Monday, May 25, 2009

My Babette is done!

So, a couple of weeks ago I finished my Babette blanket. Crocheting the squares was great fun and went fast. I started with the biggest first down to the small ones.
I did not block the squares but steam ironed them on the wrong side. The finished squares had a few days to get over the harsh steam handling, before I mustered the courage to assemble the whole thing.
I knew if I had to sew them together, it would never be done. And I also knew, that sewing with Noro Kureyon was out of the question, the yarn would break every couple of stitches.

I've crochet toegether squares on the backside before, using slip stitch. That of course left a million ends to weave in. I did not want to do that here, even though I worked in the ends as I went. It would have been only the ends created by crocheting the squares together. Still, I didn't want to do even those, that's why I choose to crochet them together with single crochet. In the end I had four ends to weave in, those ends I just missed during the procedure.

Finished Babette - 56 x 58 inches-16

My Babette was hard to capture with my camera, as you can see here. The side in the shade looks right, the sunny side looks washed out, and that's just not what it looks like. Even though, I'm a little dissapointed how the colores turned out.

Babette

I love the orange squaers popping out. I'm not a fan of the border either. I made 5 rounds, two rounds just didn't look right to me. The border is a little wavey, but I can live with that. A surprise was, that after washing the blanket (with beating heart) in the washing machine (on handwash, cold only) it came out a tiny bit felted, which I thought was fine, it holds the blanket together, but also softer. I did not get that with my other Noro Kureyon blanket, it did not soften up like this one. Now, that's a good thing!

Sam during thunderstorm May 9-1
While I was assembling the blanket there was a big thunderstorm, and Sam was afraid of the thunder. He thought section 10 was the savest place in the house. He didn't even mess it up that much.

pattern: Babette by Kathy Merrick (ravelry link) from Interweave Crochet, Spring 2006 magazine or find it at Interweave online store

yarn: Noro Kureyon in color # 92-10x, # 185-4x, # 188-8x; 2 balls for crocheting the squares together (lost color #) and 4 balls for border - 28 balls Noro Kureyon altogether.

hook: H 5mm

size: after washing (handwash in machine): 56" x 58" : it softened somewhat with the wash and it felted a little, not much, and I like it, it holds the blanket together.

start-finish: April 17 - May 12

fazit: I would make this blanket again. It was great fun!

Finished Babette - 56 x 58 inches-3
I like this shot of the blanket best, because the colors are the most accurate (and because Sam's on it too).

***

Delores took the time to make this youtube tribute to Sam. If you'd like to watch it click here. That was such a kind and sweet thing to do. Thank you, Delores!

***

38 comments:

AnnetteK in Norway said...

She is lovely!! :)

Tricô e Mais Tricô said...

Monika, loved his work.
If I knew crochet, sure would make a Babette, is beautiful.
Congratulations

Mary Ellen said...

Your Babette is beautiful. You do such lovely work.

Sharon said...

Your blanket is beautiful! A little felt never hurt and I like how it softened the colors.

The tribute to Sam is wonderful and it was very gracious of Dolores to put it together.

Renata S. P. said...

W-O-N-D-E-R-F-U-L!!
I got so exciting when I saw you posted it!
Mine is almost done, but I yhink I'm gonna add two more pannels to make it bigger.

I just watched the tribute for Sam. It's lovely and very nice to see.

Have a nice week.

Leah said...

Really, really spectacular.

Dave said...

I think it's absolutely glorious and brilliantly exuberant, and almost ... almost ... makes me wish I crocheted. :-)

Artesanías en lanas e hilos said...

Congratulations all your works are beautiful!!!

steffi said...

Ich bin begeistert...
Die Farben, die Anordnung der Felder, einfach mehr als gelungen. Hut ab, zu so einem Durchhaltevermögen.
Ich liebe solche Decken :)
Herzliche Grüße
Steffi - nochmal :)

Juli said...

Ergriffen von Delores' wunderbarem Film, sitze ich schon wieder mit Tränen in den Augen am Pc....

Monika, deine Decke ist ein Traum!
Und in welch kurzer Zeit du alles geschafft hast?! Ich bin sprachlos! Allein an meinen Brainless sitze ich schon über 2 Wochen ;0)

Meine ersten Norosocken hatte ich aus Versehen angefilzt - Seither trage ich sie noch lieber. Habe weniger Sorge, dass sie nicht lange halten könnten und sie sind soooo schöööön weiiiich.

