Lily Pond Round Ripple Lap Afghan

I first saw the pattern for this gorgeous afghan designed by Monica Kennedy a couple years ago and immediately added it to my must-make list. The free pattern can be found here. Unfortunately I had several projects that had to come first so it stayed on the list for a LONG time.  A few weeks ago I happened to walk down the clearance aisle at Walmart and discovered the variegated yarn in the pattern there.  So I bought several skeins so they didn't run out before I had a chance to make this afghan.  I rarely actually follow the exact colors used by the designers when I find a pattern I really like, but for this one this particular colorway really adds to the watercolor effect.

I made a few modifications but mainly followed the pattern pretty closely.  One of the modifications I made was to add a chain-1 between the corner dc-clusters on round 2 of each granny square so I could join the granny squares as I went along and avoided a lot of sewing.  I also used a size K crochet hook instead of L.

I'll definitely be making this afghan again, possibly in other color combinations.

I Love Yarn Day

My daughter crocheting

It's I Love Yarn Day!  How are you celebrating?  I gave my 8-year-old her first crochet lesson.  Actually, we started out with a knitting lesson.  She understood what she was supposed to do, but holding the yarn and the needles and not losing her live stitches was causing a little problem.  So we decided to hold the knitting lesson for another day and switch to crochet.  Then she didn't have so many loose stitches to worry about.

Closeup of my daughter crocheting

She did really well and ended up making a scarf for her Barbie dolls with very little help from me.  The first words out of her mouth after "Look Mom!  I'm done with the scarf!" were "That was fun!  Can I make a Barbie blanket now?"  So she's now working on a blanket for Barbie.

Girls Granny Poncho

Last week my daughter was shivering as we were waiting for the morning bell to ring at school.  It was one of those mornings where it was not quite cold enough for the winter coat but a sweatshirt and windbreaker weren't quite warm enough.  I decided it was time to make her a poncho for those cooler days.  She calls it her "blanket with a hole for her head." :)

I searched Ravelry for a cute but quick-to-make poncho pattern and this is what I found.  Several people had commented that the neck opening was too big, so to account for this I made the smallest size and then just added more rows to make it long enough for my daughter.

I used Caron Simply Soft yarn in Chocolate, Plum Wine, Soft Pink and White and used less than 1 skein of each color. (Probably 1/2 to 3/4 of each color.)  The color pattern I used was as follows:
Row 1: Chocolate
Row 2: Plum Wine
Row 3: Soft Pink
Row 4: White
Row 5: Soft Pink
Row 6: Plum Wine
Row 7: Chocolate
Row 8: Plum Wine
Row 9: Soft Pink
Row 10: White
Row 11: Soft Pink
Row 12: Plum Wine
Row 13: Chocolate
Row 14: Plum Wine
Row 15: Soft Pink
Row 16: White
Row 17: Soft Pink
Row 18: Plum Wine
Row 19: Chocolate
Row 20: Plum Wine
Row 21: Soft Pink
Row 22: White
Row 23: Soft Pink
Row 24: Plum Wine
Row 25: Chocolate

Pink Stripes Baby Afghan Pattern

I've had several requests for the pattern for the Pink Stripes Baby Afghan that I posted a couple years ago so here it is.  It's a very simple and fast project.  The gauge isn't real important for this afghan.  You can make it larger or smaller by either changing the hook size or increasing/decreasing the number of chains in multiples of 3.  As written this comes out to be about 28 x 35 inches.  You can make it wider simply by working more rows.  As it is, it's a good size for bringing along on outings or to use on the floor as a playmat.

You'll need medium worsted weight yarn (yarn category "4") in three different shades - light (Color A), medium (Color B), dark (Color C).  For this one I used Red Heart Super Saver yarn.  I don't remember what the exact colors were called, but I used not quite a full skein of each in white, light dusty rose, and dark rose.  I used a size I crochet hook.

Abbreviations: Ch = chain, sc = single crochet, dc = double crochet

Directions:
With Color A, ch 100.
(Ch 65 for 18" long premie or doll afghan. Ch 118 for 42" long baby afghan.)
Row 1:  2 dc in fourth ch from hook, skip 2 ch, sc in next ch, *ch 2, 2 dc in same ch as last sc, skip 2 ch, sc in next ch. Repeat from * across.

Row 2: Ch 3, turn. 2 dc in last sc, sc in next ch-2 space, *ch 2, 2 dc in same ch-2 space, sc in next ch-2 space. Repeat from * across.

Rows 3-4: Repeat Row 2.

Row 5:  Change to Color B.  Repeat Row 2.

Row 6: Repeat Row 2.

Row 7:  Change to Color C.  Repeat Row 2.

Row 8:  Repeat Row 2.

Row 9: Change to Color A.  Repeat Row 2.

Row 10:  Repeat Row 2.

Row 11: Change to Color B.  Repeat Row 2.

Row 12:  Repeat Row 2.

Continue repeating Row 2, working 2 rows of each color in stripe sequence established (Color A, then B, then C) until afghan is about 2" less than desired width, ending with Color A.  Work 3 more rows with Color A.  Fasten off, weave in ends.

Turn afghan around and join Color A with a sc in last sc (on the opposite side of the beginning chain).  Ch 2, 2 dc in same sc, sc in next ch-2 space, *ch 2, 2 dc in same ch-2 space.  Repeat from * to the end of the row.  Fasten off, weave in ends.

If you make this afghan I'd love to see a picture of it!  If you have any questions please let me know.