Crochet Love

One of my favorite parts of working on an afghan for someone is how much love goes into it.  I really mean that. The entire process of making an afghan is a labor of love.  For me, before I even begin, I spend hours looking around for inspiration.  I pour over all the yarn choices I have, debating which color and texture they’ll most enjoy.  I try to imagine where and how they’ll use their afghan. 

Will they keep it on the couch to curl up with while they watch TV?

 

Will they use it to casually throw over their favorite chair as a decorative touch? 

Is it something they’ll keep on their bed and fall asleep with night after night?

 

Wherever they’ll use it and however they’ll use it, I try to plan for that.  And then I begin it.  I count my starting chain over and over and check and double-check that I’m following the pattern correctly.  And once I’ve started it, I work on it hour after hour, night after night.  If you’ve ever made an afghan you know it takes time to finish.  And all the while, all those hours I spend working on it, I’m thinking about the person I’m making it for.  I think about them and about all the things that make them dear to me.  I remember the special times we’ve shared together and make plans for the memories I still want to make with them.  Then I triple check my pattern to make sure I’m getting this afghan just perfect for them.  My mind wanders again and I start to imagine them actually using this blanket, and I wonder if they’ll sense how much I care as they look over all these stitches?  I trust that they will and it makes me happy to know that, through this act of crocheting, I’m able to show someone how much they mean to me. 

Next up on my Log Cabin

Here's my yarn stash for the next part of the log cabin afghan I'm working on. I've been slowly getting yarn together using coupons... I know, crazy, right? But I've got a craft store on my way home, so it's easy to stop in with my weekly coupon and pick up a skein or two (and so far I've lucked out in finding all from one dye lot).

I can't wait to start this next section. I think I'm going to try a cable-type motif.

Log Cabin Afghan- Part Two

I finished the first, center piece of the log cabin afghan I'm making. This photo doesn't do it justice. Up close, it's textured with soft shell-like shapes and super soft. I can't wait to do more on it.

Here's the pattern for those interested.

Modern Log Cabin Afghan

Materials:
Color A- 2 skeins Copper
Color B- 8 skeins Mocha
Color C- 8 skeins Beige
Color D- 8 skeins Oatmeal
Color E- 8 skeins Dark Blue

Needles: Size J crochet hook.

Finished Size: Approximately 55" x 70".

With Color A, ch 70 or a multiple of 3 plus 1 to get the 26" length.
Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in next 69 chs. Ch 3 and turn.
Row 2: In 3rd sc from hook, work 1 sc and 2 dc in sc.  *Skip next two sc, work 1 sc and 2 dc in third sc.  Repeat from * across, single crochet in turning chain.  Ch 3 and turn.  
Repeat Row 2 until piece measures 11" wide.  Fasten off.

Log Cabin Afghan- Part Two

Tonight, I did something I have never done before: I crocheted a test piece to check the gauge of my crocheting. I never bother with that. Sometimes, I end up with wonky finished pieces because I started out tighter/looser than I finished. Usually, though, I’m consistent enough not to worry about it. With this afghan, though, I really want to be sure I get it right. So… I spent time playing around with different needles and tension and even tried out some different stitches.

And speaking of stitches, my hubby (after looking at my test swatch) suggested that I do different stitches in each of the blocks. Great idea, huh? I think so, but I’m not sure how intricate I can be with this bulky yarn. Here’s a sampling of what I’ve tried out so far-

And as far a gauge is concerned, here’s what I’m doing:
Using J-10 (6mm) hook (I tried some larger sizes, but they just felt too big in my hands and thus, uncomfortable)
12 rows or 10 sc= 4 inches

Last thing to figure out is if I am going to change up the stitches. Hmm...

Log Cabin Afghan- Part One

A while back I book marked this project I saw at Purl Soho for a Log Cabin blanket. I think what appealed to me were a) the warm, natural colors of the yarn and b) the sort of modern/minimal/geometric feel to the blanket. Recently when I began looking around for an afghan pattern, I suddenly remembered it and knew that it was just the thing I was looking for.

With that decided, I spent 2 ½ wonderful hours wandering around Michael’s yesterday and found the yarn I’ll be using. My requirements for this project are that the yarn be bulky (it’ll be a gift for someone in the North Star State) and low-maintenance (in other words it has to be machine washable and dryable). Although I like using natural fibers like wool or cotton, this afghan needs to be something they can simply throw in the laundry and not worry about. What I found that meets these needs is Michael’s Loops and Threads Charisma. To start my project, I picked up skeins in copper and brown, and I think I’ll also be using beige, gray and navy in some of the future blocks.

This morning, I spent a couple hours planning out the exact dimensions I want this afghan to be. And yes, I’m not following a pattern. I’ll actually be devising my own as I go along.

Here are two images from my planning this morning. The first is the “drawing” I did to plan out the color scheme. It was also helpful for showing my hubby what I’m thinking. The second is the exact dimensions I want each block to be. I noticed that pattern changed a little when I went from drawing it to graphing it out, so I’m glad I went through that extra step of planning.

Next up, I want to crochet a test swatch and make sure I settle on the gauge I want.

Inspired by Log Cabin Crochet!

This morning, I started working on a new afghan that I’ll give as a Christmas gift later this year.  Yes, I know it’s only June.  And no, I’m not crazy.  It’s just that I love being organized, I love crocheting and I love giving Christmas gifts. So what’s a highly-organized crocheter who loves Christmas going to do in June?  Get started on making gifts, of course!

I’ve known for months that I wanted to make an afghan, but it was only recently that I finally found a pattern that I thought would suit this person.  It’s the Log Cabin pattern.  Here's some photo inspiration for what I’m thinking of doing:

Granny's Log Cabin by Neatly Tangled

Log Cabin Afghan by Lion Brand

And the afghan that originally got me interested in trying this out-

The Half Log Cabin Ombre Blanket at The Purl Bee

Log Cabin Bliss!