Finished Sofa Blanket (Grandma’s Lacy Ripple Pattern)

This post has been a long, long, long time coming. You will almost definitely not remember a post I wrote back in February in which I pondered various patterns that might be a good fit to crochet for my living room. I wanted a throw blanket to toss on my sofa for a few reasons: 1) a black leather couch in a room I have tried to make very light and airy could use a little lightening/cozyifying [totally real words] in the form of a snuggly blanket, 2) I spend a LOT of time on that couch crocheting, reading, pondering life’s great mysteries [I kid, of course; I mostly ponder things like how handsome my current celebrity crush Mr. Ackles looks in a 1940s suit], and a blanket would make these enjoyable tasks even enjoyabler, and 3) well, I sure love crocheting blankets, so why not?

And now, 7 months (!!!!) after settling on a pattern, selecting yarn, and eagerly starting my blanket, I’ve finally finished it.

7 months. SEVEN! That’s a bit outrageous, especially considering that I loved everything about this project—the yarn was perfect, the pattern was lovely, I felt confident about my choices and ability to tackle it . . . I guess my excuse is pregnancy brain. I’ve been pregnant for all 7 of those months, and while I picked up this project every now and then to add a few rows, it spent a lot of time being set aside while I worked on baby projects instead. But I’m so glad it’s finished, and I absolutely love my finished blanket. Behold!

Isn’t it nice? I ended up using the same pattern I used for the queen-sized blanket in my bedroom—it is called Grandma’s Lacy Ripple. Never have I heard a less appealing, more granny-sounding title for a crochet pattern, but boy, it does make a nice finished piece! The pattern works up quickly and simply (well, it’s quick if you spend more than 15 minutes per month on it, that is), and I love the detail in it. It’s simple and pretty and has a bit of an old-fashioned feel, but still looks fresh and cozy.

And though the pattern is part of an older book, I got lucky and found a PDF copy of it online HERE. Win! UPDATE: Bad news folks—we broke the internet! That link, which has faithfully worked for oh-so-long, is dead, deceased, and gone. I don’t know what happened. But I uploaded my copy of the pattern—visit THIS POST to find it. Thank you!

I used one of my absolute favorite yarns for this project—Vanna’s Choice by Lion Brand Yarn. I love experimenting with different brands of yarn, but this is consistently one of my favorites. It’s the perfect mix of soft + structure (it’s cozy and soft and comfortable, but holds its shape beautifully so intricacies of the pattern really stand out).

I chose Silver Blue and hoped it would be a good fit for my green and blue living room, and I think it fits in beautifully. I struggled to decide between using a blue or a gray yarn for this blanket, and this color was the perfect in-between . . . a cool, icy blue that doesn’t come across too strong. I ended up using 11 skeins for my throw blanket (I made it very generously-sized . . . definitely big enough for two to cuddle up under), and I can’t wait for cooler weather so I can snuggle up with it while reading or working on new projects.

Hopefully my next project won’t take anywhere close to 7 months to complete. What’s your longest project to date?

Quick + Easy Spring Chain Cowl

Is the weather getting a little more bearable in your neck of the woods? It’s getting better here . . . we even ventured outdoors for a walk yesterday afternoon! Sure, we only made it a block and a half, and okay, we required warm cookies and many episodes of Dora while wrapped in blankets to warm back up afterwards, but still. The end of winter is in sight!

So when I got my hands on some of Lion Brand Yarn’s new Zpagetti yarn, I knew just what to do with it. Turn it into an easy-to-make, easy-to-wear, lightweight spring cowl that will keep me warm until we can make park visits for longer than 20 minutes, but won’t make me sweaty once the weather gets warmer. Perfect!

The Zpagetti yarn is way cool—it’s made from garment manufacturing remnants, so each colorway is limited edition and unique. And since it’s a super bulky elastic and cotton blend, it’s very sturdy and great for dozens of home décor projects. It has the feel of a smooth, comfortable jersey or knit fabric, and I thought it would make for a great, stylish transition piece to wear into warmer spring weather. I love how soft and comfortable and wearable it is, I was really impressed with the feel and stretch of it, and it was seriously fun to crochet with.

You could of course make this cowl with any bulky yarn, although that might make it better suited to chillier winter weather, depending on the fiber content. If the Zpagetti isn’t an option for you, perhaps you could even try your hand at making a similar version yourself with knit or jersey fabric. But I’m loving the Zpagetti. Fun stuff.

