episode 161 | bloom blanket

EPISODE 161 SHOW NOTES

In this episode I’m musing on the finishing of my West Yorkshire Spinners Bloom Blanket and how I’m going to complete the border with only half a ball of blue yarn remaining!

WEST YORKSHIRE SPINNERS CAL

I finished the West Yorkshire Spinners Bloom Blanket CAL designed by Zandra Rhodes.

Well finished all but the border because I have a border dilemma in that I don’t have enough of the blue colourway to finish it. Gah.

I’m currently considering using the leftover variegated or self striping yarns for the border but actually I think the only thing to do is order some more of the blue yarn and finish it that way.

The yarn is their Colour Lab DK and it is 100% British Wool, 225m per 100g ball. The blue is called Harbour Blue and I’ve checked with Wool Warehouse but they don’t have the same lot number!!

FINISHED

I finished my 2019 Christmas socks vs.2 using the West Yorkshire Spinners Signature 4ply in the Robin colourway (941) paired with the solid colourway called Turmeric (0358). I love them as much this time as I did last time.

I had slightly less yarn so I only did ten stripes for the leg, a heel flap and gusset, 64sts on 2.25mm needles. I have now used up all of the 100g ball of that yarn. It’s good to know you can get two pairs of socks from the one ball though eh.

The bag is an old one from Made by Rachel on Etsy.

Also finished

Emma from Blue Ammonite Design had sent me one of her new Twinkle Twinkle Crochet Star sets to test and I loved/hated making the star in equal measure. Ha! The pattern uses fairy light wire which is hard to crochet, especially because it can be moved into whatever shape you want. The finished result is fabulous though and well worth it for a pretty, crocheted Christmas decoration.

Emma also has her second book out, it’s called The Sanctuary and I highly recommend her books especially if you like a whodunnit kind of story. Her first book is called The Dark and it is fabulous.

WIPS

I’m working on Darren’s army socks for Christmas. I’m using Novita Venla in the colour Mugworth (372) and working a simply 3 x 1 rib over 72sts on 2.25mm needles.

I didn’t have quite as much time to work on my checkerboard stitch scarf using the free tutorial available here, but I did decide to start again with the blue section and I think it might end up being a cowl rather than a scarf - not sure though. I’m using my gifted yarn advent from Amy @noblecharactercrafts and the project is living in my bag from Coco & Flora.

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AND FINALLY

I had purchased some DK weight yarn in a destash from Kate who used to be Lanabou and is now Happy & Bright Co. She has branched out into all sorts of personalised items and I wish her all the best in her new endeavour.

The mini crochet amigurumis are from one of Lalylaland’s Christmas sets and you can find the pattern here.

Enjoy the episode folks and enjoy your knitting and crochet.