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Published on September 8, 2022

The Time Traveller’s Blanket and YARN Bookazine, Issue 14: Expression

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Looking for something new to crochet? Scheepjes Yarns has released their latest issue of YARN bookazine *, and it is so lush. Find this issue here at WoolWarehouse (affiliate link). Scroll down to the end of this post where once again, I revisit all of the contributions I have made to YARN Bookazine. YARN is one of the best fiber art publications out there. They’re perfect for a coffee table, and you can flip through them again and again.

Don’t forget, you can pre-order my upcoming Creative Art Blanket Course at a discounted price by clicking here!

EXPRESSION is this issue’s theme and the photography and projects are breathtaking. This issue is truly a stunner.

My contribution to YARN, Issue 14 is the “Time Traveller’s Blanket” and it features my signature style of mixing motifs and playing with geometry. Time Traveller’s Blanket was probably the most fun I have had designing a project.

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Wanderlust Yarn

From the Scheepjes website:

“Meet Scheepjes Wanderlust, a 100% single spun Acrylic yarn “with a sense of adventure”, from the Scheepjes Black Label series. Scheepjes Wanderlust is soft to the touch with a gentle sheen that intensifies its vibrant colours. Each shade is inspired by beautiful cities and places from around the world such as Paris, Berlin and Rio de Janeiro. Wanderlust yarn has a long and smooth colour change giving a gradual shift from one shade to another.”

You can find this Aran Weight yarn in 100g balls at WoolWarehouse, and shopping through that affiliate link will help support CypressTextiles at no additional cost to you. Or you can find a Scheepjes retailer nearby!

Colors and Quantity Used

  • 456 Prague x 4 balls
  • 455 Zanzibar x 4 balls
  • 461 Reykjavik x 6 balls
  • 467 Amsterdam x 6 balls
  • 466 Paris x 6 balls

It is so surprising to see how these Wanderlust colors look on the ball, versus in the project. It’s truly a lovely yarn.

Inspiration: Shifting Tiles and Shapes

If you have followed my work for any length of time, you may know that I take my design inspiration from non-crochet sources, in an attempt to push the boundaries of my craft. To get my creative juices flowing to design the Time Traveller’s Blanket, I looked to 3D ceramic wall tiles, and a shape-shifting box.

Moda Ceramics Tiles

I love the way the light plays off of these gorgeous ceramic wall tiles. You can see more at the Moda Ceramics website. The shadows guide your eye down the wall, and this element is something that I strive for when I create a blanket. I love thinking of the dimensions of a blanket as a canvas, and creating a work of art from that creative place.

Here is another example of this 3D wall tile. Look how the different tile designs play together, and how the shadows create such beauty. I drew inspiration from this movement of light for my Time Traveller’s Blanket.

Sashibo Shape Shifter

Have you ever played with the Sashibo Shape-Shifting Box? You can get one through my Amazon affiliate link. The colors and patterns inspire creativity and the idea of a plain cube shifting shapes pushes the mind to be more flexible.

The box moves smoothly into a seemingly infinite number of positions, and each one sparks joy in my brain. I’m definitely a color and geometry lover, so the inspiration in these cubes is endless!

Work in Progress

I sketched up this blanket and then figured out how I would make everything come together. Once I had the sketch, I knew I wouldn’t be stopping until the design was achieved.

The “knitted” looking motifs are made with crochet linen stitch, and they are a nice contrast to the intricate quarter motifs.

The border is an echo to the decorative motifs, and I think it complements everything nicely.

And here is the final product, blocking on my foam interlocking mats. So satisfying!

Another angle, I couldn’t help but take many photos, but these are only a few. These colors of Wanderlust are so gorgeous and they play very well together.

The joining pops against these motifs and brings the brightness of the curving center panel out to these sections.

Wanderlust yarn quickly became one of my favorites with its surprising color changes. Every shift of color brought a new perspective to the piece.

This is definitely one of my most artful works, and it was a joy. I know you will love working this one up.

Do you think I achieved my goal of creating a design that guides your eye over the piece?

One more snapshot to show you. I’m so proud of this one! This issue of YARN is the best one yet, and it’s an honor to be included.

Thank you for taking a look at my latest Scheepjes pattern contrubution.

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Time Traveller’s Blanket

“The deconstructed circular motifs of this crocheted blanket echo cogs and wheels tumbling out of a giant clock. Long, subtle colour changes shift gradually from one shade to another in the centre, contrasting with the curves, and representing how one moment in time flows on to the next.” – From the Scheepjes Website

Project Details

  • MEASUREMENTS: 197 X 164CM (77.5 X 64.5in) after blocking
  • GAUGE/TENSION: Motif 1 measures 14x14cm using a 4mm hook
  • SKILL LEVEL: Advanced

More Gorgeous Projects in this Issue

There are a couple of projects that I fell in love with in this issue, and I thought I would share them!

