I know this site is all about crocheted afghans but I love knitting too, especially aran designs. So here is my Aran afghan. It is made up of square. Each square is a different stitch. It is not a big throw and would probably be best suited to a pram/push chair cover. The size of it would lend itself as a knee or lap cover easily. It is warm and made from aran ply easy machine wash wool.
I cannot claim credit, this time, for the design of this sampler afghan. It was taken from the excellent book, “Family Circle” Easy Afghans: 50 Knit and Crochet Projects (Family Circle Easy…(Paperback))
. The name of the piece in the book is Sophisticated Sampler. I have also knitted the Cradle Comfort for my sisters new born. I am sure I will use more of the patterns in the book.
Technorati Tags: Afghan, Aran, Knitting
I discovered Tunisian crochet about 5 years ago but have until this project only ever used it to produce dishcloths. But I came across some absolutely gorgeous wool Sirdar Peru whilst making some crochet slipper boots and thought it would make a lovely afghan blanket.
So I went to my local shop and bought all I could find in two colours an off white and a variegated brown. I decided I wanted to make the crochet blanket using tunisian crochet and use the four main stitches that I was aware of. I did not have a long hook so I decided to create it in long strips of 50 stitches wide. I would then crochet the strips together to form the blanket. It was very much design as you crochet.
Each strip would be made up of the four basic stitches and I changed the sticth when I felt like it but approximately when the length of the strip was 50% longer than the width.
I have to say I have never made anything as big as this before and I was getting a bit fed up by the end. When I had finished and stitched the strips together it was crying out for an edging. This again took a little bit of time but was worth it in the end. The edging is made up of a round of double crochet and then a round of bobble style crochet stitch.
I was really pleased with the end results and it is incredibly warm. The Sirdar Peru wool has alpaca wool in it making it very warm and soft to touch. The size of the blanket covers the top of a double bed like the old fashioned bed-spreads did.
I mostly knit and crochet whilst watching the television. My current project is a knitted shawl with a crochet edging. I have knitted this in a variegated purple double knitting wool. The edging is in the same wool.
Technorati Tags: Crochet Afghan, Crochet blanket, Tunisian crochet
What is an afghan you may be wondering. Well it is basically a blanket that is usually knitted or crochet. They can be made in all sorts of sizes from baby afghans to lap throws, furniture throws and bedspreads. My favourite is crocheting. I find the afghan tends to build a lot quicker when crocheting than knitting.
I have made several in my time. First starting with a knitted baby afghan as knitting was where my expertise was. Then I moved to crochet and love the simplicity of stitch that can turn in to a beautiful blanket that will last years if not generations.
For the less experienced or those just starting out on their crochet afghan journey don’t be put off, simple stitches can be just as effective combined with different coloured wools. I think as a first crochet project an afghan is the perfect starting point.
The more experienced of you will know that the variety of stitches that are on offer can create incredible textures from light lacey patterns to thick very warm ones. Combine the stitches with the incredible colours available for wool today and spectacular results can be obtained.
You may think that crocheting is a solitary pass time, and yes I do create most of my projects in the winter evenings in front of the television but it can also be a great social event. Imagine your daughter is getting married and you want to make something for the happy couple. What could be better than members of the whole family, on both sides, contributing to the creation of an afghan that can be used as a bed spread.
Technorati Tags: crochet, crochet afghans, crochet blankets
