Thursday 15 August 2013

A Work In Progress

Hello there!!! How are you all?
I'm sat here with a large mug of coffee, the sun is shining, windows are open and a lovely cool breeze is blowing through the apartment. MMMMMM Summer mornings!!!
I have a bit of a morning routine that consists of bumbling out of bed (late), making a coffee and sitting sleeplessly surfing the internet, reading the news and checking my emails.
This morning however, I was up out of bed extra early after having a phone call from my clever little sister. She had just received her 'A level' results and found out the she has successfully gotten into university! Now that's amazing news if ever I heard it!!!! Im so very very proud of her and so excited for her moving to another city later in the year to start her new adventure!!!!

So I'm up out of bed a little earlier than usual and thought I'd come and share with you lovely people.
I'm currently working on a new project and enjoying it immensely! I say a new project, It's actually an old one. A project that has been hibernating for over two years in a plastic bag behind the sofa. It feels like a new project though as my energy and enthusiasm towards it is brand new and fresh.

Shall I show you what it is?
Its this scrummy Japanese Flower blanket which I'm hoping to finally get finished so I can fully enjoy it's beauty!!!


These pictures make me extremely happy!!! YUMMMMMMMMMY COLOURS and SOFT SOFT  YARN!!!!

Now I can't take responsibility of this project. It's actually Dennis' blanket that he started a couple of years ago and forgot about. It was only recently when I was having a big sort out at home (we are getting ready to move apartment in October) that I came across this lovely project so bright and luxurious that I knew I had to do the good deed of finishing it.

This isn't my first venture with the Japanese flower pattern, I actually started a little blanket with the pattern using stylecraft acrylic yarn a little while ago. Rather like Dennis I lost interest in this project and it didn't amount to much.


The difference between my version Japanese Flower blanket and Dennis' was the yarn. He had started making his with 'Drops Alpaca' and it's because of the luxury of this yarn that I couldn't let this project continue to live in a plastic bag.

For those of you that don't know this yarn, it is simply delicious!!!!!


It's a dream to work with, comes in a fabulous selection of colours and is the softest most silky smooth texture when worked up. 

I got to work on this blanket, picking up where Dennis had left off. It's such a pleasure to make. It's slow work but the quality of this yarn and colours that Dennis chose make it well worth while. 

Luckily Dennis saved the labels for each of the colours of yarn. So once I was finished with the yarn I already had, I could easily purchase some more in the correct colours from the DROPS website.

Here are the colours Dennis had picked that we are using for the blanket, a really great combination of bright and dark tones:


















The blanket was about halfway complete when I got my hands on it! So I've got the other half to finish.


It's going to take quite some time to actually finish this blanket, what with the many colour changes and the endless amount of ends to sew in. I'm positive it will be well worth the hard work when it's done. 


Not only is Dennis super happy that his lovely project is finally going to get finished, but I'm thrilled that it will be a fabulous finished blanket that we both worked hard on. I think that's rather special.

I'll keep you all updated on my progress.
Until next time.... Have a lovely day!!!

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46 comments:

  1. Beautiful beautiful colors! I can't wait to see the finished product. I'm right there with you on weaving in ends, though. That is not on the top of my list of favorite things to do!

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  2. It is breathtaking! I love that pattern.

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  3. Que preciosidad de manta, absolutamente maravillosa. Un saludo desde España.

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  4. Absolutely stunning. I love the choice of colours and the pattern. An inordinate amount of work but definitely worth it. I look forward to seeing the finished blanket in all its glory. X

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  5. This is lovely and a smaller version would make a gorgeous shawl or baby blanket. Could I be nosey and ask where the pattern is to create the flowers. Lovely colour combinations. Congratulations to your sister. I did an evening class AS level in Art Textiles and I am still trying to find out who has my result as I still do not know what it is!
    x

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  6. Gorgeous blanket - gorgeous colours and because you're both working on it, it will indeed be a very special blanket. Looking forward to the ta-dah moment. xox

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  7. looks fabulous. I have always dreamt about doing my own, but somehow it never quite materialises, because the 'to-do' list for projects grows longer every time I look at Ravelry and I have the yarn for like half a dozen other things ... sigh ... maybe one day :-)

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  8. Beautiful work - well done to your sister - which Uni is she going to be attending?

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  9. Looks really great! I'm sure you'll be motivated to get it finished with the autumn days arriving fast...

