What I miss about making afghans is that I would use more colors because the blankets are meant to brighten a space in addition to giving warmth. Some people don’t want to wear as many bright colors. There are ways to make something colorful without being garish. Using a dark and light yarn together or two yarns can create houndstooth or stripes or a block pattern. I’ve been looking at old posts from several years ago and the afghans were so colorful. I still use color but in a different way. Depending on the group or age of the clients of certain organizations that receive donations, would be comfortable wearing something super bright. That doesn’t mean that colors are relegated to neutrals only. It’s still possible to use darker or even neutral colors to give some style and patterns. The neutral color or a solid dark with a color block adds flair without making someone look like they are a walking billboard.
The colors and patterns can speak for themselves whether it’s a light and dark color or two complimentary patterns. Colorful doesn’t mean looking like a bioluminescent creature in a sea of darkness. Colors can be blended to create something subtle and lush. Two complimentary patterns or stripes of different shades, hues or tones with a solid primary yarn puts pigment center stage.
Revising my goal
Since I have already completed 85 sets for the year and it’s not quite September and I have three sets in varying states of completion, I have decided to make 100 for the year which still give me a chance to work on a couple of other things that I want to make for myself and maybe a gift or two. In previous years when I set goals, I have mentioned that I want to crochet faster, especially get faster with colorwork. Now is the time to practice that since there are four months left in the year. Even if I made some sets with one multicolored or self striping yarn in familiar patterns, I feel that making 15 additional sets is doable.
Happy Crocheting!
The new yarn that I ordered was tempting me. I went to bed early the night the box arrived and didn’t play with any of the new yarn but the next day however, that was a different story. I selected a new yarn that I was unfamiliar with and started a hat. Within roughly 75 minutes of uninterrupted crocheting from the starting magic loop to weaving in the ends, I had a finished hat. The pattern is simple top down basket weave with two rows of single crochet for the brim.
For my past few projects I have made coordinating hats and scarves, instead of matching ones. The hats and scarves use the same yarn but not the same stitch pattern; which makes it more freeing and fun. Instead of avoiding postwork, I’ve embraced it and use different combinations as shown in a scarf that I used alternating front and back posts in groupings of two to four, made a center section of five front posts and then decreased the number of posts in the same groupings. The odd numbered groups are in the front for one row and in the back for another.
I’ve found a way to use up more yarn from my stash – using two strands at a time. I’ve mentioned before that I like using worsted weight yarn. What I hadn’t considered was using two DK or sock weight yarns to make something. I’ve used two or three strands or worsted weight yarn together. Even using a larger hook I got tired of it, my hand would cramp and the project would be too stiff or too loose when I used a larger hook.
Though football season has resumed, those are not calls but the number of completed projects. The goal for the year was 15 hat and scarf sets, 40 scarves and 15 afghans. Six and one could also be added to 15, 37 and 14 – six adult hats and one baby hat. One goal down and two to go. The hats were just bonus items because I didn’t have enough of the same yarn to make anything larger than a hat.
Fifteen hat and scarf sets are ready to be donated.
