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      Crochet Mood Blanket 2014

      My mood blanket as of today, February 3rd 2014
      3rd February 

      Crocheting seems to have taken over my life at the moment, I think about it all the time and really something has to stop as the house is looking like a bomb site, but oh, I find it relaxing and exciting and I have found new friends through this past time. 

      In the world of social media and those that are interested in crochet will know of a woman called Stacey Wentford-Hall.  She came up with an idea that it would be fun to create a blanket based on her moods of everyday and that each days mood would be represented by a specific colour.  She just so happened to mention it on the world wide web, thinking one or two others may fancy joining her in crocheting a 'granny square' a day, but that was not to be.  Some three thousand or so from all around the world responded and every day, somewhere someone is crocheting their mood or square and many share their efforts on line.  Already friendships across the Internet are forming and some who live close enough to each other have met up, but the majority sign in daily to the group, to look, to be inspired by, to be part of a community, to ask advice, to show their efforts and to be part of something that grows day by day...it is so addictive.

      Below is a link to an interview with Stacey a few days ago with the magazine, Inside Crochet:  http://www.insidecrochet.co.uk/blog/crochet-mood-blanket-2014/

      On the facebook page that I have joined Stacy clearly states the simple rules:

      "So, really the only rule is that you crochet/knit a block or stripe everyday (or once a week if that suits you better) in ...2014 using a colour that you feel reflects your mood.

      The colour choices are totally up to you! I think it's important that you use colours that you like so that it doesn't get boring. Plus you'll want a blanket you'd like to keep after all that hard work!! I'm personally using stylecraft! The amount of rounds is up to you! I think I'm going to do 4 rounds as I think I'll find that manageable! Most people doing the 365 are doing 4/5, the 52 people are doing more so they get a big blanket too." 

      It so happens that not everyone is crocheting squares and not everyone can bring themselves to have such random colours as their moods suggest, but it does not seem to matter, everyone is encouraged and efforts are celebrated.  Below are a few of the blankets crocheted to date, kindly allowed to be shown here on the blog: 



      Marie Lidberg January moods 2014




      My mood blanket, well as I am not a large project girl, I was somewhat daunted and watched the group grow before I was able to feel that perhaps I too could begin.  I am one of the group who could not bring myself to be totally random in colour choice, so instead ordered yarn in colours that I felt represented the weather and my mood at the time.  The colours are muted, but varied, old fashioned pinks, mixed with warm beige, alongside petrol blue and vibrant violet, steely grey and dusky pale pinks to calm and warm me.  I am happy with my colours and each day that I pick up the blanket I take the colour that speaks to me most.  Starting a week or so late, I am still short of about 6 or 7 rows to be completely up with the rest of the group, but I imagine that this is the way it will be, sometimes behind and sometimes ahead.  There are those who are keeping a mood diary and noting how they feel and the colours that sing to them on those days, just in case they do not manage any hooking time, what a great idea.
       


      As you can see from the photographs, my blanket is based on a stripe rather than a granny square and I have taken my inspiration from two main sources, I urge you to click on the links below and see just how beautiful these blankets can be.  I am not following either but dipping in and out and using them as my inspiration.  Already I call my blanket, the blanket of learning, as I am trying out so many new stitches, that not only had I not tried before, but had not even known about.  My Catherine wheel stitch was a disaster, but rather than 'frogging' it (ripping it up and starting again, called frogging as it sounds like: rip it, rip it, rip it!) I have left it in and hope to have another attempt on a day when my mood is such that I feel I can conquer the world!

      http://notyouraveragecrochet.com/as-we-go-stripey-blanket/

      http://littlewoollie.blogspot.ca/p/mixed-stitch-stripey-blanket-crochet.html?m=1


      The blankets will grow and grow each month, telling their own tales about their creator and by December will be so large it will be a wonder if we will manage to lift them and cart them around with us as we crochet!

      Already there is discussion about joining as you go, sorting out the endless thread ends and what to do with all the spare short useless threads that are left after finishing off.  Much discussion takes place between these women from all around the world.  Through these moods, many have shared snippets of their lives, good news received, awful weather conditions around the world,  an illness taking a turn for the worse, family death and a  baby born; we share as much or as little as we wish. There are those who are in the foreground of the group and comment almost daily, there are many who commment only occassionaly and I am sure there are hundreds who are silent and are enjoying the group enourmously too.  No matter how these individuals interact with the Crochet Mood Blanket 2014, hopefully everyone is having a 'yarn' of a time, I know I am.  Although  I do wonder who of the thousands of us will last till December...



      Enjoy the snippets of blue sky we have and hold on for the Spring, I am looking for signs of it whenever I can ~ look I even managed to crochet outside for a little while


       

       

      

       
      

      14 comments:

      1. Your blanket is already stunningly beautiful, and it's growing so fast! The colours work really well together, don't they?

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        1. Thank you. Bought the wool from wool warehouse and the way they Kay out their colours made it easy for me to choose those that I felt would work together. Am loving this. But then Phol, crocheting is faster than knitting;)

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      2. Your blanket is soooo beautiful and his has grown very fast. Bestemor

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      3. I am loving the group, I have never done any sort of crochet along before, but love the camaraderie and colours x

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        1. Ooh Carrie, welcome and thank you sooooo much for commenting. I too have not crocheted along like this before but have found it so inspiring. I am not great at big projects either so am hoping the group will pull me ong with it as I perhaps would naturally tail off.. Good to 'meet' you and hope you pop by again

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      4. Thank you, Selma for posting a pic of my squares on your blog; what a nice surprise to see my bits of moods displayed as part of your post! I, too, am very much enjoying making my Mood Blanket....enjoying it more than I could have imagined I would, and that is because of the wonderful people who are sharing this journey with us.

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        1. You are must welcome Sil and thank you for stopping by. I just love this group and am grateful to you for allowing me to use your picture. Loving everything about our group. X

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      5. This post has made my heart swell inside. I am really proud and excited to be a part of such a friendly, happy, helpful group of people who all share a common goal. I am very nearly caught up on my 'mood' - stripe a day blanket and have now started making a blanket just like yours. I am also using The Fantasy Blanket sequence for inspiration. Here is a link to that one in case you'd like a few more pattern idea's. :) http://lanasdeana.blogspot.com.au/search/label/Fantasy%20Blanket

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        1. I too am very proud and excited to be a part of this group, thank you for coming over and taking the time to read and comment. Would love to see your blankets, perhaps when you post pictures you can tag me, so I do not miss it! Roll on lots more inspiration and friendships...

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      6. Beautiful... LOVE your red boots too....

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        1. Thank you Fibre~fairy, great name by the way. I love my red boots too, make me feel a bit naughty and confident at the same time!!!! thanks for popping over and commenting, it means a lot x

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      7. Just read your comment on Lucy's post so popped over for a visit - I love your blanket such an amazing idea can't wait to see all the beautiful finished blankets x

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        1. Thank you for popping over. The group is so much fun and inspiring too bthe blanket has grown considerably now and I am still enjoying it. Do you crochet much? Hope you pop by again x

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      I will always read all comments and will try to reply but it may take me a couple of days, do please pop back and lets get a conversation going...