Friday 9 September 2011

A Thousand Diamonds*

So, after my teaser on Tuesday, are you ready to see my first ever (and so far only!) crocheted FO?


I made a ripple baby blanket *big grin*

Ok, so my tension was all over the place, the ripples aren't actually evenly spaced, the sides were supposed to be straight but aren't (thanks to some inadvertent increasing and decreasing) and there are a few dropped/missed stitches... but I made it and I am really pleased with myself *grins some more* Besides, look how cute it is all folded up:


I mentioned on Tuesday that I decided to practice my (non-existant) crochet technique on some mystery chunky acrylic, before trying to master crochet on a smaller scale. I also decided that I wanted to make something properly, so that I would have something useful to show for my practicing. Two colours that luckily worked nicely together, plus a youtube video on how to do a ripple stitch and off I went ;)

I have improved how I do things - now I hold the yarn in the correct hand and use the hook to make the stitch. Last time I tried, I couldn't get my knitting head out of the way, so yarn and hook were held in the same hand and I would wrap the yarn rather than using the hook *laughs*

I think I mentioned that I got a little engrossed, and spent the majority of last Sunday making and finishing the blanket (my finger has now recovered, but it was really sore for a few days!), enjoying the rhythm of the stitches. And although I think that I generally prefer the look of knitted fabric, there is no way that I could have knitted something of this size in the same timeframe, which made it very satisfying.

Talking of the size, as requested by my mum, here is a photo with a second object to show how big the item is:


So, can you tell I'm pretty proud of my first crocheted item?! For all its faults, it is perfect to me. Plus it used up two bulky balls of yarn from my stash - never a bad thing ;)

So that's it from me, but head over to Natural Suburbia, Tami's and Wisdom Begins in Wonder for your usual Friday fix of crafts and creativity.


* - "The ocean looks like a thousand diamonds, strewn across a blue blanket" - Incubus

39 comments:

  1. Wow! I am really impress, my first crochet things looked like odd little lumps. And have to agree that croceht goes so much faster than knitting

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  2. I think rippled blankets are really cool! But yes crochet does go much much faster than knitting and I feel its less complicated!

    Well done though on your first FO :D

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  3. Awesome job! I look forward to seeing what else you now conjure up with a crochet hook.

    I'm sure you can straighten those edges with some creative pinning and steaming :)

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  4. Well done! I think this looks awesome! And really big for your first crochet item! I am very impressed, you may have inspired me to take up a hook and give it a go!

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  5. What an accomplishment. No wonder you're proud, I would be too!

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  6. I like it VERY much!! How wonderful, to have challenged yourself and learned a new skill in the process! Yay, you!!! XXO-

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  7. Hooray for an FO! You did a great job actually finishing the crocheted blanket plus you started to understand the skill and ways to improve. That was probably the perfect size learning project because you could work through the inconsistencies and still have it look great and be functional. Congrats!

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  8. You're off to a great start! With practice all your tension issues will go away. Keep at it. Have a Happy Fiber Arts Friday!

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  9. Your crocheted blanket is fantastic! You'll be an expert before you know it.

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  10. Great job!! I can't stand to crochet because I can't hold yarn in my left hand with any skill. I am so right handed!

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  11. That's awesome! You should be proud. And I think it looks great. Your mum will love it.

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  12. So pretty!!!
    I see many more crocheted FOs in your future :)

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  13. Well, now that you figured out how to hold the yarn, it means you might be able to learn to knit continental style instead of english, since you hold the yarn the same way you would while crocheting. :)

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  14. LOVE IT!

    Congratulations on getting your first FO Crochet item done!!!

    I agree with you that knitted looks better than crochet, however I do prefer crochet for blankets than knitted. Don't know why, just do.

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  15. It looks so cozy and inviting, it's just perfect!

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  16. Hi!
    Congrats on finishing your first crochet project. It's beautiful! Love those colors together. Have a great day!

    Sherrie
    Food for Thought
    http://100sweets.blogspot.com/2011/09/fibers-on-friday.html

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  17. Fab! Congratulations!!!! I can sense there may be more crochet FOs to follow... hope so anyway :)

    Have a lovely weekend
    x

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  18. Ripple blankets are super cool. I love crochet blanks and toys but prefer knitted garments. That'll be one happy baby (if any) who gets to snuggle underneath that.

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  19. Oh my, that is fabulous! I am jealous of your crochet skills, I only made a tiny cloth because I couldn't master anything bigger. You've shamed me! I accept your challenge. I CAN crochet if I practise! :)

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  20. Great job! You should be proud :)

    –Cassandra

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  21. Ripple blankets are such classic! Yours turned out nicely and it'll keep somebody warm :-)

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  22. So awesome! YAY for you and your new awesome ripple blanket!

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  23. great job! love the two colors. :)

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  24. That looks great, I love the colours you chose! My first were little round dumpy monsters :D

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  25. wow I love it!! you did such a great job on your first crochet project! I have something almost exactly like that but in yellow a friend of my mom's made for me as a baby =)

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  26. Nicely done , you should be proud of it , looks pretty darn nice if you ask me .

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  27. great job. That will be treasured and carried around for ages.

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  28. Yay!!! Congrats - you have a right to be proud! It looks great and no one but you would know there are "mistakes" which we all know are really just creative inspiration! ;-D

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  29. I'm impressed! My first crochet project was a very lumpy coaster, so I think you were brave to take on something as big as a baby blanket. Any baby will be lucky to have it :-)

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  30. That is an excellent first crochet project.

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  31. It's great! I love to crochet blankets and afghans ... it goes so fast, and really uses up the yarn. If your hand gets sore, try an ergonomic cushioned crochet hook--not as pretty, but easy on the joints!

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  32. I'm a picker when it comes to knitting. I think it's because I learned to crochet first.

    I like the shape of your blanket. :-)

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  33. Well done, it's lovely, now you will be hooked!

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  34. Well done, I want to try crocheting but am scared that it will be terrible. Youve inspired me to practice at least.

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  35. I love it! If you would have seen my first blanket, you would never guess that I would eventually become a crochet teacher and designer :). So keep up with it, we need more crocheters out there in the world!

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  36. It's beautiful! My fingers were sore, too, after the first thing I crocheted, lol. You did a fab job.

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Hi, thanks for letting me know you stopped by :D