I dislike naming things I've made; craft projects, blog posts, my blog name for that matter. Not my babies I hasten to add, I like their names, but then they were jointly chosen (and jointly made). However, this post title should have been "A Rainbow Zigzag Blanket" for that is exactly what this is.
This project has grown on me a little but it certainly isn't one of my favourite makes. The yarn, Stylecraft Chunky, was chosen for practicality and cost rather than any depth of colour or wool content. I quite like the colours, but I don't love them. I chose a background of cream, but wonder now if I should've gone with white but I thought that might look too shiny, too acrylic.
It is enormous, measuring 220 cm long by 180 cm wide. You know how irritated I get by too-small blankets, so I wanted this to be the size of a single duvet cover, to reach over the sides of the bed and not just perch on top. Well I think I achieved this, and then some. It's possibly too big - folding it in half involves a fair bit of wrestling and arm stretching - and it weighs a lot, plus it took months to make. I started it last Easter and have crocheted it off and on over the last six months. I can't remember how much yarn it took but I estimate two 100g balls of each colour then maybe fifteen or twenty of the cream.
But it doesn't really matter what I think of this blanket because it isn't for me. It's for Bella, my almost-nine-year-old daughter who knows her own mind and has very strong opinions on what a blanket for her bed should look like, and a lot of other things. This was an exercise in motherly love. She loves it (thank goodness, or I might have cried) and shows it off proudly to anyone who enters her room. The night I finished it and darned in the last ends, I carefully folded it and left it in the middle of the sofa downstairs and went up to bed. The next morning, Bella (who'd got up and gone down first) came running upstairs, struggling slightly under the weight of the blanket, and the expression of genuine delight and happiness on her face was one of the best things I've ever seen.
I seem to embarrass and annoy Bella a lot lately, but it was nice to be able to do something and for her to think of me - fleetingly - as a tiny bit cool.
Hi, I have been following you on Instagram and then found your blog by accident! I really enjoy it very much!
ReplyDeleteIt is beautiful and perfect for a nine year old girl. You did well, making such a huge blanket. I know what you mean about the depth of colour. I have a 'sunny pack' of Sylecraft yarn in my cupboard. I was exited to see the colours on my screen and looked forward to making a cheap and indestructible blanket but the colours in reality are just a bit over the top. It is a mum's job to be embarrassing. My existence alone is embarrassing to my teenager. xx
ReplyDeleteI'm with Bella. I think it's lovely and I'd be thrilled with it myself. You can make me a blanket any time. :)
ReplyDeleteHey Gillian,
ReplyDeleteIt's a triumph my lovely. I am picturing your daughter struggling up the stairs with her precious gift, and a huge smile on her face. You may be entering uncharted waters with Bella (who by the way sounds exactly how I would have wanted my daughter to have been; bright, confident, strong willed with the courage of her own convictions),will still be treasuring this blanket long after any embarrassment has passed. You are a wonderful Mum, my friend.
Leanne xx
Just beautiful!!!
ReplyDeleteMargaret P
Such a fabulous blanket - it's just wonderful. I'm sure Bella will treasure it! have a fab week xx
ReplyDeleteBig blankets sometimes get a bit tedious in the making - at least you didn't have millions of squares to join - but their finished effect is always worth it. Your 'exercise in motherly love' is a wonderful looking finished project, and the beauty of the stylecraft will mean this is a creation that will be washed and loved for many years.
ReplyDeleteI constantly embarrassed my children at that age - now at 17 and 14 they just roll their eyes and get over it. You'll get through it... keep smiling x
It's beautiful! and the cream was a great choice. :-)
ReplyDeleteI think it looks wonderful, i know one of my main pleasures in making somthing for my kids is knowing they will love it and seeing the joy in there faces too
ReplyDeleteIt's lovely, and a fantastic texture. So glad that Bella loves it, you've made a beautiful job of it, well done you. I must crack on with mine and see if I get the same reaction! CJ xx
ReplyDeleteit's gorgeous xxx
ReplyDeleteIt's really quite pretty, glad your daughter liked it.
ReplyDeleteWhite is nasty and stark. Cream is much better and looks very pretty here. It's a shame you don't like it more. I think Bella has the right idea though. It's lovely and nice to see a different chevron pattern rather than the ubiquitous ripple we see everywhere.
ReplyDeleteA blanket made with love which will be treasured for years I'm sure. How precious that look of happiness must have been, it felt like Christmas morning for Bella I bet when she found it on the sofa.
ReplyDeleteI think white would have been too stark, cream is the perfect match.
Hope you enjoy your new WI group and all it has to offer.
Lisa x
I think your blanket is beautiful and it looks lovely in Bella's room (which is impressively tidy by the way!). I agree that the cream is much better than white would have been. How lovely that she is so thrilled with it too. I think it is sometimes part of the job description of being a mum to be an embarrassment to one's daughter - I tend to embrace it! Have a great weekend. xx
ReplyDeleteIt's a beautiful blanket although the colours wouldn't have been my personal choice, either - but as you say, it's Bella's, and the only thing that really matters about it is that she loves it :-)
ReplyDeleteLooks really good in her room, too!
It's a beautiful blanket, Gillian, and I'm sure she'll treasure it. What a lucky girl. It's very normal to be an embarrassment to your children. I mortify ours on a regular basis and I'm starting to quite enjoy it (singing at embarrassing moments, waving dramatically in the street). My husband sees it as our main role now they're (mostly) teenagers. Sam x
ReplyDeleteLove the blanket, and think you were definitely right to go with cream not white. xx
ReplyDeleteLove the blanket, and think you were definitely right to go with cream not white. xx
ReplyDeleteIt is beautiful Gillian, as are all your makes. I am sure Bella will be loving this long after she has stopped being embarrassed, which as we all know is perfectly normal.
