My husband called me a yarn hoarder.  That’s how it began.  He quickly repented since hoarding isn’t something you joke about in my family.  It’s a real possibility–and it runs deep.  I have rules to follow to make sure I’m not hoarding, like 1.  Don’t buy more than 6 months worth of something and 2.  It doesn’t matter how good a deal it is, don’t buy it unless we NEED it.  But hoarding still scares me.  My grandmother had an entire bedroom filled with yarn–we think there was a bed in there, but we can’t be sure, since you opened the door to a wall of yarn.  There was a small head space to the room so you could climb up on the pile of yarn and go inside and pick out something to work with.  If I show any signs of that kind of behavior, drive me to Mr. Neubauer’s office (the best therapist in town). If I refuse to go, just tie me up and throw me in the car. He’ll know what to do.

So when I was cleaning out my office and found two large  packages of cotton yarn that I purchased 10 years ago, I knew something had to happen.  Either that yarn was going into the yard sale, or it was going to BE something.  I made a statement about a month ago that I don’t make afghans.  They take too long.  So I decided an afghan would be the best thing to make–makes perfect sense right?  I say things like NEVER right before I do that exact thing.  Like two weeks ago when I said I’d never be in a flash mob dance…but I digress.

(Scrappy would be cute too!  My heather would love all sorts of bright colors on a throw for her room.)

I had the yarn for 10 years because it was beautiful–100% cotton.  I purchased 1-10 pack of white and 1 of ecru when it was super cheap at Cargo Largo. It was too special to use on just anything so I was saving it for the perfect thing.  The perfect thing will never come, because it doesn’t exist on this side of Heaven.  Thanks to the Nester I’m embracing imperfect beauty.

I enjoy chevrons right now too, so a simple chevron pattern was easy to decide on.  If I were buying exactly the yarn I wanted, I’d buy navy and white so the chevron’s would really pop.  But remember, this isn’t about perfection, It’s about not being a hoarder and using up what I have.  So I have a very subtle white and ecru throw that looks amazing on my chocolate leather sectional instead.

The Pattern:

Any worsted weight yarn (I used cotton–alpaca would be my second choice–soooo soft!) Approximately 20 oz of each (This is the weight of cotton–other yarns weigh less per yard—not sure how to advise you on them since my balls of cotton did not have a yard amount on them. I’ll bet an internet search would show how many yards of worsted cotton per ounce–if you find out leave it in the comments part.)

Size F hook or any size to achieve gauge. (Gauge doesn’t really matter–it’s a throw, but if you crochet super tight you’ll use up too much yarn and make your throw too small and heavy, so might as well check and go up a hook size or two if you need to.)

Gauge:  4 rows is approximately 2 3/8″ tall; 26 stitches is approximately 6 3/4 inches wide.

Finished dimensions: 43″ x 60″

Foundation : Ch 169 (or any multiple of 13–39 chains would make a perfect scarf .)

Row 1: Dc in 4th ch from hook. Dc in next 3 st; 3dc in next st; *dc in next 5 st;  sk next 2 st; dc in next 5 st; 3dc in next st* rep from * to* 12 times. dc in last 5 st.

Row 2: Ch 2; turn. Sk next st; dc in next 5 st; 3dc in next st; * dc in next 5 st; sk next 2 st; dc in next 5 st; 3dc in next st. * Rep from *to* 12 times. Dc in next 4 st; dc 2 tog.

Repeat row 2 until throw is as long as you like. I switched colors every 2 rows and twisted the yarns together at the ends so I didn’t have to cut the yarn at every color change.  Bind off and weave in ends.

Here’s a tip on switching colors from row to row, so you don’t have to cut and weave in ends all the time.  Twist the color you aren’t using around the color you are at the end of the row, so that it carries up with you as you go.  It will barely be noticeable and saves yarn and time.  (Photographed above.)  The very last yarn pull through on the last row before the color change should be with the new color.

When You are at the end of the ball of yarn (see above) save the very last pull through and use the new yarn.  (Below)

Then tie the two ends of yarn together in a single knot (this is an extra step that makes extra sure nothing will unravel.)

Then as you finish the row, crochet over the two short ends to hide them in the stitching.  Then you won’t have to go back and weave them in later.  This saves soooo much time!

Here’s a close up on the pattern (above).  Notice the 3dc section always happens in the center dc of the 3dc section from the row before it.  Sometimes I would be watching TV or talking while I worked and lose count, but as long as I got that 3dc in the center of the row below it, it all worked out.