
And so it nearly beginsโฆ another crochet-along blanket journey approaches. Iโm soooo looking forward to this one! ๐
This blog post gives you all a little more information about the new blanket which Iโve designed for fabulous yarn company โKing Coleโ who are a joy to work with. And this blanket is oh so very special to meโฆ๐
The blanket is called โPostcards with Loveโฆโ and the construction and stitches used in this new blanket design are fully inspired by the sending of postcards. How wonderful is that?! ๐
This morning the team at King Cole gave an announcement in their Facebook Groupโฆ

The Crochet-Along is not starting until 23rd May but this gives you all plenty of time to get your yarns at the ready and plan ahead. The pattern will be published in weekly instalments over on the King Cole website here:
www.kingcole.com/cal-postcards-with-love
Iโll be posting blog posts here on my website too, directly linking to King Cole, so you wonโt miss anything.


Yarn Packs are now available from many stockists including the Knitting Network. I earn a small amount of commission for yarn purchased from the Knitting Network through the links below at no extra cost to youโฆ
Cottonsoft Packs: www.theknittingnetwork.co.uk/postcards-with-love-cal-colour-pack-cottonsoft-dk
Big Value Packs:
www.theknittingnetwork.co.uk/postcards-with-love-cal-colour-pack-big-value-dk-50g.ly/
Inspiration for my blankets can come from so many places. Of course there are the direct sights and sounds of the sea which I so often use, but the idea for this postcard inspired blanket came whilst I was simply walking along the beach.
As I was contemplating themes for a new blanket for King Cole I found myself reflecting on the last couple of years and times when due to Covid we were not able to see family and friends who live further afield – I myself have not been to The Netherlands to see family and friends for over 2 years nowโฆ
And I found myself thinking about how we keep in touch with loved ones, despite the distance. Yes we have phones and all kinds of social media to keep connected, but somehow the sending of a physical postcard gives a little extra tangible connection with loved ones far away and itโs always such a nice surprise to have a postcard pop through the letterbox! ๐ฅฐ
So โPostcards with Loveโ is the theme I chose and how Iโve absolutely loved embracing this heartfelt theme and crocheting postcards! ๐
Even the choosing of a postcard can be a fun process and here are a few postcard filled stands on Brighton Beach, just along the coast from meโฆ

So many postcards to choose from! ๐๐๐

As usual I do find myself drawn to the coastal themesโฆ


But of course there are plenty of others to choose from tooโฆ especially when sent from places around the world!


And at the centre of them all is a message we write to simply sayโฆ.

This is a good time to share a quintessential Salty photo isn’t it… She has to make an appearance next to my blankets doesnโt she?! And there’s a message on a crocheted postcard… ๐๐ฅฐ๐

Choosing the colours for this blanket was joyous. There had to be some red for hearts and flowers, there had to be some blue for the sea and sky and of course there had to be a little navy for the ink to write our cards with!



I hope you love them as much as I do. Hereโs the shopping list of yarns youโll need:
I used 9 colours of King Cole yarns to create my blanket. My original design was crocheted using King Cole โCottonsoft DKโ which has been an absolute joy to crochet with. I do so love a cotton blanket. But Iโve also crocheted an acrylic version too using King Cole โBig Value DKโ.

I used a 4mm hook with the Cottonsoft DK and a 4.5mm with the Big Value DK. But you might need to use a different size depending on your tension.
Tension
Hereโs my tension for the yarns used:
Using Cottonsoft DK: 18 standard treble stitches across and 11 rows measures 10cm x 10cm using a 4.0mm hook.
Using Big Value DK: 17 standard treble stitches across and 10 rows measures 10cm x 10cm using a 4.5mm hook.
Measurements
The finished blanket measures approximately 122cm x 122cm (48in x 48in) using King Cole Cottonsoft DK and 127cm x 127cm (50in x 50in) using Big Value DK.
For now that’s all you need to start getting ready to crochet this blanket alongside others from all over the globe on 23rd May. That’s such an exciting thoughtโฆ๐
I had this blanket on my hooks throughout the winter months and I have so many photos to share with you all… I’ll be doing that over on my Facebook and Instagram to build a little excitement over the coming weeks. Do spread the word if you can – the more the merrier and if you haven’t already, do join the Facebook groups:
King Cole Craft Along #CAL and
They’re great places to start connecting with others who might be crocheting along. And over on Instagram use the hashtags: #postcardswithloveblanket #kingcolecal and #coastalcrochetcal

