Beachcombing Blanket – Week 12

Welcome to the final instalment of my ‘Beachcombing Blanket’ crochet along – it’s Week 12! 🙂 💙☀️🌊

What another fabulous crochet along journey it’s been which I’ve adored sharing with so many people! Whether you’ve crocheted along or just followed from the sidelines, I’m so very happy that you chose to accompany me! 🙂

And here’s the final video! It’s been really lovely to record these each week and share my local coastline with you all, bringing a little extra something to the crochet along… thank you for the lovely feedback I’ve had on these. This week there’s something a little different to share… 🙂

Just like in my previous Cal’s, I‘m feeling pretty emotional as we approach the end. After so many months of both hard work as well as pure crochet joy and then seeing so many people join in and make such beautiful blankets, it’s all a little overwhelming and so very special indeed!

And just as I was struggling to put into words what it all means for me as we come to the end of our crochet along, I was contacted by one of you lovely followers with a thank you and a poem! And suddenly I didn’t need to think of the words anymore because Jane (also known as Jessie) had done it for me. In this weeks video I really enjoyed reading the poem out loud… but here it is in print too… 🙂

Life can be a beach
 
I’m still in total disbelief as I gaze down at my knee
And see this gorgeous blanket here that’s
being CROCHETED by ME?!

Three months ago I didn’t know what
C. A. L. could mean..
“Who even IS this Cal..?” I mused.. 
“He’s rarely ever seen!”

I hadn’t learned to hold a hook consistently back then
Or to wind the wool around my hand – I’d hold it like a pen

I only learned some basics last year, made a scarf or two
I’d start a row with 40 stitches…. end with 62

So this was quite the leap of faith and I
truly never dared
To hope I’d make it to Week 12.. I was green and slightly scared!

But through these crazy lockdown days I’ve watched my work unfold
And proved that dogs CAN learn new tricks despite them being old

Oh the joy of Friday mornings with
Eleonora on her beach,
This grounding mindful lady with a gift to
share and teach

Who has generously guided us each step
along the way
To create the complex works of art we’re
looking at today

She’s shown us all the treasures which
formed the base of her design
And what a fab result it is – I’m chuffed to bits with mine!

I’ve tackled shells and bobbles.. hold my
yarn now like a pro
And if I’ve had a query there’s always someone there who’ll know

The Facebook gang who patiently will
share their expertise
To get beginners back on track and make us feel at ease

Who praise our choice of colours and
encourage all the way
Those folks have made this such a joy –
and stopped me going grey!

Together we have tackled stitches
previously unknown
We’ve ‘raised our posts’ and raised our
game as square by square we’ve grown

Who knew I’d be referring to amphibians
and fruits
As ‘frogging puffy pineapples’ formed part of my pursuits?

(Though frankly life’s too short to crab
stitch – what’s all THAT about?
I simply couldn’t do it so I mainly missed it out!)

A true labour of love through Spring and a gift to always treasure
Each moment of this journey has been
sheer unrivalled pleasure

So THANK YOU lovely Eleonora – for your
talented idea
You’ve made a Yorkshire lady pretty proud and thrilled up here

Your weekly strolls with Salty have inspired a world art form
And Lockdown memories now for me are
blue and cream.. and warm!
 
Jane Smithson
June 2020

Thank you so much Jessie… that poem brought tears to my eyes! I have no more words except absolute gratitude for each and every one of you who has crocheted along.

As with my previous crochet alongs, it’s the community that builds up around the blanket that is so very special. When I really think about it, I’m in awe at how a blanket design that comes from within me has now been made all over the world in over 40 countries!

So here’s this weeks round-up of fabulous blankets being shared on Instagram and over in the Facebook ‘Coastal Crochet CAL‘ group this week…

It’s been absolutely wonderful to see such beautiful blankets being made, some in my original colours and some in amazing individual colour choices. Ruty from Israel sent me this beautiful photo of her blanket which I’d like to share too… 😍 Not everyone is on Facebook or Instagram so it’s nice to share photos sent direct to me… 🙂

I’m so happy that there are now Beachcombing Blankets all over the world and I hope that these blankets will be treasured for a very long time! Just like so many beachcombing finds can be treasured… that beautiful shell, that stunning piece of seaglass or that perfect smooth pebble!

And here is a special photo too… we were finally able to meet with some family members outdoors at the weekend and it meant I got to see the blankets that both my niece and sister-in-law are crocheting!! Here they are next to mine…

The timing of this crochet along has been something I could never have planned or imagined. That in the midst of a worldwide pandemic, so many people would be able to find joy, comfort, distraction and a connection with others through crocheting this blanket! That has made it extra special… and as many countries ease out of lockdown I hope that our shared journey of creating and togetherness will continue out into the world… our blankets really can help the world to be a better place… 💙

As usual, for those of you who have purchased the PDF pattern on Ravelry it has now been updated to include Week 12 in both UK and US terms…

Ravelry Pattern for Beachcombing Blanket

And we have just two final rounds to crochet to end our blankets and they are inspired by those man made beachcombing finds! 🙂

The first round is the colour of fishing nets…

And then our very final round is a ‘Pom Pom Bobble’ edging inspired by all those fishing buoys…

I think it’s the perfect finish for our blankets… 🙂

Before we crochet these final rounds, I just want to share some photos I’ve taken over the last few months of my finished blankets…

And then some which I was able to take yesterday… the hottest day of the year so far here on the south coast… ☀️☀️☀️

So let’s get crocheting with these very final rounds! 🙂

The full written pattern with lots of photos and links to YouTube tutorials is below in UK crochet terms. At the very end of this blog post I’ve provided the pattern in US terms too.

