where is the love?

I know there's not really any such thing as a crochet crisis, but if there was I would be having one right now because (deep breath)...

...I am just not feeling the love for 'me old china' blanket  :(

 

 
Something about the colours feels wrong to me and I have a feeling it's that yellowy green "citron". I think it's too bright for my taste and the overall effect is too colourful and chaotic and just isn't what I was after. It's often the way isn't it, that something looks good on paper but in practice doesn't quite work out as planned.

 

What to do about it though? Unpick all my hard work or press on regardless and not be happy with it when it's finished? I will be having a crochet pause while I ponder, and turning to my knitting for solace which is good news for all of those body-less animal heads!

Comments

[Debdor]

I love the colours, but from past experience I know that unless you love it, you will either, not finish it, or never use it. Always go with your gut instinct!!!

[greenrabbitdesigns]

Oh dear! I know what you mean though if you're not loving it, it usually gets pushed to the bottom of the craft bag, doesn't it. Personally I do like it but then I love all greens and everyone's taste differs.
I started a shawl a few weeks ago, made a big deal of it on my blog and then did not like doing it. There was nothing wrong with the pattern it's clear and well written but it was so busy that when I sat down in the evenings I couldn't be bothered picking it up. So after a while I frogged the lot and now I'm using the beautiful organic linen to crochet a scarf and I'm much happier!
My advice is to leave it a little while before making a decision though!
Have a lovely week Julie,
Vivienne x

[Gingerbread Girl]

I love the colours BUT it's not my blanket. Why don't you make some more squares without the citron, join them together and see if you like it better, before unpicking all your hardwork.

[Pam]

Just a thought but the magazine 'simply knitting' is supporting the charity Refuge this year by sending them knitted blankets for Children and Women that come into their shelters. I think the details are on their website but it may save all that unpicking and be for a good cause!

[lucylocket]

Oh what a shame Julie! I know what you mean when something doesn't feel right. But you have totally inspired me to get crocheting again - using a very similar palette just with different wools. I think the idea of trying some squares without the citron might be the way forward. Lucy xx

[jill]

Oh dear! Colour is such a personal thing, the 'joining' blue looks to be the wrong colour to me - I dare say every comment will focus on a different colour! Make it into a cushion cover rather than 'frog' it. Then have another go replacing the rogue colours from your colour perspective!)Step away from the crochet - it needs to be pondered upon - go knitting.
Much love

[Jenni at Baa-me Kniits]

Its just not fair when things don't seem to be going as you planned. Either rip it out and start again or gift it as a Christmas present?
I couldn't bring myself to comment on your last post....all those little heads looking at me, no wonder things seem chaotic there is too much chatter in your house ;-)

[raspberry]

I think the 'citron' is great, and maybe you could do a square more focussed on it, rather than trying to avoid it :)

[Carole]

Oh Julie,
I think that your blanket is lovely. I think the colours are very Cath Kidston. But i am looking forward to seeing your lovely animals soon. You will post a photo won`t you?
Love Carole from Rossendale xxx

[Beertje Zonn]

Your blanket is lovely!

Beertje Zonn

[Janice Kuykendall]

I have been reading your blog for a long time, and I think your creations are always very charming. I like your combinations on the quilt, but I know what you mean about not being happy when it is finished. I hope you figure it out.

[Wendy]

I think it looks very fine but I have been in a similar situation with a VVS blanket that is now hibernating indefinitely. I would be tempted to leave it as it is, make it into a dolly blanket and start again.

[Suzan]

It is dreadful when something you plan carefully and start with enthusiasm falls flat. I am all too guilty. Many things started and pushed aside because they just aren't right.

Others have made some excellent suggestions. I wonder if putting a darker border around the squares might help? But if it is too much work maybe it is time to finish it and pass it along to someone who will snuggle under it.

[Rosy Nancarrow]

Oh dear Julie, I was in that same crisis with a ripple blanket I started a few months back. I got it out at the weekend though and can't understand what the problem was now I see it again! Your blanket is still beautiful, but maybe it needs more of the white colour? Its so annoying when you get so far and wonder whether the carry on or unpick - I am sure there are loads of us out there who have this crisis! Love, Rosy x

[Pen at Oliver Boliver]

Ah - so crochet is the dark side afterall!

I can really sympathise! I do hate it when I get part way through a project and I look at and think - "Oh My Goodness - what was I thinking?"

Personally, I think crochet instills lots of colour madness and it can really work. Lucy at Attic 24 would certainly vouch for that. But as other commenters have said, colour is so subjective so if it's not working for you then have a pause and look at it again before ripping it back. Maybe a more neutral, cream/white would work as a joining colour so that the squares sit on their own rather than trying to work with each other? That would then look more like your china set.

