Monthly Archives: October 2015

Week 1 – Afghan Block CAL 2015 – Floral Fantasy and Crochet Clusters

This week our two blocks are similar in that they both feature cluster stitches.  Floral Fantasy is our paid pattern and is available on Ravelry both as a single pattern at $3.99 and also in our CAL E-book with 17 other patterns for $15.00, or in my E-book #3 with 10 other blocks for $11.99.

floral fantasyfloral fantasy julie

To give you an idea of how color placement can change the look, here is a photo collage I made out of some finished versions:

PicMonkey_Collage_floral_fantasy_medium2

As with our other blocks in this project, change colors as desired to form your own unique afghan.  If you want to do a “stashbuster,” I think it looks nice to include a little bit of one color in every block to unify things.

I just went back and reworked Floral Fantasy and it is great fun. I like an easy repetitive pattern. 🙂 I used an I hook but I am a loose crocheter, and I came in at a little over 12”, so I am going to give a gauge measurement after a few rounds. After 4 rounds I was at 5”, so if you are larger than that you need to start again with a smaller hook. Right before the last round mine seemed a little bulgy so for the last round I was thinking of doing something like corner, dc in next 10, hdc in next 13, dc in next 10, but it is also fine as written and a little blocking. You may also have to do sc or hdc on the last round to get your size. I ended up doing a round of hdc all around.  I also put 2 ch in the corners because I am getting into that habit lately. Another tip is that for the beginning Cluster I have been doing ch-2 lately instead of ch-3. I think I’d like to make a hat with this pattern.

 

The second block this week, Clusters Afghan Square,  is offered free with a coupon code – the code is CC.  (Coupon good until February 29, 2016.)  Go to the pattern page on Ravelry, hit “buy this now,” or “add to cart” and a shopping cart will come up.  There will be an area to enter your coupon code, then hit apply.  The price will come down to zero.  Please do not share this coupon code, but direct people to this blog to pick up their code.  🙂  Here is BankerLady’s version which is much prettier than mine.

SANYO DIGITAL CAMERAcrochet clusters julie

With Crochet Clusters – now called Clusters because I was not compliant with the Ravelry Database rules,  make sure to keep your post stitches loose. Add another “yarnover” if necessary but you don’t want the sides pulling in. At one point I said put spike stitch on either side of the fpdc but it should be fptr.

Another tip for both blocks is that with FF you could avoid fastening off Color B and carry it up the back and with CC do the same with Color A. I would chain 3 or 4 and carry it up. It’s noticeable on the back but makes much fewer ends to weave in.

Another tip: Working with your chosen palette, it is up to you to change colors in each block as desired. You can look at the Ravelry project pages for ideas on how others changed colors, for example:http://www.ravelry.com/…/libr…/clusters-afghan-square/people.

If you have any problems with this week’s blocks, please ask questions on my Ravelry board or my Facebook CAL page (type Crochet-A-Long with JulieAnny in the Facebook search box to find and join group) and I or some of our friendly group members will be happy to help.  We will discuss joining and bordering as the CAL moves on.

CAL – Afghan Squares starts soon! Nov. 2

NEXT CAL – CROCHET A-LONG starts Monday, Nov 2.  Crochet along with me on the Julie Yeager Designs board on Ravelry, and on my Facebook CAL page.  Info will be updated here on my blog  and on my Ravelry board.    I have about 30 afghan square patterns, but we’ll feature 18, two per week for 9 weeks.  One pattern will be free and the other a paid pattern.  Use one or all of the patterns to customize your own blanket.  Color suggestions and yarn amounts can be found in previous posts.  All are welcome.

EDIT: I am putting together an e-book with all 18 patterns for $15.00. If you recently purchased some and wish you would have waited, send me a message and we will work it out. 🙂

CAL 2015

Schedule:

11/2
Free: Crochet Clusters Afghan Square (with Coupon Code)
Paid: Floral Fantasy Afghan Square
11/9
Free: Fantastic Afghan Square (Free on Blog)
Paid: Eight Pointed Flower Afghan Square
11/16
Free: Loopy Dishcloth or Afghan Square (Will Debut as free on blog)
Paid: Spiky Circle
11/23
Free: Sweet and Fair
Paid: Catalina
11/30
Free: Sun Catcher
Paid: Holiday Ornament Afghan Square
12/7
Free: Margaret Afghan Square (Will debut as free on blog), Puff Wheat bonus square from Margaret MacInnis (coupon code on blog)
Paid: In Treble
12/14
Free: Spiral Circle to Square (Coupon Code)
Paid: Firenze Afghan Square
12/21
Free: Viva La Vida (debut free on blog)
Paid: Mum in Treble
12/28
Free: Circle Star or Heart to Heart (will debut free on blog)
Paid: JulieAnny’s Stained Glass Afghan Square

Modern Blanket of Flowers – Discount Coupon Code

Self-Striping yarn looks so pretty in the skein, but when you get home with it you wonder what to make. The little flower motif used in Modern Blanket of Flowers makes perfect use of long color changes – looks like you changed color with every round but you have much fewer ends to weave in. Pattern available in my Ravelry store for only $3.49 with Coupon Code MBF – Last Chance! Expires 10/31/15. Easy, fun, portable, and hard to put down!

