Crochet

Patterns, projects and techniques

IT’S YOUR TURN – A GIVEAWAY – WEEK THREE, MAY, 2010

by

FELT ME A SMILE by TOYOKO SUGIWAKA

You’ve read my book reviews.  You’ve perused my website reviews.  You’ve lingered over my reviews of ads in magazines.  Now, it’s your turn to post a review here.  I can’t read every book, visit every website, or click on every ad link.  So, I’m counting on my readers to share some of this information with other readers.  And, you can win a prize for your review – a fresh, new copy of the very cute book Felt Me A Smile, (pictured above) recently reviewed on this blog.

The prize will be given to the most valuable review posted.  It might be for writing about your favorite crochet book or sharing insights into your favorite blog or website.  I’ll read every entry, visit every link, and judge which one I think offers the most insightful review.  I’ll post a new category each Monday this month, so you have FIVE chances to win a great prize.

Here’s the category for Week 1 (of May, 2010):

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE CROCHET ‘CLASSIC’ CROCHET BOOK (PUBLISHED BEFORE 2009 OR SINCE THEN IF IT’S A CLASSIC IN YOUR MIND)? PLEASE GIVE US A BRIEF REVIEW OF THE BOOK, STATING WHY IT’S YOUR FAVORITE. Reviews should not exceed approximately 250 words.

Here are the contest rules:

The winner will have 48 hours to contact me with mailing information after the winner is announced.  If the winner doesn’t contact me, the prize will be offered on another occasion.

RESPONSES MUST BE POSTED HERE AND NOT EMAILED TO ME PRIVATELY OR POSTED ELSEWHERE FOR ENTRY.

TO MAKE IT CRYSTAL CLEAR, THE WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED ON THE LAST DAY OF EACH MONTH (OR SHORTLY THEREAFTER) AND THE WINNER MUST EMAIL ME ([email protected]) WITHIN 48 HOURS OF THE ANNOUNCEMENT.  So, for sanity’s sake, that deadline will really mean that I need to hear from you no later than 8 PM the following Monday (so you have plenty of time to email me and I’ll get the email for sure even if I don’t sign on to my email on a Sunday).


Comments

  1. Luv “Decorating With Crochet” by Anne Halliday, Houghton Mifflan Co. Boston, 1975. There are so many wonderful wall hangings, rugs, bedspreads, pillows etc. that would still apply to decorating a home even today. Simple single crochet & double crochet make any of the projects in the book something even a beginner can accomplish!

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.