Simple and Beautiful Sampler Afghan

Patterns are funny things. Sometimes they spring into life, fully formed, like they've been lurking in my brain all along. And sometimes I need to play around with some yarn and a hook and see what the fiber "wants" to be.

I had a supply of Malabrigo Rios leftover from another project, and I knew I wanted to make an afghan. The colorway I had - Piedras - varies A LOT between hanks, so I knew that making one big blanket wasn't the best option. So it would be done in blocks ... and I'd been meaning to come up with a sampler pattern for my not-quite-experienced crochet students to use ... and Erika is always up for holding new classes at the shop ...

After a few hours of digging around, I found the wonderful block-of-the-month afghan designed by Ren Murphy (http://theinspiredwren.blogspot.com/p/crochet-along.html). It had many of the traits I wanted - it was reversible, textured, and relatively easy. But not all of the blocks were exactly what I had in mind, so I designed a couple blocks based on some of my own favorite textures. After getting Ren's permission to use her designs for the class, I rearranged her blocks in order so that they go from easiest - nothing but single crochet - to the most complicated - some very straightforward front-post double crochet. Voila! A new pattern (and class) is born!

The class is offered at River Colors Studio, and I'm teaching two new blocks each month. I'll post the previous month's instructions here periodically, in case you're not in the Cleveland area but want to play along with us. Feel free to post links to pictures of your own projects in the comments!

And now, without further ado, here's the first handout:

Simple and Beautiful Sampler Afghan

Materials needed:

• Size I (5.5mm) crochet hook
• Washable, worsted-weight yarn in two colors - about 50 gm of each for one class, about 600 grams of each for the entire throw-sized afghan (but you can purchase as you go along, if you want), or about 300 grams of each for the baby blanket. Shop sample used Malabrigo Rios in colorways Pocion and Piedras.

Time to pick your project size!

• If you want to make a 36” square baby blanket, you’ll be making one block using each stitch pattern.
• If you want to make a 54”x44” throw, you’ll need a total of two blocks in each stitch pattern.

Class 1: March 6, 2016

Abbreviations to know this month:

st: stitch

ch: chain

sc: single crochet

sc blo: single crochet back loop only

Block One:  Rib-It! Rib-It!

(inspired by http://theinspiredwren.blogspot.com/2015/01/announcing-crochet-along-afghan-sampler.html)

Instructions:

Row 1: Ch 39, sc in second stitch from hook and each ch across; 38 stitches

Rows 2-55: ch 1 (does not count as a st), turn, sc blo in each st across (including 1st st); 38 stitches

Border: *work 38 sc along one side of the square, ch 1 (does not count as stitch), repeat from * on each side of the square.  Fasten off and weave in ends

Block 2: Tiramisu

(inspired by the stitch pattern in http://rosylittlethings.typepad.com/TiramisuBlanket.pdf)

Instructions:

Row 1: Ch 38, sc in second stitch from hook and each ch across; 37 stitches

Row 2: Ch 1 (does not count as a st), turn, [make 2 sc in next st, skip a st] across, ending with ONE sc in the last st of the row.

Repeat Row 2 until block is approximately square.

Border: *work 38 sc along one side of the square, ch 1 (does not count as stitch), repeat from * on each side of the square.  Fasten off and weave in ends

Check it out - I'm getting paid to actually use my degree!

First, my boss asked me to start writing ad copy for our online store:

Debbie Bliss Fine Donegal is a luscious fingering weight wool with just enough cashmere to make it something special.  A tweedy single-ply, this yarn is both lofty (read: warm) and easy to work with.  Try a versatile neutral like Snowdrift, which has a cream base and touches of blue and yellow in the tweedy bits ... or go for the wilder Blackberry with its black base and flashes of bright primary colors.  And check out the pattern support Debbie Bliss has provided - you can use Fine Donegal to make beautiful garments, accessories, and more!

Then she asked me to make some tutorials to post on the shop blog and newsletter:

And design some projects and write up the patterns to use in the shop.  So, after only like 10 years, I'm finally getting paid to do the subject in which I got a master's degree!

Upcoming class - crocheting rag rugs

A lot of people love the look of traditional rag rugs, but they're not thrilled with the idea of having to sew together miles and miles of braid with stiff thread and a heavy duty needle.  Luckily, you can get a similar result with the same materials much more easily - with crochet!  

And better yet, it doesn't require any special stitches or equipment - just single crochet and a size Q hook.

On Sunday, September 11, I'll be teaching a class on the rag rug crochet technique at River Colors Studio.  I'll cover fabric selection and preparation, different shapes you can make, how to make an extra-reinforced version that will stand up to heavy wear, and more!  I'll provide a written pattern to make a circular rug, and in class we'll work on a project that can either be the beginning of a rug, or a chair pad or trivet if you don't want to make something quite so large.

