Year of Projects 2: I still haven’t found what I’m looking for
Like U2, I still haven’t found what I’m looking for (in an afghan motif).
I’ve done a lot of swatching this week and I’m not that much closer to choosing a pattern for the bedspread I want to make my mom for her milestone birthday.
At first, I was thinking that a hexagon motif was the way to go. This is motif 14 from Lace Crochet Best Pattern 238. It was very hot, so I was crocheting with Parisian Cotton.
Then the weather broke (from 100s to 80s/90s) and I decided to combine my swatching for this blanket with my goal of making 52 granny squares using different patterns. So I picked out a bunch of square patterns to try.
This is my version of Dream Catcher, by Sherry Welch in Caron Simply Soft scraps. I don’t think it is quite right for my mom’s bedspread, but I enjoyed making it.
This is my version of Locutus by Penny Davidson. I started with a really ancient ball of white yarn from my stash that used to belong to my grandmother. When it ran out, I moved on to some Caron Simply Soft in Buff for the edges. I had some trouble with the pattern for the fourth round but I actually think this motif (the center of it) is in the running for my mom’s bedspread.
My next square was Crown Jewels by Melinda Miller. This one is made with two colors of Red Heart Super Saver. This one is also in the running, but I’m not sure how much my mom likes bobbles.
Then a friendly crocheter on Crochetlist heard of my quest for the perfect motif and pointed me towards the Renaissance Beauty by Carol Alexander. Although this is available as a free pattern, I actually have it in one of my favorite books in my collection in 100 Afghans to Knit & Crochet
One of the hardest things about this search is that many of the best granny patterns are made with multiple colors. It is really hard to envision them in one solid color, which is what I have planned for this bedspread. My version of the Waterlily from 200 Crochet Blocks for Blankets, Throws, and Afghans
The Venetian Star from Margaret Hubert’s The Granny Square Book
I tried two other Jan Eaton blocks, which I think are successful in one color, but not quite what I’m looking for in this bedspread. This is my version of the Peach Rose…
…and this is my version of the Gothic Square. Both were made with an old skein of Lion Brand Cotton-Ease that has been in my stash since around 2007.
If nothing else, I’ve made progress in stash busting. I finished off three partial skeins and one full skein of yarn. And, I’ve finished 8 more squares towards my YOP goal of 52.
A few questions: Do you have any favorite motif patterns that work well in a solid color? And what do you think of the bulky yarn idea?
For more YOP posts, visit Come Blog-a-long on Ravelry.
After looking through your samples I have to say I really love the centre of the Locutus motif and the border of the Crown Jewel motif lol and I really love the entire motif of Renaissance Beauty, now Im sure I was about as much help as an umbrella in a snow storm.
Haha, Ruth. You were definitely more helpful than that umbrella because you gave me a good idea about combining motifs.
Ok, I’ll put in my 2 cents worth……………..Crown Jewel and Lotus are my two favorites. I still like Motif 14 also. Decisions are so hard to make when it is something that will be around for a loooooong time!
I agree, Marsha, the fact that it is something that will be used for a long time definitely makes it harder to choose.
Wow, you have lots of choices on the cards….I like all of them just about, I think I like the locutus the most, but like the two below it aswell, I guess it’s not an option to use more than one? Say in the border for instance?
What are you going to do with all the samples?
Have a great week!
That’s a good idea, Faith. I could choose a main block and then add others for borders. I plan to donate the samples to various charities, which is why I’ve made the samples in specific sizes.
I find it the hardest part of making an afghan is selecting the square I am going to make. I generally stay clear of bulky yarn, just because it gets so hot here.
That makes sense, Wool Diaries. It gets pretty cold up here in the winter, though.
I’m not sure I could choose because everything looks better when someone else does it! I have not been able to look at bobbles since my nephew told me that they looked like mommies boobs.. I still giggle…
Hahaha, that is pretty funny, mary.
Some pretty squares there! Maybe it’s going to be a sampler?
That is definitely a possibility, Minding My Own Stitches. I really like the idea of a one motif blanket, but I’m having a very hard time making up my mind!
