Crochet

Patterns, projects and techniques

Crochet Today! May/June, 2012

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The latest issue of Crochet Today! Magazine arrived in my mailbox today. Had to hustle all afternoon, chasing computer problems and running weekend errands til I could sit down to page through it. Several really good projects I wanted to alert you to.

First is a really pretty skirt worked in a shell stitch.  The pattern is very attractive and the profile fo the skirt would look good on most body types.  I also love the cute little Paint-by-Number dress which is an update of an old pattern.  Any toddler girl would look extra cute in this little number.  There’s a lovely Just Married Shawl which is worked in Hairpin Lace.

There are a bunch of kiddie projects for those who need them and a couple of afghans.  I love the Milky Way Blankie which is awash in stars.

Three different patterns are shown which I’d be tempted to pull together using the same yarn – the Champs Elise Beret, Mademoiselle Scarf, and Cafe Wristlers.  See what you think!

All in all, there are 23 patterns which is a good number for a magazine these days.

Comments

  1. I have mixed feeling about Crochet Today. Great beginner patterns, but not being a beginner, sometimes things seem a little simplistic to me.

  5. There is little information, but plenty of pictures, of this dress online. You’ll probably have to purchase the original magazine in which it was published to obtain the pattern.
    jd

Have you read?

Shock Wave Free Crochet Lap Blanket Pattern

This Free Shock Wave Crochet Lap Blanket Pattern from Mary Maxim looks like one of those wonderfully satisfying projects that gives big cozy payoff without fiddly detail. Mary Maxim lists it as a free download, designed as a crochet afghan/lap blanket, with a finished size of 45 x 50 inches.

What immediately stands out is the yarn choice. The pattern is made with Bernat Blanket Extra Thick, using 5 skeins, and calls for a U.S. U/50 (25 mm) crochet hook. That is gloriously chunky territory, which usually means fast progress and lots of squishy texture. If you are in the mood for a project that feels substantial in your hands and grows quickly row by row, this one definitely has that appeal.

Mary Maxim describes the blanket as having a beautifully textured, plush, soft finish and suggests it as a project for home décor or gifting. Based on the materials and oversized hook alone, that sounds about right. This feels like the sort of blanket you make for curling up on the couch, draping over a chair, or giving as a practical handmade gift that will actually get used instead of folded away “for best.”

The pattern is marked Easy, and the listed stitch requirements are straightforward: chain, repeat, double crochet, single crochet, and slip stitch. That makes it sound approachable for confident beginners and very appealing for anyone who wants a relaxing crochet project without too much counting drama.

I also think the lap blanket size is a smart one. Not every crochet blanket needs to become a giant commitment that takes over the lounge room and your will to live. A 45 x 50 inch blanket is a useful, manageable size for gifting, for wheelchairs or reading nooks, or just for keeping on hand for chilly evenings. That practicality gives this pattern extra appeal. The usability point is my own take based on the finished dimensions Mary Maxim provides.

At the moment, the pattern page shows no reviews, so there is not much customer feedback to go on yet. Still, if you enjoy easy crochet blanket patterns, super chunky crochet throws, or quick lap blanket projects, this one looks like a solid freebie to save.

My overall take? This looks like a fast, cozy, beginner-friendly crochet blanket pattern with plenty of texture and instant-gratification energy. Very much the sort of project you start because it looks easy, then keep going because the yarn feels ridiculously soft.