- http://anestforallseasons.blogspot.com/2011/03/jar-project.html
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- So many people have responded positively to the little idea I passed along in this article, that I thought I’d share a similar idea that’s almost free. The relationship to crochet is minimal. The relationship to the Pay It Forward philosophy is more obvious.
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- Find a small, clear bottle (baby food bottles work great). Crochet a small flower. Cover the top of the jar by sticking on a circle of fabric or pretty paper. Glue the flower to the paper. Embellish the flower with a small button or bead if you like.
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- Type up a list of 30 kind sayings. Here are some suggestions:
- Smile at a stranger today.
- Give someone a hug today.
- Do your husband’s morning chore today.
- Tell someone you love them.
- You are enough.
- Take it easy.
- Laugh!
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- You get the idea. Print off your sheet, cut the sayings into small strips of paper. Fold each strip a couple times and place it into the little decorated jar. Make a bunch of them. Give them to strangers, to friends, for birthdays and anniversaries, for graduations and First Communions.
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- Your small, almost free, gift, is sure to brighten the day of the recipient EVERY day thereafter. A friend gave me one decorated with her scrapbooking supplies. It’s on my desk at work to remind me to take a deep breath, open my ‘fortune’ for the day, and smile. After I read each little message, I fold it up again and stuff it back into the box. The gift that keeps on giving………
- Looking for more patterns for flowers? Check out this Crochet Flower Pattern Book
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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.