Liebe Grüße, Juli

herzlichkreativ said...

Was fuer ein Prachtsstück deine Babette.
Ich liebe diese Farben. TRAUMHAFT !!

momsue84 said...

I couldn't watch it all on YouTube, I just couldn't. I am still crying every time I see Sam's pictures. You continue to be my crochet and afghan hero. Truly, your Babette is just stunning. God, how I wish I just just hug you. (((Hugs)))

Anonymous said...

What a gorgeous blanket!!

It was such a nice surprise to see Sam pop up on your blog. :)

Marianne said...

Babette is GORgeous! I especially love the last photo of it, with Sam.

I went and watched the Tribute, how very sweet of Delores to put that together!

GoldenTracks said...

Looks like Babette was a lot of fun!
Delores' tribute to Sam is beautiful

Mo said...

Your Babette afghan is beautiful and Delores's video tribute to Sam was very nicely done.

It's very comforting being able to see Sam's beautiful and sweet self in the afghan photos.

Novelos e meadas said...

Hi Monika!
Wonderful!
Your works are very beautiful!
Congratulations

Mr Puffy's Knitting Blog: said...

It's exquisite! A stunning blanket to grace your home and life and bring you comfort in this sad season of yours. How apropo that Sam should have sought comfort from something you made.

I'll have to switch computers to see if I can't get the video to work!

Gwen said...

It really is lovely- I love the muted colors! 28 balls of noro!!! very expensive blanket!!!!

Anonymous said...

Your Babette looks truly amazing, and I think that the colours look beautiful.

Ann said...

It's gorgeous & the colors are fabulous. Love it!

Angelika said...

I love how the blanket turned out and knowing that Sam was laying on it and I'm sure you crochet some of his hair into it (I know I always do at my house) makes it a nice reminder of him too. I love his YouTube clip. Thanks, Dolores, for doing that.

aelva said...

Die Decke ist ein Traum! Tolle Farben! Ich glaube, ich sollte auch mal wieder die Häkelnadel aus den Tiefen meines Handarbeitsschrankes holen ...
Liebe Grüße

sgeddes said...

It is a beautiful balnket. The colors are overall a little more soft that I pictured a Noro Kureyon blanket being. I am glad to hear that it softened up though! Gives me hope for the 10-stitch blanket I started.

Lynn said...

i love the blanket! it's beautiful!
sorry to hear about sam.
thinking of you!

Robin said...

Babette is stunning! Very impressive looking. Loved the video of Sam. So sweet.

Anonymous said...

just lovely - I enjoy seeing Sam "model" it.
Margie in Maryland

Ute said...

Monika,

die Decke ist wunderschön. Ich hätte nie gedacht, dass so ungleich große Quadrate so toll rauskommen können :o)

sei lieb gegrüßt

Alexandra said...

The Babette is gorgeous! Wow! Congratulations! Everything you make is so beautiful!

Anonymous said...

Did it really work up fast? It's seriously gorgeous!!! Maybe someday I'll tackle making one.

Sorry for the loss of your beloved Sam.

Cloudberry said...

It's a beautiful blanket!

Queen of the Tea Cosies said...

Yay! Well done you. What a magnificent feat. I love it. Another family heirloom, to be much sought after by savvy rellies no doubt. And Sam. So sad to loose a canine friend. So many lovely photos. Thinking of you. Cheers. Loani

hannah said...

How very lovely!
If I see a blanket like this I want to start with crochet also. I know how to a little bit but somehow I never crochet.

Kris B said...

Your Babette turned out awesome. I really like the colors and what a nice bonus that it softened up.

The tribute to Sam was also very nice, made me cry.

Kim said...

My goodness, your Babette is incredibly gorgeous and such a nice place for Sam to hide from the storm. I'm so sorry for your loss.

said...

Lindíssima!!
bjos

Monica aka Gloria Patre said...

Spectacular! Just thinking about joining all those squares makes me tired! LOL!! Fantastic colors!

2paw said...

Babette is stunning and how wonderful to have Sam's photo with it. How lovely it was a comfort to him.