Monday, 1 July 2013

Ice Cream Blanket

Last week I finished the blanket I was working on for a friend's wee girl who is 18 months old. My friend requested that the blanket be cream and brown to match the nursery. I added in a little pink and it became "the ice cream blanket" as the colours reminded me of Neapolitan ice cream...

I think I was working on this blanket for around 8 weeks and truthfully, I had to keep taking little breaks from it and did quite a few other small projects in between. I find I often do this with bigger projects, do others do the same I wonder?

So a few details...

I used 4mm knitting needles for the squares and the yarn was Stylecraft Special DK. I used 2 balls of cream (1005), 2 balls of mocha (1064) and 1 ball of pale rose (1080).

Each square measured 10cm x 10cm and had 22 stitches and 28 rows. The first and last 2 rows of each square were knitted in garter stitch as were the first and last 2 stitches of each row, to give a border around each square. The rest was knitted in stocking stitch. Some squares were a solid colour and other striped whereby I knitted 2 rows of each colour throughout.

The little pink flowers are crocheted using a 4mm hook and the pattern for these was from the 'floral purse' in Cute & Easy Crochet by Nicki Trench.

The blanket measures 6 squares across by 8 squares long. Before sewing the squares together (which was a very time consuming task, I must admit!), I 'steam blocked' each square using the wonderful advice and instructions from this post from the fantastic Attic24. I think doing this made such a difference to the finish of the blanket.

Lastly, the border was double crochet into each stitch all the way around and then I used my favourite border which I seem to have used in all my blankets - the border from the 'flower cot blanket' in Cute & Easy Crocheted Baby Clothes by Nicki Trench. Again, I used a 4mm crochet hook.

It was quite hard work this blanket it really was, but enjoyable all the same! Thankfully, it was all worth it as my friend was really, really pleased with it and I am told the wee one loves it too...

X

 

 

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34 comments:

  1. The Faerie Factory1 July 2013 at 11:49

    It's delicious ... I'm sure it will be well loved ~ Sarah x

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  2. Elisabeth1 July 2013 at 11:55

    It's very pretty! The mix of knit and crochet is lovely. xoxox

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  3. Unknown1 July 2013 at 12:23

    What a beautiful blanket! It will be treasured always, I'm sure. Amazing work - I totally agree with taking little project breaks from a big piece you're working on...now, how 'bout making me an ice cream blanket to match my ice cream scarf I just finished? ;-) cx

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  4. Crafted by Carly1 July 2013 at 12:30

    Ooooh! That's SO beautiful! I love the pretty colours (especially because they reminded me of ice-cream)! Clever, clever you!!! :-)
    Carly
    x

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  5. Meredith1 July 2013 at 12:40

    Beautiful blanket, it will be cherished.
    hugs,
    Meredith

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  6. Clare1 July 2013 at 12:56

    It's soooooo gorgeous, I totally with you on both the lovely icecream colours and also the taking little breaks to do other things, I alway have so many diffrent project going on at once.
    Clare xx
    http://summerhousebythesea.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/leaving.html

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  7. Unknown1 July 2013 at 12:59

    beautiful blanket, love the colours.

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  8. thriftwood1 July 2013 at 13:24

    How beautiful! Reminds me of strawberry cream chocolate ... good enough to eat xxx

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  9. Joy1 July 2013 at 14:08

    Ah it's so lovely - and so nice to see it all finished - a lovely treasure indeed!
    I always need to have breaks whilst working on a big project - it's the variety thing again - gotta have change of project and different colours!
    Joy x

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  10. haggiz1 July 2013 at 14:38

    What a lovely blanket, I'm sure it will be treasured - such a lot of work has gone into it. Julie x

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  11. Lillie and Moss1 July 2013 at 15:24

    OMG!....this is soooo pretty! You did a wonderful job and I love what you named it!
    Hugs, Shari

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  12. Barbara1 July 2013 at 15:54

    Gorgeous blanket! It is a color combination I haven't seen much, but it looks zoooooo lovely! I hope the new mom is very happy with it!
    Cheers,
    Barbara

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  13. Irene1 July 2013 at 17:55

    A gorgeous and stunning blanket. I love the colours, and the mix of knitted squares with crochet edging.
    luv
    irene
    xxx

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  14. Jennifer Hays1 July 2013 at 18:01

    It's so pretty! You did a great job and it's a very distinctive look. I am sure she will love it.