I’m soooo looking forward to sharing more about this blanket with you all in the coming weeks…. in the meantime, Happy Crocheting! ๐
๐๐ผโโ๏ธ I shall check this FB group for ideas ~ renewed interest in crochet after years away. ๐
Thatโs lovely to hearโฆ enjoy! ๐ฅฐ๐
Amazon as always x
Thank you Suzie! ๐๐๐
Is this a free cal?
Yesโฆ it is. All the pattern will be on the King Cole website. Iโll be posting links here tooโฆ ๐
It looks gorgeous Eleonora, looking forward to making this.
Thank you! So happy you like itโฆ ๐๐ฅฐ
Another masterpiece!! โPostcards with loveโ is a must must-do. Thank you for your time and imagination, your talent and especially your love of crochet.
Thank you so much Dotโฆ really appreciate your kind words! ๐ฅฐ๐
Looks lovely. I’m not a King Cole yarn fan, so i shall look at Stylecraft special colours and see if I can match as close as I xan
I used King Cole Cottonsoft which is really lovelyโฆ but of course you can use whichever yarns you likeโฆ ๐ฅฐ๐๐
Lovely one, kinda art piece..
Thank you! ๐
Oops amazing! Not Amazon ๐คฃ
๐คฃ๐
You do create such fun blankets. Bit of a shame really that I have so little time for creating other people’s blankets as I’ve started creating patterns of my own.
Thank you so much! Yes, Iโm in the same position! Good luck with your designsโฆ. ๐ฅฐ๐๐
Thank you Eleanora for one more blog post packed with ideas !!!You should prepare a master class about the art of writing enticing blog posts !!!!
Awwwwโฆ thank you so much! I truly appreciate your kind words! ๐ฅฐ๐๐
Absolutely adorable! I love your creative ability and keeping in the coastal theme.
Thank you so much Patty! ๐ฅฐ๐๐
I’m so excited to see this. You are very talented. I love your patterns and clear instructions. Your stash buster was my first crocheted project and I’m just completing my second Beachcombing blanket. I wish I was faster or had more time but I know its not about keeping up. Looking forward to doing this immensely xx
Iโm very happy you like it Ailsaโฆ no pressure to do it other than in your own timeโฆ ๐ฅฐ๐๐
Ordered my cottonsoft! Could not get sage but heyho…celery will have to do. I just loved doing the last tropical project. Thank you Eleanora.
Youโre very welcome Jane! ๐ฅฐ๐๐
Love love love itโฆ.. but I have to finish a baby blanket, the other half of my second changing tides blanket, and sitting here in its box is the seaside celebration blanket waiting patiently to be started. Can I resist something completely new, and a CAL too?? Of course not. I better get ordering, we have a summer of trips in our motorhome, so plenty of time โค๏ธ๐ค she says crossing her fingers! ๐น
Yay!! I have a long to-do-list tooโฆ ๐๐ So happy you like it Sueโฆ ๐ฅฐ
Love that picture with Salty in it.
Thank you!! ๐ฅฐ๐พ๐พ
Oh wow another stunner. Will we be learning to crochet the lettering as well? Staithes is beautiful and not too far away from me
Staithes looks amazing! I so loved this photoโฆ and yes the lettering uses mosaic crochet! ๐ฅฐ๐๐๐
Such a lovely surprise! And words on a blanket? Oh, my! I can hardly wait to begin!
Thank you Paula!!! Iโm really happy that you like itโฆ ๐ฅฐ๐๐
I wasn’t going to do another CAL until some of my other projects were finished, but now I’ve seen it, I will simply have to do it …. asap. Another fantastic design, thank you l
Thank you Rachel! ๐ฅฐ๐
Oh my goodness Eleonora – LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this!!! What a fabulous idea x
Awwwโฆ Thank you so much Lindsay! I thought of you with this oneโฆ fellow postcard lover!! ๐๐๐๐๐