modern blanket of flowers on deck

Next CAL Update

Update: We will feature one free and one paid pattern each week, a total of 18 blocks. Don’t forget BOGO in my Rav store, with code FLFB, which is good until 10/31, but I will extend until 11/14. With the BOGO, you can get 21 patterns for 11.99. There are 7 free patterns on this website, See tab above, and I am going to add Loopy Dishcloth, Margaret, Viva la Vida, Heart to Heart as free patterns. I am going to give free coupons during the CAL for Spiral Circle to Square and Crochet Clusters. I am going to try to come up with two new designs by the end of the CAL. If you purchase yarn through my website links at joann.com or deramores.com or amazon.com or craftsy.com I get a commission, thanks.
I gave some palette suggestions in a previous post.  Personally, I am going to use Vanna’s Choice Purple, Wildberry, Rose, Pink, Beige, Dusty Purple, Olive, Pea Green(sparingly, of course) and a Waverly green that looks almost exactly like VC Dusty Green, but I can’t wait to see what you all come up with.
Nov 2 ,8,16,23,30
Dec 7,14,21,28

Next CAL – My 12″ Afghan Squares

For our next Crochet A-Long on my Ravelry board and Facebook CAL page, we are going to work through November and December on an afghan comprised of my 12″ Afghan Square Patterns.  I have about 30 available patterns, a mixture of free and paid patterns, and you can choose which to use in your own personalized afghan.  12 – 12″ blocks makes a nice large lap blanket, and 20- 12″ makes a large afghan.  You can choose your own join and border method, and I will give suggestions.  For today, I am going to give you some color combination suggestions.    As you know I love the Vanna’s Choice Fan Club board on Ravelry, and they always have great and unique palette suggestions for their afghan square swaps.  I have “borrowed” a few ideas and here are the Vanna’s Choice colors you’ll need for each.  With my 12″ squares in Vanna’s Choice you need a little less than 1 skein per square,  plus a couple for border, so about 14 – 22 skeins total, depending on size.  (For 12 blocks get 2 each of 6 colors plus 2 or 3 for border.  For 20 blocks get 3 skeins each of 6 colors plus 2 -4 for border.)  Vanna’s Choice is $2.99 per skein at joann.com this week, with a $1.99 shipping offer with purchase of $60.00, with coupon code SHIPDEAL298. . Vanna’s Choice and all aran weight yarns are 25% off at Deramores until 29 Oct.  If you buy (anything)through my links or button I get a commission, thanks!

(I substituted a few colors that were discontinued.)

Here is Bankerlady’s beautiful blanket from the Lavender for Luck swap using  Pink, Purple, Dusty Purple, Silver Blue, Sweet Pea and Fisherman.

bankerlady lavenderforluck

This is Dakotastamper’s from the William Morris swap:  Antique Rose, Pink, Beige, Mustard, Dusty Green and Silver Blue.

dakotastamper williammorris

Lissa M’s pretty Happy Dancers:   Charcoal Grey, Silver Grey, White, Baby Aqua, Aqua, Sapphire.

lissaM happy dancers

Havenodoutt’s lovely Merry Grinchmas – Scarlet, Lime, Fern, Kelly Green, Black, White.

merry grinchmas havenodoutt

And finally, Sharonhk’s Chocolate and Roses: Chocolate, Antique Rose, Rose, Dusty Rose, Fisherman and Taupe.

sharonhk chocolate roses

I love these combinations and thanks to the crafters who share their eye-candy with us!  Disclaimer:  These are not all my designs, just examples of the style and colors we are going for.  We are going to be working on just my patterns.  See tabs above and my Ravelry Store.

During the course of the CAL, the following squares will be added to the free section of the blog:  Heart to Heart, Viva La Vida, Margaret, Loopy Dishcloth.  The following will have free coupon codes for a limited time:  Spiral Circle to Square, Crochet Clusters.

Sweet and Fair Afghan Square

Sweet and Fair Afghan Square

sweet

12” Block By Julie Yeager Designs

Materials

Suggested Yarn:  Worsted or Aran Weight yarn, A: Olive B: Lamb

Suggested Hook Size: Size I (5.5 mm)

Pattern uses American crochet terms.

Ch-3 at the beginning of a round counts as a dc. Ch-4 at the beginning of a round counts as a tr.

Special Stitches

Double Crochet Cluster (Cl): Into designated stitch, (dc to last step) x 3, yo and draw through all 4 loops on hook

Beginning Double Crochet Cluster (BCl): Into designated stitch, ch 3, (dc to last step) x 2, yo and draw through all 3 loops on hook

Front Post Treble Crochet (FPTr): Yo twice, insert hook from the front side of work from right to left around post of indicated stitch on a previous row, yo, pull up a loop and work tr as usual.

Front Post Double Crochet (FPDC): Yo, insert hook from the front side of work from right to left around post of indicated stitch on a previous row, yo, pull up a loop and work DC as usual.

