Mandala Madness - Part 10

Wow! I have managed to complete part 10 on the blankets, and what a part that was to do. With the previous part I mentioned that it seemed to feel like a break after completing all the long stitches on part 8 but also had the feeling that it could be the calm before the storm. It is a long part to complete and you definitely need patience as some rounds are more time consuming than others.

I have got used to doing popcorns and long stitches but to do both of them together and making sure that they all fell in the right place got tricky at times. Where you were working over the top of previous rounds it also felt as though you were not making progression in making the blanket any larger but the satisfaction when it was completed and seeing how it added to the beautiful texture certainly made it worth it and you could clearly see how it had progressed and added to the overall look of the blankets.

I am not a fan of having more than one colour on the go at the same time. Its time consuming to keep swopping over and also runs the risk that comes with keeping the correct tension on both yarns. I am not a fan of it when it comes to knitting either! That's just a personal thing and it is something that I am pleased that I can do. I do however love the effect that it brings and know I would hate weaving all those ends in if it was done individually. I would still be weaving now and possibly for the next couple of weeks. I didn't have that problem though when it came to the colour change blanket. I did this one second out of the three and it was a bit quicker to do and I really love how it has changed colour from the pale pink(ish) colour and started to go into a pale plum. The texture really does show up, obviously not as much as the double knit versions.

I am so pleased that I have managed to get this part done. It was definitely a challenge, but I love the results.

Onto part 11 ...................................

Mandala Madness - Part 9

Part 9 is now complete so that theoretically is halfway as there is 18 parts to this blanket. This has probably been the easiest of all the parts to date so far and was very welcome after doing all those long stitches from the previous part. Although they were not difficult to do, once I had got the hang of them, getting the tension and placement meant extra pressure as it would have been very obvious if either of those things were wrong. There would have been no option but to frog and redo.

The shape of the blanket is changing again. There are now very visible points being formed that lie directly above the centre of the long stitch section. It will be very interesting to see how these are integrated into the plan and shape in the next part. I am still able to keep up with the repeat pattern of colours on both of the double knit versions, although this does take careful thought how it will precede and I have needed to work this out prior to starting as I cant follow the colour change that is suggested in the instructions. I don't think it is going too badly!

As you can see I finally have finished my first "cake" in the colour change wool version. I had to go and have a look and try and match up my work in the wool shop to see which one of the Scheepjes whirl would go in next. I original wanted to use the same one again but the shop had sold out of it and I was too impatient to wait for the next delivery and no where else where I live sells it so plan B had to be put into action. At the moment I have just started and the first colour is lilac and it is just starting to very slowly get lighter. I am quite liking this new colour and want to keep working on this version to see how the change goes in!

No new stitches to learn this time and I can't help but feel that where this round has been so nice and straight forward that it might be the calm before the storm with part 10 coming next and I've heard that it is a challenge. Bring it on!

Onto part 10 ...........................

Mandala Madness - Part 8

Well I have finally finished part 8 on all three of the blankets and have completed a new stitch that I have not done before. This part uses a long stitch, well more than one version of a long stitch if I am to be precise. It just depends on how many times around the hook the long stitch has. I was a bit concerned on how it would work on the colour change version. I knew there would be enough texture difference to work but what about colour difference. I needn't have worried as the change in colour was good and just enough. The lilac that is coming in was enough of a contrast over the treble clusters but not too much.

The double knit versions are really starting to show in size now. Doing the long stitch round (once I had got the hang of it) did seem to take a while but it is to be expected. I can imagine that future rounds are going to take an awful lot longer, especially if they are heavy on technique. Although I did find it a bit tricky to get the hang of, and I did have to have a couple of goes at it to get the tension right, I am pleased with how the colour pink "pops" over the base colour and also the other accent colour. Either grey on the white blanket or blue on the black blanket. I am really pleased with how they are yet again changing and the new stitches I am learning.

Onto part 9 .................

