Thanks for all of the comments and suggestions on the colours I've chosen for my blanket, what a lot of diverse opinions! Good job I only have to worry about pleasing myself 😉
I like Sarah's view about colour – it is all about how colours make us feel and that's a wonderfully subjective thing. Previously I felt jangly when I was looking at what I'd made, but now the citron has gone from the colour scheme I feel calmness. Whilst I liked the citron on it's own, I felt it had a strong influence on the surrounding colours and it changed the overall feel, so it's being replaced with a shade of blue-ish grey called 'clear' that I had bought for elephant knitting. I was too impatient to ponder any longer so I took the re-usable blocks and after spending yesterday's knitting time crocheting instead I now have this…
'Me old china' won't be a bright and colourful summer's day blanket (which is how I feel about my flowers in the snow) but more something to snuggle in on a cold and wet thursday afternoon in October when you're feeling a little melancholy, while listening to something like this.
I am not sad to unpick the blocks with citron in because I know that the result will be worth it for me. I'm lucky that although I'd woven in the ends I'd not got around to trimming them off so each round of yarn that I unpick is completely re-usable and I'm bagging them up in round order so that re-using them is easy.
Now I feel comfortable again with making my 'one square a day' each evening. But by day I'll be working hard to get this lot finished.
Yes, all the little headless animals are gradually each getting a body and clothes – it's just a bit of a jigsaw puzzle working out which outfit goes best with which head!
little cotton rabbits 
The blankets new colour way looks just prefect, and looks just right for the time of year( that is once we are done with this Indian summer!!!!!) I know which little animal body is my favourite, top of picture White skirt with red flowers, can’t wait to see which head she gets 🙂
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As long as you are happy with your blanket that’s all that matters and I love seeing your little ones in progress . You do have such a good eye for colour x
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Great choice, the colours look beautiful, very soft and calming. It’s was well worth taking the citron out, you wouldn’t have been happy with the finished blanket.Do you sell your animals in your Etsy shop ?
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Your blanket does look much calmer Julie, even though I too loved the citron!
It’s such a joy looking at all those pretty little dresses.:)
Amazing scenery and beautiful music, by the way!
Vivienne x
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I love the blanket – what a difference taking out the citron made! I love the citron too, though. The headless bodies and dresses are wonderful too – can’t wait to see the finished products!
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It looks terrrific, excellent choice in color change.
Now you can use the citron for some bright and perky critter clothes!
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I can see that the new combination is somehow more restful and certainly has a different feel. So glad your project is back on track.
That last picture is wonderful – the little dresses!
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Your knitting is so creative! You are very talented indeed and you’re inspiring me to pick up a crochet needle again. I do hope one day to own one of your charming dolls. They are truly precious. Thank you for sharing yourself and your talents.
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OH NO!!!!!! Please save that “clear” color for elephants, it is perfect. Of course, I would LOVE an elephant in any color.
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At the end of the day it’s how you feel about what you make that matter’s most … and I can see you feeling oh so snuggly in that lovely blanket 😀
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I think the blanket is gorgeous Julie, and your animal friends are completely adorable ! Thank you for the egg cosy pattern, I’ve nearly finished it but got distracted by an unfinished teddy,hat and scarf – never enough hours for knitting in my opinion !
Kay x
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See? For all our opinions, you knew what was wrong, and you fixed it. YAY!!!!! And now it’s working and pretty and not jangly and the colors seem to have settled themselves quite nicely. The more saturated values don’t even yell at me anymore. Which is nice for me, but not really that important. You’re absolutely right. You only need to worry about what works for you and makes you aesthetically happy – and your instincts are always so very good. I am just left sitting with perplexed mouth, hoping I didn’t annoy, trying to figure it out.
Anyway. Now it looks just like you wanted it to look – the old china. Lovely!!
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I forgot to say – it’s odd to see the heads without bodies, but the dresses with their legs sticking out are even odder. I look at them – all that design, and just sigh. Happy, respectful sigh.
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Those little bodies are sooooooo cute…can’t wait to see the bodies and heads together!!!
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Beautiful Julie. I’m glad you persevered with ‘me old china’ it would have been a real shame to let it go. Those animals look amazing too – can’t wait to see them with heads. Hope you are well, Lynne
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I just love your knit animals. Part of the reason I’m learning to knit (I’m a crocheter) is because of your animals. I really want to buy a dear friend one of your rabbits for her birthday in November. I’m hoping your Etsy shop will be restocked soon.
