So I've been wanting to crochet blankets for a long time now and I've finally started one! My sweet friend, Debee, has been crocheting blankets for years and I've always found them so inspiring! But not too long ago she posted a photo on instagram, of a whole stack of freshly laundered afghans that she's crocheted and that was it -- I couldn't wait any longer! I bought some pretty yarn and dove right in!
I gave a lot of thought to what pattern I'd use for this first blanket. I love the look of granny squares -- all those glorious color combo options!! -- I seriously could have SO much fun putting together color combos for each of those squares! I envision the most colorful of colorful granny square square combinations....I see a totally swoon-worthy blanket in my mind, that I would probably use in every photo I take from now till eternity! lol. It would be gorgeous, I just know it!
But granny squares are a little daunting, what with all the yarn ends to weave in from all those different colors. How lazy does that make me?! Haha. The thought of all those yarn ends to weave in makes me shudder. All that time spent just weaving in ends. And don't even get me started on how all those ends are just waiting to come undone with wear and tear and washing over the years. Makes my pits sweat just thinking about it! Haaaaa. Clearly I have issues. However, I think if I weave the ends in as I go, maybe it wouldn't be so bad. I sure do love how some of them look! Did you see the few granny rounds I shared on instagram the other day? Goodness, they sure are fun to make!
I also love the ripple and zig-zag afghans, but I thought perhaps I should keep it a little more basic on this first blanket. I didn't want to have to count stitches or really think too much while I'm working on it (again with the lazy). And I also didn't want it to be so difficult that I'd get bogged down and not finish it. So instead, in the interest of keeping things super simple.....I went with a basic color block pattern that isn't a pattern at all. I'm just winging it. Literally. You know me. Haha! It's sort of like how I don't really use recipes....I prefer to wing it in the kitchen too. ;)
So here's what I did. I was super scientific. I crocheted a chain that seemed about as wide as I'd like this first blanket to be -- and by that, I mean that I crocheted a chain and laid it out across my body arm to arm and when it seemed like it'd be wide enough that none of my body parts might slip out from one side or the other and get cold (don't you just hate that?!), then I just started crocheting....double crochet stitch. That's it. Haha! I crocheted until I couldn't do another complete row with that same skein of yarn and then tied that off and started a new skein. And on and on. I'm currently on the fifth color -- chocolate brown -- and when that one's done, I'm going to repeat those 5 colors 2 more times. I'm excited to have this blanket project to take with me to work on while at the Mayo Clinic. Their website says to bring along something to do to help pass the time between appointments and I think this fits the bill just perfectly! I'll keep you posted as to my blankie progress! ;)
And in the meantime, I'm already dreaming of the next one I want to make! Plus, I know of several new babies coming in the next few months. I'd love to get good enough to make baby blankets! I just think that the gift of a handmade blankie is such a treasure. That blanket just might end up being that baby's favorite 'lovey' and how special would you feel if you were the one that MADE the 'lovey' that that baby carried around for the first couple of years of his/her life!? I'd love that. I have big dreams of being a baby blanket maker. Haha.
So what about you? Have you ever made an afghan? Or crocheted a baby blanket? If so, what kind did you make? What colors? Do you have a pattern you'd like to share? Or do you have a favorite afghan that someone made for you? Or maybe you remember one from your childhood? What was it like? My great aunt used to always be making afghans when I was little.....I love that I can remember seeing her sitting there working on one every time they came for a visit. And my Grandma used to have them draped on the back of every seat in her house! Haha. Love that memory too.
Let's chat afghans!
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