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!