    Penny
    x

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  10. It's beautiful Matt! And I can imagine what it must look like in reality because I made some lovely little pets for my dolls with the same Alpaca yarn... it is very soft and thin yarn. Love to see the blanket when it will be completed! Greetings! ;)

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  11. Aww Matt !! It is so touching to hear that you are finshing the blanket what dennis started off !! It is so beautiful ! Lovely colours and lovely yarn. I finished making a stole with japanese flowers. I used Debbie Bliss baby cashemirino.

    Lots of love

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  12. Looks like a great project to be working on. Can't wait to see the finished result.

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  13. Beautiful work and colours. You should both be very proud!
    I always stuggle with my colours combinations, but your colours are amazing.
    Well done!

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  14. Wow, that is just so beautiful! I've had a Japanese flower 'something' on my list to make for so long - but all the end sewing in puts me off a bit! Can't wait to see your progress - it's going to be incredible!
    Maria x

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  15. What a beautiful blanket - how are you joining the flowers together? I love alpacas they are so cute and the idea of using their lovely yarn to create something pretty with is very exciting. Well done to you sister - I hope Univerity is fun and fulfilling for her. Lily. xxx

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  16. Love the colors! It does look pretty daunting with all the color changes. I can't wait to see the finish project.

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  17. Hi Matt, Beautiful blanket and beautiful colors!!!
    Love the fact that you both worked on it!!!It's truly a "TOGETHER" blanket!!!Congrats to your sister!!!Have a fab weekend!!!
    Love
    AMarie

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  18. A stunningly lovely blanket!

    http://asaucystitch.blogspot.co.uk/

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  19. Oh my! That is absolutely stunning! The colours are so vibrant! :)

    Bekah - http://thetangledknitter.blogspot.co.uk/

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  20. again something gorgeous!!! :)

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  21. It's really beautiful. I think it's great that you each made part of it.

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  22. Wow!!!!! gorgeous!!!!!! I looooooooooooove it!!!!!!
    Congrats and kisses from Catalonia!

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  23. It llooks a bit like the Carlos and ARne flower blanket. I made that blanket this year. So collerfull just like yours.

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  24. Congratulations to your sister!

    The blanket is stunning! I cannot wait to see the completed project. Your work inspires me.

    Terry

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  25. Hola Matt!!! me ha encantado esta bella manta!! los hilos preciosos!! y si en verdad los colores son perfectos, es un gran trabajo que llevará algo de tiempo pero estoy segura que al final el resultado será espectacular!
    Un cálido saludo desde Chihuahua Mexico.

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  26. Really does make it extra special that you've made it together. A lovely story.

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  27. i want to eat that blanket.

    just found you via bloglovin, so glad i did!

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  28. This is really breathtaking. Especially the scope of work. What size of hook are you using?

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  29. What a beautiful, stunning blanket. Love the combination of colors that you made... I just posted about a blanket I finished for my niece and I'm pretty happy with the result... I love making blankets. So much work, but so much happiness when they are done. Lovely choice of colors and pattern. If you are both so talented when you do a project on your own we couldn't expect less than bliss when you are working together. I love it !

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  30. where can I find that pattern love it !!!!

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  31. This is such a beautiful project & not just because of the pattern or colours but because you'll both have made it :) No fighting over who gets to use it though ;)

    Congrats to your little sister! Which Uni is she off to?

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  32. Hi there Karen from Mix•Ture43 here, this is beautiful, stunning, gorgeous colours and such a lovely post. Pop over and have a look at my blog when you get chance and look at my Festival blanket, granny stripes too! http://mix-ture43.typepad.com/weblog/ or my Fb page mixtur43, would love to see you and keep up to date with our adventures. It is lovely. Karen :o)xxx

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  33. First off...Congrats to your sister! How exciting for her! And I agree with you that that's way to pretty of a blanket to be hibernating that long in a plastic bag! Although that's sometimes just what we need to get our second wind with big projects like that. :-) I like that it's a combined effort too. In fact that's a pretty cool way to get through big projects like blankets.

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  34. Wow, this is really beautiful! Good luck and have fun finishing it, can't wait to see the result!

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  35. Absolutely beautiful a complete work of art.

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  36. I bought some of that Drops yarn at the Knitting and Stitching show a few months ago and was wondering what to do with it. Love the colours you are working with and it's always interesting to see the colours that other people choose. I would never have put the lilac/grey colour in with those colours but it really works at treat. I may be ordering some more... x

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  37. It is really beautiful!!! and the best part is, that you made it together in more ways than one! ;-)

    I would really love to see the result!!!!

    Hedwig

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  38. I know and I like this yarn, but I love the way that you use it!

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  39. Simplemente maravilloso ,Matt,saludos de sde Argentina

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  40. I have to try this yarn. Colors great, it must be nice to the touch.
    Best regards,
    Ula

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