| Archive for Crafty Threads 'n' Yarns The Friendly UK Board that invites Knitters, Crocheters, Dressmakers, Quilters, Patchworkers, Jewellery makers and Paper Crafters to join in our chat about Craft |
| Sprite64 |
Crochet help wanted!We've bought a new sofa which should be arriving sometime in October. I'm thinking about making a throw for it (I still shiver when I think how much it is costing us!) coz I usually sit on the sofa with my feet up and I don't want to mess it up - well, not for a while anyway! I haven't done much crochet - I did make a scarf a while back. I guess making up squares is the way to go - and I reckon I could do them in the car on the way to work on the days OH is driving. I'm looking for some ideas - I don't want something too fussy. Colours will probably be terracotta/ creams/greens to go with our colour scheme (such as it is!).HELP! Where should I start? I'm off to Get Knitted next week so I'd quite like to go armed with a few ideas so I can look at yarn 
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| sjl1974 |
Have you looked at Natural Dye Studio website, as she does a blanket, in crochet. You join a club and each month you get the yarn to make the squares.
Take a look it seems a reasonably priced way of doing it! |
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| Sprite64 |
Wow - impressive blanket! I only want to use a few colours though - but I like the idea. Wondering what yarn would be best - something reasonably hardwearing. Hmmmm. | ||||
| cazzie |
How about using a cotton yarn - something like the patons ones
This range has the colours you are describing 
Or Garnstudio Muskat - lots of colours there too |
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| KnittingLadybird |
Cotton would be lovely....as is the pattern for the randomly sized squares blanket that knitware posted...it would great with just a few colours so you could vary the width of the stripes... | ||||
| Sprite64 |
Ooh - the garnstudio ones are lovely! Thanks! OH has gone off to find the fabric sample we got when we ordered the sofa! |
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| Sprite64 |
Can you wash the muskat in a machine? I've got a handwash cycle? | ||||
| craftybernie |
Have you tried Rowan Cotton Glace? Debbie Abrahams has books on knitting blankets and throws but I'm crocheting a bag at the moment with glace and it's lovely to work with. The colour palette is gorgeous too.
With crochet, the beauty is that you don't have to cast on at once. So it's perfect for a square here or there. You could also consider adding beads for extra fun. I would consider looking at Crochet Pattern Central for ideas as there's bound to be loads of blankets and throws. The Lionbrand website has also got plenty of crochet afghan/blanket/throw patterns. Good luck whatever you decide to do. |
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| Sprite64 |
Thanks for the ideas! I just had a go at a square in 2 colours using some DK wool. Came out ok but what do you do with all the ends??!! How to I weave them in? | ||||
| cazzie |
Muskat is machine washable
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| Sprite64 |
Ooh that's good! It seems a good price- although I have no idea how much i'd need to make a big throw (I'm thinking at least the size of a double duvet - eeek). |
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| Sprite64 |
I really love the stuff on the garnstudio site - I keep drooling over all the patterns! I think I might just get a ball each of 4 or 5 colours I like and have a play with them. I'll probably then work out how much it's going to cost - eeek - and give up the whole idea haha! | ||||
| chrissy |
as it is not too crucial about dye lots though you can just buy little by little, start off with a few balls, once they are done buy a few more rather than buying huge amounts, that looks and sounds daunting | ||||
| Sprite64 |
Sounds like a plan! Our new sofa is quite big - I think I'll be bankrupt if I buy it all at once! |
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| melody yarns |
I'm a real beginner crochet-er, and as such found that working with chunkier yarn and a bigger hook worked better for me as I seemed to make more progress.
It seems as if you have already chosen your yarn, and have a great plan to acquire it, but I think it's well worth considering an aran weight yarn too - maybe the Stylecraft or Wendy 400g balls? Just a thought anyhow 
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| Sprite64 |
Thanks! I might have a look at some chunkier stuff. I did a couple of squares using some DK this morning and they didn't come out too bad. I know what you mean about choosing something which will make up quicker though - I don't even want to think about how many squares I will need to make. I might have to train OH to make them too - he did show a bit of interest yesterday - foolish man 
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| melody yarns |
Quick! Give that bloke a hook! | ||||
| Sprite64 |
He can knit a bit - he's making his 2nd scarf. It'll be a bit like the blind leading the blind with crochet though!!!
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| loobyj |
Hey Sprite - weaving the ends in is straightforward - bring a square and a hook with you and I'll show you on Thursday (if you've not worked it out before!!).
lj |
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| Sprite64 |
Cool! I was hoping you might take me under your crochet wing!!! I've been having a bit of a go tonight - not granny squares this time. I find crochet patterns confusing  Just as well I like a challenge!
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| franney |
Sprite, i have used the big balls of aran for blankets and they go a looooooong way
I have several "mile-a-minute" books if you'd like to borrow them you'd be more than welcome. Basically you crochet a strip, then another one and join it to the first one, then another one and join it to the second one etc etc... i find it so much better than squares as you can still use more than one colour but you don't have as many ends to tidy up There's a picture somewhere of one i did in various colours, i'll see if i can find it again 
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| Sprite64 |
ooh sounds interesting - would love to see a pic! |
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| franney |
There's some of Em's blankie here, but as well as that one i've made another in the same colours but a different pattern and three different ones but they are only in one colour. I LOVE MAM!
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