Sunday 31 August 2014

Tah-Dah: Canada Blanket

Hello all!

Sorry I have been too quiet during the last two weeks! There are lots of things I wanted to write about but life got into the way. We had a wedding to go to (and handicraft the present beforehand), a lovely girl from Australia stayed with us for about 10 days and there was a lot of paperwork to be done. The latter is not finished yet but I'll get there. Paperwork can be so annoying, can't it? I changed our electricity contract for example. We now have "green power" which means all our electricity from from renewable energy sources. I feel good that I finally got the change done but of course there are lots of letters to write and tonight I will have to wander downstairs and note down the current meter reading. 



Still, I found some time to crochet and finally finish my "Canada Blanket". Half of the blanket was crafted during our stay in Canada, the other half here in Germany after our return. It took about five weeks which is great for a blanket this size!

So let me tell you the story of the blanket...

I have heard a lot about Red Heart Super Saver Yarn, so I wanted to try it. However you can't get it here in Germany and ordering it from the US is expensive. So when we stayed in Vancouver I went to a Michael's Craft Store and sure they had the yarn (Great store btw! So many craftsy ideas!). I bought two skeins only at first but quickly went back and got more.



Of course I spent a lot of time in the yarn section trying to decide on two colours. I ended up with "Aran" and a brownish one. Can't remember the name of the later one - sorry! Does any of you have an idea what the darker colour is called? I tossed the paper with the name on it unfortunately. 


The colours go together really well and it looks a bit like a cappuccino, doesn't it? The pattern is the lovely Corner to Corner Throw one which I have used many time. I reckon I might be slightly addicted to the pattern. 


The yarn suggests a 5,0 mm hook but I used a 4 mm one instead. I brought some hooks with me to Canada but my 4 mm one wasn't good. So I got myself a maple wood one in Nanaimo from Mad about Eve which is a great store hidden in a small arcade. That hooked perfectly and I treasure it quite a bit!



I started on the blanket when I was still in Vancouver. As I mentioned before the boyfriend had a conference, so I had time on my own. In the mornings I liked to sit in coffee shops, have a good coffee and crochet. Oh and talk to people. One meets so many interesting people sitting in a coffee shop!




After that I crocheted in the evenings in the hostels. A good converstation starter really! Some people thought I was making a scarf and quite a few called it knitting... It was rather large already by the time we arrived in Tofino and couldn't be carried around in my handbag anymore! :-) I planned to get some crochet done on the plane but I fell asleep instead :P 



Oh, I really love this blanket! Reminds me of the good times in Canada and all the wonderful places I crocheted it at! The beach in Vancouver during the sunset for example... So, yeah, I think I will keep the blanket. I was going to give it away, since I have the Rainbow Blanket and my Australia Blanket already but I need to keep this one too. For the memories...

Do you ever feel like that you just can't give something away?!

Details: Canada Blanket

Seize: 130cmx160cm
Rows: 180 (Clusters of 10 rows)
Yarn: Red Heart Super Saver

Crochet Time: July-August 2014


Take care
Anne

P.S. Sorry for the dark pictures! The weather here in Dortmund is rainy and stormy. Not a good time to take pictures really but it looks like the weather will stay like this for some more time!

9 comments :

  1. I think you chose the colours perfectly, they look so soothing and comforting! And I had the pleasure of seeing your Canada Blanket in person! ;) Thank you so much for such a lovely time!! xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Glad to have you! :-) Hope you enjoy the rest of your travel!

      Delete
  2. It's a gorgeous blanket!! I can't believe how quickly you finished it! I love the colours and patterns, and you've timed it perfectly for the onset of autumn and blanket season ;) It's really sunny here in Berlin, hope it makes its way west for you! xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I kind of wanted to finish it really quickly, so it was still close to my holidays in Canada! You are totally right about how I just finished it in time for autuum - I actually cuddled under it last night in front of the TV! Love the texture of the C2C pattern!

      It wasn't too sunny yesterday but it looks like today is going to be a really nice late-summer day! Still cold outside but there is sun to be seen already!

      Delete
  3. Your blanket looks so squishy, soft and warm. I love how you have TWO souvenirs, not just the blanket but the hook also. I know how you feel about being unable to give something away. My "sheepie" blanket was one of those so I decided to keep it for one of my children (hoping there will be future grandchildren) but everyone likes that blankie so much, I fear an argument over who will get that one - aha - solution - I will keep it to be used here! ;-) I hope by that stage in life to have more than one sheepie blanket anyway. Now I have put that in print, I will have to be accountable, yes?
    YOUR blanket is beautiful, classic and a perfect memento of your travels.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I will remind you about how you plan to keep the blanket for yourself! :-) I just saw it on your blog: it looks absolutly amazing!

      Aren't blankets such a good way to keep memories? I made a large granny blanket as a cover for our bed some years ago. Took me about two years because I only did squares every now and then. The good thing is that most squares are now connected to a specific time or a specific left over yarn from other project. Full of memories!

      Delete
  4. Hi Anne
    I saw your comment on Ingrid's blog and have just popped over. What a great blog-I love the way you write between the two countries! What gorgeous crochet projects-love the blanket and dragon!I love crochet and languages too -I am your newest follower and will be looking forward to more of your posts.
    All the best from Cornwall, UK
    Alison xx
    farmhousetraditions.blogspot.co.uk

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Alison! Good to see you here! :-) Languages are such a magical thing, aren't they?
      Take care
      Anne

      Delete
  5. I love the blanket! I think your darker color is called "Buff". I have a hard time letting go of things too sometimes. That's why if If know I need to gift something, I plan the gift for that person before I start it, then I don't get so emotionally attached! Anything I just make on a whim is fair game for me to keep! It's beautiful!

    ReplyDelete