Although portions of this cowl use crochet stitches, you certainly don’t need to know how to crochet! All you really need to be able to do is make a chain and a slip stitch. The absolute most basic basics of crochet. So don’t worry if this is new to you—there’s nothing to be scared of here.

Start by making a slip knot around your crochet hook. I used an N hook because that’s the biggest size I own—the yarn actually recommends a Q hook (mega!). The N worked fine for me.

(If you need help making a slip knot, visit this link for a how-to.)

Now, you’re just going to start making chains. This is pretty simple stuff, and you’ll be flying once you get the hang of it. Just wrap a loop of yarn around your hook, like so:

(Make sure you’re grabbing the yarn that leads to the ball, not the tail dangling from your slip knot!)

Then just pull that loop straight down and through the loop that’s already on your hook.

That’s it! You’ve made a chain. Now just keep chaining.

Chain chain chain. (Bet you’ll never guess what song was stuck on repeat in my head while I worked on this.)

You’ll go on and on and on. When you’ve got a big ol’ pile of chained-up yarn, start testing the length by draping it around your neck. Make sure you’re keeping it loose enough that you can pull it straight on and off—the little button cuff on the finished product is purely for show, so you’ll need to keep it loose enough to just slip on and off.

(Butterfly removable hand tattoo courtesy of my sister and the Valentines she gave us last week. Think I should make it permanent?)

If it isn’t big enough, chain some more. When you’re happy with the look, just make sure you have enough chains on your hook to reach back to the starting end. If you need to, add a few more chains or pull a few out so they’ll reach nicely.

To connect the ends, you’ll use a slip stitch. With your hook still in the ending chain’s loop, just insert your hook through one of the loops of the first chain:

Then grab a loop of yarn, just like you’ve been doing all along:

And pull that loop straight through both of the loops on your hook.

That’s a slip stitch!

To finish it off, make one last chain:

Then snip the yarn a few inches out and pull the chain all the way through.

You’ve got your cowl all finished! Now, if this marks the far reaches of your crochet experience, you can just wrap some of your extra yarn around a side of the cowl to hold it all together and secure it while you wear it. But if you know how to make single crochets (or are willing to try it out), then let’s make the button cuff.

Start by making a slip knot and 6 chains.

Now just work 5 single crochets back across the row, starting in the second chain away from the hook. If you need more details on this, you can visit this tutorial of mine, or this great one from One Dog Woof.

When you reach the end of the row, chain 1, turn your work, and single crochet back across. Repeat.

Keep going until your rectangle is long enough for the ends to meet when wrapped around your cowl.

Then just slip stitch the ends of the rectangle together—insert your hook through a loop on each end of the rectangle, grab a loop of yarn, and pull it straight through. Slip stitch down the ends until your rectangle is fully closed, then fasten off just as you did when finishing the chain cowl.

Once again, you’re at a good stopping point! If you like the look of just that little cuff, leave it as is and proudly wear your cute new springy cowl!

I thought some little buttons would be the perfect way to finish it off. You can of course sew these buttons on—I was in no mood to search through my mess of a craft room for a needle and thread, and my hot glue gun just happened to be left out on the counter from an earlier project, sooooo . . . I just hot glued them on. As long as you keep the glue along the outer edges of the button so it doesn’t squelch up through the buttonholes, no one’s the wiser.

There you have it! A quick, easy, comfortable and lightweight spring cowl. I love the cheerful red color, I think the little button cuff is a fun finish, and I love the feel of the jersey-like yarn.

(With most crochet projects, you’ll want to weave in the ends of your yarn to hide and secure them. I didn’t have a needle large enough, so I just made sure all the ends were pulled as tight as I could make them, then cut the yarn off about 1/2 inch away from the knot, and hot glued the ends down.)

Yarn provided by Lion Brand Yarn.

Crochet Along :: Yarn Selection Tips with Sarah of Sarahndipities

  Good morning, my fellow crocheters and soon-to-be-crocheters! Before we can get stitchin', you have a little shopping to do--you need to choose your yarn! (And if you haven't signed up yet for the crochet along, do so here!)  If you're unfamiliar with the yarn aisle at your favorite craft store or aren't sure of what you need, it can be a little scary . . . there are so many options, and the yarn labels can be very confusing. If you don't head in with a game plan and know what you want and need for your project, it's easy to get frustrated and sidetracked--many times in my early knit/crochet days, I headed home with a yarn that was completely wrong for the project I had in mind, or even left empty-handed because I couldn't figure out what anything meant or what I needed.

