A FO Vivid blanket in WYS Aire Valley DK

Hello!  It's been a busy few days following BritYarn's launch on Tuesday.  A big thank you for all your support.  I want to share some of my FO's and in future posts my selection of WIP's.  It is something I used to do on my old blog and enjoyed recording the process.  So here is a FO I finished a little while ago.........

This blanket was for a new family member who was due in January.  Despite casting on the first square last year other projects got in the way (I am a sucker for a KAL) and it was delivered a 'few' months late in April.  I must admit to falling in love with the squares and wanted to keep the blanket for myself once it was finished! 

The pattern is Vivid and is one of ten patterns included in Handmade in the UK by Emily Wessel of Tin Can Knits.  The blanket can be made in any weight of wool.  The sample in the book is made using Jamieson & Smith Jumper Weight (a 4 ply wool).

I decided to make mine in West Yorkshire Spinners Aire Valley DK.  The wool is available in a big range of colours and has the added bonus of being machine washable.  I chose the  Blueberry Bonbon, Wine, Butterscotch and Emerald.  One 100g ball made five squares with some left over.

Each square is knitted from the middle out on DPN's or circular needles. It was great seeing the lace work develop and then magically turn into a square at the end.

I blocked all the squares at the end to ensure they were the same size.  The Aire Valley yarn blocked really well.  The Yarn overs and the decreases really stand out to create the inner flower design. 

My husband volunteered to sew all the squares together as it was for his sisters new baby.  It was the first time he had sewn up anything knitted and he did an amazing job don't you think?

If you are thinking about making a Vivid blanket Tin Can Knits have written a really useful tutorial available here.