Sunday 9 January 2011

Finished Afghan Garden!

My flowery afghan is finally finished.
Another WIP taken off the shelf!

I had some fuchsia yarn left over from the flowers so I added and extra border…I made several changes from the pattern and overall I’m happy with it. Next time, though, I will do things differently. I will join as I go.

What was I thinking when I made 94 separate motifs???






Blocking can work miracles for garments, but I think that it flattens loft in blankets, so after a quick wool wash rinse, (double bagged to prevent agitation) I straightened out the afghan to breath. 




No steam, no ironing, no blocking. Normally I don’t end my afghans with a wash, when they are done -they are done, but because it was made over several months and my tension changed, I wanted to shake it out.


After a spin, I laid it out in the sun (it was very hot yesterday) and it dried beautifully. I’m very happy with the quality of wool. And I am so glad that it is finished now because it is a deep winter blanket and I didn’t want to be working away at it any longer in the heat. Now I just have to finish my ongoing ripple blanket.





It is super heavy – I love the weight, it feels so decadent.
I have thrown it over my crocheting tub chair and it’s a perfectly cosy corner now.



All my wool blankets are folded with a rosemary sachet or lavender wand.

Today I realised that I am out of both! It's something I always like to have on hand for blankets, drawers, cupboards, the pantry, window ledges...there are so many uses. I cant be without one!

Does anyone else still make these?

Although a session of sachet making is on my To Do List, and I didn't have time to run them all  up today, I decided to snip some lavender and just make a single one for this afghan so I would feel it was properly and completely finished.

I couldn't stand the idea of folding this blanket away over summer without a wand. 


The bees are still buzzing by my front garden. I decided to trim the bush and as I took the stems, the bees were hanging off my bunches! I had to move extra slowly so they wouldn’t become agitated.


I have left this a little late this year (surprise surprise).

The best time is spring when the lavender is fresh and just starting out - at the moment the stems are woody and dry (even after last night’s cool change and rain). Still, I persevered and although not as pretty as early spring wands, it will do nicely.








It feels good to be finishing projects
and moving along to the next thing…

21 comments:

  1. Beautiful Afghan, love the colours. I haven't seen those lavender stems made like that in a long time. Fabulous.

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  2. It looks gorgeous and will smell just as delightful when you come to use it.

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  3. I do, I do, Miss!!! I make lavender wands! I picked up the idea on my holiday in Croatia. But I made the same mistake last summer, left it too late and the lavender was too woody, so I mostly just dried the flowers and I haven't yet got around to making up the sachets. But I have not seen the way you do it, with a ribbon through, so I always need a lot of stems to cover the flowers. I must remember it next summer! Oh, sorry, back to the blanket! It is beautiful!!! I loved the colours when you started and it came out so lovely. Well done! I want to make one now, but where to find the time......

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  4. Oh what a lovely Afghan, you've done a great job here.
    And what a super idea - lavender wand - I must pass this idea onto Mum

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  5. It is absolutely beautiful, no wonder you are pleased with it. I love using my scented sachets in my linen press.

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  6. That is beautiful.
    I like the lavender!

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  7. Congratulations on a lovely finish! You made wonderful time on this project. I like your wand-making technique, perhaps I'll plant some lavender this spring.

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  8. You afghan is just wonderful...

    I have never seen lavender done that way...sooo awesome.

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  9. So pretty Flowers and colors, too. I love it.
    Happy neu year, Marita

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  10. Gorgeous afghan. Love the pattern.
    I've never seen a lavender wand before. Interesting.

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  11. Dear Esther, it turned out gorgeous. You have inspired me to to create myself a crochet afghan. For some reason I crochet them and always give to my mom. So maybe it's time to make one for myself...your fan, Diana

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  12. What a pretty finish. And I'm quite impressed with the lavender wand. I've never seen such a thing. How nice it would be to live in a climate where lavender grows, and then just step outside to cut some whenever needed. You are fortunate.

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  13. Hello Esther! Your floral afghan is beautiful! I love that colours! And yes, I made this type of lavendar wand last year. It is so cute and smells good in my wardrobe. Have a nice and creative day! Györgyi

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  14. Hi, Stunning Esther mine alas might be a UFO... for now ! Happy Stitching for 2011 Chrisb.

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  15. Your rug is absolutely beautiful, Esther!

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  16. This Afghan is absolutely beautiful. What a lot of work and dedication. I also make the Lavender wands and I love them. Thank you for sharing
    Elizabeth

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  17. Gorgeous! a job well done.....never heard of a lavender wand......will have to try that sometime.

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  18. Yes, we still make lavendar wands in the South of France, and you can buy then in the outside market places, Afghan is beautiful, love to take a nap under it.

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  19. Absolutely gorgeous afghan! I love the colors! I would make lavender wands but don't usually grow enough.

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  20. Beautiful blanket. Loved the idea of making your own lavendar "wand"!

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  21. I love the afghan. The lavender wand is a great way to store it. Thanks also for the tip on your non blocking methods for blankets.

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