Do we like the fabric this is making up - yay or nay?

FO: Emotional Support Chicken

Not sure why I decided, having never really done crochet amigurumi, I was going to knit this sweetheart. But I guess the "hot right now" on Ravelry hit my FOMO. (all to say... I learned a lot).

The yarn is Happy Place - 50% cotton, 50% wool, DK.

Yarn: Lion Brand Mandala "Thunderbird" Pattern/Project: Hexi Cardi (I am learning a lot)

granny stichin' away...

Blanket of the Seventh Dawn - Final FO

After two months, I've finished my FFXIV inspired blanket, and I can't wait to show it to you! For the individual posts: What is this project? Or, for the tl;dr - one colorway per Scion = Big Blanket. #blanket of the seventh dawn. Just be aware the posts may contain spoilers up to FFXIV Endwalker.

I was inspired after making a red cat hat, reminiscent loosely of G'raha Tia, to make a bigger project. Then when I started perusing yarns for my next project, wistfully browsing the yarns from my favorite hand-dyers, I kept seeing colorways that reminded me of other characters. At that point, the idea was hypothetical, but then I started taking notes for what characters I wanted to include, colorway ideas, screenshots to see how they looked together, a few plan layouts for 3 and 4 squares per hank... and it got a whole less hypothetical.

This was in January, so new year, new project, new yarn budget - I took the dive in.

I wanted to really let the colors tell the story. Especially with crochet, sometimes the simpler stitches are better for letting the color variations shine, so I chose a basic stitch but a new-to-me granny design. The solid granny replaces the typical spacings with DC all the way across and then building in the corners.

It wasn't always pretty. On the very first hank my swift broke after I accidentally hadn't secured it it tight enough, and for awhile I started trying to wind by hand.

My second swift was an immediate purchase after THIS happened with two of the hanks.

As I finished squares for each hank (I could get three per color), I blocked them, wove in ends, and put them to the side until all colors were complete. Then, when I finished all the squares, I put them all into a bag, mixed them up, then decided the final design by choosing them at random, displaying them in a 6 square by 7 square rectangle. I exchanged about six squares to make sure no like squares were touching and to better alleviate a block of red all in one place. This gave the blanket the layer of chaos you'll see soon.

Because of the weight of the blanket, I made a few decisions for connecting squares that felt, to me, like they would be more secure. For the back side, I chose to sc up the row in place of a mattress stich or any other sewing options or even slip stitch. I used Malabrigo, Arroyo for this part and the border. Although it's also dk, it is a little thinner than the dk in Arcane Fibre Works. When I got to a corner, I chose to connect inside the hole made, and not in the stitches. This resulted in the crossing you see here on both sides of the work. I also slipstitched in both sets of adjacent squares on the first pass through before continuing with the connecting single crochets.

March 24 (this is getting posted a little late because I was behind on sharing squares), I finished up the 5th row of hdc in blo for the border, wove in the rest of the ends, and FINALLY she was all finished. You can see some final pictures and the full reveal below!

Thanks for coming along with me on this journey.

This blanket will be treated like the treasure she is.

Blanket of the Seventh Dawn - 7 & 14 (extras)

Note: This post may contain spoilers up to FFXIV Endwalker.

Introduction: What is this project? Or, for the tl;dr - one colorway per Scion = Big Blanket. #blanket of the seventh dawn to follow along.

These are the two colors chosen for our Warriors of Light. We've chosen not to share their names or details, but we wanted to still share their squares.

Warrior of Light

The first color is the one I chose for my WOL. He's changed so much in his journey. Except his tenacity, which is captured in the storm teal of his eyes. Yarn: "Stormy Seas " in Arcane Fibre Works, DK

The second color was chosen by my husband for his WOL . The yarn is "Neon Nights" Arcane Fibre Works, DK.

Blanket of the Seventh Dawn - 13

Note: This post may contain spoilers up to FFXIV Endwalker.

Introduction: What is this project? Or, for the tl;dr - one colorway per Scion = Big Blanket. #blanket of the seventh dawn to follow along.

Y'shtola Rhul

Yarn: Arcane Fibre Works, "Here Comes the Sun" in Fingering held double with "Charcoal"

"The most important lesson I've learned is that learning isn't simply passing one's eyes over words. 'Tis when understood for oneself that knowledge attains its true value."

