Support thread 3 - further blanketeering

[tribpot]

Oh no! The previous thread has become full and suddenly we need a new one, with no way of linking old to new. I hope people will find this one. :)

This is a continuation of our thread supporting MNers creating blanket squares for Woolly Hugs. All are welcome.

Ophelia, you're on - I've put you above the line where 'here be dragons' as otherwise it's only DAISY and me representing the North of England, with Formerly technically on the right latitude but in another country If you live just south of the line, I'm moving the line down!

I'm surprised to hear Chester is short on wool shops, I would have thought it'd have a few naice places.

I'm off today to my 'knitting with colour' workshop so I am insanely excited to learn how I've been doing it wrong all this time.

....that would entail me learning how to crochet!

The pattern already has a moss stitch border (two sides done as panels, the other two done by picking up stitches) plus tassels (for which I will need a thick crochet hook )

Or venturing Dahn Sarf so I can do it

Signed up for Mumof2TeenBoys blanket . I'm thinking of ways to incorporate the embroidery requested - might have to be on a fabric square attached to a plain knitted one. Any suggestions welcome!

Yellow sun, embroidered word "screen?

That might work. I'm pretty sure I have some orange fabric somewhere from when I dressed DS up as a carrot so that would make a good base. Must have some yellow embroidery thread somewhere as well

I could possibly try embroider it on a square ill test it layer in the week let you know how it goes. I'll try on cheap will square first though

I wouldn't use fabric, it might not wash right with the wool. I meant embroider with wool onto a plain knitted square :)

My dd is coming back from Ireland with some patterns and embroidery for knitting tools that I retrieved from the house a few wks ago when she died (before my evil sis got them and slung or ebayed them) so
I'm hoping it'll help me do it on a square it was a special kit with tutorial and some weird looking hooks and crewl?? Needle in it Roll on Monday night I'll have it them cos couldn't take an flight with me

Bloody iPhone. That should have said when my mum died!

You can tell when someone uses iPhone soo sooo many typos I'll stick to laptop from now on lol at least I can see what I'm typing

I use the same darning needle i use for pesky ends. Crewel is embroidery with wool, and is what they did the Bayeux Tapestry in :)

And that means nothing to me lol. Althouh does it sound a feasible piece of kit to use on a square? I looked before I stashed it and had good tutorial for letters and flowers motifs etc.

Embroidered squares: some one has made some for Matilda's blanket. They used embroidery floss on stocking stitch. The squares are gorgeous.

I can do cross stitch though so it might help me

Could also split our wool and use that to embroider. If using stocking stitch, the square will probably need to be very lightly blocked before attempting the sewing side.

Trial it with cheap wool st st square and some embroidery thread whilst waiting for my wool :) see how it goes

I have some cheap wool that DS has been learning with to have a test run. Thanks for the ideas - I'll be back!

Soremummy, if it's blunt with a big hole it'll work :o

A stitch that might create a denser fabric for embroidery is linen stitch but I would advise doing a garter border to make it easier to join with the other squares.

Just worked out how expensive doing the blanket I want to knit would cost - may need to think again.

It does however illustrate how valuable our donors are - the monetary cost alone of the wool in the WoollyHugs blankets is substantial, even before the efforts of the crafters.

Pretty, there's at least £160 of wool in each blanket. That's based on 100 squares per blanket, 3 squares and £5 per ball...

bird - I wanted to do a (baby) blanket in the lovely Rowan for a friend but couldn't really justify the cost plus the need for washability / not being worried when the baby poos on it etc. So I went for a a King Cole (which is now out of stock, rather worryingly as I don't think I've got enough) in a similar soft grey as the one I used for Team Heart. It's nice, it feels soft - I doubt it will wear as well as the good stuff but it was reasonably priced.

I actually quite like the Sirdar Bonus Aran in the gigantic ball-bigger-than-your-head size but from the sound of it, the afghan is intended more as a long-term piece that isn't likely to need to account for being pooed on, which is always a bonus. Ideally you'd buy it in stages to spread the cost but that's no good when you want all the yarn from the same dye lot (and for it not to go out of stock!).

That's what I calculated pidj

MIL has said she wants to get me some wool as a belated birthday present, so that could go towards it....

tribpot - I was think about doing it in stages, but as you say am worried about different dye lots. I was wondering if the fact that it is knitted in panels would mean that the dye lot issue could be "managed". However, that approach would be scuppered if the colour were discontinued.

I don't need to worry about baby poo or vomit, so the washability and wearability of something like the Cashmerino would be fine for my purposes.