Last Dance on the Beach CAL: Week 12

Welcome! Well, the final square is mine and I can’t believe we are here already, wow… just a few weeks to go and many of you will have a completed blanket! Although, some of us will wonder what we will do with all our free time on Wednesdays…

I hope you like the square for this week. If you would like to learn a bit more about my experience with the CAL and how I came up with this square, read on!

ScheepjesCAL2016

*Disclaimer* I am currently on holiday and have been a general lazybutt layabout, so these red squares (for my personal blanket) are being shown unblocked. Let’s just pretend I did it on purpose to show the square in it’s ‘raw’ form and that ours start out somewhat wonky and wavy pre-blocking too! ;)

A little background info for those who are not taking part in the CAL. Last summer I was asked to take part in a special project for Scheepjes. Together with the other Scheepjes bloggers, I helped design a blanket for the Last Dance on the Beach crochet-along (CAL) in memory of our friend, and fellow blogger, Marinke Slump (aka Wink). The design was originally meant to be hers alone, but due to a terrible depression which lead to her suicide, she left us before she was able to finish it. We were approached and asked to work together to finish this idea for her. She had visited Scheepjes previously to outline what she envisioned for the CAL and that was passed on to us. Twelve of us together would create squares to make up the finished blanket.

Wink wanted this blanket to be something that would be suitable for all skill levels, introduce a variety of stitches and create texture. She also wanted this to be a learning experience, so that everyone would learn a little something along the way. She loved the idea of a beach theme and explained her ideas to the gang at Scheepjes, which was then passed on to us. We were asked to think of what we love about the beach and to try to find inspiration to create a square.

Right… OK, before I could do that I had to get past the sheer panic of being asked to design something. Firstly, I’m a knitter at heart. While I can crochet, knitting is where it’s at for me. Secondly, at that point in time, I had designed precisely zero things, ZERO THINGS. PANIC STATIONS! I was scared that I wouldn’t measure up and that I’d pale in comparison to some of the other amazing contributors who have so much more experience in designing. In the end they were all incredibly supportive and encouraging, and really wanted me to be able to take part, so I decided to go for it. Also, it was meant to be a learning experience, right? I guess I would learn a little something as well!

ScheepjesCAL2016 - Week 12

Honestly, I just really wanted to be a part of this project, even though I was completely intimidated by the idea. When I met Wink I was completely enthralled by her. She was WINK, for pity sake. Funky hair, big smile, endless creativity… I was in awe of her. I honestly thought she had the world by the nards and was kicking butt and taking names! I guess it just goes to show you that even behind the biggest smiles, you don’t really know what is going on in someone’s life. So, I wanted to pay tribute to her, to take part in this project with the other girls from our group that were also feeling the void she left behind. We knew it wouldn’t be an easy project, both because it was an emotional one, and that there would be a lot of cooks in the kitchen, but we were all committed to making it happen. I really hope we’ve made her proud.

Ok, back to the square before I end up all sniffly over here, jeez.

The inspiration part wasn’t difficult. If you’ve followed me on pretty much any social media you know that one of my favourite things to do in the summer is float on water, any water. Often it’s the pool at my in-laws in the south of France (where I am right now as I write this and you can see in the photo below) but I did grow up on an island and have spent my share of time at the beach as well.

I float like a boss!

floating

Whether I am at the beach or the pool, when I’m not busy falling asleep, I’m looking around me and taking in all the sights and sounds of summer. One of the things that relaxes me most are the patterns the wind and sun create around me. The ripples in the water, the reflections the sun creates on the sand or the bottom of the pool, the breeze blowing through the trees and grass. The rhythm of it all relaxes me completely (which is often how I end up asleep, of course).

CAL Inspiration

I wanted something that looked like ripples, or a fluid motion, but not a ripple stitch. After some searching I found a really wonderful wave stitch that I knew ticked all the boxes. It created texture, it used combination of stitches people may not have used before and it showed that fluid motion that inspired me in the first place. We had very specific instructions in regards to the amount of stitches and the size, so much like many of you who are working on the CAL now are experiencing, we also had a lot of trial and error when trying to get the correct formula for the squares. There was much frogging and many different hook sizes used but I finally got the magic number and then it all fell into place.

ScheepjesCAL2016

I really love this square and beyond the visible inspiration, it also represents so many things in regards to my thoughts about Wink, my own issues with anxiety, and life in general. Life is fluid, just like this pattern. I think we’ve all experienced that, haven’t we? The ebb and flow and the ups and downs of life. No matter how difficult things may feel at times, when everything seems to be coming apart at the seams, eventually it comes back together again.

In the time that this CAL has been running I have been ill, had and recovered from surgery, dealt with the endless frustration that comes with selling a house, taken criticism and insults as a moderator of this project and lost a loved one to Cancer. I have also traveled and been lucky enough to spend almost half of the last year in the south of France, spent time with my amazing husband and his family, hung out with and was inspired by other creative people, have watched friends I love welcome new members into their families and have met some really wonderful and enthusiastic people that are taking part in the CAL. For every cloud there has been a silver lining and for every loss there has been a gain. My life is a collection of ripples and I’m trying to remember to take the time to remember the good things when my mind just seems to want to concentrate on the bad. I hope you are able to do the same and remember that something amazing could be just around the corner.

