Crochet

Patterns, projects and techniques

Frugalista At Work

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yarn winder

 

Maybe you don’t have one of these (yarn winder)

 

nostepinne yarn winder

 

of even one of these (nostepinne).  Maybe you’re a frugal crocheter who is always looking for cost effective ways to improvise, make-do, improve, and create.

paper cup yarn winder

Wish I was as smart as the person who came up with this frugal yarn winder!  All it takes is a paper cup or a toilet paper core.  Genius!  It starts with your yarn ‘core’ and a slit to hold the yarn.  Then, you wind.  It doesn’t get much simpler – or much less expensive – than this.

frugal yarn winder

Visit the blog here to see more about this and a whole host of other discoveries.  Like this lovely scarf and this stunning shawl.  My orchid lace weight yarn is waiting for me at the yarn shop, all wound up into a nice pull skein.  Hmmmm.  Which one will I make???

 

Comments

  3. I inherit Mom’s old sewing machines every time she gets a new one. The bobbin winder on the last one didn’t work, so I improvised a winder using an old cassete tape player. Works great. I’ve also seen things like winders and swifts made from motorized Lego sets. Super clever.

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.