I really needed to salvage whatever yarn I could as I'm almost running out of some of the colours now yet I've still got a little way to go with the blanket, every scrap of yarn is precious. You can see the small amount of progress I've made since last month.
I've learnt my lesson how hard it is to take crochet back once the ends have been sewn in so I decided I'd deal with them all at the end, just to be on the safe side. These are the ends from just one side of the blanket, there's the same amount on the other side too. I'm not looking forward to tackling them at all.
There's still a way to go with this blanket but I'm still enjoying working on it.
I'm joining in with Jennifer's Winter Project Link Party over on her Thistlebear blog. Do pop over and take a look what it's all about, and how about joining in with the fun? I'm sure many of you have projects on the go for winter.
I was very tempted to join in on this one, I am now rather pleased that I was too busy. I am having great fun crocheting little things for a scumble piece and flowers for my wreaths. Above all any crafting should be about pleasure not punishment.
ReplyDeleteThat doesn't stop my jealousy when I see all those blankets out there.
I'm really glad that I joined in with the crochet along, it's going to be a lovely blanket when it's finished and I don't mind that I'm going at my own pace with it. I'm thoroughly enjoying the process.
DeleteI really enjoyed the Spice of Life blanket and yes there are lots of stitches to master, keep going it is so worth it!x
ReplyDeleteI'm loving it, it's such a lovely blanket, all the different stitches make is quite unusual. I've still got a way to go but I'll get there in my own time.
DeleteI love the look of it. I weave my ends as I go it's the only way I can deal with them.
ReplyDeleteIt's such a lovely looking blanket. I was like you with my ends when I first started the blanket but it worked against me when I needed to pull it back, I've learnt my lesson now and though it will be terrible when I come to weave them all in at the end, at least I know I can pull it back if I need to.
DeleteYou are blessed to have a hubby that will salvage your crochet what a darling, he is definitely a keeper. It's looking good, I love the colour combination.
ReplyDeleteI know, he's got so much more patience than I have, I'd have just put the lot in the bin and have done with it. The colours work so well together, I'm really pleased with it so far.
DeleteMick deserves a medal!!! A few years ago I tried to knit with a velvet effect wool that kept twisting and knotting. Mark was my 'crafting hero' and spent ages sorting out the mess. Jx
ReplyDeleteHe does. It sounds like we've both got long suffering other halves, both with patience. That's my trouble, I haven't got any.
DeleteIt's good to have a patient husband, mine is a good yarn winder. Those ends... I dread sewing them in, but of course it's worth that neat finish and won't take too long xx
ReplyDeleteI know, Mick does some yarn winding too, he rarely complains. I'm dreading coming to the ends, it's going to take ages, but as you say, worth it in the end for the neat finish.
DeleteGood for Mick in helping out with the unpicking! It's always difficult when a project presents difficulties.
ReplyDeleteI'm still trying to teach myself to crochet and spent a whole evening crocheting and then pulling it all out. In the end I decided to do some knitting. I'm meeting a friend on Monday and she's going to help me once more with basic crochet stitches and then I might have another go at the craft!
I know the unpicking wouldn't have happened without Mick, I have little patience. Keep going with the crocheting, it took me a while to learn too. I used You Tube tutorials and a book and eventually it just clicks, but I think having someone to actually show you must make things easier. Good luck.
DeleteEnds are horrible to sew in, but I can't imagine having to take them all out again! Thank God for a patient husband!
ReplyDeleteI thought I was doing so well weaving all the ends in as I went along, Mick didn't think so when he came to unpick them. He's got so much more patience than I have.
DeleteMalc always does my unpicking. He's got the patience of a saint!
ReplyDeleteIt does help when you've got someone to do the horrible jobs, doesn't it? Mick's certainly got more patience than I have.
DeleteOh my goodness, what a patient husband.
ReplyDeletexx
He is. He did a great job for me with that.
DeleteI did my ends as I went and even though I've still got a bit of a wavy edge (especially the shell rows), now the borders are done, it looks OK. I love your colours as mine are so bright, but I loved the process and have started on a granny square baby rug now with "one" done. Good on you Mick for helping out. Have a great weekend and take care.
ReplyDeleteI daren't weave in my ends as I go now that I know the hard job it is to undo them if needed, it'll be a big job at the end but rather that than have the same problem again. I think your colours look fine and I agree, the process of crocheting lots of different stitches is enjoyable.
DeleteSewing in the ends is the only bad part about crocheting! Put on a good film and, by the end of it, you'll have it all done. Oh and, yay for Mick and his patience! :o)
ReplyDeleteI shall have to do something to keep me interested whilst sewing in all the ends, what a job that's going to be. Mick did a great job for me, I think it would have gone in the bin if it had been left to me.
DeleteWell, lucky you having a husband who will unravel and wind! I've done that a few times, but thankfully, they have been fairly short runs...probably as I've only been knitting a short while compared to your crochet experience.
ReplyDeleteMick helps me out with all sorts of things, he's very good like that. I must say that I much prefer taking crochet back rather than knitting with all the stitches on the needles, I find that much harder.
DeleteI love the pattern and colors you are using for your blanket. I know the pattern change in this design can be challenging as to keep the ends even. I made a similar blanket and changed the pattern stitch a bit since the tension was way off. I also made a rolled edging so I didn't have to weave in all those ends. You can find my notes here: http://lillymycat.blogspot.com/2014/06/crochet-along-as-we-go-stripey-blanket.html I hope you will share a photo of your lovely blanket when it's completed. Enjoy your weekend! Pat :)
ReplyDeleteThank you for the link, your blanket is really lovely and what a great idea that rolled edging is, I've never come across anything like that before but it's a great idea if you don't want to weave in all the ends. I bet your grandson loves his blanket.
