A Finished Blanket, A Deep Breath, and Thoughts on What’s Next

There’s something very satisfying about reaching the final stages of a crochet blanket.

Over the past few weeks I’ve been finishing the Granny Square to Rectangle Blanket crochet pattern. After all of the rectangles and squares were joined together, it was finally time to add the border—a stage that always feels as though everything comes together. It’s amazing how a simple border can frame the colours, neaten the edges and transform a collection of motifs into a finished blanket.

I filmed a few quiet moments while I was working on the border. It’s not a tutorial—just a chance to slow down and enjoy the peaceful rhythm of those final rounds before the blanket was complete.

Watching the border grow round by round reminded me why this is one of my favourite stages of any crochet project.

As much as I enjoy designing, the border is often one of my favourite parts to crochet. There’s something wonderfully repetitive about working your way around the blanket, stitch by stitch, watching the project become complete.

Of course, finishing the crochet is only part of the journey.

Once the blanket itself was complete, I turned my attention to writing the pattern. If you’ve ever followed one of my patterns, you’ll know how much work goes into making them as clear and beginner-friendly as possible. Every section needs checking, every measurement needs confirming, photographs need editing, and tutorials need linking together. It always takes longer than I expect, but it’s worth it knowing that someone else will be able to recreate the blanket with confidence.

I’m delighted that the Granny Square to Rectangle Blanket free pattern is now live on the website, complete with step-by-step photos and all of the information needed to make your own version.

With the pattern published, I’ve allowed myself something I don’t do very often—a little breather.

When you’re immersed in designing a large blanket, it can easily become your entire creative focus for weeks, or even months. So it’s been quite nice to step back for a moment, tidy away the yarn, and simply enjoy not having a deadline hanging over me.

That doesn’t mean my mind has stopped thinking about crochet though!

Looking Ahead

Lately I’ve been wondering whether my next design should be something a little different. Blankets will always be my first love, but they are undeniably big projects. They require a lot of planning, a lot of yarn and a lot of time before you ever get to share the finished design.

I’m quite drawn to the idea of creating something smaller and quicker next. Perhaps a home accessory, a cushion, or another project that can be completed in days rather than months. There’s something appealing about designing a project that still allows plenty of opportunity to play with colour, but doesn’t require quite the same level of commitment as a full-sized blanket.

At this stage I’m still sketching and swatching ideas, pulling out yarn and seeing what sparks inspiration. Sometimes the best projects arrive when I don’t force them, so I’m enjoying letting ideas develop naturally.

For now, I’m simply enjoying that lovely in-between stage: one project complete, another waiting to begin, and a notebook gradually filling with new ideas.

I’m looking forward to sharing the next chapter here in Emma’s Crochet Journal soon.