scrappy mitered granny....

Except for tucking in a few a whole lot of ends, which may or may not GET tucked in, the worsted mitered blanket is finished.  It ended up being a large lap size...11 x 14 mitered squares.  (Each mitered square started out with 31 stitches.)  This truly is a scrappy blanket...I grabbed partial balls and skeins from leftovers of previous projects...there were a couple whole skeins from a sweater kit that lost the love before I had a chance to make it.  If I thought a colour looked like it might even remotely 'go' with the others, it was added.  Of course, the PURPOSE of this blanket was to use up those odd balls, not to be beautiful.  BUT....

the blanket was nearing completion, and it was quite obvious to all involved (that would be me and Freddy, who was certain there simply HAD to be at least one ball band he had overlooked) that in the use-up-the-yarn department, I was failing badly.  I had quite a few happy-dance moments, though, when I totally used up a mini ball of yarn.  I was slowly making progress, but had many more miters to go to make a serious dent in the pile.  I could continue to add squares and end up with something so big and so heavy that it wouldn't be real useful, OR....I could try something.

I'm not a crocheter (although I've crocheted grannies for several blankets--and this and this and this one oh, yeah, this one---this one, and Freddy's favorite...maybe I AM sort of a crocheter).  I've crocheted enough, anyway, to know that crocheting uses wayyyyy more yarn than knitting does.  Perfect. I'll crochet a border of Granny squares.  And then, crochet a border around the whole thing. That should do the trick.  

 

So much for that bright idea.

 

(No, I don't want matchy-matchy pillows. No, I don't want to add another round of grannies.  I'm really done with this project. Maybe a couple of random/stripey seamen's scarves for the Christmas at Sea charity???  Maybe.  Not now.  Later. I'm really done with this yarn.  DONE. Fini. It's a wrap.  Over.  Ended.  Get it???)

Comments

[Ann Denton]

How will you wash this lap throw or will it have to be dry cleaned?

[Caffeine Girl]

I love the combination of knitting and crochet in this project! It looks like a cozy lap blanket, the kind you'll use a lot.

I do understand being done with a project or yarn. Life goes on!

[Deb]

You taught me something - I didn't realize that crocheting takes more yard than knitting. I really should learn to knit...
I love this blanket. It is really fun and colorful. Enjoy the rest of the weekend and the coming week!

[Tracey]

It looks so pretty with the crocheted squares around the edge, such a smart cookie you are Steph!

[Aoife]

It's so pretty tho! Just focus on the awesome blanket and hide those remaining leftovers in a bag in the back of the closet. It'll be like they don't even exist.

[AsKatKnits]

Gorgeous! I love how it turned out!

[MelissaPurls]

I just think it's funny that for all your experience with knitting and yarn, that you seem to actually believe that you can make an entire category of yarn stash go away. Hahaha!

[steph@woolythyme]

yeah.  crazy, huh?

[steph@woolythyme]

it's all wool....so hand wash.  (dry cleaning wreaks havoc with wool!!!!!!)

[Iris]

I've never been successful with the stash-busting blankets... Even if I manage to use something up it will be some place so inconvenient that I then have to buy more yarn to finish what I was doing, thereby adding to rather than reducing the stash.

It does look nice, though - very cozy, and the colours go really well.

[Alina]

Love the result! Granny squares are the best mindless crochet projects for me, it's been awhile since I've made one...

[Jane]

I do get it! Sometimes I too am just done with a project or yarn. The blanket looks cozy and warm.
P.S. I think maybe leftover yarn reproduces in bins and baskets when knitters aren't looking.

[Sara]

So cute with the granny squares! You make me laugh all the time with your neverending yarn supply.

[Caroline]

I love this! And I love the addition of the grannies, just perfect. I know you don't want matchy matchy but i'm picturing a granny shawl with these left overs. The colours are wonderful!

[karen]

The granny squares around the mitered squares are lovely - you are talented in your crafting and your creating!!

[Kat]

It looks fantastic! I love the granny square border-I hadn't thought of putting granny squares around a scrappy mitered blanket before!

[Andrea @ This Knitted Life]

What a feat! That's a lot of yardage. Hooray for cozy!

[Jennifer]

Wow, you made excellent use of that yarn! Even with some left over, you did good. I like it very much. I didn't have a yarn project for about a month and I got a little squirrelly, so I get it. :)

[Caroline]

It's perfect! And I totally get that you're DONE with the leftovers ;-)

[Andi]

Oh my, Steph!!
This is the most beautiful blanket. I know you say you are done with the leftovers, but if I know you another mitered blanket will be made in the coming year. It is an addiction my friend, face it. ;)

[Anne at Shintangle Studio]

You know, I think this is a fabulously successful blanket. I would never have thought of adding a border of crocheted granny squares to a knitted blanket, but they work beautifully with the same size mitred squares. And there's something wonderfully subtle and sophisticated and completely right about your colour palette. I couldn't have come up with it after a week of thinking about it on both hands. That touch of rusty red, with the medium punchy blues and all those neutrals: it's just, just . . . . so satisfying. Well done.

[steph@woolythyme]

thanks, Anne.  Serendipity.  Just what I had on hand in the right 'tones'.