I have a lot of things going on, so let’s get started! As a new crochet technical editor, I am
accepting designs at a reduced rate to celebrate crochet month. Not
a designer? How about an idea for what
to do with scrap yarn to support the charity of the month, Project Night-Night?
Scrap Yarn to Afghan Donation
Start by going through your stash. Pull out all the partial skeins, balls,
partial cakes, etc. of the same yarn weight.
If any require hand washing, throw those back into your stash.
Now sort those scraps by color. Place them on a table, from left to right, in
order of the rainbow: red, orange, yellow,
green, blue, indigo, and violet. Sort
them again by dark to light within the same color group.
Working with 2 strands of yarn, starting with the reds, and a large hook (K/6.00mm or
greater) make a 36” chain. Verify the
number of stitches can be divided evenly by 3.
Double crochet (dc) in 5th chain from hook, chain 1, dc in
the same stitch (V-stitch made), skip 1 chain,* (dc, ch 1, dc) in next stitch,
skip 1 chain* across, dc in last chain.
All following rows:
Chain 3, turn, V-stitch in chain-1 space of previous row across, dc in
top of turning chain.
When you run out of one strand of yarn, replace it with the
next one in your color line up. This
will create a beautiful, one-of-a-kind rainbow afghan as the colors meld into
one another.
The border can be done in your choice of grey, white, or
black – whatever you have. Sc evenly
around, working 3 sc in each corner, and you’re done!
The Travel Afghan
As I do not have a picture of the scrap afghan described above (I donate them once they are complete), I thought I would share with you another afghan – one that my great-grandmother gave to me when I was a child in the 70’s. She called it a travel afghan, as it was made while she was on the road touring the country back in the 1940’s. When they came to a new town, she would pick up a single skein of yarn in whatever color caught her eye at the local 5 and dime, and work on the afghan while her husband drove. This was the result:
The CGOA
While you are on your tour of crochet country, why not take a moment and check out the Crochet Guild of America? They are an excellent resource for anything to do with crochet, for beginners and professionals alike!
A Crocheter’s Guide to Spring Cleaning
- Announce to all occupants of the house that you are cleaning and not to be disturbed.
- Gather together all of those unfinished projects (UFO’s). Go through each one and prioritize when each will be completed (this year, next year, whenever). If one catches your eye, it’s time to finish it. Pull that one out, put the rest of them away.
- Gather together all of those crochet books and magazines. Sit down and go through each one. Bookmark those projects that will make perfect gifts, and also those that you just want to try.
- Go have lunch.
- Look at your stash. Feel the yarn. Absorb the colors. Organize it if you want. Take note of what colors and fibers you are missing. If you are lucky enough to find the perfect yarn in the right quantity for one of the projects you bookmarked in step 2, put the pattern with the yarn and go find a crochet hook.
- Make sure you have all your tools (crochet hooks, stitch markers, scissors, tape measure, pencil) next to your favorite crochet chair. Chase the cat out of the room if necessary.
- Stash the stack of books and magazines at the bottom of the nearest bookshelf, put your stash back where it was, and sit in your favorite crochet chair. Start on that pattern or UFO. If anyone asks, you’re done with spring cleaning. After all, anyone can do dishes.
More on the tour...
I hope you've had fun here at NEKCrochet! Thank you for visiting! Don't forget to continue your tour - visit Angela Whisnant today. Here is the rest of the tour schedule:
March 10 | Andrea Lyn Van Benschoten | Renee Rodgers |
March 11 | Joy Prescott | Donna Childs |
March 12 | Pam Daley | Deb Burger |
March 13 | Tammy Hildebrand | Marty Miller |
March 14 | Jocelyn Sass | Jennifer E Ryan |
March 15 | Andee Graves | Kimberly McAlindin |
March 16 | Laurinda Reddig | |
March 17 | Brenda Bourg | |
March 18 | Rhonda Davis | |
March 19 | Julie Oparka | |
March 20 | April Garwood | |
March 21 | Alaina Klug | |
March 22 | Erin Boland | |
March 23 | Margaret Hubert | |
March 24 | Bonnie Barker | |
March 25 | Kim Guzman | Susan Huxley |
March 26 | Susan Lowman | Michele Maks |
March 27 | Marie Segares | Brenda Stratton |
March 28 | Kathy White | Lori Carlson |
March 29 | Amy Shelton | Donna Hulka |
March 30 | Linda Dean | Kristin Dragos |
March 31 | Karen C K Ballard | Gwen Blakley-Kinsler |