PRACTICAL CROCHET

I love to crochet pretty things, but sometimes we need to make practical things, don’t we? Recently, I’ve run across a few ingenious little goodies. Here they are. Let me know if you have a variation or improvement we should add.

I love the simple little ‘glass washer’ on the upper right of this photo. It’s a nifty little device to make washing drinking glasses easier! Scroll down til you see the photo and the free patterns below it.

Glass Washer on Upper Right

http://crochetliving.blogspot.com/

Have I told you that I don’t clean house? That’s how I have time to crochet! However, there does come a time in the lives of all moms (and dads too, I bet) when one must wage war against the mess. A friend (Ronnie) made this for me a couple years ago. I must admit that I use it from time to time. It’s a very effective tool – great for cleaning blinds, under tables, around knickknacks, and in those corners of the ceiling where dustbunnies proliferate.

Broom Handle Duster

http://suzies-yarnie-stuff.blogspot.com/2006/08/broom-handle-duster-pattern.html

And, here’s possibly the most useful of all practical crocheted items – the Magic Square Potholder. I actually use them as hot pads on my countertops, under terracotta flower pots, and as coasters. They’re just downright fun to crochet. Play around with the length of your starting chain, hook and yarn size, to make different sizes. There are good pictures to go along with the free pattern to see how this square magically appears.

Magic Square

http://www.mielkesfarm.com/diagonal_hotpad.htm

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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