crafts & knitting

falling in love again

Julie (little Cotton Rabbits)

I hadn't planned to make another crochet blanket, although recently I have been missing the pleasures of a little evening crochet time, but when I came across Minna's fabulous fleamarket find I fell in love.

 

Mistyafghan

I adore the colour scheme of her blanket so I'm trying to replicate the smoky, misty feel of it and I have spent the last 2 weeks trawling the yarn shops looking for heathered aran yarns. I've settled on using mostly Cascade 220 yarn as their colour range is vast and it is a very good price (I bought most of mine from Get Knitted).

 

Mistia

Despite the big range Cascade didn't have all of the colours that I had in mind and so I'm also mixing in some yarn from my stash – some vintage Magpie Aran by Rowan, some 'Willow' by texere and some mystery pink yarn (I think it's Rowan) in exactly the shade I wanted. Luckily I find that crochet is very forgiving when you use yarns of slightly different weights and thicknesses. I've posted full details to my Ravelry project page.

 

Mist

 

Now I have made a start, I'm happily settling down into a gentle rythm of working on this after the children are in bed at night. That last hour of the day is perfect for a little sleepy and undemanding crochet time and I'm really enjoying working on this. Hopefully it will turn out as beautifully as Minna's blanket and in honour of her beautiful styling and photography I'm going to call this the 'misty morning in autumn afghan'. Hopefully I'll have it finished by the time those first misty mornings arrive!

 

70 thoughts on “falling in love again”

  6. This already looks old – and I mean that as a compliment! I love the vintage feel to the pattern and the colours – should be beautiful when it’s finished.

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  9. Hi, I am one of your silent readers and so this is the first time I write a comment. I love reading you and you make such lovely knitted animals, they are so wonderful. The new crochet blanket you are working on is just beautiful and the colours are perfect. Would you be willing to share the specific colours you chose for that project. I would like to try and make one too.
    Thank you,
    Lynn
    Montreal, Canada

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  10. ahhhh…Julie… it is just gorgeous…those colours are so inviting and restful. I am crocheting my ‘rhubarb crumble’ blanket from cascade 220 and it is gorgeous
    have fun
    love jooles x

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  12. Thanks for commenting Lynn. Yes I’ve listed the colours that I’ve used on my ravelry project page here:
    http://www.ravelry.com/projects/bunnyknitter/misty-morning-in-autumn-afghan
    I have used a few bits of yarn from my stash that are now discontinued (the pink and the blues) but you should be able to find similar shades in aran/worsted weight yarns. I had wanted to get all of the colours for this project in the Cascade yarn but as there isn’t a shop nearby that sells them I had to buy on line and 2 of the colours that I ordered (8834 dusty rose and 8142 pear) weren’t what I was hoping for. It’s hard to choose colours from shade cards and I prefer to look at them in the flesh first.

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  13. So beautiful and delightful that you get inspiration from another blog as I do from you. What language does Minna write in? Do you read it fluently? I recently added French and Spanish yarny blogs to my blog roll to grow and stretch in more ideas.

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  15. I’ve been using Cascade yarns lately and really like them! They’ve a great color selection!
    I am glad you get an hour at night to relax and crochet. I find that no matter what time The Native’s go to bed, I need an hour to just ‘come down’. A time to unwind from the day.

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  16. Lovely colours, it’s looking so good already! A crochet blanket is such a soothing thing to make, I’ll bet you’ll enjoy this one no end. It’ll be lovely to see the finished thing too 🙂
    Sandra x

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  18. Julie-you never fail to inspire me. Thanks as always for sharing the journey. I love the colours you are using. Can’t wait to see the rest!

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  26. So beautiful. Vintage (if that isn’t a dirty word by now) and soothing yet with such a vibrance. Note to self: put the lurids down, move away now…!

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  30. Oh my, a lot has changed over here while I have been away! 🙂
    Firstly I have to say how much I love your new banner, it’s beautiful, those colours, mmmm.
    Your new blanket is gorgeous too, such soothing shades!
    Your shawl in your previous post is also lovely, I do know what you mean though about not being a shawl person! That’s why I have ‘Sparrow’ yarn languishing in the bottom of my knitting bag!!!
    Vivienne x

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  50. Julie
    What a wonderful surprise…………………..your title page is amazing. And that little bunny with the lace trim was the first thing to catch my eye. My curiosity is getting the better of me. When do we see the new batch of cotton tails??????

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  51. Hi, I’m from Brazil and I love your blog… It’s a wordeful and beautiful work. Your new banner is very cute. Congrats….

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  54. Oh my word Julie, you have truly made me want to make this one. The trouble is I have soooooo many projects on the go and one which I must do before the end of the Summer (can’t say any more). This is going on my list though. I LOVE your colour choices and your new banner is beautiful. Is the Cascade nice to use?
    Zoe x

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  58. Julie, your shawl is beautiful, and the new blanket is a wonderful collection of down to earth snuggle colors. I really love the picot(ish) edging in the inspiration picture as it gives it the extra vintage punch.
    I’m enjoying the updated cover photo – its like going to the best corner of your favorite store and taking in all the new items they worked together!
    Have a beautiful weekend! Leslie

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  59. love the new project and love, love, LOVE the new header!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So many thngs that reflect you and your joys with all woolly things. x

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  60. Lovely. I have been inspired to start a rag rug, a grey sweater and a cardigan these last few weeks. Must try and settle on one!
    I love the new header too……it’s so you!
    Emma

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  62. Hi, saw display in T-Mobile shop window in Oxford Street today which was using your cupcake pattern. I bought your pattern a long time ago and have knitted many for friends and family. I know the pattern inside out. Great if you know about / got paid for the window displays, thought might be worth mentioning it? Took photo too. Kind regards Celia

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  65. Julie, you have a great ability for choosing fantastic colour combinations and the right type of yarn. I love it, just as much as I love the colour choice for your “old china” blanket! great inspiration, Pati x

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  66. Oh Julie, that blanket is so beautiful… and I can’t stop staring at your new banner picture, it’s all so lovely. I really adore the colour choices you make. The bunny’s dress and tights… inspired! xxx

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  67. Julie, that is beautiful! I usually crochet with soft subtle colours like that and have recently started experiment with bolder and brighter colours, but your photos make me crave softer colours again!
    I love your blog so much but haven’t commented before. I love your knitting and crochet, but am always interested to hear how Toby stories and hearing how he’s going. I have nanny-ed 3 children with autism (two in one family and one in another) and am fascinated with the condition. I found that I bonded and connected with the Autisic children more than their non-Autistic siblings. I’m not 1005 sure why, but I found that their way of thinking was generally more predictable because it was so literal. I’m sure that it’s also because I’m sure that I’m on the spectrum too!
    Thank you for sharing your wonderful blog with me – I always smile when I see that you have posted something new 🙂

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  70. Hello Julie
    This blanket is incredibly beautiful – what a find! I’ve bought the Jan Eaton book so that I can make a start. I’ve never really crocheted anything big before but I’ll do it – that’s how inspiring your blog is! One question I have, if you don’t mind putting me on the right track – on Ravelry you list the yarns, and they’re all aran weight. I see you’re using a 3.25 hook. Is this ok? (I had assumed the hook would be bigger for aran yarn but there’s probably something I don’t know!) Thanks again! x

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