Off and (nearly) on the hook

Published on by Liz

Last autumn seems like a lifetime ago, but it was back in November that I joined in on the Rozeta Crochet-Along (CAL).  There was no way I needed to take on another crochet project, bearing in mind all the other lovely projects I had on the go.  But I could not resist using some small ball-ends in my stash to have a go at the start.  I had some bits and pieces left over from the blanket I made for my friend Julie, plus some other complimentary colours.  And so began to emerge what I came to think of as my ‘coastal Rozeta’ – I was totally hooked (groan!).

 

The official CAL finished just before Christmas, but I was a week or two behind at that point.  It did not matter a jot, and I returned to the fray after the seasonal break.  It was a lovely cosy project to be working on through the winter.  As it grew, it kept me toasty warm as I crocheted along while drinking my early morning cup of tea.

 

 

And all of a sudden, it was finished!  The official pattern included a rectangular panel on one side of the square, because the inspiration for the design was a stained glass window.  I felt that this worked brilliantly for the colour options where the main colour was dark, thus echoing the lead between the glass panes.  But with my light colour-way, I preferred to keep it symmetrical and square.  So here is the ta-dah moment:

 

As is often the case with these large projects, it is difficult to get a photograph which fully does this project justice.  But suffice to say that I am really pleased with it.  I love the colour combination that I ended up with:

 

And I love the combination of softness and texture:

 

So many aspects of this blanket remind me of calm and peaceful walks along Scotland’s beautiful beaches.  Overall, this was a wonderful impulse project to take on.

 

A particularly pleasing aspect of the process was participating in the CAL with fellow crocheters around the world.  So I have decided to get involved with another one!  Jane Crowfoot’s Fruit Garden CAL will be starting on 28 April and I can’t wait. This pattern is inspired by the work of May Morris, daughter of the famous designer William Morris.  It is going to be a beautiful project to work on, and I am looking forward to learning some new techniques too. What’s not to like! 🙂

 

24 thoughts on “Off and (nearly) on the hook”

  1. An absolutely fabulous work of art, and being done alongside your jobs and other knitting and crochet projects. The Fruit Garden will look wonderful too. I am looking forward to seeing it – but not next week! xx

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    1. Thanks so much Ann. And I can only imagine how sad and frustrating it must feel for you – I’m so sorry that this has been taken away from you. 🙁

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  5. You are an inspiration. This year – 2020 – I’m going to go back to crocheting. I don’t know how it will begin, but you have given me an incredible energy boost from following this project. Thank you, my dearest friend, for your unwavering support of all that makes life beautiful !

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      1. That would be wonderful. I’m looking for my crochet hooks. I think I know where I have them, but you know how “safe places” are, don’t you. I put important things in safe places and then forget where those safe places are. Yikes!!!

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      2. Haha, I know that feeling all to well! Mum and I often talk about those ‘black holes’ into which items seem mysteriously to disappear. And I regularly search the flat for things, getting crosser and crosser as I go, only to find what I am looking for in the very first place I looked (or clearly didn’t look)!! 😩🤣

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      3. Oh, I had to add this when I read your comment. T.S. Eliot and you have the same thought!!
        “We shall not cease from exploration
        And the end of all our exploring
        Will be to arrive where we started
        And know the place for the first time.”

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      4. That is brilliant! One of my favourite quotes perfectly repurposed to justify one of my human frailties. I feel so much better now that I can be in the august company of TSE!! 😂💕👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

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  7. Absolutely stunning. What a fabulous blanket, ,well worth all the effort. You say you used yarn from your stash, did you have to buy more as the project unfolded or were you able to mix different brands of yarn so that it was it all just the same weight.?

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    1. Aw thanks so much! And thanks for your question – I meant to say more about this in the post but got distracted!! Yes, I started off with a combination of Stylecraft Special DK colours in my stash – at first I really just wanted to see whether I would carry on with the project, and whether the colour scheme I had picked would work. When it became clear that it was going well, I ordered some extra balls of some of the colours.

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  9. Simply gorgeous Liz! So restful. The textures add to the sense of beach walks; remind me of pebbles and lumps and bumps on the sand. Your new CAL also looks amazing. Not long before you get started on that one!

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    1. I’m so glad you like it and can see what I mean about the coastal theme – not just the colours but the textures and shapes. Only 5 more sleeps to go for the next one…. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

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  10. Pingback: Off The Needles; Off The Hook – LEAPING LIFE

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