A brilliant idea – canโt wait to see it develop x
Such a beautiful and creative idea! โ๏ธ
Thank you so much! ๐๐
So looking forward to this , I was at work and saw the fb post in my lunch hour , I so need another blanket in my life , such a joy to behold , thankyou
Youโre very welcome Joan! Iโm so happy you like itโฆ ๐ฅฐ๐๐
Oh wow! I retired to the seaside (St Anneโs in Lancashire) a few years ago, and am now a mature student at art collegeโฆ.but my course finishes just as your CAL starts, so guess what Iโll be doing next!!! Thank you thank you thank you x
Yay! Perfect timing Karen! ๐ฅฐ๐๐
What a beautiful blanket, so unusual, very clever. I’ve too much on to make it now but will be adding it to my list.
Thank you Michelleโฆ ๐ฅฐ๐๐
Your new blanket looks amazing Eleonora. I will not be able to join in the CAL but will be following the weekly videos and your blog which is always so enjoyable. I will of course be downloading the pattern every week, in order to make the blanket in the future
Yay! Thank you so much Marilynโฆ Iโm really happy you like it! ๐ฅฐ๐๐
Omg I absolutely LOVE these colours and the pics so far!! Cannot wait to get started on this! Thank you for enthusing me to do a new blanket- I am so excited!!
Iโm so happy you like it Sara! ๐ฅฐ๐๐
Just love the new blanket Eleonora. Of course I donโt need another blanket, neither do I need another project but of course I know I canโt resist the pleasure of making this blanket. Sadly though I canโt find an online retailer with all the colours in stock in either yarn. What a nuisance. Might have to use different yarn I guess.
Hi Ann.. there will be lots available soon from various retailers but of course you can use different yarns too. So happy you like the new blanket! ๐๐๐ฅฐ
Hmmmm. Now can I intercept another yarn parcel without hubby seeing? Finished the beachcomber, not doing picnic, have the sunset kit โฆ.. ooooo what shall I do ๐ฑ
Now doing picnic. Fat fingers
So happy to hear that youโre enjoying all the blankets!! ๐๐๐๐
Yarn purchasedโฆ. Iโm ready, it looks lovely
Fabulous! ๐๐
Hi Eleonora. This is such a fun design. Iโm really looking forward to the CAL. Have just ordered my Cottonsoft yarn so Iโll be ready to start. Looking forward to making another treasure like your beachcomber blanket and feeling proud of my achievement. Thank you for the crochet inspiration xx
Thank you so much Lindsay! Iโm really happy youโll be crocheting along! ๐ฅฐ๐ฅฐ
So looking forward to another one of your CALs Eleonora. (I so donโt need another blanket so Iโm thinking of using it as a fundraiser for a charity). Wouldnโt it be lovely if we could all send you a postcard? Do you have a Post Box we could send to for you or would your local PO accept mail for you? (I know you wonโt be able to give us your personal address). We are from all over the world and how wonderful if you were swamped with lovely postcard ๐ Thank you again for generously sharing another one of your fabulous designs. Jane xx
Hi Janeโฆ what a wonderful idea! I donโt have a post box address though! But I plan to share lots of โpostcardsโ in the form of photos and videos during the CALโฆ Iโm really looking forward to it! ๐๐๐
Going on a 7 week tour of Scotland in our caravan so will take this with me, canโt be without crochet and this seems very apt.
It certainly does! Enjoyโฆ ๐๐
Really looking forward to having a go at this – I have only done basic crochet and will have to refresh my stitch knowledge really looking forward to attempting this lovely inspirational pattern especially as I live by the sea!