Ok, so it’s time for you all to stop reading and get to work! I do hope you have been enjoying the CAL. Although, I’m sure whether you are or are not I’ve heard about it already on the Facebook groups! haha Enjoy!

Some additional info:

You have probably noticed that the squares for my personal blanket don’t match the colours of the official kits that were released. I have chosen my own colour scheme “Dancing in the Autumn Leaves”. It is being made with Merino Soft yarn in the following colours:

Dancing in the Autumn Leaves

The colour combination was inspired by my love of autumn and, as a Canadian in the Netherlands, how dreadfully I miss the colours of home. You can see a small taste of it in this photo I took a few years ago on a trip home:

Autumn in Canada

Click here to download the pattern from the Scheepjes website.  Esther has created a fantastic series of videos in English, Dutch and for lefties. To help you with your gauge and tension, visit the Tips and Tricks document at the CAL home page, plus a great video, again by Esther here.

If you are interested in buying a kit for this CAL, you can find a list of Scheepjes retailers here.

For those of you on Facebook, you can find our Dutch and International (English) CAL groups for more information, photos and support.

Happy Hooking!

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15 comments

  1. Beautiful crochet art piece here. You knowit is fit for winter season, huh?

  2. Tammy, what a lovely post in addition to a beautiful square. I can’t wait to get started. Like you, I decided to make an autumn leaves blanket. We have no yarn stores selling Scheepjes yarn here in Wyoming, so I had to order online, and you know how hard it can be selecting colors on a computer screen. How I wish I had seen the colors you chose before I ordered. I would have shamelessly copied every color you picked. Can’t wait to see your finished project. Hope all your health issues are behind you and you are feeling the healing power of that south of France sunshine, good food, and the company of loving family. Thank you for the beautiful square and the tribute to Wink.

  3. What a great post! My absolute favorite part of this CAL has been reading the blog posts each week from designer/bloggers that I was previously unfamiliar with and hearing in their own words what Marinke mean to each of you and how that influenced each of your designs. As the CAL starts to wrap up hopefully you will have more free time for “floating” : ) . Enjoy the rest of your summer and thank you for all you’ve done as a group moderator and participating designer. ~.~ Wendy

  4. Your square is beautiful Tammy and the thoughts behind it, those autumn tones are stunning- look forward to seeing your finished blanket! Thank you so much for all your hard work on the FB Scheepjes CAL as a a brilliant moderator- dealing with negative and positive alike. You and all the other bloggers have all done your friend Wink proud and brought a lot of pleasure to those of us that didn’t know her but followed her blog and designs and this has given us a chance to remember her life and creativity in such a positive way x

  5. Thanks Tammy for your lovely square and beautiful words. Looking forward to getting started and following you on the Facebook CAL group xx

  6. Thank you Tammy for doing this square it is beautiful Wink would be so proud of you. You post brought a tear to my eye like the square ripple affect in life we have so many ups and downs. Thank you for all of your hard work on the admin side of this cal I have learnt so many things about myself and yes I’m a knitter at heart but just had to give this cal a go and have surprised myself if you stick with it you can do it. I wishing you a speedy recovery and thank you x j

  7. Dear Tammy,

    What a beautiful story! Thank you for sharing it.
    I have a question about the colour combination you used:
    In what order did you use the colours? And how many did you use of each colour?

    Thank you,
    Inge Joris from Belgium

  8. Thank you for this beautiful square, I can see it becoming a favourite. Also many thanks for your patience and support to us all on the blog – how you have not resorted to an expletive laden explosion is beyond me. After this CAL is finished (and I am way behind) I will enjoy following you blog. Thanks again Julia.

  9. Oh Tammy what gorgeous colours in your blanket – I might just copy them for another :) I love those wonderful autumn colours too – I have always wanted to capture them somehow. I love your post, and its great to learn a little more about this special CAL and your square and you. I have enjoyed “chatting” with you on the FB group – I was in fits over your comments about Robert delivering yarn. I have learned a lot through this CAL as Marinke wanted even though I have been crocheting for a good few years. I will miss this every week – I hope Sheepjes do another and you can take part – at least on the group.

  10. Tammy, you have been patience personified during this CAL. I hope many of the participants read this post to see what has been going on in your life while you were calmly dealing with the grumbles and hysteria of the vocal minority on Facebook. I have enjoyed every part of the journey and have learnt so much. I wish you well and yes, you do float like a boss!

  11. Aw Tammy your square is beautiful. Your post bought tears to my eyes with all you have endured this year. I too have had a hard few years and what you said about the ripples were perfect in how I feel most days. When I am back home in Ontario in the fall I will think of you and try and get some beautiful pictures.
    Hugs my friend Tammy
    (in Alberta where there isn’t a fall like back East)

  12. Your words are beautiful and I hope each and every person doing the CAL takes the time, not only to read them, but let them sink in. I had a blog once (many moons ago) and in one of its reincarnations it was entitled Sparkly Silver Linings. Because like you I choose to reflect and be grateful for the good, even when the not so good threatens to take over. I have absolutely loved this CAL and appreciate what it stands for and all the work that it takes to organise, and maintain. So thank you. Margaret. x

  13. Thank you so much Tammy for this lovely post. The ripples that you have created and your idea behind it means so much in my own life. hugs, Ursula

  14. Beautiful square! Nice personal story. Thank you

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