Front Post Half Double Crochet (FPHDC): Yo, insert hook from the front side of work from right to left around post of indicated stitch on a previous row, yo, pull up a loop and work HDC as usual

Front Post Single Crochet (FPSC): Insert hook from the front side of work from right to left around post of indicated stitch on a previous row, yo, pull up a loop and work SC as usual.

TR4Tog – Treble Crochet 4 Stitches Together – Treble crochet to the last step over 4 designated stitches; yo and pull through all 5 loops on hook. One rounded petal made.

TR3Tog – Treble Crochet 3 Stitches Together – Treble crochet to the last step over next 3 designated stitches; yo and pull through all 4 loops on hook. One rounded petal made.

Shell – Shell Stitch: 5 double crochet in designated stitch.

Instructions

Round 1: With A, ch 4, join in first ch with sl st to form ring. BCl, (ch 3, Cl) x 5, ch 3, sl st to top of first Cl. Fasten off. (6 Cl, 6 ch-3 sp)

Round 2: Join B with sl st in any ch-3 sp, ch 3. 3 dc in same sp. (FPDC around top of next Cl, 4 dc in next ch-3 sp) x 5, FPDC around top of next Cl, sl st to top of beg ch-3. Fasten off. (30 dc)

Round 3: Join A with sl st in any st. Ch 4, TR3Tog over the next 3 st. (Ch 5, TR4Tog over last st used and the following 3 st) x 9. ( Last st of the round will be worked in same st as the first st of the round.) Ch 5, sl st to top of beg petal. Fasten off. (10 petals, 10 ch-5 sp)

Round 4: Join B with sl st in any ch-5 sp, ch 3. 4 dc in same sp. (FPDC around top of next petal, 5 dc in next ch-3 sp) x 9, FPDC around top of next petal, sl st to top of beg ch-3. Fasten off. (60 dc)

Round 5: Join A with sl st in any st. Ch 4, TR3Tog over the next 3 st. (Ch 5, TR4Tog over last st used and the following 3 st) x 19. (Last st of the round will be worked in same st as the first st of the round.) Ch 5, sl st to top of beg petal. Fasten off. (20 petals, 20 ch-5 sp)

Round 6: Join B with sl st in any ch-5 sp, ch 4. 2 tr in same ch-5 sp, [FPTR around top of next petal, 4 dc in next ch-5 sp, FPHDC around top of next petal, 4 sc in next ch-5 sp, FPSC around top of next petal, 4 sc in next ch-5 sp, FPHDC around top of next petal, 4 dc in next ch-5 sp, FPTR around top of next petal, (3 tr, ch 1, 3 tr) in next ch-5 sp for corner,] x 4, omitting last 3 st. Sl st to top of beg ch-4.

Round 7: Skipping the ch-4 beg st, sc in next st. [(Sk 2 st, shell in next st, sk 2 st, sc in next st) x 4, sk 1 st, 7 tr in ch-1 sp for corner, sk 1 st, sc in next st] x 4, omitting last st. Sl st to beg sc. Fasten off. (16 shells, 20 sc, 28 tr)

Round 8: (This round will trick you with a little asymmetry. There are 3 sc in the corner, with 1 sc before the corner and 2 sc after the corner.) Join A with sc in 4th tr of any corner, 2 sc in same st. [(Sc in next 2 st, hdc in next st, dc in next 2 st, hdc in next st) x 5, sc in next st, 3 sc in next st] x 4, omitting last 3 st. Sl st to first sc of round. (136 st)

Round 9: Ch 3, [(2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in next st for corner, dc in next 33 st] x 4, omitting last st, sl st to top of beginning ch-3. Fasten off. (148 dc, 4 ch-1 sp)

Copyright 2013 – Julie Yeager Designs. Please do not post this pattern on the internet, even if it was obtained as a “free pattern.” Post the link to my website – https://julieyeagerdesigns.com, or my Ravelry store – where you can see all my patterns – http://www.ravelry.com/stores/Julie-yeager-designs. Contact me via e-mail at [email protected].

Summer Mosaic Finished Afghans

Many beautiful finished Summer Mosaic Afghans are showing up on Ravelry and Facebook! So much great work.  Over 10,000 people downloaded the pattern while it was free for over three months!  Over 500 project pages were made on Ravelry, and there are over 4000 members on the private CAL group on FB.  That is a lot of crocheters!  And I thank you all for the support and the faith you have in my patterns.  Now many are crocheting along with Faded Love, and I’m hard at work on several more afghan designs (going to be awesome!)  Please think of going through my links when you order from Deramores , Joann, and amazon.  Thank you!  🙂

Here is my Summer Mosaic, done in the soft and beautiful Scheepjes Stone Washed XL:

summerm

Theresa Pearson got all “overachiever” and did 12 motifs – STUNNING!

theresapearson

Mary Flannery used the Scheepjes kit from Deramores but totally re-invented the border – AHMAZING!

maryflanneryfull

Dakota Stamper was neat as a pin as usual and puts us all to shame (sometimes I hate her):

dakotastampersms

Cynthia Beatty has the “comfy couch” thing going on:

cynthia beatty

And Pragati and Emma Bjork refuse to listen to direction and aren’t we glad of that?  ;p

pragatiemmabjork

More next time.