Stashbusting brown crocheted blanket

 

In a never ending effort to get rid of yarn that I have been given while also making lovely things, I made this crochet blanket!

I had a large amount of 5 ply yarn in 3 different browns. I also had 400g in a cream colour, and 200 g in a white. After some deliberation, I decided that I would start with the darkest brown, and work towards the lightest. In between changing the browns, I would put stripes of cream, getting larger as the blanket went on. After I had finshed all the brown, I used the cream until it was a length that worked well on the bed.

I used a 7 mm crocheting hook, and put all the yarn double, which meant it was quicker to crochet up. In truth, this is the first blanket I have ever crocheted. Im hooked!! Haha! (Seriously, I am using a lot of self control not to start another crocheted blanket, lucky my husband doesn’t read my blog!)

I made it very simple doing rows of double crochet. I am tempted in the future to try something a little more complicated. But admittedly, I dont want it to be too complicated. That blanket helped me survive through Moshi Monsters at the movies with the kids. That was an interesting movie!

This blanket is for my eldest daughter (after I knitted this blanket for my youngest daughter). It seems a little drab for her creative flair and style, so I am thinking about crocheting flowers to put on it. Originally I was just going to use a lovely purple. But now Im thinking I will use up scraps in all different colours. We will see what she says!

 

A pram blanket?!

 

A few years ago, I was trying to get in some stashbusting, with speed! I saw this amazing pattern (at least I thought so at the time) for pram blankets that used multiple strands. It had different pattern repeats for different looks. I choose mine, along with 8 (!) strands of 8 ply (DK) and away I went. It turned out lovely. Except that I didnt actually want to use it with my babies. It is quite chunky and I could just see them pulling the strands with their fingers.

In retrospect, I wonder, did I make it more strands that the pattern said? Maybe I was too eager to see that yarn disappear!

So it has sat in the wardrobe and I have pulled it out to scratch my head a few times, and then it has returned. Ive decided it has to happen.. whatever ‘it’ may be. So far my kids’ ideas are as follows, “WE will have it as a blanket!”, said very matter-of-factly. One of my ideas is to back it with a fabric and use it as some kind of knee-warmer on the couch. Another is to back it with fabric, double it over, and use it as a cushion cover. And thats it. Help me!

What would you do with this strange creation??

Stashbusting headband complete!

Well, it happened. I ran out of yarn well before it made it into a beanie. But hey, it actually makes a really good winter headband. Its meant to be raining this weekend… maybe the humidity and temperature will drop enough that I can try it out!

Leftover balls of yarn project complete – a blanket!

So I did it. I have finished all but a few balls of yarn (and after being gifted some from my MIL), and made a beautiful stashbuster, leftover yarn blanket. This after my lamenting of having so much leftover yarn.

I was set on a blanket of sorts, and after having a look through raverly patterns, I came across one I loved, garter squish (I think you will need a ravelry account to access it, otherwise this is the creators website),  and so modified it. In the US, it seems the fallback yarn of choice is a 10-ply, but it Australia, it is definitely an 8-ply (DK). So with that in mind, I was using 8-ply. I used two strands of 8-ply on 8 mm needles, with 120 stitches across (making it 90 cm wide).

I continued the pattern for approx. 190cm, which makes it the perfect size of a single bed. That means it would also cover the pillow, but I think it will look great folded back.

My MIL loves knitting the odd blanket for the couch, and has a great one that is long and narrow. Perfect for having a snooze on the couch. I think this blanket would be great for that use as well. Too wide and it would become very heavy to knit.

Somewhere in the midst of making it, I promised it to my 3-yr old daughter. She is in love. I let her have a sleep with it yesterday, until I realised.. vintage yarn, that blanket needs a wash..

Heres some more photos…

Close up of the edge 🙂

All folded up!

So colourful!

Do you have a nice warm blanket you are knitting at the moment? Im ever so strongly resisting the urge to start another one!