I'm just toying with making a Bee Keepers Quilt and I'm having the same colour conundrums and I've not even started it yet!

Pen xox

[yarngirl13]

I'm sorry you're not Loving your blanket.

These happen to be my colors, so I think it's beautiful. I think citron green/yellow makes everything just a little happier. The colors just make me smile.

Isn't funny - everyone has a different opinion - I would have said, maybe less blue, or something to break the blue up (how about citron green!!).

Regardless, it's beautiful and whomever it is intended for is a very lucky person.

[wendy]

My grandmother always said "when in doubt, rip it out" - I have pulled apart many a project, many, many times - painful but necessary to get the result you want- ship it over I'll pull it apart for you! Its the green that you are using to join- its not as lively as the rest of your chosen colors so it is dragging them down and not giving you the visual imapact you are looking for - it needs to be a clearer, pure-er hue and tone. But..... how about not using a joining color, try it with out - you might like it much better!
Wendy

[Annie]

I agree it's the joining colour that's not giving the blanket the zing you were looking for. I wonder, would a rejig so that you join with the white do the trick?

[Pati from London]

I love the idea of using the old china colours for a blanket. I love the wool that you have chosen and the colours but perhaps when I look at your blanket picture, the one that stands out a little bit too much for me is the dark red (or "rich") rather than the green that you mentioned... I love the colour of real chinese celadon and I think it is a great colour to use for the joining bits.... (Will keep it in mind for next time). x Pati

[Jenny]

Well obviously you'll get a lot of diverse opinions, but here's mine: I think it needs more white. What I would do is separate the squares and either add a round of white to each or mix them up with new squares that don't have that same blue-green colour on the last round.

But then again, if you don't love it, just start over.

[trash]

Just so you know - that citron green is just about my favourite colour. ;-)

[kim axten]

Hi Julie , love your blanket but feel that the thing that to me feels less lovely is the bolder reds and blues ,and where they are situated. in my dabbling with many crochet blankets have found some dark colours and the use of a colour a round can be a problem on the eyes.tend to use more rustic colours in mine as i give most away.
Cant wait to see the new creations .

take care x

[Susi]

I think your blanket is lovely. I would use white or off white for the borders instead of the blue/green you used to make the colors pop.

The citron is a lovely color.

[Lyn]

tricky one, I think there are many great suggestions here from your readers so I am just going to say....I like it the way it is but it's not my blanket!
xxx

[Anny]

o,o, I love the blanket... but you have to live with it... If I wasn't satisfied with it, I would rip it out... I think a white last round, instead of a blue one could make it look brighter...

[Diana]

It reminds me of pastel quilts that I like. But the ones that make me say ahhhh have quite a bit of light colors/whites/off whites in them. So maybe some more light shades in the mix would make your soft colors pop.

[Gem]

I think it looks great and I love the colours but I would say if you are not happy with it the chances are you still won't be happy once it's finished which would be a shame but would also be a waste to carry on with, unless you gave it away to a friend or relative as a present maybe. I'm sure what ever happens though that you will make the right decision xxx

[Midj]

I'm going to agree with those saying use white (or just off white)to join. Like adding sugar or cream to a cup of tea, it might make something wonderful, sublime...

[K]

I'm going to have to bounce back and forth to answer this one - my color memory won't support the distance between words and photos. When I first looked at it, after reading the first paragraph, my impression was that the middle value green was too yellow. Made it a little characterless. Then, looking closer, I realize that your two red values - the pink and the darker value - dominate the scheme, while the blue - the lighter one especially - seems to disappear into your connecting color. The citron wasn't the thing that caught my eye. But maybe the problem is that there are things that definitely DO catch my eye, and things that don't - that gives it maybe too wide a dynamic range. I am fond of stronger greens, I think - and I can never tell you whether that means leaning to yellow or to blue in the values - but in this case, I'm guessing I'd want more blue in the shade. In china, most of the tones are a bit muted, aren't they? I'll have to go back and look at the china photo again.

It's not bad, Jules - but I can see what you mean - you are not charmed, and you need to be to do this much work. I'll try to look after the horses are out and I'm fed.

[Doris L]

I happen to like the colors, including the citron. I'm with Jill and Susi, though, to me it's the blue/green. A white or off-white would possibly set off the blogs differently.

[k]

I just read through the other comments. I like the idea of white. I mean really - china is mostly white and the color is so delicious because of the contrast, jah?