Mandala Madness - Part 7

Well that's part 7 completed on all of the three blankets and they have started to have a subtle shape change again. Rather than staying as a star shape (that part 6 finished on) there is a curve section that is starting to grow in the base of the inverted points. This has been done with treble clusters, to start to fill it in and then on the next round, little shells have been which makes it look like a little fan behind. I like with the double knit versions that this part has been done with green wool and ties in very nicely with the ruffle stitch that was done in part 3.

I really enjoyed doing the bobble stitch last time so was really pleased to see that it is repeated again in this part. With both my double knit versions the bobbles are in different colours, one in pink and one in the base colour of either black or white. I like how this adds to the texture with my choice of repeated colours although I am sure when I get a bit further out I will have to carefully work out which rounds I colour change on. With the colour change wool (the Schjeepes whirl) I was concerned with the bobbles again that the subtle colour change might not be so subtle as you have to turn your work and go in the opposite direction and then change back again. I didn't want a section that looked a bit stronger in colour than the other side especially as it is getting bigger now and I cant get all the way around before the colour change comes in. It didn't show though so I was really pleased with that. The "cake" is getting close to finishing so I am going to have to go and buy another one and decide whether or not to keep going with the same one or try a new one. The colour has now gone into the dusky pink shade and is leaving very little of the old colour. Coming up is lilac and that will be the end shade.

Onto part 8 ....................

Mandala Madness - Part 6

Well part 6 has a new stitch for me to learn and I absolutely love it! I now have been doing the bobble stitch. At first I was a bit apprehensive as it meant turning my blanket around and working from the back instead of the front. It was a little fiddly at first but I soon got used to it. I started doing this new stitch on the white blanket. The one that will eventually be given to my Mum and did the bobble section using the pink wool. I am still trying to work out how to repeat my accent colours on the double knit blankets. The repeat is; pink, green and then either blue or grey depending on which of the double knit blankets it is.

With the colour change I don't have that issue but I was concerned about working from the back with the bobbles. The wool very slowly changes and as I have been going in the same direction I was worried that I would end up with a section that might be more of a block of colour rather than the subtle variation in colour that is barely noticeable. I needn't have worried as where the rounds are still fairly small the change doesn't show and I know its there! The colour, by the end of the part, has changed again. The green has completely gone and a dusky pink colour has now started to creep in.

The part ended up finishing with a round that reminds me of a picket fence and for the first time there are big(ish) visible gaps in the work. It will be interesting to see how the next part starts from there. I am looking forward to it.

Onto part 7 ...................

Mandala Madness - Part 5

My three blankets are starting to change shape again. Instead of having sides that are more in a straight line they have started to look like a flower at the end of this part. The crochet has been nice to do and really straight forward. There have been no tricky stitches to try and learn which has been good (although I do like a good challenge). Working behind the popcorns has meant that the colour has travelled from one section to the next without it being too obvious and having either a big visible line or the need to cut the wool and join on.

I really like working from the back and around the posts as with both versions done in the double knit you get a line appearing when you have the colour change just a little bit lower. I also like how it makes that section stand a bit more proud than the rest of the work. I nice texture touch.

All three blankets are starting to show how the pattern ways are working. I like that I am getting an idea of the repeat colours with both of the double knit blankets but I also like how my colour change wool has changed again its colour and is starting to get rid of the green shade and bring in a fawn/beige colour.

Onto part 6 ...................................

Mandala Madness - Part 4

Part four of my Mandala Madness has now been completed on all of my three CAL's. There were no new stitches to learn in this part so it was pretty straight forward. It also had the added bonus of one of my favourite stitches to finish off with. The popcorn stitch! I love how this adds texture and interest. Making sure that the blanket isn't all one flat surface. The popcorn stitch is also broken up to match the ruffle sections from part three but is slightly longer as the blanket is growing in size. The double knit versions are now approximately 23 inches across (diameter) and the colour change version is smaller due to the thinner yarn used at approximately 16 inches.

I am still continuing to alternate the contrast colours on the double knit versions and I like how this repetition flows through both. Even though the pink and the greens are different shades, I have tried to match them and complete the same rounds using the black and white as the base colour.