Crochet

Patterns, projects and techniques

TWO SMART CROCHET TEENS

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Two young ladies attended the August, 2011 meeting of the St. Louis Crochet Club.  One, Mary, had attended a couple of meetings before.  She’s pretty much a beginning crocheter but had already designed a lovely little ruffled cuff bracelet that I’ve blogged about before.

Mary’s Ruffle Bracelet
This month, Mary brought her friend Tessa to our meeting.  Tessa hadn’t crocheted, she swears, for several years.  She’s just started 10th grace and had last crocheted in fifth grade!  Next thing we know, Tessa is passing around a bracelet of her own design, a pretty piece of broomstick crochet worked in a blue variegated worsted weight yarn.  We all oohed and ahhed.  The bracelet was so pretty.
Mary and Tessa creating their broomstick bracelets
Pretty soon, Tessa is teaching Mary the broomstick technique using a chubby marker instead of an unwieldy large knitting needle or a real broom handle.  We were all impressed with Tessa’s ingenuity!  Since the bracelet is only a single row of broomstick, joined to make a circle to fit over a wrist, the marker is much easier to use.  Tessa’s one smart crocheter!  In the photo, you’ll see that Tessa has covered the marker with a piece of white paper.

Tessa's bracelet almost done

 

Mary's bracelet almost done.

These are some talented crocheters.  We can all learn a thing or two from them.

Comments

  1. My hat goes off to these girls! I self taught myself to crochet when I was 25 and I haven’t stopped since.(I only wish I’d learned at their age). I hope these girls make a career out of designing crochet.

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.