooms, I am now ready to start Day 15 on my Queen City Yarn Advent Blanket.

The addition of the Amber Waves cashmere yarn is working respectably. It’s not 100% the same but I have tried a couple of different methods and I think I know what I like now. And this blanket is so busy that it’s not really going to noticeable in the end anyway.

The nurses and doctors were really impressed with my wizardry and I think they checked on me extra just to see the blanket!

Happy Crochet!

Cast On: Scrappy Cotton Blanket

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I gave into my cast on urge and started another crochet blanket project. And this one goes WAY faster than fingering weight, lol.

I had a random assortment of Lion Brand Nature’s Choice organic cotton from my early crafting days. It is an Aran weight 100% cotton that is VERY soft. I am just winging it with this project. I pulled out a size K hook and whacked a bunch of stitches in a chain and started granny striping.

I do have a general plan on how I want to color block the yarn. I don’t want to change yarns a bunch so there will be big chunks, little chunks and colors starting mid row. But I have a plan to make it progress somewhat logically.

It will feel really nice to get this out of my stash! Happy Crochet!!

Dog And Crochet

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This blog is now a crochet granny stripe blanket blog….for now. We are at Day 11 of my mini skeins and Duke is properly supervising my work.

He is adding just the right amount of dog hair dusting in my work. But he often sleeps on the job.

I recently lent some yarn to a friend for a photo prop and she returned it. It was a bunch of bulky cotton yarn in neutral colors. (See zip lock bag) And instead of putting this all away again I think I will start a chunky granny stripe baby blanket. It can be a gift or a doll blanket for PB?

I mean, why not add to my pile of active WIPs, right? Happy Crafting!

RSI Avoidance

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I have really been hyper focused on my Granny Stripe Blanket and crochet is not my normal craft. Those muscles are not as “in shape” as my knitting muscles. I did start to notice some RSI stress and soreness in both my hands this week. But I don’t want to stop working on this project.

So I went off to the local Walgreen and sourced compression gloves. They really do help with soreness and making my hands feel better. I do find it difficult to tension my yarn while crocheting. It doesn’t feel the same or slide the same. So I am alternating working with the gloves, taking breaks and working bare handed.

Hoping this keeps me making progress! Happy Crocheting!!

A New Tool

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A package arrived this week with a new crochet tool. I did some looking around on Etsy for an ergonomic crochet hook and I found this one local-ish to me. I found the AMysticalFarm out of Missouri and loved how quickly the hook would get here.

The hook really feels good in my hand and fits better than the metal one. It also warms as I work and that is nice as well. Not to mention it is gorgeous.

The hang-up is that this hook is not a great fit for this granny stripe project. I am having trouble with grabbing the yarn and splitting the yarn. I am a lot slower with this hook. Probably just need more practice with it or need to dry a different yarn? But for now I want to ZOOM on this blanket so I am going back to my metal hook and going to find a cushion grip to slip on it.

Happy Crochet!!

Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop

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This granny stripe blanket is quickly becoming an obsession. It it literally the only thing I want to work on all day long.

This new skill is really itching something in my brain that is brining so much dopamine. I have just started the day 3 mini skein. And I actually really like how the red/green/white stripes are looking between the minis.

I am working on this so much that my hand is hurting a little bit. So I have added some stretching, compression gloves and I have looked online for more ergonomic crochet hooks than this Joann’s $2 special. But in the meantime….I’ll be crocheting!

Getting The Hang Of It

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I am so proud of this blanket. I have really dug in and focused on this new skill and made great progress in just two days. To say I am obsessed is an understatement.

I have the first advent mini added and the second (super Christmas-y) separating stripe. The second mini is wound and waiting for me. I just need life to quit with the adulting of work and house chores so I have more time to craft!

Happy Crochet!