Stash Busting Blanket Part 4

This Stash busting project has been a slow burn! I started back in March, but as I said last time, it's supposed to be stress free, so I am taking my time. I've added a mustard/gold colour in and I'me really loving it! 

 RECAP: PART 1, PART 2 & PART 3

Today I have some extra calculations for you

These calculations are based on DK/8ply yarn

1 block uses  20 g/ 60 m of yarn, 

And measures 15 cm in height, 18 cm in width

So, a blanket of 4 rows of 7 blocks will measure 105 x 72 and make a decent sized baby blanket,
6 rows of 10 blocks will measure 108 x 150 cm and make a great couch throw, 14 rows and 14 blocks will fit an Australian King sized bed - 196 x 252. Of course, with a different sized yarn you'll need to check by making one block and measuring. 

While I'm not quite up to joining, I do know that I will use mattress stitch to join each strip together, but if you prefer to crochet them together you can slip stitch along the seams. I recommend that you pin, or use a stitch marker to line up the colour changes, so the stripes work out. 

With this extra info, will you be making a blanket for yourself?

I hope you do!

Happy Crocheting,

Emma. 

Stash Busting Blanket Part 3

It's been a while since I last posted about my Stash Busting Blanket, truthfully I haven't worked on it much.

Need a reminder: Part 1 is here, Part 2 is here

While it's purpose was to reduce a lot of my DK Acrylic yarn, it is also intended as a stress free project, so putting it aside for a while isn't worrying me. 

At this stage I think I'll be doing seven colour blocks per strip, and 5 strips - but of course that's subject to change if the ratios don't work for me. 

I'm going to use a yarn needle and sew the strips together. If it's your preference, you could slip stitch them together with a crochet hook. 

Have you started busting your stash? Let me know! 

Happy Crocheting,

Emma. 

Stash Busting Blanket - Part 2

If you missed the last post - find it here

The stash busting blanket has been growing slowly!

Today I  thought I would share some colour inspo.

My sketch:

from Pinterest 

Society 6

from Pinterest

from Pinterest

Keep crocheting away and see how much of your stash you can get through! Another aspect of this blanket that I didn't think of, is that you can create a memory blanket of sorts. Each yarn I am using is left over from another project, and it has been nice to think about each as I am working through it.

Part 3 is now live

Thanks for reading and Happy Crocheting,

Emma

Stash Busting Blanket - Part 1

I've got a stash busting project planned for while I'm in lockdown. Something to use up the stash you already have at home!

PIN FOR LATER 

The first step will be to work out what yarn weight and fibre you have in most abundance. For me, it will be 8 ply Acrylic. If I mix in a little wool/acrylic blend, it won't be the end of the world, but that's up to you to decide! Spend as much time on this step as you need.

Another idea is to create a memory blanket- use up leftover yarn from old projects. It helps if you have 20g left, but it wouldn't matter if you had less. You would end up with irregular-shaped blocks, but that could add to the beauty! I would still recommend sticking to the same yarn weight. 

Make sure you use the appropriate size hook for the yarn weight you are using. For a blanket, I like to go up a size from what's recommended on the yarn label for better drape.

For this blanket, you will need to know only basic crochet stitches - chain and half double crochet - worked in the back loop (half treble if you prefer UK terms) But you will also need to know how to decrease (crochet two stitches together) and increase (crochet two stitches in one)

Today's post is on how to start the blanket - updates will be posted for the next steps.

Below is a sketch of how the blocks will eventually look. You can use this blank image to arrange colours if you don't want to be random. I've included a coloured version below based on the yarn colours I'm going to use - but will probably deviate slightly!

View Part 2 Here

Part 3 

Let's get started.


Make a Chain of 44

R1: sk 2ch, 42 hdc across, turn (42 hdc)

R2: ch2, BLOhdc2tog, 39 BLOhdc, (2 BLOhdc) in last st,  turn. (42 BLOhdc)

R3: ch2, (2 BLOhdc) in 1^st st, 39 BLOhdc,  BLOhdc2tog, turn (42 BLOhdc)

Repeat rows 2 and 3 for a total of 15 rows.
Change colour and repeat rows 2 and 3.

this first strip should be worked the desired length of your blanket, and then make as many strips as you need for the width - more on this to come later. 

If you are using up scraps, you will have a very colourful stripey blanket. If you are using up balls of yarn, you will have a blocky blanket! The great thing is that we will all have unique blankets. 

I'll be updating this post - so bookmark it to find it later!

Update 30th March

I've completed 3 colour blocks of 15 rows, and have begun a second strip.

Thanks for reading, don't forget to bookmark for the updates!

Copyright © 2020 Emma Wilkinson Designs All Rights Reserved

No restrictions are placed on finished items made with this pattern, however, the pattern may not be resold or copied in any form. Pictures remain the property of Emma Wilkinson Designs