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.
Source: mykitschstitch.blogspot.com via Lesley on Pinterest
(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.
Source: r.ebay.com via Annslee on Pinterest
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.
I love the white and cream together and can’t wait to see it finished!
It’s finished :). I just uploaded the pictures–oops! I meant to do it last night before the post went live.
It’s very pretty! Good work!
you are amazing! The largest item I have ever crocheted was a shawl that now sits on my couch. I am notoriously bad at leaving a wake of unfinished craft projects behind me but I have been making a concerted effort to finish a project before starting another which is why big projects scare me. I might never get to do a new craft if I start something big! 🙂 maybe someday I will get the gumption to knit myself a sweater….
Love it! Looks wonderful.
Still cracking up about the hording thing!
So pretty! Alas I’m going to have to learn to crochet one of these days! !
Kelly, Yes! You’d be good at it, but it’s addictive :).
Very nice! I recently bought yarn to start a zig-zag afghan too. 🙂 (although I have had no time to start it– I hope it doesn’t take me 10 years to use, lol!)
That looks absolutely beautiful 🙂 How long did that take you? I would think it would take f-o-r-e-v-e-r….
Donna, It took about a month. I put it in a cute tote bag and took it everywhere. Then any time I had to wait for a child or appointment or anything I pulled it out. Turns out I have more wait time than I thought!
It’s very pretty. I am starting to amass a yarn collection. I make scarves and baby blankets and I always end up with leftover yarn. I’ve been trying to figure out what to do with it because it is lots of different colors. 🙂
Aimee, A scrappy chevron like in the picture above would be so fun!
This is a comment for Amy… (Full disclosure .I cannot crochet)… But I love scrappy granny square afghans or granny square kiddie ponchos or grown up sized scrappy caps and mittens . Chevron scrappy scarves would also ROCK … AND Angela could host a Give away LOL ..
Good luck with your yarn stash. Angela , we don’t joke about hoarding here either. To help myself let go of some guilt over unused past purchases I was able to donate an unused creative memories scrap book ans pages to a silent auction for my babies school. Good cause and good riddance.now I may have time to learn to crochet… Nah… Not yet 😉
Aimee, My grandmother who lived to be 92, also had lots of scraps of yarn that she saved. She ended up making anybody who wanted one, a Joseph’s coat of many colors” afghan. One row of a different color is how she did it. That may have left scraps for another of the same afghan later on. She had 10 children, 64 grandchildren, 103 great-grandchildren and I don’t know the count for the many great, great and great children that she had. But I do know that everyone got an afghan from her. Hope that helps with your leftovers.
Brenda—103 great-grandchildren and ALL got an afghan! That was one amazing woman. What a legacy for if she was this dedicated in her crochet, I’m believing that her whole life held discipline.
Very nice. I really like the colors – soft and warm and they go lovely with your couch.
Angela i absolutely love the creamy ripple afghan you made. i also have a bunch of scraps of yarn kicking around and think this is the perfect idea for some of it. I had intended on making some boot toppers for my girls and some slippers for the boys for Christmas last year but never got around to it… 🙁 When i was a young girl my grammie made all of the grandchildren a chevron afghan for Christmas one year, the following birthday i requested another one in colors that matched my new bedroom curtains. I turned 13 that year and 30 years later i still have both of them… i actually am the only grandchild who has them and they are favorites of my children and granson when they are sitting on the couch or recliner on a chilly day! Does 30 year old afghans make me a hoarder lol???
I love this! Nope, 30 year old afghans is not hoarding–if you use them :). My yarn was suspect because I didn’t use it, lol.