Crochet

Patterns, projects and techniques

You Didn’t Win The Lottery But…….

by

Have I got a deal for you!  I just learned of this and HAD to share it with my crochet friends.  If you have a Hobby Lobby, Michael’s, Joann’s or other craft store that has coupons available online, you can get them printed off whenever you want or need them at any office supply store that has access to the internet!!  Wow!  No need to use your own ink and paper.  No need to dig through your purse only to discover that you have last week’s coupons with you.  You walk right in, plop down your pocket change (less than 25 cents per), and they’ll print off as many as you want.

So, spread the word.  I don’t think we need to abuse this, but it sure is a great way to be sure you have the best and most current coupons available in your area.  At the office supply store near me, it costs .17 per coupon.  And, they ask how many I want!!  It’s convenient to me and is open longer hours than all the craft stores so I can get those coupons any time I want for pennies.

Comments

  2. Did you know that both Hobby Lobby and Michael’s will accept the coupon right on your phone? Just show them! No wasted resources AT ALL!

  4. I just pull up the coupon on my smart phone and show it at the register at Hobby Lobby and they accept it as a coupon. No printing, no stopping for a copy, easy peasy!

  5. If you download the Joann’s app on your iphone, you don’t even need to print out the coupons. Just “clip” them directly from the app and show them to the cashier!

  6. If you have a smartphone, most of those stores have apps where you can just open the app at the store and the cashier will scan the code off your phone too. No need to stop, print, use paper or ink. Saves me money every time. 🙂

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.