 (Obviously, this is not an issue anymore--exhibit A: Forrest playing in my yarn stash.)
I thought I'd bring in reinforcements to help make sense of yarn selection--I'm a big fan of Sarah of the blog and etsy shop, Sarahndipities--she does beautiful crochet work, and one thing I'm always impressed with in particular is her yarn selection . . . she has a great eye for color and uses it so well. So I thought you'd like to meet one of my crocheting buddies and learn from her how to choose the right yarn for your project!..................................................................... Hey!  My name is Sarah, from Sarahndipities and I'm so excited to be guest posting here today!!  A huge thanks to Rachel for having me over!!

A {tiny} portion of my yarn stash!

So you're going to start a crochet along project?  What now?
Well, the first thing you need to do after picking a pattern is to choose what type of yarn you're going to use!  
(Unless you've chosen a type of yarn before you've picked your pattern...which happens to me all the time.  I don't recommend it...it's much harder to find a pattern to match your yarn, than it is to find a yarn to match your pattern!  Anywho...)
This can be an understandably daunting task...I mean have you ever walked down a yarn aisle at a craft or fabric store?  Yikes!
STEP 1:
First off...You need to decide if your project is for you...or someone else.  This decision plays a big part in determining which type of yarn you're going to use.   Know who you're creating for?  Good.  You can move onto Step 2.
STEP 2:
The next thing I'm going to recommend has nothing to do with the type of yarn you want to use.  The first thing you want to do is choose the color.  Yarn comes in soooo many colors that it can be a little un-nerving to try and pick just one...but that's my first piece of advice.  The color of the yarn is called a Colorway.  
If you're making this for yourself you need to do some soul-searching:
What color is your favorite shirt? Pair of shoes? Pair of Earrings?
Chances are you wear your favorite color a lot...and it looks good on you...that's why it's your favorite.  Right?
If you're making an item for someone else you need to consider the same things for them...Make sense?  Basically you want to make something that you love...that looks good and that you'll actually use.  For me color plays a huge role in that.
So...
That's a good place to start when choosing which colorway you want to use!

You also need to make sure that you have enough yarn in the same dye-lot.  The dye-lot is all the yarn dyed at the same time during the manufacturing process.  Dye-lot differences may not be noticeable at the store...but they can make a huge difference in the finished look of a piece, so be sure you have all you need for a project before you begin.
Know which color you'd like to use?  Good!  Now you need to determine which kind of yarn you want, Step 3!  
STEP 3:
The first thing I do when choosing which type of yarn is to reference the pattern I'm using.  Usually there is a guideline or suggestion of some sort about which yarn they used in the first place.  Often-times it's a name brand yarn.  But what if your local store doesn't carry that kind of yarn?  Or what if it's waaaaay out of your price range?
That's when you have to get into your yarn-sleuthing mojo.
Yarn is typically categorized into different "weights."  One of the best things about this is that the weights are becoming more universal, and so you can usually find the same or similar info on each label.  This isn't a hard and fast rule...but most yarn companies in the US are using this labeling system right now.
Here are the basics:

Yarn weights are divided into SIX categories (each has a little icon associated with it and a recommended hook size, and most yarn packaging displays the icon prominently).  Here's a little diagram that has the definition of each type...along with some common yarns that are typically found in those categories, and recommended hook sizes (I've used US terminology)

Know which weight you're gonna be using?  Great!  Now onto step 4!(This is Rachel popping in for a moment--for our project, the Time Out Cowl, you'll want chunky or bulky yarn [a 5 or 6 on the chart up there] . . . bear that in mind as you read!)
STEP 4:
You can use yarn that's a different weight than what is recommended for a pattern, but this usually means you'll need to adjust the number of rows, stitches or hook size.  I'd say stick to what the pattern recommends until you're fairly experienced...You don't want to end up with a hat that's big enough for an elephant or a sweater for your kid's Barbie doll.  Unless that's what you were going for...just sayin'.  
Once you determine which color and weight you'd like to use you can choose which type of yarn you'd like...this is where the fiber contents come into play.
What do you pick?  Wool? Cotton? Acrylic? Recycled Bamboo Soy Silk Blend?
It's fun to try out different fibers...they all have unique properties and style.  
Personally, when I'm making items to give to others, I like to use yarns that are washable, colorfast (meaning they don't typically bleed when washed), don't itch or cause allergies, and are inexpensive but sturdy.
My current top faves for yarn are:
Red Heart Super Saver Caron Simply Soft Bernat Satin Hobby Lobby's I love This Yarn! Lily Sugar 'n' Cream Cotton
Here's a sample label from one my skeins of yarn:

