I’ve worked my sample in Loops and Threads Impeccable Yarn, a 100% acrylic medium weight #4 yarn available at Michael’s. My palette is bright and sun-drenched like a summer vacation by the sea, mostly greens and blues, a little yellow and orange, with black and white accents. I used the following amounts:

(Impeccable skein is 4.5 oz, 127 g, 285 y, 260 m)

Impeccable at Michaels: 3 skeins each of Clear Blue and White, 2 skeins each of Sea Green and Bright Sky Blue, 1 skein each of Royal, Sunny Day, Pumpkin, Aqua, Citron, and Black

Follow my colors or work up your own from stash. If you need yarn, please purchase through my links and I will get a commission.

StyleCraft Special Aran and PaintBox Simply Aran by LoveCrafts are of a very similar weight and can be substituted with the following colors and amounts:

StyleCraft at Deramores and Wool Warehouse: 4 skeins of Cream, 3 skeins of Cloud Blue, 2 skeins each of Royal, Aspen, Empire, 1 skein each of Saffron, Spice, Cornish Blue (or Turquoise in dk), Pistachio, and Black

Paintbox Simply Aran at LoveCrafts (on sale today only): 4 skeins of Paper White, 3 skeins of Dolphin Blue, 2 skeins each of Sailor Blue, Washed Teal, Kingfisher Blue, and 1 skein Buttercup Yellow, Blood Orange, Marine Blue, Lime Green, and Pure Black

Chunky Monkey by Scheepjes is of a heavier weight and these amounts are just estimates but the colors are soo pretty and saturated that I would definitely recommend:

Chunky Monkey at Wool Warehouse and Deramores: 6 skeins of 1001, 5 skeins of 1082, 3 skeins each of 1422 and 2015, 2 skeins each of 1117, 1821, and 1002, 1 skein each of 2008, 2002, and 1068

The blanket is coming out bigger than I thought at first so if you use dk yarn it will still be a nice size.

First Clue August 16, will publish free coupon code here August 2. Free code good until CAL starts, paid pattern thereafter.

As many of you know, I have been publishing a Mystery Afghan since 2011.  Previous designs were Hexaghan, September Morning, Garden State Afghan, Deco’Ghan, Summer Mosaic, Sweet Pea Afghan, Midday Mandala, and Octa’Ghan. The patterns are released piece by piece over a period of about eight weeks and we crochet along without benefit of photos or videos – it is a Mystery after all!  After a few days, photos start showing up on our spoiler threads on Ravelry and Facebook Groups, and we can all work together and ask questions.  We have seen some fabulous renditions of the afghans over the years, and there are over 1500 photos on Ravelry to look at!

I release the pattern for free as an introductory deal, but once the Crochet Along begins it becomes a paid pattern.  So to get in at the beginning and receive the free Coupon Code, be sure to subscribe to my blog updates for the latest news.  I am finalizing the design now and it should be ready soon, hoping to begin the week of August 16, 2021.

This year’s design will be done in several large pieces to be pieced together into a rectangle shape.  So it is not as many pieces as last year’s Octa’Ghan, but it is not a one-piece design either.  There are about 6 large pieces plus a border.  It will be mostly fun and easy stitch patterns with a few new techniques.

I was inspired by sun-drenched colors of a holiday beach resort and the hand-painted pottery a friend brought me back as a gift years ago.  I will give you my colors and yarn suggestions now so you can get ready but this design is also very suited to stash busting.  I’m using TEN colors and I think it works!

If you need yarn, please purchase through my affiliate links.  For my first sample I used Loops and Threads Impeccable, available at Michael’s.  For second sample, Scheepjes Chunky Monkey available at Deramores and Wool Warehouse.  For third sample, try Paintbox Simply Aran available at LoveCrafts.  I worked out the colors for Stylecraft Special Aran and Special DK, available at Deramores and Wool Warehouse.  In aran weight, the size will measure about 45” x 60”, smaller in DK but you can enlarge easily. For Vanna’s Choice, try Lion Brand. 

This mini motif is not part of the pattern but gives you an idea of the color scheme I’m using. Mostly blues ,aquas, and green, with splashes of black, white , orange, and yellow.   So far, with Impeccable ( medium weight acrylic, 4.5 oz skein, 127.5 g, 285 yards, 260 m) the yarn estimates are as follows: 

Royal – 2 skeins

Clear Blue – 3

White-4

Sunny Day -1

Pumpkin-1

Sea Green -2

Bright Sky Blue-2

Aqua-1

Citron-1

Black-2