PATTERN IN UK CROCHET TERMINOLOGY.

Abbreviations

ch: chain

dc: double crochet

RS: right side

ss: slip stitch

st(s): stitch(es)

tr: treble

tr4tog: treble 4 stitches together

Here’s a tutorial for the edging this week.

Week 12 – The Edging Part 2 – Fishing Nets and Buoys

The final two rounds of the edging and the blanket will be crocheted, inspired by those manmade beachcombing finds of fishing nets and buoys!

2 colours are used: Yarns E and G.

Pattern Notes

These rounds carry on from the rounds crocheted in Week 11. I recommend putting a stitch marker in each central corner stitch as you go round making it easier to identify the corner stitch on subsequent rounds. When crocheting the pompom bobbles it is really important to go under both the top (or the left sided strand if you’re looking at it upright) and the back strands from the chains to ensure the best possible shape for the pompom bobbles.

Pompom Bobble: 4ch, tr4tog in third ch from hook going under both top and back strands, 3ch, tr4tog in third ch from hook going under both top and back strands, ss to first ch of first 4 ch going under both top and back strands, 1ch.

Round 5 With RS facing join Yarn E to back loop only of any st, 3ch (counts as first tr), 1tr in back loop only of next and each st around working 3tr into back loop of each central corner st, ss to top of first 3 ch to join, fasten off. [195 sts across top and bottom sides, 241 sts across sides plus 1 extra st in each corner]

Round 6 With RS facing join Yarn G to outer right st on top or bottom (not the corner st), 1ch (does not count as st), 1dc in same st, 1dc in each of next 9 sts, * 1 pompom bobble, (1dc in each of next 11 sts, 1 pompom bobble) 16 times, 1dc in each st to end of side, 1dc in corner st, 1 pompom bobble, (1dc in each of next 11 sts, 1 pompom bobble) 21 times, 1dc in each st to end of side, 1dc in corner st, 1 pompom bobble, ** 1dc in each of next 10 sts, repeat from * until end of final side at **, ss to first dc to join, fasten off and weave in all ends. [17 pompom bobbles along top and bottom, 21 pompom bobbles along sides plus 1 pompom bobble in each corner]

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And here’s just one final photo of all my blankets together! 🙂

So what’s next? Well next week Hobbycraft are releasing a CAL for Granny Square Month and I’ve designed a square which is completely inspired by one of the squares in my Beachcombing Blanket… My square is being released next Friday so watch this space!

And then there are plenty of other crochet projects in the pipeline… my hooks are always busy! 🙂

Thank you so much for reading this far! I truly appreciate each and every person that takes a little interest in my crochet… 🙂

Enjoy your blankets and Happy Crocheting Everyone… 🙂 🙂

PATTERN IN US CROCHET TERMINOLOGY.

Abbreviations

ch: chain

dc: double crochet

dc4tog: double crochet 4 stitches together

RS: right side

sc: single crochet

sl st: slip stitch

st(s): stitch(es)

Week 12 – The Edging Part 2 – Fishing Nets and Buoys

The final two rounds of the edging and the blanket will be crocheted, inspired by those manmade beachcombing finds of fishing nets and buoys!

2 colours are used: Yarns E and G.

Pattern Notes

These rounds carry on from the rounds crocheted in Week 11. I recommend putting a stitch marker in each central corner stitch as you go round making it easier to identify the corner stitch on subsequent rounds. When crocheting the pompom bobbles it is really important to go under both the top (or the left sided strand if you’re looking at it upright) and the back strands from the chains to ensure the best possible shape for the pompom bobbles.

Pompom Bobble: 4ch, dc4tog in third ch from hook going under both top and back strands, 3ch, dc4tog in third ch from hook going under both top and back strands, sl st to first ch of first 4 ch going under both top and back strands, 1ch.

Round 5 With RS facing join Yarn E to back loop only of any st, 3ch (counts as first dc), 1dc in back loop only of next and each st around working 3dc into back loop of each central corner st, sl st to top of first 3 ch to join, fasten off. [195 sts across top and bottom sides, 241 sts across sides plus 1 extra st in each corner]

Round 6 With RS facing join Yarn G to outer right st on top or bottom (not the corner st), 1ch (does not count as st), 1sc in same st, 1sc in each of next 9 sts, * 1 pompom bobble, (1sc in each of next 11 sts, 1 pompom bobble) 16 times, 1sc in each st to end of side, 1sc in corner st, 1 pompom bobble, (1sc in each of next 11 sts, 1 pompom bobble) 21 times, 1sc in each st to end of side, 1sc in corner st, 1 pompom bobble, ** 1sc in each of next 10 sts, repeat from * until end of final side at **, sl st to first sc to join, fasten off and weave in all ends. [17 pompom bobbles along top and bottom, 21 pompom bobbles along sides plus 1 pompom bobble in each corner]