The Big Granny Squares Crochet Blanket...

...is finished!

I started it last May and first posted about it in June 2012.

Later that month I did a little tutorial explaining how I joined the squares as I went along.

Another update in July, it had already reached 12 x 12 squares!

And another one in Oct where I'd almost finished adding the squares but mentioned I'd yet to sew in a single end. That's the way I like to work on my blankets. I like to zoom ahead with crocheting the squares and joining them as I go (though I do work with just over a row's worth of completed squares ready to join so I can select colour placement). I feel I need to get this stage done lest I forget how to do it all! Then things slow down a little as I then work on the ends. Yes, they are tedious, but I don't do them all at once, it's also the perfect project for craft nights as no concentration at all is required so much chatting can be accomplished.

The ends were mentioned again here along with photographic evidence.

A last update in April. I left the border till last, and decided on just a simple granny square border, not too wide.

So, here it is. First I took it outside to photograph.

 Photographing outside here often has the effect of making the blues seem unnaturally dominant.

Nice when rumpled.

Stained glass window effect.

 Tada! It's 14 x 16 squares (one row of squares is hidden over the back of the line), each square is made up of 5 rounds.

 A lovely sunny day. Though the strong light does make the colours seem a little washed out.

Now to inside...

It fits! I didn't want it coming up over the pillows so it's wider than it is long. We have a king size bed to give an idea of the final size.

We don't need it at the moment as the weather has finally warmed up. I'm looking forward to being able to use it come Autumn though, something nice for the end of Summer I suppose!

In the meantime it looks very at home folded on top of the blanket box at the window.

Yarn Details...

Like I mentioned when I started the blanket it's the first one I've made using "proper" yarn (as opposed to random balls from charity shops/pound shops & ebay bundles). This means I can share the colours I used, incase anyone is interested. One ball of each other than where indicated...

Stylecraft Life: Mixtures Charcoal, Fern (2), Mixtures Cranberry (2), Mixtures Bracken (2), Gorse Nepp, Mixtures Blue Haze, Rose, Heather, Denim Nepp, Cobalt, Pebble Nepp.
Stylecraft Special: Claret, Mocha (2), Sherbet (2), Parchment (2), Cream (2), Raspberry.

It's That Time of Year Again...

 ...when I go round the garden poking the camera lens into the tulips (using the macro setting (usually a flower symbol) which lets you get close-up shots in focus). I have to confess that the first tulip was in Edinburgh, not in our garden, but I wanted 9 photos so I could make...



... a colourful, kaleidoscopic tulip mosaic. So there.

Woods and a Win.

Time is flying by as so often happens at this time of year. May is my favourite month, I wish it lasted longer! Here are some photos from last weekend when we took a little walk in the woods...

En route to the woods we pass this wonderful patch of mossy saxifrage.

Fresh, new beech leaves.

 Sycamore.

 Woodland friends.

I love it when the new leaves appear. I think we'll try and go another walk tomorrow, perhaps some bluebells will be flowering. 

Looking up, all is no longer bare now.

 Unfurling ferns.

On the way home we pass the pots; this is how they're looking in early May.

Also earlier this month, I was lucky to win a giveaway hosted by Annie of Knitsofacto. 

The gift was beautifully wrapped...

Inside: a Jane Foster cat.

I've often admired these cats when I've spotted photos of them on-line. I have to say that in the flesh they are even more lovely. The fabrics used are very good quality and it's larger than I expected too. And it's mine! The kids are allowed to play with it, but it's mine. I like it very much, thank you Annie!

We just had our school "summer" BBQ today. Yesterday the weather was lovely, it's forecast to be good again tomorrow, but today it rained, lots! Typical! However, the event was still well attended and most people weren't letting the weather put them off. I was on the plant stall. Inside! It would have been so much more fun if it had been sunny though.

Right, off to watch a little bit of the Eurovision Song Contest, anyone else? (Have just watched the Romanian entry after hubby called me through, I could hear him chuckling. Oops, UK on now, better go!)

 A has a friend staying for a sleepover tonight, I wonder when they'll fall asleep...

Castle #2

Last Monday, May bank holiday, we visited our second castle using our Historic Scotland membership. It involved a train trip to the capital which was N's first time on a "proper train, as opposed to a tourist steam train.

  Off uphill from the station.

 Along the Royal Mile.

A masked Adam Smith.

The heart of Midlothian, captured without spittle.

 "Visitors will often notice people spitting on the Heart. A tolbooth (prison) stood on the site, where executions used to take place. The heart marks its doorway: the point of public execution. Some people spit on the Heart. Although it now said to be done for good luck, it was originally done as a sign of disdain for the former prison. The spot lay directly outside the prison entrance, so the custom may have been begun by debtors on their release."

Encountering Bonnie Prince Charlie

Approaching the castle, Edinburgh castle. It was busy, as you'd expect on a bank holiday. I'm sure it gets a lot busier than this in August, we won't be visiting then! After negotiating the confusing entry queues and trying not to get too annoyed by the rather rude girl selling tickets, we're in...

To be honest, for us the best thing about the castle was the fact that the views from it are pretty spectacular. Here we're looking over to Princes Street.

The view over the castle forecourt to Arthur's Seat.

Past the canon is Calton Hill.

Drain pipe detail. All was very spruce and neat and tidy, and a little lacking in atmosphere somehow. Just before this point we'd become inextricably entwined with the queue to see the crown jewels, if you're not a fan of enclosed spaces you'll probably want to skip this part - imagine an Ikea-like warren but with walls, full of people, and no going back once you're in there!

Most people passing the little orange trees checked to see if they were real, as did we. They're not.

 Time to go!

Scrumptious icecreams from the van outside. Hubby had one too, but he was too busy scoffing his for a photo.

The castle in the distance past the beautiful tulips.

Gorgeous!

We stayed to have tea at Pizza Express - mmm! The home on one of the slow trains, the kids were late to bed that night. Now, which castle shall we visit next...