Starting to make up my Vintage Sweethearts blanket

This project has been on the go for a few years, no surprises there then! It was released in sections in Crochet Now, I think back in 2017, and then later in full to purchase on Cherry Heart’s blog. When I first saw the Vintage Sweethearts blanket I knew it would be one I’d be making. As everything I decided to put my own spin on it by choosing my own colours - so my vintage colour way is quite a bit brighter than either of the kits offered at the time it was a crochet along or CAL, and I’m not sorry about that.

In lockdown I picked it up again and made some real progress. As I wasn’t doing this as a CAL I decided to make all of the squares of one design up at once, carefully storing those for the appropriate sections together so that I could follow the making up instructions. And that worked well, with small sandwich bags marked for each section and squares added as they were completed.

During lockdown I remember running out of yellow and lilac and deliberating if I should send for some more wool, but thinking it would surely only be a small amount, or to substitute with wool I already had. I decided to substitute, I’m sure the reasoning was that it was already colourful and adding a small amount of additional colours could only enhance the look.

While clearing through things in our spare bedroom recently I rediscovered the sections still in the sandwich bags, and so I got them out and worked out how much there was left to do. It turned out not much at all, six of the very small squares - and I finished the last of these on Christmas Eve.

Making it up in 2023

So my next job was to start sewing it together. For some reason, it’s not my favourite part of projects and I know that without some accountability it could fester in a cupboard for a while - and it’s way too pretty for that!

Actually the fact that it’s broken down into sections helps, I’m about to start sewing together section five (of eleven) so progress is happening…

SECTION ONE - TICK

The sections aren’t necessarily how you’d expect to make up a blanket - section one (above) has eight granny squares in a cross formation, which allows the non-square section two (below) to slot into the L at the top right of the cross. Section two starts to make use of quarter and third size granny squares, which look good but mean more seams, and more ends to sew in.

SECTION TWO - TICK

Section three takes a different approach, with the first of the larger squares in use. It’s different two as there’s two parts, and each slots into a separate side of the blanket. And the blanket is growing quite quickly, but in a peculiar and non-uniform shape.

SECTION 3A - LAID OUT

SECTION 3B - LAID OUT

Section four has six smaller squares and four of the standard size. This section took a while to complete - so many ends! And yes, I know there’s a school of thought to sew them in as you go, but I’m always so keen to get on with actually crocheting the next bit, even though it leaves a mammoth task at the end.

SECTION 4 - TICK

It’s also clear that I’ll soon run out of floor to lay the whole blanket out, but I’ll tackle that when I come to it - which could be soon!

SECTION 4 - ATTACHED

I’ve made it through four complete sections, with the fifth laid out ready to sew. A busy few days has kept me away from this, but I’m hoping to get back to it soon - this doesn’t even sound like me talking! Clearly batching the sections has worked break this into a smaller task, and may even help me get over my dislike of making things up, who knows?

SECTION FIVE - READY TO GO

I’m amazed though at how many ends these four sections have generated.

I’ve split them into longer and shorter piles - the shorter ones will be no use for anything so they’ll go in the bin, but the longer ones I plan to attach them to create a multi-coloured random coloured ball of scrappy wool for more squares and another project, which combines granny squares and some sewing, if it all works out. Watch this space, but don’t hold your breath!

Post Comment Love 13-15 January

Welcome to this week’s #PoCoLo - a friendly linky which I co-host with Suzanne, where you can link any blog post published in the last week. We know you’ll find some great posts to read, and maybe some new-to-you blogs too, so do pop over and visit some of the posts linked and share some of that love. If you were here last week it was great to have you along, if you’re new here this week we’re pleased you’ve joined us.

This week we’ve been having new gas mains pipes, like you do, which has also involved removing the gas meter from the kitchen. The best things to come from the work are the extra space in the kitchen cupboard where the meter once was, the cooperation of our neighbours providing access so the pipe can be fitted externally, and not having to have the disruption of having the pipe run through the house. The workmen have all been very pleasant and accommodating too though I’m not sure everyone they encounter in their work is as pleasant back to them.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

My top 10 posts of 2022

I’m back with one of my start of year traditions, which appeals to the nerd in me. Each year I like to look at the posts from the past year which have been the most popular and those that have been around a while longer that continue to bring in the views. I’m not sure there’s any scientific reasons as to why some of the posts swap around on that second list, but it’s always good to know that people are reading some of the stuff I put out there!

