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March GIVEAWAY – WEEK #3

March 15, 2010 by jd wolfe

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’S THIS WEEK’S QUESTION:

Do you crochet with wool or wool blend yarns?  If so, why?  If not, why not?  I know lots of people have allergies.  I’m looking for answers other than that, although that’s certainly a legitimate answer.

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.

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Comments

  1. Jeanie Babbage says

    March 15, 2010 at 6:14 am

    I use wool and woolblends because they hold up to the wear my men give them. They also breathe better than acrylics.

  2. melissa says

    March 15, 2010 at 6:19 am

    I’m still sort of new to crochet, so I’ve just been using whatever feels good to the touch.

  3. lisa says

    March 15, 2010 at 6:34 am

    I use wool and wool blends a lot. I think they feel better to the touch than a lot of synthetic yarn. I end up making a lot of wool things for myself and my family. When I’m making gifts for others though, I take into consideration whether I think the person is going to be willing to hand wash their items. If the answer is no, then I make it from something synthetic.
    [email protected]

  4. Kathryn says

    March 15, 2010 at 7:02 am

    I love wool and wool blends. They’re soft and there’s something about the way that the yarn soaks up the color when it’s dyed that really appeals to me. I love merino wool the most. Of course, as already mentioned here, the drawback is that washing isn’t as simple with wool. For that reason, I often use it for scarves and jewelry and make bigger pieces with other yarns.

  5. Amy says

    March 15, 2010 at 7:50 am

    What a fabulous yarn! I crochet for tots and toddlers. The product has to be soft, washable and shrink resistant for busy moms. Here is an easy to care for yarn that will give me the warmth of wool and the easy care of blends. I’m looking forward to seeing in the stores around me.

  6. Bina at the lake says

    March 15, 2010 at 8:20 am

    The wool I use depends on the project that I am making. Spun or unspun, wool or synthetics or blends, naturally dyed or chemically or left in it’s natural state, and then there is sheep, lamb, goat, rabbit, llama and alpaca to choose from as well. I am lucky enough to have access to it all from both local sources as well as big box stores.
    I knit, crochet, weave, hook rugs and felt as well so it really really depends on the project as to what kind of fibre gets used in it. The people I gift things too have input as to what they want against their skin, and what they want.

  7. Kim R. says

    March 15, 2010 at 8:25 am

    I haven’t used many wool yarns up to this point because of the washing, I like easy to care for items!

  8. C says

    March 15, 2010 at 8:31 am

    I havent used wool yarn yet, since I live in Florida, I thought it would work up really hot. But I would love to try it, THanks, [email protected]

  9. Roseanna says

    March 15, 2010 at 8:48 am

    I use wool and wool blends, I prefer a more natural yarn.

  10. Sue S. says

    March 15, 2010 at 9:08 am

    If I am making things that will require infrequent washing, like scarves or hats, I prefer the wool yarns for softness of feel.
    if what I am making is for babies/children then it is always synthetics because I want people to really use the items I make for them. If I am using yarns for non-wearable fun type items I will go for whatever looks really cool and funky. I have never met a yarn I haven’t found a use for. They even find their way into my hooked rugs!

  11. turtle says

    March 15, 2010 at 9:32 am

    i use both, wool and wool blends. It really depends on what i am making, do i want it firm, drapey, etc?? and of course what i may have in my stash suitable for the project! smile

  12. Joanna says

    March 15, 2010 at 11:24 am

    I have made a sweater or two with wool, and I crocheted an afghan with wool. I love wool because it has a beautiful finish and looks rich.

  13. Barbra says

    March 15, 2010 at 1:38 pm

    I will work with wool and wool blends if it’s a special order. The richness of wool colors seem to have greater depth BUT for ease of care and skin sensitivities, when I make an item for sale it is not usually wool. That said, I love to felt so I do use it then.

  14. Becky says

    March 15, 2010 at 2:30 pm

    I prefer wool and wool blends. I am especially in love with Rising Meadow Farms yarns. They raise the sheep, shear ’em and spin & dye the yarn. The natural lanolin is still there. It’s like knitting and getting hand lotion at the same time. http://www.risingmeadow.com/index.html

  15. Susan Spiers says

    March 15, 2010 at 3:24 pm

    I like to crochet with a wool blend yarn, the ending result looks better to me, more professional. However, if I was working on a project that requires felting, I would use the 100% wool, or if I wanted something warmer to wear.

  16. Lindsey@Kindred Spirit Mommy says

    March 15, 2010 at 6:47 pm

    I haven’t really used wool before but I would love to! It looks so soft and who wouldn’t love a fluffy wool scarf?

    Thanks for the awesome giveaway!

  17. Wanda Baucom says

    March 15, 2010 at 6:53 pm

    I don’t use wool at all when I am crocheting. I live in Texas and it usually is too hot to work with wool.

  18. Mona S Casselman says

    March 15, 2010 at 8:57 pm

    I choose yarn based on color and texture most of the time. I love natural fibers and blends and recycling yarn that I score at yard sales and thrift stores. Felting is a new fascination of mine and that is all about wool!

  19. Graciela Pinder says

    March 17, 2010 at 5:03 am

    I am new to crocheting but so far I like to use what feels good …. and fyi i do have horrible allergies..lol

  20. Yoby Henthorn says

    March 17, 2010 at 7:23 am

    I first used a wool yarn to make a hat for a friend, and was surprised by how soft it was.

  21. Carmen says

    March 18, 2010 at 6:51 pm

    I haven’t done a lot in wool – they’re scratchier than other fibers I like to use. On the other hand, I love felting – so that’s incentive to use wool.

  22. Elizabeth Hopkins says

    March 20, 2010 at 8:13 pm

    Wool and wool blends are something I aspire to using as my skills improve. I love the colors and textures. I’ve been crocheting for about two years, mostly afghans and a few hats. Still struggling with knitting needles. I’m a little afraid of the pricier yarns. Most of my stash is acquired at sales and consignments. I’d go to a finer yarn shop with a friend mostly to admire the quality and handiwork of more experienced crafters.

  23. Linda Coate says

    March 22, 2010 at 8:13 am

    I rarely use wool, as most of my items need to be easily washable and I can’t guarantee that people will be willing to handwash items. Most of my yarns and threads are thrifted so I get what I get and sort them by type and color—I like the look of wool (it has better color and stitch definition) but it’s not a big part of my stash or my work.

  24. Teal Cuttlefish says

    March 29, 2010 at 2:39 am

    I prefer wool, like others have said, because it breathes far better than acrylic. Even before I hit menopause I was not comfortable in clothes that didn’t let my skin breathe, and now that’s even more vital!

  25. maureen says

    March 29, 2010 at 8:33 am

    I actually use whatever I can get my hands on. For kids I tend to stay away from wool, unless given permission by parents. I love wool blends best with washability. There are too many great yarns on the market not to try them all!

  26. Sandra Lehr says

    March 29, 2010 at 3:46 pm

    I use wool and wool blends for scarves and hats.

  27. Jules says

    March 31, 2010 at 8:02 am

    I don’t crochet with wool yarns, but that’s because I haven’t learned to crochet yet! I do, however, sometimes knit with wool blends.

    [email protected]

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.

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