Sunday 14 April 2013

Blanket Squares - Get The Random Look - Sudoku Method

Hello!  Thanks for the lovely comments recently!

Ok... I thought it was time I let you in on my method of arranging the squares in my Waterlily Blanket.

I wanted a random look, but I also needed a plan.  I couldn't just crochet squares willy nilly, not knowing what was going to happen when I tried to put them all together - my nerves couldn't have stood it!  (I am rubbish at random!!)

So, I came up with an idea.  It so happened that I had picked 9 different colours to use (plus the cream for the edges) - so I thought... Sudoku!

I decided that I would create a 9 squares x 9 squares blanket, and use the Sudoku rules.  This meant that in each row there would be one of each colour, in each column there would be one of each colour, and in each of the 9 clusters of 3 x 3 squares, there would be one of each colour.  I came up with this:


I tried using some existing Sudoku puzzles - so that I could just assign a colour to each number and away I'd go.  However, I had another requirement that Sudoku puzzles don't have.  In Soduku, you can have the same number touching diagonally, between the 3 x 3 clusters, but I didn't want to have the same colour touching diagonally!  So, I just had to work it out myself.  Took a fair bit of fiddling about - some may wonder if it was worth it - but I was finally happy with the result!

In the end, I started to run out of yarn - and didn't think I'd make it to the end of 9 rows, so I just did the first 7 rows, making a 9 x 7 squares blanket (but I was safe in the knowledge that there was no repetition of colour in any of the rows or columns!)

If you happen to be making a blanket using 9 colours, then feel free to use this method.  Below I've created the same chart, but using numbers, so you could assign a colour to each number.  You can even print it out and colour it in if you like!


Who would have thought you could combine Sudoku and crochet?!


Sunday 7 April 2013

Zipped Make-Up Pouch



Hello!  I've finally got round to making a zipped make-up pouch - I've been planning to do it for ages.  I carry a little pouch in my handbag for lipstick, lipbalm, etc - and the old one was in desperate need of replacement...


It had been disintegrating into my bag!  So, I (eventually) got to work...


I used the big spotty material for the lining as well, and added buttons.  Here is the finished item:


I love how colourful it is!



I think it is a big improvement, don't you?!


Thanks for all the lovely comments lately - they are always really appreciated.

I've added a button in my sidebar, to enable followers through bloglovin'.  It seems to be the thing everyone is moving to, so I thought I'd make it easier.

Until next time!

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...