Saturday, July 9, 2011

round ripple baby afghan

12 point ripple blanket

For a while there, I was expecting to spend the last six weeks of my pregnancy in hospital. I had been told to make all necessary arrangements, and have myself packed and ready to go...

And do you know what the hardest part was?

Packing clothes and toiletries were easy...

Selecting reading material was easy...

Organising care for the three other children was easy...

The hardest part was choosing which craft projects to take with me!!!

The thing was... I was quite healthy - so I knew that I would be bored out of my brain if I didn't take my craft along with me...

But how much should I take???

I mean, I was going to have all day... every day... for six weeks... to craft to my heart's content. No washing. No cleaning. No cooking. No children!

I was so worried that I might run out if I didn't take enough along with me!

Anyway, I bundled up a number of projects and squeezed them into a bag. Then, feeling rather sorry for myself, I decided that I needed some more!

So I went shopping...

Real shopping...

For NEW yarn! (shock, horror)

I've been wanting to make this round ripple blanket for a while now. In fact, it has been in my Ravelry queue since 2008! At that point I was thinking I would make it for a gift, but now I had a need for one myself! I also had a number of gift vouchers to use up, so I took myself along to Lincraft to check out the baby yarn there...

I found the gorgeous range of Shepherd yarns, and chose the 4ply Baby Wool Merino in a number of bright colours. It felt so decadent to buy brand new yarn after so many years of recycling, but to be honest, I loved every minute of it!

12 point ripple blanket

So the pattern is Lyn's Round Ripple Baby Afghan. I used the 4ply yarn with a 3.0mm hook, and it came up beautifully. As you can see, I started with a solid red centre, and then just randomly worked each round in a different colour. To finish off I worked several rounds in the red again, with a final round of hdc as suggested in the pattern.

The only down side to all those colour changes, is the end which need woven in. And I have a confession to make...

I still have some ends left!

12 point ripple blanket
at

13 comments:

  1. heklicaJuly 10, 2011 at 1:40 AM

    Saying 'it's beautiful!' would be a serious understatement!

    ReplyDelete
  2. MangalaJuly 10, 2011 at 4:06 AM

    Its GORGEOUS!!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Guanaja SharonJuly 10, 2011 at 11:33 AM

    Beautiful and congratulations again! I have found an easier way to tuck in the ends when changing colors. After I have changed color I take out my hook and go into the back loop of each stitch in front of where I changed the color and pull the hanging thread of the previous color through each back loop for about 10 stitches - or less, if the thread is short. Then I go back to my first stitch and work on. By working this thread into the back loop and then crocheting over it I'm usually guaranteed that it will not pull out later! Try it - takes a minute but is far easier than going back ang weaving!

    ReplyDelete
  4. LJuly 11, 2011 at 9:11 AM

    Beautiful and enjoy the new little one!

    ReplyDelete
  5. becJuly 12, 2011 at 1:21 AM

    Wow, it is stunning! I've knitted mine a beanie in that wool, it's beautiful! Well, painful to knit rib in, but worth it in the end! Did you end up in hospital? when I was working on the antenatal ward at the 'old' Women's I met a few mums- to- be craftinig, I was always so jealous! That's terrible, isn't it? But I thought like you, no housework, cleaning etc- and this was before kids! I hope she treasures her special blankie.

    ReplyDelete
  6. JacquieJuly 12, 2011 at 1:11 PM

    Hi Sharon this blanket is totally stunning . I'm linking to this post. Hope you don't mind :0)
    Jacquie x

    ReplyDelete
  7. JacintaJuly 12, 2011 at 5:40 PM

    wow .... that is absolutely stunning (seen via link on Bunny Mummy)

    ReplyDelete
  8. ClaireJuly 12, 2011 at 6:08 PM

    What a stunning blanket, I love it.

    I'm sure it will become a family heirloom, with an interesting story behind it.

    I'm visiting via Jacquie's link, nice to 'meet' you.

    Claire :}

    ReplyDelete
  9. CaseyJuly 12, 2011 at 8:33 PM

    Your blanket is seriously beyond gorgeous!! Your color choices are great!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Susan H.July 12, 2011 at 8:52 PM

    This is very nice. I am also visiting via Jacquie's link. I will be visiting again to see your other great creations!
    xo Susan

    ReplyDelete
  11. psmflowerlady/tammyJuly 14, 2011 at 12:36 PM

    Congratulations on your beautiful crfeation. The blanket is nice too.

    ReplyDelete
  12. KathyJuly 16, 2011 at 3:34 PM

    BEAUTIFUL!!! Reminds me of a Mexican blanket w/ all the colors. What a lucky little girl she is.

    ReplyDelete
  13. KyliieAugust 5, 2011 at 12:59 PM

    That is sooooo pretty! I am going to have to make one :)

    ReplyDelete