Freestyle Joggers

By Dario Tubiana (Ravelry Project Page)

Beautifully embroidered, abstract flowers and leaves wind their way around this relaxed, unisex knit. Bending, stretching or leaping – they’ll move too. The Extra Fine Wool blend yarn is luxurious, and ensures they’ll be warm all through the winter. Don’t miss the ankle detail. – from the Ravelry Page

Row by Row Throw

By Emma Leith (Ravelry Project Page)

Explore the maximalism trend by crocheting a cosy throw with boundless texture. Made in an affordable, practical anti-pilling yarn, it will add warmth to interiors. The eclectic mix of colours, loops, pompoms, textures, and decorations show that more is definitely more. – from the Ravelry Page

My Past YARN Bookazine Projects

When I joined the Scheepjes Bloggers Team, I started contributing to their biannual publication, the YARN Bookazine. Since the thirteenth issue has just been released, I thought I would take a little walk down memory lane, and reminisce over my quirky YARN blanket design submission collection. This collection starts with Issue 7. If you’d like to see the projects from Issues 3-6, head to this blog post and scroll down to the bottom for my first memory lane walk!

To find these titles, please browse this page of Scheepjes Publications (affiliated) and you can find all of the issues of YARN there.

Here we go – enjoy!

YARN 7, Reef

There are so many beautiful projects in this issue. Look at the incredible cover – is it Summer yet??

Surftime Blanket

“A crazy mix of diverse patterns combining three-dimensional and flat stitches. This design takes the humble granny square to its extreme.” From Ravelry

I worked on this piece while in Amsterdam for the Scheepjes Bloggers’ Meetup. The motifs and border were so much fun to design! I do have overpack-itis, and I packed some Colour Crafter yarn with me so I could at least have a little play with the motif design for my ocean-inspired blanket during my airport layover time, and my hotel room down-time. It was a blast!

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YARN 8, Tea Room

This issue features stunning designs – something for everyone, ranging from elegant to playful – mixed in with delightful articles all centered on the tea room theme – including a selection of ten glorious tea rooms, sure to end up on your bucket list.

Oolong Blanket

And a stylized shot of my contribution – can’t get enough of this one! The shapes of Oolong are really why I love crochet design. Bringing together those panels was such a delight for me. I live for the geometry of it all!

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YARN 9, Now Age

What an honor to design a blanket for this fresh and stunning issue. Plus, just feast your eyes on all of the top notch designs featured on the cover. So much beauty! Not to mention the incredible models. This was really a fantastic issue. I recommend diving into your own copy! You will certainly find something you’d love to make within its pages.

Floral Eclipse Throw

This blanket works up quick in Cahlista yarn – an aran weight cotton. Aren’t the lacy floral motifs delightful?

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Yarn 10, The Colour Issue

The Colour Issue is a celebration of 10 issues of YARN and the perfect salute to color. If you’ve followed my work for any length of time, you know that I am color obsessed, so when Scheepjes told me that they were coming out with a color issue, I jumped for joy! I mean just look at the cover.

Technicolour Dream Blanket

 “A combination of geometric shapes and a pompom trim create a kaleidoscopic feast for the eyes. Throw this celebration of colour over a sofa, bed or chair to instantly uplift the mood in any room!” – From Ravelry

It was so much fun to design this blanket and choose the colors for it. What a real dedication to COLOR this project is! Mixing the colors and creating the layout was a delight, and it is so simple, but comes together to make something beautiful.

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YARN 12, Romance

According to the Scheepjes Facebook page, this issue “pays tribute to the Pre-Raphaelite and Arts and Crafts movements of the 19th century and is divided into four enthralling chapters inspired by renowned muses Lizzie Siddal, Fanny Eaton, Annie Miller and Effie Gray.” This edition is a stunner! The patterns in the bookazine are top notch, but I also enjoyed perusing through the issues and reading the creative interviews and articles.

Morris Blanket

This blanket design pays homage to the equal parts intricate and whimsical wallpaper of William Morris. Choosing the bright, unexpected colors and creating the lace and trellis panels was a delight, and I know you will enjoy the construction.

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YARN 13, Wadden

According to the Scheepjes Facebook page, this issue “features 17 modern crochet and knitting patterns inspired by the land, sea and animals of the region. The colour palette features bright shades reflecting the berries and lighthouses found scattered across the Dutch Wadden islands, with more neutral colours taken from the beaches, dunes, mudflats and waters to offer a soft contrast. Featuring a range of yarns and fibres, from crisp cottons to cosy pure wool, the projects are made in a selection of crochet and knitting techniques. An additional latch hook rug design completes the selection of patterns.”

Surf and Turf Blanket

All the textures and patterns of the Wadden are here: waves, a bold red and white border inspired by lighthouses, and spots representing sea buckthorn berries. Make an easy-care blanket equally ready for a country picnic, a beach BBQ, or simply to add a touch of the coast to your home.

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Thank you all for walking down memory lane with me and indulging me on my look back through these designs! I hope you check out the Expression Issue and give the Time Traveller’s Blanket a heart, a comment, queue it up, or just generally show some love. It means a lot to me 🙂

Don’t forget to add your project to Ravelry also – this helps loads! That way more folks can find the issues and they can imagine the projects in new ways. Inspire someone today!

Happy crafting! Love you!

Rachele C.