STEP 5:
Go to the store and get your yarn.
Shop for yarn when it's on sale.  JoAnn's has a pretty good selection, and if you're on their mailing list they send you discount coupons frequently.  
Once you have a handle on which types of yarn you like the feel and look of, you can also start buying yarn online.  I try to shop online when stores are advertising a sale...and then try to combine the sale price with a coupon if possible.  Sometimes you can get coupons for different types of yarn through the manufacturer's site.  Sign up for newsletters and join their Facebook fanpages to get up-to-date deals.  There are also sites, like Craftsy, that offer deals on yarn frequently.  Check them out!
You can also save on yarn if you purchase yarn that is being discontinued or clearanced-out...be warned however that you'll need to make sure you have enough to finish your project, because you may not be able to get your hands on the same yarn again if it's being discontinued!  I know from sad, sad experience.
STEP 6:
Lather.  Rinse.  Repeat. I hope you're not too overwhelmed now! :)
So...
What yarn am I going to be using for the Crochet Along?

I'll be using Hobby Lobby's I Love This Yarn! in Hyacinth.  It's so soft and is such a pretty color.  In order to make it chunky enough for the pattern we're using I'll be using two strands of this yarn held together to make it double thick.  Make sense?  And see?  I got it on clearance.  Don't worry.  I got four skeins, so I wouldn't run out!  Woot.   
Good luck with your yarn purchasing!!
   Thank you, Sarah! So do you have a better idea now of what you need for your project? You're going to walk into that yarn aisle with confidence, friend! Shoulders back, chin up! 
Here's your shopping list for the weekend: - yarn: for our project, you'll need to pick up chunky or bulky yarn, which should be labeled with a 5 or 6 as shown on the chart Sarah shared earlier. The pattern suggests we use Wool-Ease Thick &  Quick Yarn, and says we'll need 3 balls (edited: sorry if I'm confusing you by calling them balls rather than skeins! Truth be told, I've never bought an actual ball of yarn, but it feels more natural to say that than "skein." So, for this project, 3 skeins it is!). Don't feel like you have to use that exact type of yarn--just find a bulky or chunky yarn that you love, and buy about 3 balls. I would also suggest, if you can, that you buy a worsted weight yarn to practice your stitches on so you don't use up any of your project yarn while you're learning the stitches! (Another option is to use worsted weight yarn, like Sarah, and simply hold 2 strands together while you work to make it as thick as needed for your cowl . . . this is a great option if you can't find a chunky yarn you're crazy about, but I would recommend only doing this if you already feel comfortable crocheting, as it has the potential to confuse you if this is your first time!)
- crochet hook: or, as Chelsea so elegantly put it in a recent comment, "a crotch-it stick". You're going to need one of these. The pattern suggests an N hook, which is pretty honkin' big, to handle the big thick yarn we'll be using. (Mini-crochet lesson: hooks are made in a huge variety of sizes and are classified by numbers and/or letters . . . the littler the number or letter, the smaller the hook [so a D hook is a dwarf compared to a behemoth Q hook]). If you're making an item that requires a good fit--a hat, a sweater, a sock--you need to pay close attention to hook size, as it will affect the size of your finished project. But on an item like a cowl, where fit/sizing isn't terribly important, you have some leeway. What I'm trying to say is if you already have a hook hanging around the house that's close to a size N (I would say one or two letters in either direction), there's no need to buy a new one! (edited: I'm leaving info out all over the place! Sorry. I would also suggest buying a second, smaller hook for practicing with, if you'll also be buying worsted weight yarn for practice. Something like a G, H, or I hook would work great just for practicing stitches on your worsted weight yarn.) - big ol' needle: you won't be needing this until the very end of the crochet along when you're finishing up your cowl, but a tapestry needle/large eye blunt needle has an opening big enough to thread your fatty yarn through, and is used to weave in and hide the yarn ends when you finish your project. All righty! Have fun shopping, thanks again to Sarah for sharing her yarny wisdom, and I'll see you on Monday for our first stitch lesson.