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The new colour combo looks fabulous Julie – and you are right about colour choice being a subjective thing. I’ve blogged today about the blanket that I am now making having been totally inspired by yours! I think my colours are slightly brighter but I used your palette for inspiration and I’m loving my squares. Now I just need to decide whether to edge them all in cream or go for mixed look. Thank you again for the inspiration.
Lucy xx
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P.S I forgot to ask – how are you joining your squares? Are you crocheting them together as you go and if so – where do you start?!?! L xx
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the little clothes look so beautiful-can’t wait to see heads and bodies united. I love the new colourway in your blanket-it looks cosy
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I did not comment on the last post as although I could see what you meant, I didnt know how to rectify it and you are right, it has to please you, not us.
Thing is, it does please me now. You have it spot on and what a good idea to bag the yarn that way. So glad its back on track, especially as its you that is to thank (or blame, not sure which) for my new found crochet interest/obsession.
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Much better without the citron.It dominated too much.
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Your blanket will be beautiful and so mellow, i love it.
Oh my goodness i wish i was tiny or your dresses were a little (ok, a lot!) bigger a little sprig one or a dotty one would make me SO happy!
happy crafting
love j x
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Much calmer without the citron.
Love the picture of the little dresses with the legs sticking out. Reminds me of Halloween decorations. Can’t remember if you do Halloween in England (I lived in Teesside for 2 years a few decades ago).
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Much much better!! I was going to comment on the post where you first talked about the citron, but there had been so many wonderful comments and I had nothing new to offer.
I love how these new colours come together! To be honest, it actually really makes a big difference! (I didn’t realize how much seeing the pictures yesterday, but this new blanket is so lovely!) And those little bodies are so adorable, it will be great to see how the jigsaw turns out! 🙂
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Please can you add me to your list of contacts Julie. I would love to have the chance to buy one of your happy little animals.
Thank you.
Margaret – Shropshire.
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I thought the picture of just the heads was cute, but this picture is cute also. I just can not believe how fast you knit. It would take me forever just to knit one little dress.
You are so talented. How I wish I could own one of you creations.
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Hello Julie, I am glad that you are happy again with your blanket. I can totally see what you mean about it becoming an autumn blanket for hot chocolate afternoons. I am sure it will be a pleasure with this blanket. Your little clothes and animal parts look great, I just wish there were knitted dresses and fair isle jumpers like yours for adults. I am looking forward to seeing them all finished.
Claudia x
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ALL LITTLE DRESSES AND LEGS OUR LOVELY I COULD LOOK AT THEM FOR HOURS.
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So glad you are back on track. It was worth starting over — you need to like what you are doing. I do need to ask a question — what brand of yarn did you use for the one-a-day blankie? Thanks so much. Deb
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Your picture of the headless animals made me smile. I can’t wait to seem them finished as they always take my breath away with their loveliness.
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Thank you for sharing your struggle with us. Your thought process is interesting and a reminder to us all — we should please ourselves with the work we do. Your new patterns for your precious animal’s clothes are simply AMAZING. Anticipating and imagining the head and body match is a treat!!! You are an inspiration. thank you!!! gail
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I really love these squares and agree with you that they are better for losing the citron, even though it is a lovely colour on its own. The blanket will be a beauty, I’m sure. Do you mind me asking a question? I am just starting out and I wondered how many balls of yarn you have bought to make this blanket. I’d like to get some similar colours myself but have no idea how many balls of each colour I would need (I am an absolute crochet beginner). Hope you can help.
Thanks
Nicki
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Isn’t color and emotion a funny thing?
Pale pink is the one color that I can’t blend and that’s the color I would have suggested to remove.
Is it because I have an all male family or is it really a personal dislike?
I do know that whenever a pink object, any pink object – a plastic bottle, a piece of clothing, even a piece of paper – appears in our home it looks decidedly out of place.
Funnily enough, even our boys girlfriends do not list or wear pink among their fave colors and they are certainly ‘girly’ girls.
Regardless, I do like the result of removing the citron, but then again I couldn’t see a problem when it was worked in.
BTW – how long does it take you to knit one of your little creatures? To me it looks like hours and hours.
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I love all the little detailed designs on the knitted animals. LUSH 🙂
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All those little attires are just so cute! If my niece were to see these, I am sure she’ll want to play “dress up” all day!
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I stumbled upon your blog awhile ago and love to see your knitting projects. I had to say that the animals and their outfits are about the cutest thing I have ever seen! Your projects are beautiful!
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Hi, I was just wondering where I might find a pattern for the little animals?
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I feel a bit like your animals most days. Not ever quite sure where my head is or if it matches my body! 🙂
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