Y'shtola's squares bring back that strand of charcoal I ran alongside Urianger's, this time with a colorway of green and purple. The purple reminded me of the stone within her staff while the green represents the feathers in her accessories. There's actually also a light blue intermixed, and I've rationalized it as a nice nod to her original eye color.

I do quite enjoy the irony of the color being called here comes the sun, however, when she's spent much of Shadowbringers with those who worship literal darkness.

Blanket of the Seventh Dawn - 12

Note: This post may contain spoilers up to FFXIV Endwalker.

Introduction: What is this project? Or, for the tl;dr - one colorway per Scion = Big Blanket. #blanket of the seventh dawn to follow along.

G'raha Tia

Yarn: Arcane Fibre Works, "Fire Starter" in Fingering held double with "Crimson Moon"

~*~*~*~*~

"No matter how far your journey may take you, you stand where you stand by virtue of the road you walked to get there. For in times of hardship, when you fear you cannot go on...The joy you have known, the pain you have felt, the prayers you have whispered and answered—they shall ever be your strength and your comfort. This I hope—I believe, here at memory's end"

Oh, G'raha.

His colorways actually went through quite a journey itself. I started with just the "Fire Starter" color, gravitating towards the spectrum of flame leading into his staple red. The yellows reminded me of his gold accessories, and I loved the idea of associating him with fire. Despite the blue of the crystal, G'raha is fire to me - ever passionate and enduring . But when I received the color, in person it looked a little too far forward with the brown. On second glance comparing, I liked the brown, but it needed some more black. So on a second order, I sized down in "Fire Starter" and selected another black and red combination to hold along side it. And thus, beauty was formed within the merging.

Sounds kind of familiar. :)

Blanket of the Seventh Dawn - 11

Note: This post may contain spoilers up to FFXIV Endwalker.

Introduction: What is this project? Or, for the tl;dr - one colorway per Scion = Big Blanket. #blanket of the seventh dawn to follow along.

Minfilia Warde

Yarn: Arcane Fibre Works, "Serene Oasis" in DK

"Please. you must go on! You are the Warrior of Light. You are hope - for the Scions, and for all the realm! As long as your flame continues to burn, the light of the dawn may ever be relit!"

For Minfilia, as much as l love burgundy, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to lean into the pink and purple of her top as a way to pull together the reds and the blues, connect them, and soften them, just as she does in story as the Antecedent. So much of our story as the Warrior of Light hinges on Minfilia's dream, and she helps form the bond with all of the Scions.

Blanket of the Seventh Dawn - 10

Note: This post may contain spoilers up to FFXIV Endwalker.

Introduction: What is this project? Or, for the tl;dr - one colorway per Scion = Big Blanket. #blanket of the seventh dawn to follow along.

Estinien Varlineau

Yarn: Arcane Fibre Works, "Silent Night" in DK

"Lasting peace does not come to those who simple retreat from conflict. No, you must be willing to confront it. To stare into the face of your foe... and see yourself in him."

Estinien's colorway was one of the ones I was most proud in my selection. He had the opportunity for some red considering his connection to Nidhogg and the coloring of his weapon, but I've also been leaning more into gear and knew I would have plenty of reds already. I wanted to look for a deeper blue and bronze. The grey-silver in this was a great bonus, reminiscent of his hair. But this was such a good find, and it really required me to look past how the colorway was presented. Like Urianger's colors, this is among the holiday colorways, so it required a bit of creative imagining to match it to Estinien.

thiis is so cute! I love how the variegated yarn worked up, and PERFECT neutral choice

Crochet Summer Hat

Off the top of my head (pun fully intended) so there's no pattern to follow

Sorry

@janetm74 @gaviicreates @astranite @emtb319 @jbarkerstargazer @dragonoffantasyandreality

And anyone else interested

I made this over two days, and it is for after my surgery to cover the incision area

the blanket is dooooooooone.

National Crochet Month - Days 12-18

12. Favorite Yarn - I have a few because of the different types of projects I do. In the world of doilies, my favorite crochet thread is called Alize Miss Batik, which can be a little hard to come by. It's a size 10 mercerized cotton and each colorway has long strand variegation to create such beautiful final products. In the world of what I purchase from my LYS - my heart sings Malabrigo. While Arroyo/DK is my preferred weight here, I've worked more with their ult sock and sock weight. As far as value yarns, I'm partial to Lion Brand's options. I have a bit of a collection of Mandala cakes. Though Caron Simply Soft is where I started. In the world of cotton - I like hobbii's friends cotton.

