sea and shore blanket

This blanket definitely wants to live in north west Norfolk. This is my sea, sky and shore blanket, rows and rows of colours to conjure up dreams of blue salty seas with white horses riding the waves, wide open saltmarshes, wild scudding clouds, wet shingle beaches, bitter chocolate seaweed and pale opal shells.

I began it in February to 'use up' some of the yarn from recent projects... one thing somehow led to another and I must admit to buying quite a bit more wool along the way... but I'm delighted with the end result. Crocheting in rows rather than blocks means that the finished blanket has a much drapier feel than granny squares, and the openness of treble crochet stitches mean it's not too heavy while still being comforting and warm. I love it.

Now then, no crochet addict worth her salt would finish one project without having the next one busy in her head, so here's a work-in-progress pic of what I'm doing next:

This time, it truly is an odds-and-ends project... I have set myself the challenge of buying NO NEW BALLS OF WOOL... so it's a lovely mishmash of blues, greens and browny colours left over from everything else. The small size of these squares (about 2 1/2") means that only about 5g of yarn is needed for each one, so even the tiniest scraps can be used. They're also really speedy to make... each one can be finished, attached to its neighbour and the ends woven in, in less than ten minutes. This is absolutely ideal for me, the most easily bored crocheter in town.

Each square is made up of groups of treble clusters, joined using Lucy's cunning technique, which results in a lovely thick and cosy textile... ideal for chilly car journeys (we have a forty-year-old car) or sitting outside with a cup of tea on a winter's day.

The back looks a bit Sophie Digard, don't you think?

34 comments:

...Nina Nixon... said...

Your sea, sky and shore blanket is absolutely gorgeous and as soon as I saw the first picture it reminded me of all those colours conjured up being by the sea.

Nina xx

dragonfly said...

Your blanket is just beautiful - the muted colours are stunning. I have many fond memories of the north Norfolk coast and this brings them flooding back!

Diane said...

I really enjoyed catching up with your last few posts and can't wait to see you Norfolk snaps. (We went last year and had a great time). I love your blankets - I have too much on at the mo, but can't wait for things to slow down a bit so that I can get the crochet out again. xxx

Marigold Jam said...

Fabulous colours in both your crochet pieces. Love the blanket and it really does conjusre up an English seaside with those lovely muted shades.

Jane

Gretel said...

That is one gorgeous blanket! I love it, and the next project looks equally lovely. Wonderful muted colours, which make me think exactly of windy seaside days.

Celia Hart said...

Definitely a blanket for a North Norfolk beach hut! I love it.

Lucy's joining technique is so cool - I need to do some crochet to practice it.

Celia

Sue said...

Celia - it's so easy - normally I am slow with these things but it was a breeze :-)

Frances said...

Sue, each of those crochet pieces is a beauty. The colors are so very subtle. Of course, I understand how "using up" yarns always results in the emerging need to buy just a little bit more.

Best wishes. xo

ArtShades said...

What a stunning blanket, I never knew crochet could be so stylish!! I've just found your blog as I left a comment for Snapdragon after you. I loved your self-effacing comment about the blog award!

ginny said...

Lovely color pallet in the sea and sky and shore blanket!

Gigibird said...

That is one classy blanket.

Unknown said...

Oh I love that blanket, the colours are serene and beautiful.

Gina said...

I love the colours in your blanket... just beautiful and perfect for Norfolk by the sea. The new project is lovely too (I immediately thought of Sophie Digard!)

elsy said...

very digard indeed..... thought that before you mentioned it...beautiful blanket, gorgeous colours

Pipany said...

Oh I love your sea blanket! It really is ne of the most beautiful I have seen so far and the colours are perfect x

Aussie Maria said...

The colours in your little squares just sing to me, lovely mix, so pretty.
I am currently doing something similiar, but colours are chosen by the giftee.
Join-as-you-go has been a life-saver for me

Hollace said...

I love both of them. The colors are just yummy!

Gilly said...

That is one beautiful blanket - I know - I've seen, and felt it, in the making!

I think its one of the necest things you've made. Definitely is the colour of NW Norfolk.

Those squares look easy, I think I will have to take instruction. Maybe you could sell it for as much as Sophie does?? ;)

Pam said...

A forty year old car????? Love the blankets but ... how do you manage to keep a car for that long????? Is it a Rolls Royce?

Love North Norfolk, by the way - we frequently visit my aunt in Heacham. Bliss.

PoetC7 said...

I found your blog via your flickr photos. I'm quite charmed by your little crochet project of square and have much enjoyed my visit here. I'll be back, for sure!

A time to dance said...

I love the colours that you have used, its beautiful, I feel dissatisfied with mine now which has gone on the back burner..hope you are well - its mad here - really - mad.

Nana Sadie said...

Both blankets are wonderful!

silverpebble said...

OH my goodness. Both projects are exquisite - the colours are the ones I'd choose myself ( if I could crochet). So lovely

caireen said...

lovely serene quality in that first photo... love Cx

sea-blue-sky & abstracts said...

Lovely blanket Sue - I really like the colours you use. Lesley

Yiota said...

Beautiful, wonderful colours!
And I love the rest of the projects shown here!

rossichka said...

Hello, Sue! I haven't written here for ages, but it doesn't mean that I don't read your posts!
I like the colours of your blanket very much! As if it's whispering :"Relax!" There's something melancholic in it, very suitable for chilly evenings and early autumn...:)
What about the previous post (and Elizabeth's)... After reading them, I realized that having a blog for almost a year now, I've begun to ask myself some of the questions you are writing about... Sometimes I wonder whether someone reads me at all, sometimes I feel really happy that I've found a soul, close to mine. I am a person, a little bit reserved, I need time to reveal myself, to trust, to "go out of the shell" and I was so much surprised and pleased when I was called "a friend" by people I have never seen, but with whom I exchange ideas and experiences, hopes and joys, disappointments and fears... I've noticed that while planning what to write about, life offers me unexpected themes... (My last post is an example for that).
Well, there're so many thoughts in my head on the theme, that I'm not sure I can catch them right now. Maybe the most important thing is to follow one's heart... And the post will reach someone somewhere in this big, big world! :-)

LOVE STITCHING RED said...

Oh goodness! Your crochet is wonderful. I love your sea and shore blanket, those colours are truly "seaside"

Happy weekend
Carolyn

la z'idiote said...

Wahou ! I've just finished mine :-))

Jackie said...

The blanket is a perfect evocation of those lovely Norfolk pebble beaches.Beautiful, and even your supposed 'mish mash' is subtle and co ordinated.

Vicki Boster said...

Fabulously beautiful - I simply adore the colors - this is an amazing work of texture and color! Love, love, love this!

vicki

Susan said...

Hello,

I just adore your blankets especially the treble crochet one and am coveting it big time. I'd like to do one myself and want to ask you a couple of questions re the wool and if there are any little 'tricks' to know about.

I've had the page open for days and just keep staring at it :-)

Cheers
Susan

s.survey@garrison.com.au

Birgit said...

Could you add a 'follow' button on your blog? I would really like to click it. So that I can remember to visit every once in a while.. mercie. xxx

Sue said...

Thank you Birgit but I prefer to keep the blog free of too much visual clutter. You can easily follow the blog by adding the URL to your reading list. Best wishes, Sue