FO Friday: Mermaid Dreams

Crystal Visions Tarot

Over the summer I've been working on a blankey for DD, to go with her newly decorated bedroom: gods help her if she ever falls out of liking teal in all its shades and timbres: teal, aqua, duck egg, turquoise, petrol, to name just I few that I have used to change her room from an unfinished worn room in a rented house to a snug, personal and unique high-schooler's room (don't feel bad for Destructo Boy, his room was done too - our 1st foray into wallpaper).


I mentioned one of the things I liked about the Floreal Dreams pattern was that the creator Deanne Ramsay had clear instructions, including how to re-size easily: which I did, from a baby blanket to a blankey that fits a single bed. Also, for some reason it tickles me that the designer is Australian. No, I don't know why, it just does.

So I changed the original pinks to 3 shades of teal, plus white - Stylecraft Special DK 1708 Petrol, Cygnet DK 211 Aqua, Stylecraft Special DK 1034 Sherbet .... and ended up with this:

pattern detail

If I were to make this pattern in this size again, I think I might carry the colors up the side, as I am not a fan of weaving in eleventy billion ends (I didn't, I cheated and crocheted over them when doing the border). I'd also increase the border so it wasn't so narrow: perfectly in proportion for a baby blanket, but a big blankey needs a wider border. But I also didn't want to buy any more yarn, or run out with inches to go: over about 3 weeks, I used somewhere in the region of 4,441m/4,856yds ..... 14 - 16 balls. and this is what is left:

Otherwise known as a cushion-in-waiting. Pop FO Friday into a search engine and see what others have completed today ....

WIP Wednesday: Floral Crochet Blankey

Gilded Tarot

Just so's you know - I'm still here. And just so's you know I'm still alive, here's the proof:

I found a really pretty pattern for a baby blanket - Floreal Dreams, and it includes instructions for upsizing - always great when I don't have to do the math. Of course, you know Mini Diva won't tolerate any shade of pink, so I've adjusted it for the teals she likes: Stylecraft Special DK in 1708 Petrol, Cygnet DK in 211 Aqua, and Stylecraft Special DK in 1034 Sherbet. And white.

I'm about halfway through right now, maybe, and when I've used up the yarns I have, that will be 11 balls. Eleven 100 gram balls with an average meterage of 290-ish metres. And it won't be finished - I'll have to buy more. But we won't tell Titch that.

WIP Wednesday 160: Old Ogre-wear

Spiral Tarot

So in amongst the frenzied last minute holiday activities like swimming, park visits and girlie shopping with Mini Diva, I have actually managed to start the Old Man Cardigan for Shrek, aka DH. He not only selected and paid for the yarn (James C.Brett Rustic Aran Tweed in a shade enticingly named DAT16).

scale shown by 44kg/96lb Alsatian, not the Ogre, but built along the same lines

 
But he also pre-approved the pattern, choosing from a variety which included quite a few vintage offerings (thank you, Kitten), and ending up with this Nubby Pocket Cardigan pattern. It does have a textured stitch pattern, which I misled myself with, foolishly imagining that it would make the acres of Back that much more interesting to knit.

You think I exaggerate with 'acres' ?

Well, OK, possibly. 

But not by much - the back shown here is 18''/45cm  from bottom edge to bottom of the armhole, and the armhole is currently 10''/25cm long, and needs to be a minimum of 11''/27.5cm. That's 29''/ 72.5cm so far - and we haven't even mentioned the width yet. Because I'm too lazy to get up and find the gauge, I'll guesstimate you by saying it is the 52''/130cm size I am making.

I know, you are right, I really don't have time to sit here chatting with you if I want to get this finished in this lifetime, let alone this year. Pop over to Tami's Amis where they are enjoying their WIPs ....