I'm building a blanket

As I mentioned before, I have recently learnt how to crochet. My little Greek grandmother used to crochet constantly: lace tablecloths, placemats, doilies and such. Don't let that fool you, she was fierce, I would like to write a post all about her...but for now, let's get back to the crochet.

Sadly I didn't learn the Knotty Art from my Yiayia, but from a rather crafty friend of mine, who happens to be the proprietor of the marvellously-titled I Will Make Do And Mend blog (do drop in and tell her I said hello, I miss her). As a self-taught knitter, I had always been baffled by my woolly pastime's mono-needled counterpart, but this clever lady taught me how to whip up a three-coloured granny square in just one evening!

I was instructed to bring along an assortment of odd bits of yarn - not a problem, thanks to a couple of Ebay swag bags from my novice knitting days. There were, among others, several small balls of whites and creams, a delicious dark red, and a weird sparkly navy blue. I tried the red with a cream; loved it. I tried the blue with a white; loved it. In fact, I couldn't decide which I loved more, and so, as a nod to the Brit in me and the American in, well, The American, I proceeded thus:

Like every female blogger of a certain age, I dreamed of one day owning a crocheted blanket. And now, armed with the power of the granny square, I finally had the means to not just own one, but to make one of my very own. However, my knitting has taught me that I am a girl of inconsistent tension. To those not initiated in the Knotty Arts, this means that all my granny squares would probably have ended up different sizes, so I would have had to do some calculations to make them all fit neatly together. Frankly, the idea of building a blanket was daunting enough without throwing in Maths, and so, inspired by a pattern on a blanket I saw draped over a sofa in this lovely lady's house, I decided to make one enormous square, continuing in two alternate rows of blue, red and white/cream:

Outrageously simple, and hugely satisfying! She is now 38 inches square, big enough for me to symbiotically snuggle under while I continue making her (well, if I sit cross-legged). Eventually she will be big enough to cover a double bed, but for now I just wanted to introduce you. Perhaps publication on the wonderful web will give me an extra incentive towards completion? Sadly she jostles for my attention with a cardigan I have been knitting for what feels like an age...who will win the race to the finish?