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  15. Jo1 July 2013 at 18:06

    It is really beautiful and just the right amount of pink. Jo x

    http://joeveryday19.blogspot.co.uk

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  16. Julie1 July 2013 at 20:01

    I'm not surprised your fiend is pleased - it is gorgeous. Well done! Juliex

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  17. Vintage Sheet Addict1 July 2013 at 21:54

    It's just perfect for a little girl, lovely! :) x

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  18. gilly1 July 2013 at 21:54

    It's gorgeous and I'm sure will be well-loved. I do love Nicki Trench's book too - and love the wee touch of pink that you've added.
    Xx

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  19. Plain Jane1 July 2013 at 22:41

    Oh well done it's lovely - and is exactly like neapolitan ice cream! I've just ordered the Nicki Trench book and look forward to a few nice quick projects x Jane

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  20. Julie1 July 2013 at 22:48

    I have to confess I wasn't sure if I was going to like the colours at first but now it's finished it's really really lovely. The touch of pink is just perfect. I'm not surprised your friend loves it:)

    I also take breaks from bigger projects to stop me getting bored, though sometimes those breaks can be longer than it takes to make the thing! xx

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  21. Melanie2 July 2013 at 00:26

    What a beautiful blanket. The colours are beautiful. x

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  22. forgetmenotsblue2 July 2013 at 09:00

    Aw it's so lovely, beautiful colours. I'm always having breaks from big projects too, it's nice when your working on something big to have the instant gratification that small projects bring x

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  23. Hannapat2 July 2013 at 10:54

    I love your blanket, it is so gorgeous and is going to look beautiful in the baby's room. I think they colours work so well together and I love the border. I must look at it as I have the book. Thank you for sharing all the information as well as the wonderful photo's. I love seeing loads of photos as every one shows something different. Well done for another beautiful creation!! xoxo

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  24. Shortbread and Ginger2 July 2013 at 12:30

    Absolutely gorgeous - the colours are perfect!
    Liz @ Shortbread & Ginger

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  25. Gillian Roe2 July 2013 at 14:15

    It's so lovely, what a gift to treasure. It really does look like a neapolitain ice cream! It's not too overly-girly either, and the flowers are a nice touch. xx

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  26. Unknown2 July 2013 at 20:11

    Love it! Thank you for sharing the pattern. It looks rather vintage. The colours work really well together. I am starting to look at choc chip ice cream now.......

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  27. Eilidh3 July 2013 at 07:44

    Hi your blanket is gorgeous I love the edging, definitely need to get some wool and a crochet hook! - hope you don't mind but going to have a good rummage in your lovely blog! :-)

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  28. Unknown3 July 2013 at 09:55

    Gorgeous colours, the mocha and pink are lovely together, the flowers are adorable and as for the frill....actually, I JUST LOVE IT ALL! Clever you, wish I could crochet.XX

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  29. Mylittlepieceofengland3 July 2013 at 13:32

    I love Nikki Trench too, her books have so many good things in them. Your blanket is absolutely gorgeous, I love the colours, the pink really brings it to life, beautiful :) xx

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  30. Heather 3 July 2013 at 13:32

    That's a gorgeous blanket, it is just so like Neapolitan! what a great name for it, Heather x

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  31. Hazels Crochet4 July 2013 at 20:20

    Oooooooooooooooooooooooo this blanket is stunning, and it makes me want ice cream. This is amazing! :)

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  32. CJ STITCHING AND BLOOMS4 July 2013 at 22:00

    WOW, what a fantastic looking Ice Cream Blanket... It is truly beautiful.. The colors are all wonderful together. Love it. Hugs Judy

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  33. justpootling14 July 2013 at 18:14

    Oh that is sooo beautiful, just a little bit different. So pretty.
    Kate x
    justpootling.blogspot.co.uk

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  34. Alise16 October 2013 at 17:37

    I love this blanket!

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