Do you remember the Baby Elmer Blanket that I made back in 2012? I made that for my friend Jenny’s first baby, a little boy called Jack. Now she is four weeks away from welcoming her second child into the world and I wanted to make sure that this little one would also have a blanket just as colourful as the Elmer that I made for Jack. I decided on a ripple, because I find that they are faster to make than blankets made from squares, and it’s easier for me to put down/pick up a ripple blanket in between caring for TTB than it is with individual squares. I started in plenty of time because I didn’t want to run out of time. I was pleasantly surprised that this blanket simply FLEW off of my hook! It was the first thing I had crocheted since the Attic24 Yarndale houses, and after knitting my Boneyard Shawl (this is on hiatus) in swathes of cream it felt liberating to work with lots of colour again.
The colour order was pre-planned by making a long thin sample of colours (here) and I stuck to that until the last few stripes. I’m really pleased with the overall look of the blanket, it is much more even than ones I have made previously. I would definitely make another sample again, it made life much easier. For example, if I had limited time I knew what colour I needed to use and I could ripple very quickly without having to do all the thinking, which I find takes a long time ;-)
(TTB “helped” me photograph it. He is obsessed with putting socks on at the moment, he does really well but can only do the right foot and so he always has one sock on, one sock off. and he prefers socks to toys right now. As you do.)
I used the same border for this as I did on the Elmer squares blanket: a round of red (“lipstick”) and then a round of trebles in “aspen” and finishing with a round of half trebles in “turquoise”. I wanted the blankets to match just in that detail.
I made the ripple straight at the edges before I put the border on: details here.
I’m so pleased with it! It was a joy to make and I was so excited to give it to her. Hopefully her new baby will love it too :-)
Project details
Pattern: Attic24 Neat Ripple
Yarn: Stylecraft Special dk in Meadow, Magenta, Plum, Lipstick, Fondant, Shrimp, Saffrom, Spring Green, Aspen, Turquoise, Aster, Cloud Blue and Sherbet.
Hook: Size 4mm
Starting Chain: 154 plus 3 for turning
Blanket weight: 500g (a ball of Stylecraft is 100g so you could make a blanket this size using 5 balls, however using more colours you will of course need one of each colour!)
Blanket Size: 37×31 inches / 94x79cm
Beautiful Heather, just BEAUTIFUL! I love it. I would love to do a ripple, but I think it’s a bit scary for an amateur like me. One day. X
And we absolutely adore it, just like the original blanket! I’m hoping to use it for monthly photoshoots!
Jack’s Elmer blanket has been loved and used daily and it’s really special to have a matching one for baby 2.
Promise a lovely picture of them together when we are home!
Thank you again Heather xxxxx
And we absolutely adore it, just like the original blanket! I\’m hoping to use it for monthly photoshoots!
Jack\’s Elmer blanket has been loved and used daily and it\’s really special to have a matching one for baby 2.
Promise a lovely picture of them together when we are home!
Thank you again Heather xxxxx
Oh Heather, it is absolutely fabulous, love the colours. You could have written that for me. Now all I have to decide is the colours. (maybe you could let us know colours too?)
LOVE the ONE sock!
Oh, how very DIM of me, I’ve just noticed the colours at the bottom.
The blanket is beautiful. Like Wendy I don’t think I am ready to attempt a ripple yet. It is on my to do list though :-)
The colours are perfect. I must remember to try your way of choosing colours when I do my next project. Choosing colours that go together takes me ages too.
I love the one sock look. He is very clever as I don’t remember my girls being able to put socks on at that age.
Gorgeous! Can’t beat a ripple blanket!
Gorgeous! Can\’t beat a ripple blanket!
Heather that is gorgeous, I am sending the link to my daughter who has been inspired by Lucy to make 2 ripple blankets, one for a new born and the other for herself. She will be really interested to see yours and the colours you’ve used as she uses Stylecraft too. L Anne x
Oh my gosh what a gorgeous blanket Heather! I like your idea of doing a sample first, I will need to try that on my next blanket I think (I also find “thinking” takes up a lot of time plus I crochet a lot in evenings in artificial light which doesn’t help when it comes to picking colors!). TTB is adorable (as always ;-)), he’s at that wonderful age of discovery – enjoy!! Have a lovely week, Helen
Absolutely gorgeous!
lovely ! i do like a ripple…
I love ripple blankets too and yours is especially pretty. Mine has been a work in progress for weeks already and it never seems to grow… I can’t wait for the day I can put the edging on – I will follow your linked instructions. Days like this I wish I had a new baby in the family to crochet for.
Oh Heather your blanket is lovely! It’s such a happy blanket!
Very well done. xxx
Your colour combinations are gorgeous. Great job. A wonderful gift for a new baby, and something they will have always.
New life plan: Get knocked up so Heather can make me a blanket.
Ooh, lovely colours and really well placed together. Good to see the crochet mojo coming back. I have taken the first steps to ripple heaven and Lucy’s pattern really is easy to follow, but I bet mine won’t look as luscious as yours…
Also love the single sock look, TTB carries it off so well.
Just love this blanket Heather. The great thing about ripples is that no two blankets are alike.
Wow oh wow it’s stunning all those yummy colours you can’t beat a ripple xx
Stunning
Clare x
Hi Heather, it’s gorgeous! I like the idea of not having to do the “what colour would look nice next” a lot. I spend most of my time wondering about that during the current row.
Jacquie x
Love this! The colours look really good. Look forward to seeing your next project.
It’s just beautiful! Love those colours. I made a ribble pillow, but you have inspired me to think about going bigger, and doing a blanket! Thanks!
I love the ripple blanket idea.
I’m doing a chevron blanket at the mo, I love it.
Ive chosen some summery tropical colours.
Take a peek on my blog:
thehousehen.blogspot.com
Oooh, it’s deliciously scrumptious!! Well done, Heather ;D
Oh that’s a lovely colour choice. I’m using Stylecraft DK at the moment for a granny stripe. It’s such a great yarn to use. To make a blanket from 5 balls is such a good value, especially for a gift.
Caroline
Simply lovely. Just the right gift for welcoming a new baby to the world xx
Love it Heather! I totally get your not wanting to think thing. I am like that too. Hey I was up your end at the weekend doing a workshop with Luce. Details on my blog. xx
Just discovered your blog purely by chance and I’m so glad I did! Your work is truly inspiring. I am a keen knitter but hoping to crochet a blanket very soon so your advice and beautiful photos are really helpful. Thanks.
Just discovered your blog purely by chance and I\’m so glad I did! Your work is truly inspiring. I am a keen knitter but hoping to crochet a blanket very soon so your advice and beautiful photos are really helpful. Thanks.
What a beautiful blanket! I’m loving all the bright and happy colors. Wonderful job!