My blanket for Crochet For Kidneys Part 4

21 Sunday Jun 2015

Posted by Natasja in Crochet For Kidneys, My crochet, My ramblings, Part 4

Tags

blanket, cfk4, charity blankets, crochet, crochet4kidneys, granny square, granny square afghan

We have one blanket for CFK4!

I just love granny squares! Just look at them!

I started the blanket on the weekend that I launched CFK4, and finished it yesterday. How super quick was that? Nothing beats a simple granny square for speedy blanket making or for a super fun time playing with colour combinations.

For the border, I used Border 138 from Around the Corner Crochet Borders book. It’s a striking border with a slightly raised ridge and very easy to do: just three rows of (UK) double trebles / (US) trebles, but on the second and the third rounds you work around the posts of the stitches in the previous round from the back. If each round is done in a different colour – in my case turquoise, grey and finally navy – it gives an really interesting effect.

I don’t know about you about I always place my darkest shade at the very edge of my border. I think a dark colour on the outermost edge pulls everything together.

The nitty gritty of my Blue Crochet For Kidneys Part 4 blanket:

Pattern: Traditional 6-round granny square, the last round of which is a different colour, arranged as 9 rows of 7 squares per row.
Yarn: Various DK acrylic yarns in shades of blue and a silver grey
Hook: 4 mm
Joining method: My Rose Valley’s Join-as-you-go method.
Border: Border #138 from Around The Corner Crochet Borders
Finished size with border: 135 cm x 97 cm

I am relieved that I’ve done my blankety bit for CFK4. Even if no-one else sends me a blanket for the kidney dialysis patients I know there’ll be at least one that I can hand over to the nurses at the Royal London Hospital.

I’m going to make one more blanket like this, but in shades of pink. Wouldn’t that look nice?

Before I start the pink blanket though I think I want to finish my Marie Wallin Rose top first – especially as it looks like Summer has finally arrived in the UK. Warm sunny days are not the best time to work on a blanket!

If you’re working on a CFK4 blanket, thanks! If you haven’t started yet, maybe you could consider making a blanket – it’s a great way to use up your stash and you’re make a comforting blanket for someone going through very unpleasant kidney dialysis.

All the detail on Crochet For Kidneys Part 4 can be found in this blog post.

Crochet For Kidneys Part 4

05 Friday Jun 2015

Posted by Natasja in Crochet For Kidneys, Part 4

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

charity blankets, crochet, crochet4kidneys

Today I’m launching Crochet For Kidneys Part 4!

Crochet For Kidneys has grown from seven blankets in Part 1 and 14 blankets in Part 2, to 17 blankets in Part 3. We had purple squares with a white border in Part 1, hexagons with a white border in Part 2, and for Part 3 I asked you send me strips of six squares with white borders. The beautiful, lovingly made blankets were given to dialysis patients at the Royal London Hospital and the Royal Free Hospital.

This year I’d like you to send me BLANKETS please. By asking for blankets I lessen the work I have to do (no joining and crocheting borders), but I also give you the freedom to do whatever you like! No colour rules, no design rules – you are in charge of the look of your blanket for the dialysis patients! Squares, hexagons, stripes, chevrons – go wild!

I only ask that the blankets be roughly 90 cm x 135 cm (35″ x 53″) – that’s about a lap afghan size. If you are making 15 cm squares like we did for Parts 1 and 3, that would be 54 squares arranged in 9 rows of 6 squares. If you are making 13 cm squares for instance, that would be 70 squares arranged in 10 rows of 7 squares. Use your judgement, but as long as the blanket comes out to roughly (but no smaller) than 90 cm x 135 cm (35″ x 53″) it will be perfect.

Just like before, please do not use wool as it may shrink or felt when the recipients wash their blankets on a too warm wash. Acrylics or cotton only please.

I would like to have all the blankets by Saturday 30 October 2015. I’m giving you five months to the deadline because I’m asking you to work a bit harder on your contributions, which will take up more of your time.

Please post photos of your blankets-in-the-making on the Facebook Group . If you’re not a member of the group, just ask to join and I’ll add you immediately.

Now that there are no rules for the colour or design of the blanket, I can’t wait to see what you guys come up with!