Sweet Nothings Crochet: CLEAR-CUT BLANKET

CLEAR-CUT BLANKET

I am not sure if this is fact or myth that just after birth, a baby sees only in black and white, with shades of grey. As the months go by, they will slowly start to develop their color vision at around 4 months. What has been proven is that they don't actually differentiate colors at birth and that bright colors, rather than pastels, help in their color differentiation ability.
This beautiful black and white C-2-C blanket is a joy to the eyes - adult and child and I loved the clear cut defined look of it - as does my client. What do you think?

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Come along then and let’s work on this beautiful creation together.

Materials used : Today I’ve used ~ 800 gms of Ganga Desire acrylic yarn (in black & white) with a 4.5 mm crochet hook ; embroidery needle & fabric glue to seal ends

This yarn is not specific for this project.

You can use any yarn with a suitable hook to make this project to any size.

For Indians : You could use Anchor , Red ros e ; Red rose metallic ; Laura or unbranded knitting cotton as well as Vardhaman acrylic yarns

International yarns : Among the international yarns I have used, I’d suggest Aunt Lydia Cotton 10, Aunt Lydia Bamboo-Viscose 10, DMC Petra, Sullivans knitting cotton (Australia), Milford Soft, Hilaza Rustica Eclat , Alize cotton yarn and Alize bamboo yarn.

Size made : 40" x 42”

This is only given to you to get a general idea of how much yarn you may need.

You can make this to any size to just use up your yarn.

Difficulty level : Intermediate Skill level.

Blanket sizing : https://in.pinterest.com/pin/470063279853964042/

Stitches used :

How to hold your yarn in crochet : https://youtu.be/FwOlCbGdbqY

Starting slip knot : https://youtu.be/lJcqsVcs8cw

Starting slip knot 1 or the Sloppy Slip knot : https://youtu.be/YfC7KmGpifs

Abbreviations used : (Using U.S terminology)

lp(s) : Loop(s) sc : Single crochet

dc : Double crochet sp : Space

sl-st : Slip stitch ch : Chain

st(s) : Stitch(es) hk : Hook

yo : Yarn Over

Instructions : (Using U.S terminology)

Please note that I start all my rows with a ch 1, turning chain for ease.

Please check the top of this blog for easy video tutorials on all stitches used in today's pattern.

Please read through all my notes before you pick up your hook, so you know just where we're heading in our pattern.

In my patterns I work with the principle of stitch count and body measurement.

This means that you need to work the stitch count in pattern, till you get the measurement (length and/or width) that you need for your project.

With all my patterns you need to think a little bit - and today its a little bit more, especially if this is your first C-2-C creation.

What do you need to know for today's project
What is a chain stitch ? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXx5ukBjKkY

Double Crochet : dc : yo, insert hk into st ; yo (3 lps on hk); [yo, draw through 2 lps] twice. One dc made. Check out the video at https://youtu.be/xdnjB27zpYo

Chainless start for Double Crochet : I dislike the ch-2 / ch – 3 start, and this is what I do to start my row of dc.

Check out the video at https://youtu.be/wskv3iTjRx0

How to change colors seamlessly : https://youtu.be/fRzSBja9jno

Whipstitch to join : https://youtu.be/wZ-9LNzftMA

Invisible join : https://youtu.be/a6XZQ6VzJFM

Single crochet to join : https://youtu.be/6FXoW_47_dI

We’re working the C-2-C pattern with our blanket.

What is C-2-C ? It’s just a pattern that goes from Corner to Corner using four stitches that make a little box-like pattern.

In our pattern today, as you are continually work from side to side in a diagonal, it looks like you have worked a basket stitch in the diagonal – and though it is pretty easy, the end result looks complicatedly fantastic!

So first let's take a look at how to work a C-2-C.

In case this video does not come on, please go to https://youtu.be/fqMJOc9CHCY

We will work this C-2-C pattern in alternating colors and as long strips.

Each of my strips is 42" long and 5" wide

We will then attach each strip, once again alternating colors, to give this beautiful chevron effect.