I personally like the Locutus block the best. And about the bulky yarn…wouldn’t using it make the afghan too heavy??? I would recommend either DK weight or Worsted Weight…
Welcome, Sue! My mom is always cold and sleeps under many layers of blankets, so I don’t think it would be too heavy, especially if I choose a more open work pattern. In general, I do use worsted weight yarns for blankets, though.
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Crown Jewel and that Renaissance Beauty motif are probably my top picks. I can’t wait to see which you decide on! I’m sure it’ll be beautiful
Thanks for sharing your top picks, Nicole! Hopefully, this will help me narrow down my decision.
Renaissance Beauty would get my vote but it’s a very tough call as there are a few there that I struggled to choose between.
Thanks, Sarah! I love the look of the Renaissance Beauty as well.
They are all stunning. The one that comes to mind is the sunnyspread square, I think Faith did a blanket in this one in a neutral colour? It looked gorgeous.
Thanks for the tip, kate! The Sunny Spread is a really nice pattern.
I like Renaissance Beauty and Locusts for your mom’s blanket so far. Dream Catcher did catch my eye as well. Great stash busting though!
Thanks, Robin! I’m amazed at how much yarn a 12″ square uses up.
I love your squares! I always think people who are mking blankets are really brave and patient!
Thanks, Liz! I love making blankets (for the first 2/3rds of the project, that is!).
I think the locutus square is my favourite out of all the ones you’ve posted, and I’m impressed at your square count!
I like the Locutus a lot, too, Emma.
I really like the Penny Davidson pattern! I think the more solid border would lend itself to a nice looking bedspread. Also, I’m impressed with your goal of 52 squares in a year- if you make many of them with worsted acrylic, you’ll have a nice blanket on your hands before long!
As for the bulky yarn idea, I’m all for anything that would take less time, but in crochet that might result in a stiffer fabric. I suppose it depends on the patternm though. Either way, I hope you find something that strikes your fancy
That’s a good point, Mary, but if I used a bulky yarn, I would definitely use a large enough hook to keep the drape soft. I was planning to donate these blocks to charity, but I may work on a blanket for myself, too!
Love the 3rd one, though not a beige person you could do that design in many different colors. I’ve always been a fan of 3 colors…so you could come up lots of different versions with a few colors. Cotton, would be really really heavy and hard to launder and dry, tends not to hold it shape well. I would suggest no using cotton for a spread.
Thanks, Sandy! I plan to use a superwash wool for the actual spread.
IT seems like the last thing you need are more ideas for squares but, as you said granny squares tend to look better in multiple colors. Had you considered an aran style sample such as one of these? Tan Sampler , Patchwork Squares or Classic Cabled Sampler
Maybe I am completely in the wrong direction but I find textured samplers in a single color to be really gorgeous and classic but really easy to also to customize to whatever you wanted. You could even throw in a few granny squares between cabled squares if they are all the same size.
Thanks for sharing, Amy! I personally prefer samplers or multi-colored squares, but I think my mom would prefer a single motif. The links you shared are pretty awesome, though, so I’m going to check them out!
I think once blocked, the Peach Rose could be lovely in a bulky yarn. The centre of Locutus is stunning, but I’m not sure it would translate well to something heavier – just my opinion, but I think you need something with a good balance of close-together stitches and gaps, otherwise motifs in a bulky yarn can look unbalanced, if you see what I mean! The renaissance beauty is lovely too – would you edge it round with a more solid border to give the blanket some weight?
If nothing else, you’re going to have a fabulous collection of motifs! the Dreamcatcher is my personal favourite of these – I love intricate little patterns like that, and now *I’m* wondering what that would look like in a bulky yarn! that’s the trouble with YoP posts – you end up with more ideas than you started with
I totally agree with your thoughts on using a bulky yarn, Laura. And yes, the YOP posts do make me want to start other projects, too lol.
Crown Jewels and Renaissance Beauty are my favorites–What a lucky mama to be receiving such a gift of love. When is her birthday and how much time do you have to get this finished. Just wondering, because a project like this would probably take me 2 years to complete!
*smiles*
Kim, it is in February! So I have to really decide soon so I can get moving on this project.