[Sarah]

I think it looks lovely but if you are going for the Cath Kidson 'washed-out' shabby chic old china look that I was imagining you to I can see what you mean. That green is my absolute favourite colour but if I was going for the look I have described I would use more light pink and Rose with the wedgewood blue and use the reds and greens as accent colours just as the roses and leaves are accent colours on the pink and blue CK fabrics. Does that make sense??

[Judy]

Hi Julie I so know that feeling. When I read your post today I was at first determined not to add my opinion as you have so many already..... But I've looked and looked and I'm sure it's the celadon wot's wrong! Looking back at your first post about 'my old china', the unjoined squares looked so fresh and clean. The celadon is a lovely colour but a bit murky. Not too much work to choose another background colour and not all would be lost. Maybe worth a try to get it back to something you'll love again. J xxx

[Auntie Pami]

I think I agree on the joining yarn. Not making the blocks pop. I wouldn't rip apart the blocks themselves, but maybe if you laid the blocks out on some white (or whatever color you are thinking of) fabric with imaginary spaces you'd get more of the love you are missing.

[Sue J]

Julie, I think the crochet blanket is beautiful............maybe if you go around the whole thing with some of the colors you will feel better about it?

[anne@andamento]

I really like it. I think it just needs to be bigger so you have more squares and things will start to balance out. Blocking will also help. I really like the one that inspired you to which yours is very similar (this one), so much so that I am going to try a similar pattern for my next blanket.
Anne.

[Fran]

I went through the exact same thing recently, and just turned it into a cushion cover instead...No unpicking, just redeployment...

[Sally Harvey]

Hi Julie
I think the conscensus is your blanket is lovely - why not have a blog giveaway (she says hopefully!) or turn it into a cushion cover or bag for a Christmas gift?

[Karen]

It's disappointing when that happens. I had it a few weeks ago with a jumper I knitted, loved knitting it, loved the wool and pattern, put it on......instant disappointment. So I donated it to charity because someone will love it, it is a nice jumper but not on me. Maybe edge what you've done and donate it to charity as a cuddle/cot/pram blanket. x

[Kate - The Garden Bell]

Here are my thoughts. I think you have been reading another blog about color too much. This is perfect. It works. I would use that one that sticks out in the border and it will tie it all together.

[Jan]

Oh wow, the minute the blog pulled up, the first thing I thought was how utterly soothing and wonderful the colors were!

It's YOUR blanket though, so do what feels right and good to you!

[busybusybeejay]

I think it is the green on the outer edge that doesn't go.The green on the inner squares is fine.From the picture I can only see three.The rest are fine.The green just jumped out at me.

[Georgina]

I would definately put it to one side and keep it as a slow progress 'fill in a spare 10 mins' project and then either donate it or sell it on etsy. I find unpicking is so disheartening as all I can think is what time I've wasted doing it then undoing it and the yarn is never the same after it's been upicked. But a blog give away or swap sounds like an excellent idea too.

[georgina]

Another idea would be to rearrange the squares to make a scarve and the project would be finished and done much sooner or use the individual squares to make lavendar bags to scent drawers etc.

[Anna]

I love it. But as others have already said, if you don't love it you aren't going to enjoy making it or seeing it once it's done.

Personally I don't think I could pull it apart after getting as far as you have when the only issue is personal taste. If I was you I would try and sell it to recoup the money I had spent on yarn and then start again. Putting this down as a lesson learnt! It is a lovely blanket and I am sure you would find a buyer.

[Lesley]

It's such a shame you're not feeling the love for your blanket, Julie as I think it's gorgeous! I love the blue edging and definitely wouldn't be tempted to edge the squares in cream or white as that'll detract from the lovely CK colour scheme you have going on.

I might be tempted to try including some of the pink or red in each square, as those without don't seem to 'sing' as much - not sure that makes sense.

Maybe time for a bunny knitting break and then come back to it later. Put the blanket where you can see it while you're knitting and you may find it starts to grow on you.

xx

[carolyn]

the colors are fun despite your lack of love so DON'T unpick it, finish it up in a small crib size and save it for the baby...those pesky little things are always being born aren't they!? :D

[Liz Phillips]

I loved your firs blanket-all the pale, pastel colors. The new one is a different 'mood'-maybe a lighter colour linking the squares would change it. I have knitted many things that have looked good on paper, but haven't pleased me in reality. It's so frustrating!

[Deb Hickman]

I think it looks beautiful but I think if you're not happy with it now's the time to unpick it and start again rather than just leave it..xxx

[Jo]

Before I read all the oomments I was thinking the joining blue wasn't working with all the other lovely colours, even though its one of my favourite shades of blue, its just not working as well as it might. I too would hesitate to unpick it as its unlikely you will be able to reuse all the varying lengths...unless you just unpicked the outer edges which all have the same colour.