Crochet - how do you keep going with larger projects?

[PineappleWilson]

I'm in the process of crocheting a baby blanket and I'd love to use the same stitch, C2C (I know it's technically not a stitch) to do a bedcover sized blanket. It's occured to me that I've never made a blanket that sort of size. I seem to get bored / run out of steam around 60-70cm length. I prefer to do one continuous blanket than to sew squares or motifs togegher.

I'm not good at more complicated stitches, picot, puff stitch etc. so part of it is getting bored doing the same stitch repeatedly I guess. If you have made a single or double bed blanket, how did you keep going?

I try to do at least a full row/round/colour change every time I pick it up and do something every day.

I did a double bed sized ripple blanket for my DD1 and I vowed to do at least an inch every day - it worked out at about two rows per inch which was a complete colour section. Most days I managed 2 inches and I took it with me on a couple of long car journeys and managed 5 inches on each of them.

I think with C2C that once you've started the decreasing part it actually comes together quite quickly.

Check out the various methods for join as you go. I've done joining granny squares on the last row of trebles (fairly easy but lots of loose ends to deal with) and continuous flat braid joins (a little more complicated but only two loose ends - one at the start and one at the end).

I've used C2C to make 2 x single bed blankets for my DGC and 1 x king size bed blanket for my DD and SIL and although they each took quite a while to make, I found them really easy to pick up and put down because there was no complicated pattern to follow so I didn't get bored. Still love a C2C blanket!

I recently made an adult sized blanket at the request of a friend whereas I usually stick to baby blankets and oh my god the boredom! I tried to do at least a round at a time and then do some smaller projects in between. I always have a few different things on the go (but that’s normally because I run out of the colours I need 😂)

Have a few different, smaller, things on the go at the same time.

I’m doing a double bed sized chevron blanket for DS1 atm. I never have more than one project on the go at anyone time, unless I do a few squares for Woolly Hugs, because I don’t like them lying around the house looking messy.

I make sure I do some every day. I’ve been doing it for a fortnight and am more than halfway through. It is a bit boring though because he wanted plain grey.

I don't like doing continuous stitches all the same.
I've done Attic24 type striped blankets and got really bored with endless rows all the same, but I'm currently working on Sacred Space by Crystals and Crochet, and have just recently finished Sophie's Universe. Both of these start in the centre and work out so one pattern and no sewing together, but every round is different which keeps it interesting. Loads of different stitches to learn.

Thank you for these replies. @Reachersloveinterest, it was re-reading some of Attic24's blog posts and seeing all her huge CAL blankets, and those on her chairs and in her caravan, that made me think "how the hell do you keep plodding on with this?" I'm on the decrease half of the C2C now, and it is going quicker, the further I go on. DH has commented how much work it seems to be, so at least he knows that there is effort in these crafts. I'm annoyed that I missed @TheWoollybacksWife post as we had a couple of big drives yesterday but I'm not a great traveller so I didn't think to take the crochet with me.

I’m afraid I don’t keep going- I have at least 5 started blankets of various sizes and patterns, bundled up in the cupboard. I have very poor concentration, and struggle to focus on one project at a time.
I’m the same with books, I was an avid reader, now I start but rarely finish a book(8 on my bedside table, started but not finished)
Whether or not this is normal I don’t know (I suspect not!)

Large blankets even if you do 2 rows a night watch TV it really adds up very quickly.

You are not alone YanTan, I have a bag full of squares that have been waiting to be joined up since the beginning of the first lockdown. Attention span of a gnat.

It took me years to finish my mystical lanterns blanket and then lst year I had a BIG push as I was determined to get it done, joined and edged. It's all folded in pride of place at the end of the bed now and I feel immense smugness ever time i see it!

I did do loads of other things in between though

I cannot cope with ripple/C2C row after row of the same thing, I almost started a ripple blanket but ripped it all out after about six rows and went with the Seaside Stash buster instead and got that done in a couple of weeks as it was so much more engaging!

I do find it's good to get things finished almost just to get it off your mind...a sort of mental decluttering and the feeling of not having unfinished guilty conscience about yarn and stuff is great!

@PineappleWilson how are you getting on?

I have done a few massive blankets but I don't get bored because I tend to do Granny squares, it fees like you are completing something with every square so you get a sense of satisfaction! Last one I did easily covers a double bed with lots of overhang.
If you get bored you can start another project.
Granny squares are great.

@RVN123 that is so beautiful! I don't have the patience with granny squares - I can't cope with making loads of them all the same. I'm the same making socks, I make one quite happy but then I don't want to start it all over again.

I've only made a few blankets, one knitted and two crocheted. One was really long, as it was to go over the end of a double bed. I don't really have much trouble keeping going, as I tend to crochet in front of the tv! My two crochet blankets were 'sampler' style CALs, so they kept my interest up, as I was learning new stitches as I went along.

Btw, of anyone is in need of some encouragement to keep going, feel free to head over to the Knit, Crochet and Natter threads --->