cashmere | bear loves dove

Cashmere Fans Blanket
75% Extra fine merino, 20% silk, 5% Cashmere. Crochet.

I just love this vintage fan pattern! I’ve used it before here and here, and I found it via a favourite blog, Meet me at Mikes.

It’s really much easier than it looks.

This is the first time I’ve edged this pattern though… and that was a little tricky to work out at first. Exactly where and how to attach an edge as the natural edge of the pattern is not a straight line.

So this is what I ended up with. A couple of rows of single crochet (crocheted into the back of the stitch like it’s done throughout the pattern), followed by a few rows of open squares then finished with a row of single crochet.

I whipped up this little matching beanie with the left over yarn. All done in single crochet stitch but I reversed the side for the last couple of rows to create some subtle texture for a band. I topped it off with a cute little tassel. Which by the looks of this photo has one stray long runaway strand!

I really enjoy working this pattern and love love love love the colour combo in this blanket. I think it might be one of my favourite colour combinations actually which is rather surprising as it’s not blue! OMG! Well… Ok… I admit the turquoise colour is quite blueish in some lights. The yarn is ever so soft and feather like with the silk and cashmere content, and it creates the most amazing drape. It’s very flowy and billowy and a little tricky to describe actually. It’s perfect for a baby blanket (tis cot size) as it’s delicate, light and with the open style pattern it provides a breathable warmth so would be suitable for all seasons (apart from extreme temperatures of course).

I’ve had this yarn for quite a while, and was a bit precious with it in regards to what I was going to make with it. I’m happy I waited and am thrilled with the result. In fact if it wasn’t so expensive I’d love to buy a big stash and make myself a throw blanket out of it! One day maybe… Could you imagine how soft and luxurious it would feel to wrap yourself up in cashmere, silk and extra fine merino? Divine!.

The exciting thing now is I can start a new project! Don’t you just love the anticipation and pondering before a new creation? I enjoy that part almost as much as the crocheting… Sitting amongst my yarn stash… which is growing rapidly…faster than I can knit or crochet it… and taking over the craft room… so much so that my hubby has nicknamed my craft room ‘the yarn shop’… so I’ve done a little ‘re-stocking’ lately… but oh my, to lovingly handling the skeins and balls… pairing them up in colours and ply’s… and textures and blends… browsing through patterns for inspiration or courage to tackle an actual pattern… I am getting braver in that department… So brave I even picked up some new pattern books recently… Ah yes, it’s all part of that creative process that I find so inspiring… and I love feeling inspired.

Do you feel brave when you embark on a new pattern? I’m off to be brave and inspired… hope you find a little brave inspiration in your day!

Hello!
I feel like it’s been an age since I posted something… and to be honest this isn’t going to be one of my normal posts full of finished glory. It’s a quick little ‘in-between’ post until I get a bit more time to finish what I’ve started… and as you’ll see, I tend to have a few things started at once. Fickle hey!
Life not only mimics the ups and downs of a rollercoaster but does have a way of picking up pace like a rollercoaster too. I think I’m on the screamingly fast downhill run at the moment! As soon as I get to the slow climb up, I’ll be back to post some finished glory I promise.

First up is going to be possibly the largest blanket I’ve ever knitted. The yarns are from Bendigo Woollen Mills and are just lovely. There’s some wool/bamboo blends and also some of their new luxury Persian blend which is wool/mohair/alpaca/silk. The colours are very earthy and masculine as I have the future recipient in mind as I create this random striped blanket.

Next up is a large crochet blanket. Using the lovely Persian blend again in this gorgeous earthy green. I can not say too much about this blanket as it might just be for someone special who happens to read this blog. I’m so not very good at being cryptic! Am sure it’s going to be completely obvious, but none the less this has been another project that I’ve been working on lately. Real post on this blanket coming soon!

Now this little number is a slice of pure luxury. It’s 100% pure silk yarn! So divine and silky (duh!) soft to work with. It’s actually so light I can hardly feel it in my hands, a bit like crocheting in a cloud. And I adore the colours, pastel-ish chartreuse and soft duck egg blue. These yarns are just some of the goodies I purchased at the recent Craft & Quilt Fair in Melbourne. Boy did I do some damage there! And the best bit was I got to go there with my dear sweet daughter and her lovely friend, both of whom are talented artistic inspirational young ladies. What a treat that was. PS. Where the morning light is hitting this yarn is more like it’s true colour.

Some of the softest yarn I’ve come across. This was another find at the Craft & Quilt Fair and I simply adore these colours together. The blend is equally beautiful with extra fine merino, silk and cashmere. Yes cashmere! I’ve never had anything with cashmere in it… and oh boy… it could be an expensive discovery is all I’m saying!

Now this is just a recent bargain find… a clearance table of Gutermann threads. What a find you say? Certainly was… 4 for $2 just couldn’t be ignored so I stocked up…as you do! I think I’ll be right for threads for a while what do reckon?

Now I’m going to leave you with a couple of photos from a recent sunrise. Who doesn’t love a sunrise hey? Seeing that glorious glowing sky in the morning really sets you in stead for the day doesn’t it?

So pretty. Do hope you are getting enough time to be crafty and finding time to do the things that soothe your soul.
Wishing you all a happy crafty weekend.