ripple ripple ripple

It's addictive - ripple, ripple, ripple .... Crocheting isn't like knitting. There is a different rhythm. But the in / out movement of the hook is mesmerizing.

I've choosen 13 colours so far, but I'm only up to colour number 6. The driving force behind the project at the moment is wanting to see how all the colours look together. I'm not sure if I'll do a completely random colour pattern or a 16 row repeat (if I repeat it 6 times it should give me 160 cm in length - and then I'll have a square). I might repeat some of the colours as part of the 16 rows? Or maybe not? This uncertainty is part of the fun at the moment.

I'm also a bit taken by this random stripe generator. But so far I haven't found one that I really like. I keep hitting the refresh button to see what comes up next. That's addictive too.

Commitment

Wow! Have I really made a commitment.

Any big project requires tenacity and staying power to complete. Once past the initial excitement of starting, the realisation starts to sink in that if you are going to finish, then you need to settle in for the long haul. For me, the prospect of finishing is ultimately what keeps me going. I make little milestones along the way to keep up my enthusiasm and give myself little rewards. Things like: "the first 10cm in length", "getting to the armhole", "changing colour"... That sort of thing.

This blanket is so big that the mini milestones are really important. There are 32 ripples in every row. Getting to 16 ripples is a BIG achievement! Changing colour every 2 rows? Gosh, that is stellar!!! (Boy, is this going to be a long 400 years).

To demonstrate the size, here are the first 4 rows (with the 5th in progress) laid out along the foot of the bed. I didn't think 160 cm sounded that much when I was starting this project! Think again.

And here is a detail. I'm rather pleased with my first crochet effort. The next big challenge is choosing colours. I've only got three so far. I think I might use my doona for inspiration and also this picture from The Blue Blog.

"Look Mum I can crochet!"

I have made a number of abortive attempts at learning to crochet. It's something I really want to be able to do. But so far I've never stuck at it... well this time "things are going to be different"! (no really they are... really!)

I've done a test 'swatch' (no claiming that it's a square) to make sure I could do it, and now I'm going to start on a Ripple Blanket.


They seemed to be all the rage last year. Yarnstorm and Posie Gets Cozy did particularly good jobs. I desperately want one.


I have made 416 chain stitches (I hope). The finished blanket should measure about 160cm wide if my calculations are accurate! And in 400 years time it should be finished (only kidding - I really hope).



I'm waiting to go to Sunspun next week to buy more yarn for Leo Lion (one ball wasn't enough to complete the body - close, close I repeat, but no cigar) and Plum Pudding Tea Cosy (one ball wasn't enough to finish the tea cosy either) Damn, dash and bother - don't you hate that? I'm certainly very irritated.

I tried to be conservative and not over buy (which is what I usually do). I didn't want to have inconveniently small amounts left over that I couldn't really use on something else (what do you do with a single unused ball? Put it in the stash is the only use I've ever found). But that frugal attitude means that I now have to travel back up to town and use half a tank of fuel to buy the extra I need! (Idiot!!! Double idiot!!!!).