Finished #2; seaside baby blanket!

I am on fire people!  Well, I maybe just have certain due dates to meet, but this is my second baby blanket finished this month, woo!

I managed to get my edges straight in the end but I still need to figure out the best way to do it.  If I counted I'm sure I'd be fine but I think it was something like 120-140 stitches, ain't no body got the patience for that...  Plus I normally watching something while I crochet.

My camera hasn't picked up the orange very well, it seems to treat it like red but it's definitely orange!

I opted for quite a simple border because I think it will suit my friends taste more than something a bit fancier, but there will be more blankets to have fun with.  It's a round of double crochet (single if you're in the US) then another round of half trebles in the same colour (Stylecraft Special DK Cloud Blue) and finally another round of half trebles in Aster.  The corners are 2 chains, a bit like a granny square.

Obligatory swiss roll shot

What I liked about this blanket the most was how quick it was!  I've used half treble stitches as they're taller than doubles, so it takes less time, but less 'crochety' looking than trebles...  I've no idea if that makes sense, but in my head it does, I think it makes each stripe more solid?  I don't think my friends are particular into crochet'd things but I'm hoping that for a baby blanket it's ok!

I've been enjoying knitting so much that I forgot how lovely it is to crochet.  My Muriel blanket (well received by the way) took a lot longer because it was only double stitches.

I spent a lovely weekend in Wales with friends, we even went to the beach and a waterfall!  There's something you don't get where I live.  Absolutely perfect ♥

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Finished baby blanket

I'm so glad that Tatton Park wasn't this weekend...  Today has been absolutely horrid!  I've been wrapped up inside in blankets with tea and cake, watching the rain lash down outside.  At least the waterbutt's filled, the plants are watered and the sight of this is brightening my day ♥

I've finished my Muriel blanket, just in time to visit my very pregnant friend next weekend who I've not seen in nearly a year.  Can't wait! x

I followed Lucys tutorial for a picot border (a tutorial here
after a wonderful suggestion from Chrissie, although I think that might have been for another blanket I'm working on, but it was perfect for this.

The best bit about this blanket is all the destashing.  I've run out of the pink completely and a few of the other colours are now running out.  

And do you remember the problem I had with it going all trapezoid like?  Blocking and a border really sort that out!

Voila!

I'm rather pleased with it.  I'd now say something like "I hope they like it" but I stupidly uploaded it to Facebook without hiding it from them so I already know that they do haha!

So that's one down.  My retrobaby blanket is coming along nicely too.  We now have 21 & ¾ rows!

I've been getting a little side tracked though because I started another baby blanket last Saturday...

This will be for a friend and his wife who moved to New York!  They're having a baby in a few months so hopefully this will keep him toasty over there because it gets cold!

I had a bit of a problem with keeping the edge straight (again) on the right hand side but I think I've roughly worked out what I'm doing, and I'm also quite happy to block and border it again to hide my mistakes hehe

I thought granny squares would take me too long but I love this blanket by Heather at Little Tin Bird so I've used similar colours which I knew would work really well together without going through the pain of trying to decide what works!  Her post about colour choosing is really interesting and proves it's not always easy!

A bit worried I'm running out!  The blues are all Stylecraft Special DK, from the top; Aster, Cloud Blue and Turquoise.  Heather used Spice which is a lovely shade of orange although mine, despite looking red, is the remains of my fox cushion, which I'm also using on Retro Baby and is just an ordinary acrylic.

Maybe when these are all done I'll have time to finish one of own blankets or cardigans  ♥

x x x x

Tatton Park flower show '14

This year was my third year to the Tatton Park flower show and we were so blessed with the weather.  I even got a little sun burnt...  I don't seem to have blogged about my previous visits which is odd, but not unlike me.

The displays are absolutely stunning and the exhibitors have gone to incredible lengths to make sure that every flower and leaf is perfect.

Really I have too many photos to share so I'll try and pick out my very favourites, like this Bee inspired garden!

And this cool bug hotel

I very excitely bought some butternut squash and nasturtium seeds from Pennard Plants because they're from near where Glastonbury Festival is! ♥

The owl and the pussy cat

 

 

I was very very good and apart from my seeds, lots of food and Pimms I only bought this windchime, isn't it lovely?

My mum, dad & I were very clever this year and while everyone was queuing to leave in their cars we sat out and had a picnic!  We might have nicked the idea from people we saw last year when we were leaving...

Now it's definitely time to stop interneting, and go look for a new drill to buy so I can finish the planter me and my dad have been building ♥

x x x x