Crochet

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MARCH GIVEAWAY – WEEK #2

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To win two skeins of Allegro Madil yarn in color #241 (pictured above), answer the question below.  Complete rules for the contest are at the bottom of this post.  Here’s the question for this week:

What’s your favorite boucle yarn?  Give us the brand and maybe a link to a picture of it.

Allegro Madil is a bulky boucle yarn composed of 85% wool and 15% nylon with 82 yards per 50 gram ball.   The color in this picture is a bit brighter than the skein I have in front of me.  I’d describe it as a lime green with flecks of grape and deep mauve.  Please don’t hold me to those color names.  Color is not my forte!  Suffice it to say that this yarn is about the color of the skin of a lime with flecks of two purplish colors.  Good enough???

Here are the rules:

Each item will be mailed to the winner by USPS – books by media mail.  For now, this contest will only be open to participants with a U.S. mailing address.

This is how it will work.  Each Monday, I’ll pose a question on my blog.  Everyone who answers the questions will be entered in the drawing on the last day of that month.  Some ‘answers’ may require you to post a link to a specific pattern or site.  The winner will be announced along with the next Monday’s question.  The winner will have 48 hours to contact me with mailing information.  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 FRIDAY OF EACH MONTH 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).

Simply enter to win by leaving a comment on this post answering the question posed.

Comments

  1. I don’t really know too much about boucle yarn… all I’ve ever known is red heart… but I love love LOVE to crochet and I think that this yarn looks super duper fun!

  2. Most definitely Joann’s Rainbow Sensations Boucle yarn! It is sooooo soft and has a gentle self-striping pattern as you can see in the pink & blue ponchos I made for my niece and daughter’s teacher in the links below:

    http://tinyurl.com/ydgeaev

    Happy Crocheting!

    Sheri

  4. I must confess, I haven’t tried boucle yet. I LOVE the look and feel of boucle sweaters, though, so it is on my list to try this year! I’m excited to see the brands people recommend!

  6. I love Joann’s Rainbow Sensations Boucle yarn, I made a cape with it and it was so soft like silk. Very easy to work with also.You can buy it at Joann Stores.

  8. I don't really know too much about boucle yarn… all I've ever known is red h4art… but I love love LOVE to crochet and I think that this yarn looks super duper fjn!;

  9. I’ve only tried Homespun so far and would love to try some of the boucle fibers mentioned.
    Thanks!

  10. I have made items with boucle yarn but didn’t take notice of the brand. I’ve been crocheting for over 30 years, and have shopped in discount stores and mill outlets, besides regular yarn shops, and I buy what strikes me at the time and is at a good price. Right now I have Joann’s Sensation which I bought on sale, but have only used it to trim a scarf. I love it.

  12. My favorite is by someone here in Alaska that I bought the clearance from when the store was closing. I love handmade yarns from local women, but then the whole state of Alaska is considered local, if you know one of us personally, you probably kow all of us.

  14. I made a masculine looking afghan out of a dark Lion Brand Boucle yarn. Since I was a beginner, it came out a little crooked, but it was very warm and cozy. Boucle’s a little hard to work with, but well worth the effort for that soft bumpy texture.

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.