I am the sort that is always cold. And I have 3 boys in my family that are hot blooded. They always want the fan on, so in cooler months (AKA every month except July and August), I love afghans. My mom has made me a few that have had serious usage. They're great - made with acrylic yarn and washable, but I was longing for a warmer wool blanket.
A while back, I bought wool for a sweater. At some point after that purchase, I decided sweaters aren't my favorite thing to knit. So, I looked for a new idea for this yarn.
Let's start with the finished product photos: (Yes, it took forever to knit!)
I think it's fantastic. I used Anne Hanson's Hourglass Throw pattern, and Valley Yarns Northampton yarn in colorway Twilight Heather. It's a 100% wool, worsted weight. I had 5 skeins in my stash, which was a total of 1,200 yards worth. I started in on the lovely lace and cable design. As I knit, it was so nice to cover up with the blanket as I worked. I knew even after only having finished 1/3 of it that it was going to be warm!
As I came to the end of my stash of yarn, I realized that the blanket was too short to cover from my neck to my toes, an absolute necessity in Kristi's book of afghan rules. So I ordered 2 more skeins of yarn. As you can see in the second picture, near the far end of the blanket, there was quite a difference in the colors from the two dye lots I ended up with. I WAS SO FRUSTRATED. Still am, to tell you the truth. But. I can't FEEL the difference, and for an item made for myself, I guess I can live with it. I just don't understand how a major yarn company can mass produce yarn and have such color variances in their yarn. I guess you get what you pay for in that department...
Ok - off my soapbox now.
The finished blanket measures 60 x 40" and covers me nicely. It's soft and pretty. I love it. I'm currently trying to figure out where I can put it so it is handy to reach from my recliner but also have it be a place where the boys don't use it for a fort, sled, or other reckless boy activity!
Beautiful work! I've made this pattern, and it's not easy. You did a lovely job, and the color is great. I wouldn't worry another minute about the color change. Congratulations!!
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