As I was helping a customer pick out her Koigu for the blanket featured in Interweave Crochet’s spring 2006 magazine, I started to fantasize that maybe I could make it too, that it could be ME picking out Koigu colors!
I had once crocheted an edging on something knit, but that was about the extent of my crochet knowledge. I’m really glad this blanket came along to inspire me to learn a little something more about crocheting.
Two co-workers, Leah and Faye, both gave me some pointers, and, pivotally, a crochet-fanatic customer, Lindsay, actually showed me how to make the basic square that forms the foundation of the pattern. Plus I was aided by a great book called “Kids' Crochet” by Kelli Ronci which is written for kids, but worked for me. --Whitney

Update on January 21, 2008 by purl bee

The Babette Blanket Pattern is now available as a pdf download on Interweave's Knitting Daily site! 

I thought I would have fun just picking colors I liked and throwing them all into the mix, and, what the hell, it would all look great. But then my mother got involved. She convinced me that it would look like I had dug into the furthest reaches of my stash basket, desperate for every last scrap. She encouraged a more disciplined approach. She kept saying, “Don’t you want it to be pretty?” Yes I do, mother. Here’s what we chose:Koigu Premium Merino in eight hand-dyed colors.  --Whitney

 

So I’ve been making the smallest size square for about a week now. I think I have 35 of them. Since I’m not following the color plan of the pattern, I have found it necessary to chart what color combinations I have done so that I don’t repeat and so that I don’t end up overusing the colors I intend as accents.

I’m really enjoying crocheting, although I started to miss knitting yesterday and had to start a new  sweater. For all of those knitters who are scared of crocheting, don’t be; it’s wrist-ier than knitting and, for English style knitters, you do hold the yarn in your left hand, but it’s really not hard. It has a nice flow, and it’s fun learn something new. -- Whitney

My babette is almost finished.  Here are two strips sewn up.  Its so exciting to see it finally coming together! -- Whitney

I've been so inspired to see Whitney's Babette Blanket coming together, I've started making one of my own.  I've always loved Koigu's semi-solid colors, and I especially love seeing all of the different colors together sitting on the shelf at Purl, this blanket is the perfect opportunity to put them all together in one project.  Here are my colors so far.  --Joelle