13. Something [color]

I asked my fandom to send me a color for this, and then I crocheted a granny square in order of each color received until I couldn't find a color in stash close enough. It was lilac that did me in. So I'd be happy to share the randomness of with you for this part of the challenge. Random Rainbow:

14. 3 Crocheters I love My mom, obviously, and my friends here. But I imagine this question is to share creators and entertainers that inspire us on line. For that, here are a few I follow:

Toni from TLYarnCrafts Juan - JuantheYarnAddict For patterns - especially those do mandalas and might want to give some thread crochet a try, I recommend grace fearon and draiguna and handmadebyraine.

15. Blanket

The blanket you're about to see is not one I made, but it's one that I've always known. I've shared this story before on my instagram, and it felt right to share here for this part of the challenge. As a child, I loved all the bright colors and I liked playing with the fringe. I didn't find out until I was older that it was made by the grandmother I'd never known. Years before me, my mom taught her mom how to crochet as an outlet for when she was sick. She had just turned the corner of fringe before passing away, and mom couldn't bring herself to finish it.

It means so much to me that this craft can create a bond. Even reach across generations.

16. Crocheting in Public Yes, it depends though. I don't always carry around a project bag that's portable, as I also prefer to be at home more often than not. One of my favorite places/times to crochet is when I am on vacation, so I've been known to bring some projects down to the beach front.

17. Something for Me

At the moment, the big crochet blanket is the thing that's most for me. It was a huge splurge for nice yarns, has been an absolute joy to work with as hand-dyed merino, and the end piece isn't going to mean much to anyone besides myself and my husband. I think people who also play ffxiv might appreciate the idea, but we've also added yarns to represent our Warrior of Light, so the final product is going to be subtle, special to us, and probably look like it doesn't go together at all to everyone else. It's making me happy though and that's what matters. Though, I am also terrified of it getting ruined, so it might end up carefully bagged and stored until I want to use it. #blanket of the seventh dawn 18. Crochet Buddy Most of my crochet friends are online, which is great because it's such a great way to bond over timezones. I love seeing progress, being a part of inspiring each other - sometimes not always with crochet, and just chatting life and projects. On the other hand it means no yarn-y friends to take to the LYS or craft store with me. I have to be my own reality check (admittedly though, I'm often my own enabler). Anyway - you know who you are :D

Only just getting started, but the center star of this doily is GORGEOUS.

The pattern is Tallulah by Grace Fearon, and I am using Rainbow Lace crochet thread from hobbii in Malachite.

This looks AH-mazing!

Nearly there, just knotting the fringe around the edges

Blanket of the Seventh Dawn - 8 + 9

(yes, I've intentionally skipped 7, as this was one of our WOL squares)

Note: This post may contain spoilers up to FFXIV Endwalker.

Introduction: What is this project? Or, for the tl;dr - one colorway per Scion = Big Blanket. #blanket of the seventh dawn to follow along.

Alphinaud Leveilleur

Yarn: Arcane Fibre Works, "Feelin Jelly" in DK (top left)

"I have borne witness to many such miracles at your side, and would do so again. This is but another obstacle in the road. So come, let us travel it. Drag me though wonder and danger, as you are wont to do, and I shall endeavor not to slow you down"

+

Alisaie Leveilleur

Yarn: Arcane Fibre Works, "Mount Fuji" in DK (bottom right)

"I could do with a little rampage myself."

~*~*~*~*~

For the twins, I wanted colorways that spoke to each other, but didn't mirror each other. And thus I landed on these two colorways with white among the primary colors. Alphinaud's came first, with the spectrum of blue to represent his main colors throughout the series. For Alisaie, I took inspiration from her Endwalker gear, leaning in to some of the grey and soft reds.

The twins are among my favorites in the game: Alphinaud for the sheer amount of growth we see in the expansions, and Alisaie for the sheer intensity of her passions. Alphinaud is the cool, collected against Alisaie's strength of emotion, and both are incredibly strong in spirit and will. They are wonderful companions and friends to the WOL, both flawed, both special characters.

1 year of gaviicreates :D