So let’s start with my most popular posts from 2022:

1 A new, bigger rug - eventually

Remember our year started off with a new rug, and a disagreement? Thankfully the newer, bigger rug solved that and we're still really happy with our new, bigger rug!

2 How tall is a Liver Bird?

Well seeing as though I asked, it would be rude not to tell you - it’s 18 foot - with a wingspan of 24 foot. To put that into perspective a double decker bus is 14 ft 4” - so quite big, is a good answer. This post shares views and facts from our visit to the top of the building in Liverpool, getting much closer to Bella and Bertie.

3 In the Orangery at Belton House

This year there’s an influx of posts from our trips to Lincolnshire and surrounding areas, which is not surprising really as it’s where we’ve been looking at houses. So it made sense to check out the area while we were there, and this Orangery at Belton House is likely to become an easy and early favourite of ours, hopefully when it’s much closer.

4 Interiors inspiration at Margo & Plum

The Engine Yard at Belvoir Castle was already a favourite place to stop and mooch around, and the interiors shop there is full of inspiration. So much so that MOH bought me the aqua bird decorated vase for my birthday on a whim. When I say a whim, it wasn’t quite so - it took him ages to remember the name of the shop, and then search out the vase. And I thought he’d bought it because he was an avid reader here…

5 Vibrant interiors at Belton House

Another one from Belton House, this time inside which was full of colour and peculiarly hidden (or not so hidden) greyhounds - there was even one on the weather vane.

6 Heat, feet and my happy place

In this post I’m musing about the way above average temperatures we experienced here this summer, and the trouble that had started with one of my toes - which is still not right, but not infected and not really giving the medics any clues, so we watch and wait. Thankfully though this post is accompanied by photos from the flower garden in Greenwich Park, definitely a happy place of mine.

7 A mindful afternoon twiddling

With more time on my hands this year I’ve been trying out some new crafts. Quilling, which isn’t as easy as it looks, was incredibly mindful, and for an afternoon twiddling paper this is what I had to show for it! It’s something I want to do again, but so far it’s not happened, but when I have a bit more space and my craft supplies are more ordered I hope to spend more time twiddling, and to have something more to show for my efforts.

8 The kitchens at Belvoir Castle

Belvoir (pronounced Beaver) Castle is another fascinating place in Leicestershire, and there’s a lot to see. Less so on the garden front, as you’d expect from its position on top of a hill, but there were some which I’m not sure I’ve shared here yet. While the formal rooms full of finery and treasures are fantastic, somehow the behind the scenes rooms that hold as much interest for me - and these old tins in the Housekeeper’s room where a real treat, pop over and take a look at the kitchens too.

9 Leaving flowers and a crocheted throw

So this year has been a transitional year for me, and at times it’s very much felt that. Back in May I stopped working full time after almost 40 years working at only three companies all that time. I left feeling fantastically spoiled by my colleagues, and with arms full of flowers and gifts. I was struck though by this vase of flowers and how similar the colours were to my most recent crocheted throw.

10 Where do you find peace?

This was the thought provoking question that greeted us as we started a walk around the Lake at Stourhead. Our visit was full of autumn colours too and even on a wet day, I’m sure that the surroundings help many people answer the question posed.

Again, a great choice made by many of you - and the posts here really do seem to have summed up my year, which is another reason for doing this, there’s clearly something in it!

So onto the second list

This list is posts created at any time but viewed in 2022, the year in brackets is the year it was originally posted - and it’s often very similar to the previous year. For whatever reason these posts continue to attract views, and it’s good to see some of the old favourites remaining on the list.

1. Filling our gabion baskets (2017)

2. My IKEA hack: HOL storage table to laundry basket (2015)

3. Let's talk Edwardian house decoration (2017)

4. Post Comment Love (2016)

5. About Me (2014)

6. Sean Murray's Great Chelsea Garden Challenge (2017)

7. Softening our gabion seating area with plants (2017)

8. 52 Cookbooks #36: Beef in easy tomato sauce (2014)

9. Three of the six show gardens at the Ideal Home Show (2016)

10. Fabulous outdoor planters (and more) from Cox & Cox (2016)

So, tradition completed for another year!