Beginnings of my luxury Granny Stripes blanket.

I've decided to dive straight into my first big crochet project. I've done the scarf, the dishcloth, and some granny squares, but now I'm yearning for something "proper". I felt like what I needed was something with lots and lots of stitches, something I could settle down and sink my hook into. I looked around and found this pattern by Attic 24 on Ravelry. It seems to be quite popular and the photos of everyone's projects were really inspirational. Most inspirational of all is the way Lucy (Attic 24) writes about the pattern. Her enthusiasm is infectious. I've splurged a bit and I'm making this up in alpaca chunky wool. Not going to be cheap, but this is going to be a luxurious treat!