ReplyDeleteThis post really hits the nail on the head when it comes to motherhood. We will do anything for our children to make them happy! You should be very proud of yourself too. The blanket is beautiful...wish I had the patience to make something so big. B x
ReplyDeleteThe blanket looks amazing, I am glad Bella was so thrilled with it. It is so special to make things for our children. Just keep loving Bella in the little things you do for her and be yourself, I think we all embarrass our kids at times but she will learn to deal with it in a more gentle way if she knows she is hurting you. I went through a few months with Abi when she was pre-teens where I felt she was often pushing me away but after a lot of prayer I decided to just keep doing extra little things to show my love and it worked. We are just so close now and can talk to each other about anything. xx
ReplyDeletehi, all the way from south africa! i'm also struggling to be cool for my kids. i love your blog!!
ReplyDeletePlease can I move in with your Gillian, I honestly look forward with such anticipation to all of your blog posts and this one is no exception. The blanket is awesome and something I am sure Bella will treasure for years to come. And on the embarrassing mum part, you wait until Angus is 10 going on 11. It seems according to Louis there is NO END to the ways I can embarrass him. Thank goodness Xav at 8 is still happy to be seen with me eh? xx
ReplyDeleteI'm with Bella I love it! I wish I had your patience to complete such a large project and especially as you weren't enamoured with it. But the joy it's given - priceless.
ReplyDeleteIt looks fabulous Gillian and the feeling of satisfaction when you finished it must have been immense! I'm glad that Bella is so pleased with it and for all the embarrassment we appear to cause them, deep down they love us much more. Have a great weekend xx
ReplyDeleteGillian, it is perfect for a nine year old girl! Bella did indeed have the right idea and I agree, the cream was a better way to go. Bella will always treasure it and the love that went into it's making!
ReplyDeleteKaren
Gillian, your hands are busy, busy, busy! They deserve a bit of a break. What an accomplishment - it is a perfectly sweet blanket for a young girl. You're a great Mom! (I never would have guessed that crocheting would be cool!)
ReplyDeleteIf your daughter thinks you're just the tiniest bit cool then you're on to a winner. The blanket looks great and she loves it, nothing could be more perfect.
ReplyDeleteBella should be impressed - it's a really lovely blanket and good size too. It will keep her snuggly and cozy all winter long. Well done Mummy! X
ReplyDeleteGorgeous blanket Gillian! I'm not surprised Bella loves it. I've just finished one for Bear. Nothing as ambitious as yours but the colours remind me of Refresher sweets. The blankets will feel all the warmer for having been made by mum. X
ReplyDeleteI love it! Have you a pattern you could share? My daughter would love it also x
ReplyDeleteHi there, sorry it took me so long to get round to answering your question.
DeleteI used the pattern for the Zali Zig-Zag blanket from the blog Meet Me At Mikes:
http://meetmeatmikes.com/tutorial-zali-zig-zag-chevron-crochet-pattern/
But the pattern is for a baby blanket in double crochet but it was easy to convert it to trebles, and then I altered the length and width to make the size I wanted. I hope that helps a bit!
Gillian
It is not too big, it is bloody brilliant. I know the feeling though - those cabin blankets fried my head and that was just a couple of mornings of annoyance so 6 months of devotion is note worthy! Yay! for happy children. Jo x
ReplyDeleteWell done and I think it's gorgeous. So many wouldn't have stuck at it and I can see it being very well loved for a looooong time. Take care.
ReplyDeleteIt is lovely - I can see why Bella loves it!
ReplyDeleteI do get however how hard it is to work on a project one doesn't like too much! I have an unfinished blanket lying around with colors I am not too fond off. Can't get myself to continue working on it at the moment even though I know just the person who will love the finished one...
Take care
Anne
Crochet Between Worlds
It's absolutely stunning and I'm sure Bella will treasure it for years and years. We have 2 zig-zag crocheted blankets too. My husband's grandmother made them for him and his siblings when they were babies, and now my little boys use them. I love them and so do my boys. x
ReplyDeleteGorgeous work my friend, but the work that will stay for years to come is the work of love you put in this gorgeous piece of art. I love it 😍😍😍
ReplyDeleteIt is beautiful xxxx
ReplyDeleteI think cream was probably a good choice, and the blanket is lovely although I can well appreciate it being a tough slog. It's hard to make things that we don't love, especially that big! Only for someone so special eh? I'm so glad she loves it. You're right it gets harder to please the little monkeys doesn't it?
ReplyDeleteS c
And that response is priceless, I'm sure she will keep her blanket for ever! Xxx
ReplyDeleteI know where you're comng from Gillian with these 9 yr old daughters and their strong opinions! Sometimes it feels like as a mum you can't do anything right but this is a lovely encouraging post and I enjoyed reading about Bella's reaction to this beautiful blanket. Shes a lucky girl! X
ReplyDeleteIsn't it wonderful when we can make our girls smile? xx
ReplyDeleteBeautiful blanket and even better that Bella is thrilled with it.
ReplyDeleteMarianne x
Oh yes, I remember when I embarrassed both my sons on a regular basis. Just by being me and not really doing anything embarrassing. They've grown out of that now, thankfully. The blanket is lovely and I think the cream is the right choice. No wonder Bella is pleased with it.
ReplyDelete