DeleteWell done Mick. Flighty xx
ReplyDeleteHe's a good help.
DeleteI love your balnket, so beautiful. I am an end sewer inner right away, I can't stand to have them floating about.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Meredith
It's such a lovely blanket pattern. I've always sewn my ends in as I've gone along but I learnt my lesson the hard way, I shan't make the same mistake again.
DeleteThe blanket looks great Jo...I can crochet...sort of but have never created anything large. I can't believe you got your hubby to take it down for you...mine would just look at me as if I'd committed an offense if I asked him anything like that...lol
ReplyDeleteI find blankets the easiest things to crochet, there's no shaping or anything complicated and they can be as easy as you like. Mick's well trained, I always rope him in to doing the things I don't want to do.
DeleteYou have Mick very well trained Jo I'm so impressed. I have half a blanket here to unwind so perhaps I could post it off to him with a couple of cakes??? I had to start mine again as I made some shocking mistakes, honestly it was twice as wide in the middle than it was at the bottom. I'm halfway through now but my ends are still dangly! x
ReplyDeleteI'm sure he could be bribed with cakes. I think it's always better to start again rather than have mistakes in it, I know I wouldn't have been satisfied knowing I could have done better.
DeleteSewing in ends is my least favourite part of knitting too, but I don't usually end up with that many! Thank goodness for a patient husband eh?
ReplyDeleteI think the ends will take some time to sew in but it will be worth it in the end. It's a good job that Mick's got patience because I haven't, I doubt my first effort would have been taken back if it wasn't for him.
DeleteWell done Mick ...
ReplyDeleteLooking back to when my dear mum did all her lovely knitting, when things went wrong my dad instantly used to help out ...
Isn't it great that loved ones just know when to step in.
Hope you are having a lovely weekend
All the best Jan
Husbands can definitely be handy to have around in times of crisis. Mick's used to helping me out, I often find myself in a bit of a pickle.
DeleteMy man holds skeins while I use the wool winder. He mows grass too if I nag him enough! Good Luck with your project. Jo x
ReplyDeleteIt's good to have a man who does, isn't it? Shame we have to nag them though.
DeleteOk am just learning crochet, no on hand help but you tube and an excellent dorling kindersley book for tuition. I work only for a half an hour at a time as I have rh arthritis, sore wrists . Looking forward to when I can achieve more than 3 inches of work before unravelling the lot!!Debbie
ReplyDeleteI learnt to crochet with a book and You Tube tutorials so it can definitely be done. Just keep practicing, eventually it clicks and you won't look back. Good luck.
DeleteYou are lucky to have a handy man, can you send him my way , hehe. Your blanket will be so nice when you finish it and as you have taken the time to unravel it , it will be even more special.
ReplyDeleteI'm definitely glad I started again, I would never have been happy with it knowing I could have done it better. I'll send Mick round when I've done with him.
DeleteI wind my work by hanging it over the left elbow and winding it with my hands. It sounds more clumsy than it is. The ends are the reason why crochet is my least favourite craft. The stitches of your blanket look complicated! x
ReplyDeleteI hate weaving the ends in so doing it as I went along made sense until I came to unravel it, then it's a nightmare. It's been good learning some new stitches whilst I've been working on this blanket, I feel a little more confident with crochet now.
DeleteI love the colors in your blanket, Jo. No craft projects for me, but lots of garden writing, forcing shrub branches and that type of creative activity. I'm amazed how trainable our hubbies can be at times. We both have gems. P. x
ReplyDeleteThe colours I've used are the ones suggested, they work so well together. There's still plenty of gardening activities to be getting on with even during the winter months, especially when you've got your writing to do too. Mick's so good, he's always happy to help with anything I'm stuck with.
DeleteAw, Jo. I'm sorry you ended up unraveling. I think you'll be so much happier with a second chance at the pattern, though. It looks like a complicated one. I think it's going to be beautiful when it's done and you'll be especially proud of it for all the work that has gone into it. Mick sounds like a real keeper, what a lovely man. Thank you for joining in with my link party. I hope you're having a good week so far.
ReplyDeleteIt's not really complicated, it's just that the different stitches can make the tension go a little awry. I'm glad I took it back as it's looking much better now. Even Mick's temper was a little frayed taking this lot back but it's definitely worth it.
DeleteOnce it's stitched I imagine you just want it finished off completely and those ends must be fiddly.
ReplyDeleteHuge admiration to Mick for being so patient and getting that yarn sorted for you!
Lisa x
The ends are a real pain, they take me ages to weave them in, there's so many of them. It's a task I'm not looking forward to at all. Mick's so good, he does help me where he can.
DeleteYour experience has given me food for thought. I have been trying to sew in ends as I go in the few projects I have done that have color changes. Your husband is awesome to help you salvage your yarn and you will surely both enjoy the blanket more with your joint investment in time in it.
ReplyDeleteBravo for the work you have both done thus far! xx
I never thought about him having an input in the blanket, that's a really good point. It was a steep learning curve about sewing in ends when I came to unravel them, it's something I won't do in a hurry in future.
DeleteWhat a star Mick is, sorting that lot out for you. How annoying though, after you were so good at sewing in the ends as you went along xx
ReplyDeleteI know, he's good to have around when I need things like this doing. I thought I was being very good weaving in my ends as I went along, it just shows that it doesn't always pay to be ahead of yourself.
Delete