My first crochet is complete

Well, not my first crochet make to be completed, but my first crochet make - as in my very first attempt. It has been a while... In fact I started it in 2011. Oops. That summer we had a holiday in France, travelling by plane and only taking hand luggage (Mr R's preferred method of travel. But with a child?)

I realised that the ban on knitting needles was going to curtail my holiday making, quickly followed by the thought that I had a lovely friend who could crochet and now would be the time to learn. So we had some sunny times sitting outside a cafe whilst knowledge and technique were imparted, me with my tongue sticking out throughout no doubt. Excited by my new ability I popped to the local bookshop and found, from their limited range, Jan Eaton's 200 crochet blocks for blankets, throws and afghans. This seemed a good title as I was obviously going to be making a blanket whilst on holiday that year. And then another pop to the delicious, yet expensive, wool shop in town where on some advice I selected a few balls of Louisa Harding's Ianthe. I had no idea quite how many balls it would take to make a blanket

 The pattern is taken from one called Granny in the middle, though with less outer rows of dc. I made a pile of these during that holiday and then rather slowly over the next few years. At some point I needed more balls of wool but it had taken me so long by then that the wool had been discontinued. The silver lining was that I managed to find some of each colour cheaply online but it did also mean that this was always going to be a small blanket.

Eventually one year the pile of grannies were blocked, seamed together and most ends dealt with. And that is how I found it languishing earlier this year. Why did I leave the fun bit for so long? So much fun finding inspiration for the border. I went straight to the delightful Dover & Madden and based my border on Vicki's tutorial of sorts for the hexagon blanket border. (Oh, those are her words, I would not be so rude as it really is a fine tutorial). I had no plan for the colour order other than to keep going until the wool ran out. If I had planned a little more I wouldn't have chosen so much white in the border. The only bit I did think about was adding the ruffle edge... I love this edging! Even though it does eat wool and had made the rest of the border a little wrinkly too.

Oh so happy to have a finished blanket even if it is only a lap blanket. Patch can still a manage to have a fair snuggle under it, but I'm sure this will change within the month even as he is growing like a weed. And actually I'm not so sure this wool would have been the ideal choice for a larger blanket as it is so heavy - must be the cotton content. Ianthe is a cotton merino blend and will therefore not be keeping any knees warm on a beach this summer. It may be allowed outside if the floor has been swept first.

 Oh yes, and colours used... bud (green), ice (white), ash (blue) and Cupid (pink). Though with this wool discontinued, I'm not sure how much use this is!

 Looking through a pile today I found this pattern... a freebie with a Love Sewing mag, and not a pattern I will use, so if anybody would like me to send it to them do let me know. Right, it is raining and I'm orf to sit under my new blanket with a magazine