This summer I have discovered a new love . . . corner to corner stitch. Using just uk trebles and chains this blanket is so easy, incredibly fast and it has the most wonderful close texture. Another huge bonus is there are no calculations involved, no counting and no starting chain needed! My son who has just graduated from University and qualified as a teacher, has moved from a shared student house into his first bachelor pad this summer. A house warming present was needed fast so I dug out the ever so popular grey blanket pack and rustled this up in no time! I have used Stylecraft Special DK 1 each of spice, parchment, meadow, aster, silver, lime, storm blue, mocha, denim and graphite and 2 grey You can buy the yarn HERE I used the wonderful pattern by Sue over at Felted Button It is a free pattern called Spring into Summer and can be found on Ravelry HERE. Many people use random or self striping yarn for this but as a colour artist the pleasure for me is creating my own colour recipes. I have chosen to work in stripes using 2 rows of each colour and I have used a random colour order that does not repeat. You begin working in the corner and increase at both ends of each row. As a mathematician this is incredibly pleasing to me! Just look at those perpendicular sides! Keep going until the blanket reaches your desired width and you will have created an isosceles triangle which is of course half of a square. Working in 2 rows of each colour it creates a lovely geometric pattern rather like a brick wall. The texture that develops is an added bonus and attraction to the blanket. It is really thick and one of the warmest blankets I have ever made! Now if you want a square blanket that is easy, keep working till you reach the desired width then follow the pattern instructions and decrease next. This will now make the triangle go smaller and you will complete your square. To make the blanket rectangular 1 ~ increase at each end of each row until you have the desired width 2 ~ then work straight keeping both ends of each row the same until you have the desired length 3 ~ now decrease at each end of each row to complete the final corner Of course there are lots of ends to be sewn in when making is complete! I actually enjoy this and think of it as an evening of embroidery! The final blanket is certainly pleasing and a real reward for your labours! Every blanket needs a border to set it off. As this is a man blanket I wanted a geometric pattern to compliment the shapes made by the corner to corner stitch. So I came up with this triangular pattern and am pleased to share it with you. Geometric Edging (using UK crochet terms) 1 ~ 1 round of dc 2 ~ 3 chain then in next 4 stitches 1 treble, 1 half treble, 1 dc, 1 slip stitch 3 ~ repeat all the way round and fasten off. I have definitely had the c2c bug the last few weeks! Rainbow colours were calling to me and I played with a little square baby blanket creating an ombre effect. To make a slightly deeper border on this blanket I added a round of trebles after round 1. Another experiment found me making a c2c using single rows of each colour! What a different look this creates. I wasn't sure if I liked it at first but the final blanket was pleasing and sold fast in my Etsy Shop. However the ends were another story and needless to say I wont be going there again! So 2 rows of each colour is my suggestion for wonderful stripes! If you have been inspired by my work and enjoyed my free tips and advice please consider making a donation to support my crochet journey. This will enable me to provide more free colour recipes help tips advice and encouragement for your pleasure. To make a donation please use the Paypal button on the sidebar. Thank you for all the love I have received from around the world. My health is improving as new medication takes effect and life has taken on a new pace. Crochet is wonderful therapy and a great distraction to fill many hours as I rest and await a diagnosis. Sending you all best wishes and hope you are having a happy hooky summer Heather X X X