‘NEMESIS’ AFGHAN NEARING COMPLETION

I’m finally nearing completion of the wedding afghan for my nephew who married last June! This has been my ‘nemesis’ afghan – a term we crocheters sometimes use to refer to a project that we either do not enjoy making or just can’t do properly or well. In this case, the central part of the afghan is a DC mesh which is beautiful when completed but is a royal pain to crochet, boring and repetitive. I do like the look of the finished project and will probably use this mesh stitch in other – much smaller(!) – projects.

At any rate, I have all the pineapples crocheted to one end of the afghan. There are seven pineapples that create the edging on the short sides of the afghan. I added the plain green border to the mesh in hopes of tying my color choices together. The original pattern was pictured in all white. I would never have been able to crochet an entire, adult-sized afghan in white (or black). This is one that I just have to make in a colorway that pleases ME. I did, however, consult the bride regarding color choices. She surfed a bit and sent me a link to a lapghan composed of 12 inch squares in most of the colors found in the variegated RH yarn I eventually settled on to crochet the afghan. I’m a bit disappointed in the size of the pineapples. I think they need to be larger, but I don’t really know how to accomplish that – and I WANT TO BE DONE WITH THIS DRATTED THING!

I enjoy making pineapples, especially in yarn rather than thread. They are positively addicting (thanks dj for that insight) and I took time to admire each one as it was completed. I stopped about halfway across this first edge to weave in all kinds of loose ends. My mind was just too tired to count and think, so I did what is usually a mind-numbing job when my mind was already numb. Two birds, one stone??

In case you want to make this afghan, it’s from Annies’ Favorite Crochet Magazine, June, 2001 but can also be found at www.freepatterns.com. It’s name is Vintage Lace Afghan designed (beautifully) by Elizabeth Ann White. I have yet to block the pineapples which I will do before gifting it to the newlyweds. Hey – Emily Post says we have a full year to give a wedding gift so I should come in a few weeks under!

Looking for more Afghan blankets to crochet? Check out these Crochet patterns on Etsy.