honeycomb blanket - work in progress

Thanks for stopping by and saying hello, today and on all other days, too. I really love to hear from you. To answer Katie's (ironic) question on my last post: my heroic dog rescue did not make the evening news and luckily there were no malevolent onlookers posting my undignified efforts on YouTube (I haven't checked). Life continues as before:-)

Today is not a wooly blanket kind of day: it is hot, sunny and heartwarming. I am wearing my psychedelic dress for the first time this year (I had forgotten about it) and I am enjoying the warmth of the sun light filtering through my office window and the gentle air-conditioning cooling my back.

The hot weather is a bit of an anomaly I think, the weather has been quite frightful lately and there was was a whiff of autumn in the air last week. Even today there was a light mist and a chill in the air. I thought I'd better crack on my new blanket. Because those cool days will be back, and soon.

I am working on a crochet blanket, wishing I had never started. The beginning of a blanket is always a bit disheartening, don't you think? It takes many hours of work to reach a stage where the blanket turns from a narrow strip into something that covers your knees and eventual turns into something that is big enough to wrap yourself up in.





The blanket is a hexagon blanket. I am drawn to hexagons, I love how they fit together neatly and every time I see hexagons I think of bees and honey and sweetness. The reality of a hexagon crochet blanket is not quite so delightful. Or maybe it is. I am in two minds. The hexagons
I am working on are small, just three rounds in a single colour. These are joined on the go at the corners. I am not sure if I am doing it quite right and If I wasn't so lazy I would probably start over and join the hexagons differently to avoid toe sized gaps.

Crochet is not my first love but for blankets, it is definitely the way to go. Much quicker than knitting. It took me a long time to make a knitted hexagon blanket and I only finished because I declared it a lap blanket. 

I am using this pattern for inspiration. It is the Weekender Blanket designed by Sandra at Cherry Heart. I really love the colours Sandra has chosen for her Weekender blanket but I found it difficult to replicate these with my own yarn. I am working with Drops Karisma and Sandness Smart because I have lots of scraps and leftovers. These brands are identical, superwash, pure wool, same weight, yardage and ply. Maybe they are produced in the same factory? Drops is a Danish brand I think, Sandness Norwegian.  The colour ranges do complement each other and the price is good. I made a blanket using these yarns before and it holds up nicely and is very warm.

I have been turbo blocking the blanket as I worked on it to give me a better sense of size. I use my steam iron to do that, it is quick, doesn't require a huge amount of space and pins are not necessary either. Don't try this with an acrylic yarn!

What are you working on at the moment? Whatever it is, enjoy! xx


Comments

  1. Just the thing for cooler evenings, which are surely not too far away. The colours go beautifully on your blanket and I rather like the retro look of hexagons. Sadly, my blankets all end up as knee rugs as I lose enthusiasm and run out of yarn way before they get to the size of a proper blanket.
    Enjoy the warmth of the sun while it lasts.

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  2. I love the hexagons and the way you are joining them. It will look beautiful when finished. I have started one with squares and feel a bit like you at the moment. A daunting task. Plus I'm going to sew all the squares together...gulp! I look forward to seeing the finished product. B x

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  3. Really like your hexagons! Never thought of making a blanket with them. You're right about how demoralizing making a blanket is, they just take forever. I finally finished one for a double bed upstairs, I'm quite sure I'll never make one for our King-sized bed. Right now I'm working on my shades of grey throw, hope to finish it this week. I wish there was a hint of autumn here, but no such luck.

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  4. We have had an extremely hot and dry summer here, and have only just started to get some rain in the last few days (of course, because I'm on vacation!!). I am not ready for any cooling weather just yet though. I admire you for making a blanket, and doubly so since you are making it from such tiny hexies. It looks wonderful, and the colours are so cheery! Keep going, you'll get there in the end as long as you don't put it aside. I always say I'm going to make a lap blanket for my dad, but haven't started in the three years I've been thinking of it. Getting started would be the first hurdle I guess ;) Enjoy your week Christina!
    Wendy

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  5. I know what you mean about blankets. They seem such a good idea at the time! But yours really does look lovely. Sometimes when we are too close to something we cease to see its appeal!

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  6. I love the hexagons and the way you are joining them together, the colour combination is a delight. Looks stunning, unfortunately we will be needing blankets sooner rather than later we are certainly hurtling our way into Autumn.

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  7. Love the dress (very cheery) and I'm dead impressed by your blanket. What on earth is turbo blocking?! S x

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  8. many a blanket has become a cushion here, lovely pattern and combination of colours, I am back working on socks as winter is fast approaching.

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  9. Really lovely! You have far more patience than I have, I still haven't finished my crochet blanket I started ages ago. I keep going wrong then it gets shoved back in the bag for several months

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  10. It looks fab Christina, I tried to crochet a hexagon once but got in a terrible tangle! I must persevere as I really do want a blanket like that now. x

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  11. There is something very pleasing about hexagons isn't there? Your blanket is looking great and I love the colours. I hear you on the knitting a blanket I would love to make one but I know the knitting one would take forever, I really need to learn to crochet!

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  12. I thought that in this day of constant cell phones, there would definitely have been video footage. ;) Christina, I am majorly impressed by all of the blankets that you make - sewing, knitting, and crocheting. I haven't tackled one yet because I'm afraid of the monotony, even though I'd love to cuddle up under a wool blanket that I knitted myself. One day...

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  13. I love hexagons too, but tend to use them in quilting projects (that sounds rather grand, I have actually only made one hexie quilt, and am currently working on another). I like how you are joining them as you go. Good colours for autumn too, like you I can feel it just around the corner x

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  14. Beautiful blanket, Christina. Hexagons are the one blanket motif I haven't tried yet but I'm thinking more and more lately that I'd like to. I may only have one big blanket left in me for a while so I should probably go with something different. Enjoy the heat while it lasts for you. :)

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  15. It's looking good. I think blankets soon grow when you're using the join as you go method, however, I'm the opposite to you, I really like starting a blanket, I find it more cumbersome the bigger it gets, though it does keep you warm in the cooler months when you're working on a blanket towards its end. I've never attempted a knitted blanket but it's definitely something I'd like to have a go at.

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  16. Hi Christina, I hope you're having a good week (it's almost over :) ) I love this blanket you are making. The colors and design are so pretty. But, I especially love the way you are putting the hexagons together; very unique. You will soon be able to look at this completed masterpiece. Hugs, Pat

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  17. Snap Christina! I am wearing my cool psychedelic trousers (with a black silk shirt I hasten to add!) and have just started hooking a blanket using Lucy's hexagon how to pattern and (a first for me) I'm joining as I go. I will need to go shopping for yarn but for now I'm using up leftovers. I'm still hand quilting a double bed sized log cabin quilt but my finger tips can only take so much pricking and I daren't alternate hand quilting with my latest passion - fine hand embroidery - so crochet it is!

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  18. Your blanket looks perfect to me, it will grow fast too. I have a new book on hexagonal motifs I am inspired to get it out again!
    Best x

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  19. Your blanket looks perfect to me, it will grow fast too. I have a new book on hexagonal motifs I am inspired to get it out again!
    Best x

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  20. I love your hexagon blanket. I have one of those on the go also.
    Marianne x

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  21. I know exactly what you mean about the start of a blanket, and I think this is why I've struggled with Angus's. But as soon as it starts to resemble a blanket, I'm flying. I really like this one. The shape of the hexagons is very pleasing indeed. x

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Thank you for visiting and leaving a comment, I love to hear from you, I really do. I sometimes reply by email but I am not all that reliable... Christina xx

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