You could decide to match black with black (& white with white) each row - and if you do this, then each and every row will start and end in the same way (color wise and pattern wise)

First let's understand how a C-2-C is worked

With the pattern, you start the pattern from the left bottom corner (in our case, for each strip)

The idea is that you will be working from the left hand side of your project to the top right hand side of your project (again in each color and for each strip).

With each row, you will work from side to side along the diagonal, increasing blocks with every row.

As you increase with every row, you will be increasing both the length and breadth/width of your project – all the way till you reach the breadth (which is the right hand side bottom corner of your project).

At this point, you will stop increases, and start decreasing – and this end will then become a straight end.

Now here's where the fun begins.

1) Each strip starts and ends with a triangle.

2) In the centre of each strip you have parallelograms.

3) Start working on your first triangle in Color 1; Change to Color 2 and work a parallelogram ; Change back to Color 1 and work the next parallelogram ; continue changing colors till you have the length you need and end with a triangle.

4) It does NOT matter which color you end with but if you want to interchange colors, you will start with black in Strip 1 and white in Strip 2 (so all odd strips will be black and all even strips will be white)

5) If you decide to have all rows starting and ending with the same color, you will have a different end result (from mine) BUT it will just as pretty

6) Instead of just black and white, you can add in any color and make this a nice multi-colored stash busting project as well.

7) Imagine that each square below is one part of the strip - so you start on the grey portion of the strip and work till you reach the right hand side corner (which is the width of each strip) You then start working the straight edge on that side,

increasing the length of the strip. Got it?

I used grey instead of white, for obvious reasons

The diagrams below are for instruction only and not to scale.

It does not matter how wide your strip is - just decide the width of your blanket, then measure your strip and divide to get the width.

What does this mean?

So say you want to make a 40" blanket (width), then each strip needs to be divisible by 40 - which means that each strip needs to be either 4" or 5" wide.

SO if each strip is 4" wide, you will make a total of 10 strips and if 5" wide, then you will need 8 strips. Got it?

You will continue working parallelograms in alternating color till you reach the top end of your strip. At that point you will work the finishing triangle, which will be the opposite of your start triangle.

As mentioned before, it does not matter which color you end with - just ensure you get the length you need for each strip. Unlike the confusing (?) calculations for width, this is straight forward

Now what is confusing is how many rows you work of each C-2-C pattern.

You work as many little blocks as you need to get the width first.

You will then work the same number of rows upwards to finish each little triangle or parallelogram.

So if you use 7 blocks across for the width (as I have), then you will work 7 blocks upwards in a diagonal each and every time.

You will then count off 2 blocks along the bottom and 7 blocks along the side for the 1st triangle - then change to color 2.

In each following parallelogram, you will count off 7 blocks along both the sides & then change color

In your final block, you will count along the top edge and side to ensure you have 7 blocks to finish.

Depending on which color you start each strip, you will get a different end result

Start with the alternate color every strip for this result (which is what I've done)

Start with the same color every strip for this result

and here's a photo tutorial for the C-2-C stitch pattern as well

Steps 1 & 2 for the C-2-C Crochet Pattern Stitch

Step 3 of the C-2-C Crochet Pattern Stitch

Step 4 of the C-2-C Crochet Pattern Stitch

Step 5 of the C-2-C Crochet Pattern Stitch

Step 6 of the C-2-C Crochet Pattern Stitch

Step 7 of the C-2-C Crochet Pattern Stitch

Finishing ideas :

I find that joining is one of the most tedious jobs - as we need to weave in ends among other things. So rather than put off for the end, I preferred to join the strips as I went along. No only did I find this less tedious, but it also gives you an idea of the width - and of course it's always fun to see your blanket grow.

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Here are some of my older blanket / granny square creations. Have fun with these free patterns too

https://shyamanivas.blogspot.com/2021/12/transverse-blanket.html

https://shyamanivas.blogspot.com/2021/12/catherine-wheel-blanket.html