Call soon to register - there's been a LOT of interest in this project when I've brought it to the sit-and-knits on Saturday afternoons.

Super stash-busting extravaganza

A few weeks ago I taught a beginning crochet class at River Colors, and my student caught onto things so quickly that we had time to get into some of the more advanced topics, like changing colors and making granny squares.  One of the projects I used as an example of how she could use these skills was the standard stash-buster blanket ... which I've never actually made.  It's been on my radar for a couple of years now, and the stash of leftover sock yarn has been growing and growing, but I could never decide on a pattern I liked enough to commit the time and energy to make.

But I was inspired by my student to give it a try, so I hauled out the jar of sock yarn scraps and started organizing them.  I like the look of a scrappy blanket ... as long as it's not too scrappy.  I want the colors to sort of flow into each other, not look like I made the thing in the dark while blindfolded.  Kind of hard when half of my yarn is boring husband/in-law yarn and the other half is whackadoo Lazy Mama/Kid yarn.

So far, so good!

Fun with Fibers, week 2: Spinning

This week we're covering how to take individual fibers and turn them into things like yarn, rope, and thread.  A good overview of some of the history behind spinning can be found here: http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/clothing/spinning.htm

I'm demonstrating the use of a drop spindle, which I made using a blank CD, a blob of Play-Dough, and a highlighter.  You can find information on how to make your own (slightly more durable) homemade version of a drop spindle at many sites online, including here: http://www.spindleandwheel.com/content/view/15/76/

Our project this week is a twisted cord, which we'll use as a hanger for a fall decoration.  I've included printed directions in my handout, but if anyone has mislaid them, you can find (illustrated) directions at the following locations:

http://www.slideshare.net/kootoyoo/how-to-make-twisted-cord-presentation

http://www.craftyarncouncil.com/feast.html

And that's about it, I guess.  Hope everyone is having fun and learning a lot!

Sqam

http://www.squamartworkshops.com/index.php

Anyone participated in this program before? I know some of the crafty bloggers I read are teaching this year, and it looks like an excellent vacation idea ... but I'd like some feedback from people who have actually gone before. So pipe up if you're a Squammer!

Come, learn from me!

I'm now officially in the Birds of a Feather online catalog:

http://www.datasponsor.com/boaf/classes.htm

Class - MoYo Throw, June 22 and 29 2008

The lovely folks at Birds of a Feather in Avon, Ohio, have graciously invited me to teach a class based on my MoYo Throw pattern. In case you've been living under a rock this week, the MoYo Throw features yo-yos that are almost 5" across, made from fabric from the Benartex line "Gilded Opulence." I am in love with that fabric, and I think you will be too when you see it in real life.

I'll be covering the whole quilt from start to finish - the only out-of-class work will be the initial cutting and maybe some of the hand-gathering on the yo-yos. It should be a lot of fun, and the quilts should be showstoppers when we're done.

Liz is selling kits for the project in two different color ways - one lime/fuschia like my sample, the other a more muted one based on the red/gold colorway for the yo-yos. Kits are available either as part of the class, or separately if you don't feel like being social while you work on the project. I understand. Just remember, though - where I go, chocolate follows, so you might want to think about that class after all :)

Anyhow, if you're in the area and interested, I'll be teaching the 2-session class on June 22 and June 29 from 1-3pm each day. Contact Birds of a Feather at 440-934-2374 to register or to order a kit.

Hope to see you there!

Simple Snowflakes Table Runner now a class at Quilter's Hive in Newark, DE

So, you want to make a Simple Snowflakes Table Runner, but you think you need a little hand-holding?

Why not drop by the Quilter's Hive in Newark, DE, on January 28th to take the class based on my pattern? Call 302-737-5699 to register.

(Thanks to my father's woodworking friend for seeing this - I never would have noticed it on my own. New Year's Resolution #342 - get on the mailing lists for all of my customers' shops.)

New this football season - Lazy Mama Sunday classes!

Take advantage of the fact that your husband is going to be parked in front of the tv all afternoon for the next dozen Sundays and get out for a little crafty self-improvement ... sign up for my learn-to-crochet-zombie-bunnies class September 30th at Birds of a Feather!

In two hours you'll learn to make some basic crochet stitches, which you'll use to start making the parts for a zombie bunny in plenty of time to finish for Halloween. Included in the class price are illustrated directions for making the stitches you'll need to complete the whole bunny, just in case you need a little reminder of what you're supposed to be doing after you finish the class.

You can buy the pattern, crochet hook, yarn, and the class fee all at Birds of a Feather, and yes, they accept enrollment over the phone.

See you there!

And if you'd like to attend but can't make it on the 30th, let the folks at the shop know you'd like to attend on a different day - we may be scheduling a class for later in October if the first one is popular.