My very own Nanny McPhee...

Well here it is in all its glory, the nannny granny is finished at last. I have to say I've really enjoyed this project, not sure why this has been more fun to do than other granny squares, but it has. 

I think maybe joining the squares as you go is a big part, all that sewing up at the end of a usual blanket is a real faff, especially deciding on the positions of everything. Because all I had to do is weave in the ends with this one it seemed to be tidied up much more quickly.

As I mentioned previously, the inspiration was the bedspread in the first Nanny McPhee film, a more muted affair than the usual garish colours associated with grannies.

Believe me, my colours are also muted, but the sunshine on the day I took the photos bleached out a lot of the paler ones, making them look a lot lighter than they actually are.

There are 208 squares in this one, and I used over forty different shades of DK yarn and a 4.5mm hook. It's a great stash buster, but I did buy a couple of colours in as I didn't have them in stock.

I was going to do a stripey, fancy border, but when I'd done just the first round we all thought it looked good. So I left it at that.

I did mention giving some links to other sites where people had been making similar things. These are all ones where they quote Nanny McPhee as inspiration, as there are countless granny blankets/throws/afghans out there (and on Flickr).

So, you could always take a look here , here, here ,  here or maybe here. A couple of these I'd seen before I started and most I've found since. They're all different in the colours that have been chosen, but share the same inspiration.

This last picture was taken inside in a little more shade, and gives a slightly better impression of the colours.

Anyway, I love it, but it's destined to leave home with the eldest as she (hopefully, fingers crossed for results) goes off to university later this year. So, I think I'll just make another for use as a cover up in the living room. MrH is a bit miffed it's not staying as he really likes it as well!

Oh, and if you're not sure of how to do the round middles, I've found a good tutorial here. It's not quite the same as mine but the instructions are very clear and there are lots of pictures. Same goes here, which has a tutorial for the bog standard granny square. (Which I suspect may take a little less time and yarn.)

Comments

[Sarah]

It has turned out beautifully. I love it!

[kathleen]

It's just gorgeous, I love it and the colors, I AM going to have go! Thanks for putting one of your beautiful peonies on one photo too! Just completely inspiring to me on this murky Monday morning.Yes it was me, how on earth did I become"t"???

[Arianwen]

Stunning!! I can see why nobody wants it to leave.

[colleen]

Smashing! So vibrant. I think it's lovely that it's destined to go with your eldest. I took my brother's crocheted baby blankets with me when I went and they really cheered up my institutional room in residence and brought at least some of my home with me.

Tell Mr H he will have to get over it.

[Sue]

That is just lovely. A great reminder of home for No 1 to take with her.

[TheMadHouse]

It is just stunning, well done

[Puppet Lady]

That's a beautiful blanket and I love the colours. It will be a lovely reminder of you and home for your eldest when she's away. I've never made a granny square but maybe I'll have a go when I've finished my 100 puppets! It looks very tempting.

[SmitoniusAndSonata]

That really is beautiful!! I love the colours and the edging . Very clever .
Good luck to Eldest with her results , hope she gets the place she wants . And when she does , as of course she will , that blanket will make her feel immediately at home .

[Liz]

Congratulations on your nanny granny...its lovely.

[JoannaD]

That's lovely. I'm sure it will make your daughter's uni room look really cheerful and also provide her with some comfort as she adjusts to the big life change.

[little pink room]

It's beautiful. I like the more muted colours. I'm with you, some granny blankets do look a bit garish. A x

[little pink room]

Lovely!

[Jodi]

Delightful. Sure to become a family treasure.

[Sue]

It's beautiful, I'm not surprised the family want you to make another one.

[Mousy Brown]

I can't believe how much I missed - I was only away for a week - those tablecloths!!!! I love this blanket, it is sooo gorgeous, much nicer than any others I have seen, I did say crochet was fine didn't I ??! LOL xxx

[Rattling On]

Thanks to everyone for the lovely comments, and yes Em...you did say crochet was ok!!

[Julie (little cotton rabbits)]

wow! It's gorgeous and perfect for snuggling in - well done!

[Rachael (Tales from the Village)]

Oh, that is heavenly. I have been desperate to learn to crochet (I'm left handed, and my mother and grandmother have tried to show me with no luck) because I am dying to make my own granny square blanket, just like this. This year I'm going to do it, by (crochet) hook or by crook!

[Rattling On]

Hi Rachael, thanks for the lovely comment. This book http://www.amazon.co.uk/Crochet-Unravelled-Clear-Concise-Learning/dp/0954829603/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1279905228&sr=8-4 is really good for learning to crochet. It's basic with good pictures and has instructions for left handers as well! Crochet is perfect if you're left handed as the patterns all work out perfectly, which isn't the case with knitting. Good luck. Dawn.

[[email protected]]

really nice work!

are you on Ravelry.com? i am danielknits on it.

[Rattling On]

Hi Daniel, thanks for the compliment. I recently made another of these for a blog swap. I post pictures on Flickr (link in sidebar). I am on Ravelry but haven't posted anything. I must get my act together! Dawn.

[Hatty]

This is far nicer than the original, I mean I liked it as it's a crochet blanket but I didn't love it. This I love! I noticed the blanket in the film but the colours were too muddy for me. I like colours - anything from pastels to brights. Yours has a lovely balance and is very beautiful. I have saved it so I can show my daughter. Lovely colours, lovely blanket. Very inspirational actually in helping me plan out my next blanket. Just one thing though, I have to say that bright isn't the same as garish. 1970's colour schemes could be garish but the bright blankets you see today are just jewel bright and flower pretty. However, it is becoming a bit ubiquitous so I am pleased to find such a lovely colourful blanket as yours.

[Rattling On]

Hatty, thank you so much for the lovely comment. I'm on my third version of this at the moment! The one here is due to go with my daughter to Uni in ten days.
I love using some darker colours as it gives much better contrasts. Dawn