Dahlia Blanket CAL Update

If you’re following my Facebook page, you may remember the collage I posted on New Year’s Day. I was super excited for the Dahlia Blanket CAL (Crochet A-Long) to start in just 2 days. I just had to play with the yarn pack and snap some pictures. Oh, the anticipation! Now, I know at least some of you were pleased to see those cheerful colors. Have you forgotten already? Here, let me remind you.

You haven’t seen an update on my Dahlia blanket in over a month, right? Have you been afraid to ask? Wait, did you think…? Could you…? Did you actually think I gave up on the CAL because of my surgery?!? Well, all right, I didn’t really touch it in my first week out, I’m afraid. Naturally, I fell quite a bit behind but I’ve been catching up lately. We’ve even had some snow days provide the perfect backdrop for a cozy hooky afternoon indoors.

Here’s my Dahlia Blanket on day 2 of the CAL – crocheting away covered in another attic24 design. I was enjoying it very much, the pup thought she was helping… great progress all around!

A stroll down memory lane of colorful blankets

Before I show you how wonderful the Dahlia Blanket looks today, I’d like to tell you more about my blanket-making journey. You see, many years ago, I found the very talented Lucy of attic24. She inspired the very first blanket I made back in 2011. I followed her how-to but chose my own colors in what turned out to be the wrong material for a blanket. Cotton. I love it but it’s much too heavy so please, do learn from my mistake. Anyway, I named the blanket Hexagon Goodness and it still looks really pretty on our couch:

Blanket Madness

Three years ago, I crocheted my first attic24 blanket using one of Lucy’s yarn packs, the beautiful Moorland Blanket. My husband couldn’t get enough of watching me make it and he also claimed the blanket as his own before I even finished it. I couldn’t get enough of making blankets so I crocheted another one in less than six weeks immediately following the Moorland. This one, the Coast Ripple Blanket, was a gift for my friend Linda in Illinois.

Yes, you could say I went a little blanket-crazy in 2017 because I crocheted two more single-bed-sized blankets that year. Plus a baby blanket but that one wasn’t an attic24 pattern. Number 3 in 2017 was the colorful Hydrangea Blanket – it’s happy and stripey but not my favorite, although I’ve always loved to grow hydrangeas. After that came the bright and sunny Summer Harmony Blanket, which was a total game-changer for me. Why? Because it introduced me to the colorwash concept and now I always choose this version of Lucy’s blankets when she offers several. Both blankets now live in Slovakia.

Blanket Calmness

In 2018, I did not crochet as much as I would have liked to. It was a busy year full of big changes. We moved across the country, bought a house, and spent the following months making it ours. I was able to participate in one attic24 blanket CAL that year but didn’t touch the almost-finished blanket from early spring until December. However, once I finished the beautiful Woodland Blanket, it was a gift for my friend Stephanie in Virginia. Also, the recipients of the Summer Harmony Blanket above had some great news about an upcoming addition to their family. Clearly, they needed a baby blanket.

Blankets Everywhere

Last year, I was back to crocheting like the crochet machine I am, ha! Firstly, it was time for another CAL – I chose the colorwash version of Lucy’s Sweet Pea Blanket. And oh my goodness, just look at those colors! The Sweet Pea went to my super talented crafty friend Ivana in Slovakia. Secondly, my sister, Alex, commissioned me to make a blanket. She chose one of Lucy’s patterns and picked the colors herself. The Greener Pastures Blanket currently lives in Guam. Although I am not sure how much use it has on a tropical island, I know my knitting sister can definitely cherish a handcrafted gift.

As I said, I was on a roll last year. Have I mentioned how great it feels to make a blanket and give it to someone who’ll love it? I believe I have – in my crafting intro post. This is why, when Lucy rolled out another beautiful design, I had to grab a yarn pack to work on. Now, working on a nice, warm blanket in the wintertime is fantastic because it keeps you warm as you work. Being covered in yarn in the summertime, on the other hand… Yeah, that’s why the Dune Blanket took me 4 months to make. I gave it to another great, crafty friend of mine, Marishka. The final blanket of the year was inspired by an attic24 design but the color combination came from another talented artist, Insomnia Crochet. The Bluebell Wood Blanket was a Christmas gift for my stepson.

Back to the Dahlia Blanket CAL

I know, I know, you only came here to look at my progress on the Dahlia Blanket CAL, and I made you look at all these other blankets first. Well, I do hope you enjoyed my little stroll down this blanket memory lane, after all. But I understand you’re curious. Therefore, without further ado, I give you… an update on the Dahlia blanket, parts 1-4.

Part 5 will be out on Friday morning so yes, I am still a little bit behind. Also, I’ve been the worst about weaving in the tail ends again. But no worries, that’s what catch-up week is for!