My first Spicier Life completed...

My first Spicier Life Blanket is off the hook!   And all those gazillions of ends are woven in!  Although it was in the 20's yesterday morning, I bundled up and took it outside in the natural light to get some pictures that show the colors to their best advantage:

Would I recommend this project?   Yes - absolutely.  It is very well written (has been translated into US terminology), and the various stitches are explained well.  I think there are even video tutorials for the different sections.  

Some things worth noting, I think...  while I admire the designer's ability to figure out stitch counts so that so many different stitch patterns can be used in one design, I don't like the tendency for some stitch patterns to pull in so much more than others.  Even using different sized hooks for different rows (to accommodate this tendency for some rows to pull in) I have found these blankets to require some repeated hard steam blocking to get the edges straight enough to make me happy.  

And, one should be aware going into it that the original pattern doesn't make a very large blanket at all.  Looking at the pattern (after the fact) I see that the measurement of the original design is 38.5" x 51.5".   I'm thinking that would make an respectable lap blanket (or a small child's blanket).  But that wasn't what I was after.  That's not the pattern's fault.  That's on me for not looking for this detail before beginning.  

The size is easy enough to change by making it wider and adding more rows, but for those (like me) who plunge in without reading the details, it can be pretty discouraging to figure this out about the time you see you're nearing the pattern's end, and then have to anticipate all the additional ends to weave in if you decide to enlarge it.  So... if you like the looks of the blanket and want to make it, I don't discourage anyone.  Just figure out the size you want it to be and know up front how you will accommodate that if you need to.  And expect to experiment a bit with hook sizes for different rows.  And if uneven edges will bother you, expect to have to BLOCK this baby.

Another thing - that isn't in anyway the fault of the designer...  I've concluded I'm not crazy about making blankets with DK weight yarn.  I used Stylecraft Special DK.  I love the yarn.  I just don't love crocheting a large blanket with it.  

Not only does it take approximately forever to crochet something so large with such thin yarn, but when all is said and done when I make a blanket, I want it to have some heft and more warmth than DK weight acrylic yarn will provide.   OTOH...  DK weight yarn might make a perfect weight blanket for places that are more temperate than where I live.  Or for someone who likes lap blankets, this may actually be a perfect weight blanket.  Clearly, this is just personal preference.  It has nothing to do with the pattern.  Worsted weight yarn can be substituted in these patterns and one will just have a larger and heavier blanket when finished.  I used worsted weight yarn in my Spice of Life blankets made last year and they turned out well.

Now, all the above said, I do have a second Spicier Life (in different colors) on the hook and I hope to have it finished soon.  And so far, I like it even better than this one.  These are pretty blankets.  And very satisfying to finish.  😉

To see what other YOPers are up to, visit our group on Ravely.

Nearing the end...

Lest you wonder if this is some abstract textile art, let me assure you -  I'm not taking up a new yarny craft.  I'm just nearing the end of my first Spicier Life Blanket...

Fortunately, I've been weaving in the ends as I finish off each section, so while the above may look like an awful task, let me just say...  it's better than it could be, and better than it will be.  I still have 13 changes of color to go - between the final rows and the border.  That's 26 more ends!  And by more, I mean more than you see above!  😦

Even though I'm not terribly averse to "end weaving", I have to admit that the mess above makes me groan just a bit.    But plug away I must.  

I can see that the end is in sight.  

Though it may be the end of me.

Okay, okay...   Time to put an end to this post already!

To see what other YOPers are up to, visit our group on Ravelry.

Spicier and Spicier...

Last week I mentioned that I was thinking of making a second Spicier Life blanket (alongside the first one), and I decided this week it was time to start it.

Here is Part 1 of my 2nd Spicier Life Blanket:

For this blanket I went with colors that are bright and fun, and hopefully it will be a blanket that makes its recipient smile.


Meanwhile, I also continue to work on my first Spicier Life blanket (which is done in more or less the same colors as the original Jaipur-inspired blanket):

I'm enjoying them both, but I enjoy them differently. 

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I know friends on the east coast have taken a beating with snow this winter and I almost feel bad showing off our pretty (and hopefully last) snowfall of the season we got yesterday.  Do you see that tiny red spot just a little above the center of the picture below?  It's a cardinal that was competing with the finches at the bird feeders.  I didn't even see it when I was snapping the picture, and I was a little sad that it didn't come back before dark so I could try to get a better photo of it.

Anyway, it was a peaceful, heavy snowfall and I thought this young couple so cute, out taking their dog for a walk in the falling snow, I decided to snap their picture:

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And today, the sky is (mostly) blue and I hear the drip drip of snow melting off the roof as I type.  It's in the high 40's and with tomorrow in the 50's and rain forecasted the rest of the week, there will soon be nothing left of this season's last winter wonderland.

At which time I'll be doing a jig because that will mean the magnolia tree blossoms (that appear to have survived the freezing temps and snow yesterday) will bloom, and other flowers will shortly follow.  Spring has nearly sprung, and like the rest of the country, I'm ready for it!!!

To see what other YOPpers are up to, visit our group on Ravelry.

Things just got a little spicier here...

Having a much better week than the previous two, and inspired to work on something new, I temporarily put aside my Last Dance Blanket and started crocheting a Spicier Life Blanket.

I was missing a couple of colors in my Stylecraft Special DK stash, so I substituted  Claret for Tomato, Parma Violet for Mushroom, and Violet for Grape.  And I think I want to add in some Parchment because it has an interesting vintagifying effect on pretty much anything it rubs up against.

So....  While I'm not completely convinced as I look at what I've completed so far, I've learned with a many-colored project like this, one simply can't tell until several repeats of the colors are used how well one likes the whole effect.  It's ever so slightly excruciating to keep going and all the while second-guessing colors, but for now I'm carrying on and hoping for the best.  This is meant to be a gift, so I really do hope I like it in the end.

It's a beautiful pre-spring weekend here in central Indiana.   This morning some of the extended family met to celebrate my mother-in-law's 87th birthday.  We enjoyed brunch where a nephew (who is a culinary student) works as a chef.  It was fun to visit over some interesting gastronomical delights (most of which were completely new to us) cooked by a young man we've known from birth.  How DOES the time fly so fast? 

And that's all she wrote!  After my long tome last week I thought it best to keep it short this time around.  😉

To see what other YOPers are up to, visit our group on Ravelry.

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Thank you to all who left sweet comments last week of prayers and hopes for eventual renewed health for my sister.   The month-and-half wait now for surgery is hard, but her spirits seem up and her faith strong.  I'm in awe of the courage and spiritual outlook she expresses.

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