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You’ve Been Waiting For It

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Everyone is probably tired of hearing me complain about this afghan.  Here it is!

The pattern is a variation of my favorite, the Diagonal Crazy Stitch.  You can learn how to create this afghan here.  The ‘traditional’ crazy stitch (or box stitch) pattern works up to a square.  I wanted this to be a rectangle, so I followed the instructions for creating the variation.  It turned out nicely.  The color choices were not mine.  It’s for a young couple getting married in May.  His favorite color is orange and hers is yellow – so, voila!  they get a yellow and orange afghan.  I’ve never met the bride, so she might not be totally thrilled with this.  But, I made it for a dear friend to give them.  I have met the groom on many occasions and he’s a wonderful guy.  So, that made it easier for me to complete a project which quickly became a nemesis because of a couple of reason.

First, the colors are not my favorites.  Since I find it difficult to work with colors I don’t like, I do not take commission work.  This was an exception – but has confirmed to me that I don’t like the idea of doing commissions.  Secondly, the yarn was ordered sight unseen because of my friend’s very tight budget.  To get enough yarn in the proper colors at a price point she could afford, I took the catalog description of this ‘soft’ yarn at face value.  Mistake!  I won’t make that mistake again.  The yarn is not only NOT soft, it’s downright ‘hard’.  I’ll do some major fabric softening before I send it off to the lucky couple.  Finally, the skeins were full of snags, bad joins, and in one case the ‘guts’ of the skein were pulled out only to reveal that it was a totally separate ball of yarn.  These issues resulted in my having to cut the yarn THREE times after an hour’s worth of fruitless attempts to untangle the mess.  Guess how many extra ends this gave me to weave in?

What I have left to do is weave in the multitudinous number of ends, add a small border of some sort to further hide those ends, then, I’d like to add two small appliques – one of the St. Louis Arch and one to symbolize Utah.  A beehive was suggested to me and that would work well with the yellow yarn, so I’ll probably go with that.

This is one afghan I’ll be happy to send to its new home and hope to never see it again!

If you are looking for more of our DIY Wedding ideas then check out our dedicated DIY Wedding blog.

Looking for more crochet patterns for weddings? Check out these designs we found on Etsy.

Comments

  1. I see nothing wrong with this afghan. I really like the colors, nice and bright. I’m sure the bride is going to love it. It was made with love. How can you not?!! Great work. Gonna try this pattern. I have to make an afghan for a friend’s mother.

  2. Oops! Just checked the link for the pattern and realized I already know this pattern. It was under another name. I have made several afghans using this stitch. Great pattern, great design!

  3. Ok, I’m about finished. Kept getting interrupted. I feel you on having a project that you don’t want to do for some reason for another. Sorry you had so much trouble with the yarn. I usually try to work with my customers on purchasing the yarn. For afghans, I only work with Hobby Lobby’s “I Love This Yarn”. It is the softest yarn I have found and so many colors.

    I had a pattern that I picked up one day and crocheted it for a church mother. I threw the pattern away after I finished it. It had a lot of diamond pieces that had to be crocheted, then put together to get each design, then all the pieces had to be sewn together. It took me almost 4 months to finish. I will never, ever crochet that piece again! So, yes, I feel ya!

  6. For Utah, beehive is perfect! JD, the project looks great, love how you worked the middle section. Yes, it is hard on commission items. And the wife to be will appreciate that someone took the time to incorporate her favorite color with her husbands. It may not get used all the time, but it will get used for many years!

  7. JD,
    I know what it is like trying to finish a project for someone else that you just are not thrilled with! Glad it is finished for you. The colors will definitely brighten up a room. It is like sunshine! (same colors as my little dress from the 70’s I had written about.) What a great job!

Have you read?

Vintage Crochet Baby Dress Pattern Review

There is something especially charming about a vintage baby dress pattern, and this Crocheted Cutie Dress #3112 has all the details that make older crochet designs so appealing.

The dress features a neatly shaped bodice, short sleeves, contrast stripes and a full lace skirt with a scalloped finish. It has that classic heirloom look without feeling overly formal, which makes it suitable for birthdays, family photos, baby showers or simply as a special handmade outfit.

One of the nicest things about this design is the balance between the structured upper section and the much softer, more decorative skirt. The bodice is worked in a simple repeating texture, while the skirt opens into a detailed lace pattern that gives the dress plenty of movement and fullness. The white trim around the neckline, sleeves and hem also helps define the shape beautifully.

The pattern includes instructions for sizes 1 and 2, with the second size shown in parentheses throughout. As with many vintage patterns, the sizing does not line up neatly with modern age labels, so it is important to check the gauge and finished proportions rather than relying on the size number alone.

This would be best suited to an intermediate crocheter, or a confident beginner who is comfortable reading traditional pattern instructions. The design uses chain stitches, single crochet, double crochet, treble crochet, colour changes, shaping, repeated lace sections and separate pieces that are sewn together during finishing.

The sleeves and collar are made separately and attached to the completed bodice. The back is finished with three buttons, giving the dress a practical opening while keeping the front clean and decorative.

The original version uses pink and white mercerized crochet cotton, but the design works beautifully in more modern combinations too. Sage and cream give it a soft botanical feel, lemon and white make it fresh and summery, while orange and ivory create a much warmer retro look.

Because the pattern was originally written for vintage crochet cotton and a steel hook, I would strongly recommend making a gauge swatch before beginning. Modern threads and hook-sizing systems can vary, and the bodice needs to fit correctly before the lace skirt is added.

The professionally reformatted PDF is much easier to follow than an unedited scan. It keeps the original stitch counts and construction while improving spacing and readability. It also includes a modern mockup and the original vintage reference image, which is helpful when visualising the finished shape.

Overall, this is a lovely pattern for anyone who enjoys making vintage-inspired baby clothes. The lace skirt is the real highlight, but the striped bodice and matching collar give the finished dress a polished, complete look.