Welcome to Week 2 of our 2019 Block of the Week Crochet Along. I am pleased to see so many of you chatting and sharing photos on my Ravelry board and my Facebook Crochet-A-Long group.
An afghan square crochet along is such a good way to increase your crochet skills. You have the satisfaction of completing a project in a day or two, and you get to try out new stitches and techniques brought to you by many different designers. This week I am pleased to present Lola Bean Square by Shelby Shea. Lola Bean is a beginner/intermediate pattern, with a few new stitch techniques.
Shelby is a talented young designer and I’ve known of her work since 2012 when we crocheted along together on Ravelry boards. Her Kiss-Fist is a classic afghan block that should be in your repertoire. Shelby took a break from designing while focusing on the little ones, but recently released Retrograde, a full size afghan making great use of color-changing yarn. All her designs can be found on Ravelry, and she has a Facebook Crochet Along Group. Added bonus, Shelby is crocheting along with us and will be available for questions if needed. She’s also thinking about expanding Lola Bean into a full size afghan. So head to Ravelry for your free Download, and join us in our CAL!
Have you purchased your CAL bag yet? Mailing out almost every day – my custom heavy-duty canvas tote bag, see here for more information.
Welcome to the Block of the Week Crochet-a-Long with JulieAnny 2019! We will feature a free 12″ afghan block each week through November (48 squares) and then join and border our afghans in December. Free pattern will be revealed here on the blog each Monday (sign-up for blog notifications so you do not miss a week.)
I have the pleasure of the cooperation of almost 40 talented crochet designers in this year-long project, and will also offer a few patterns myself. Chat and share photos on my Ravelry board and/or my Facebook Crochet-A-Long group.
Each square in this CAL will have approximately 39-41 stitches per side on the final round to fit together. This will result in a 12″ square in worsted weight or a 10″ square in dk weight. Forty-eight blocks will produce at least two large size afghans if you use worsted or aran weight yarn and a H or I hook. Using dk yarn or thinner will result in a smaller afghan. Use whatever yarn and hook you like to achieve a pleasant fabric.
To get started, I would recommend about 3000 yards worsted or aran weight yarn for a 24-block afghan. You will need more if you do all 48!
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Hook: H (5.0 mm) crochet hook or whatever size works with your yarn
Size: 12” Square but a little larger or smaller is fine as long as you like how it feels. All blocks in the Crochet Along will have a final round stitch count of 39-41 to fit together.
Pattern uses American crochet terms. Ch-3 counts as dc.
Abbreviations
beg – beginning BLO – back loop only ch – chain dc – double crochet FPtr – front post treble crochet RS – right side sc – single crochet sk – skip sl – slip sp – space st – stitch tr – treble crochet WS – wrong side
Beg PC – beginning popcorn st (ch 3, 3 dc in same st, remove hook and place hook from front to back through top ch of beg ch-3, grab working loop and pull through, ch 1 to tighten PC*)
PC – popcorn st (4 dc in same st, remove hook and place hook from front to back through loop of first dc, grab working loop and pull through, ch 1 to tighten PC*)
Berry Stitch: YO, insert hook in next st, pull yarn through, YO, pull yarn through one loop, YO, insert hook in same st, pull yarn through, YO, pull yarn through all five loops, ch 1 to tighten*.
*Ch-1 that tightens the PC and the Berry does not count as a stitch.
Round 1: With A, ch 4, join with sl st to form ring, ch 1, 8 sc in ring, sl st to first sc. (8 sc)
Round 2: Ch 1, 2 sc in each sc, sl st to first sc. (16 sc)
Round 3: Sl st in next st, Beg PC in same st, ch 2, sk next sc, (PC in next sc, ch 2, sk next sc) seven times, sl st to top of first PC, fasten off. (8 PC, 8 ch-2 sp)
Round 4: Join B with sc in any ch-2 sp, (ch 1, PC, ch 1, sc) in same sp, [(sc, ch 1, PC, ch 1, sc) in next ch-2 sp] seven times, sl st to first sc. (8 PC, 16 sc, 16 ch-1 sp)
Round 5: Sl st in ch-1 sp, Beg PC in same sp, ch 1, sc in top of next PC, ch 1, PC in ch-1 sp, ch 1, (PC in ch-1 sp, ch 1, sc in top of next PC, ch 1, PC in ch-1 sp, ch 1) seven times, sl st to top of BegPC, fasten off. (16 PC, 8 sc, 24 ch-1 sp)
Round 6: Join A with sc in any Round 5 ch-1 sp that lines up over a PC in Round 3. FPtr around top of PC in Round 3, sc in same sp as first sc. [Sk PC, sc in ch-1 sp, sc in sc, sc in ch-1 sp, sk PC, (sc, FPtr around PC in Round 3, sc) in ch-1 sp] seven times, sk PC, sc in ch-1 sp, sc in sc, sc in ch-1 sp, sk PC, sl st to first sc. (8 FPtr, 40 sc)
Round 7: Sl st into next st, Beg PC in same FPtr, (ch 1, dc in next 5 st, ch 1, PC in FPtr) seven times, ch 1, dc in next 5 st, ch 1, sl st to top of Beg PC. (8 PC, 40 dc, 16 ch-1 sp)
Round 8: Ch 4 (counts as dc and ch-1), (PC in ch-1 sp, ch 1, sk dc, dc in next 4 st, ch 1, PC in ch-1 sp, ch 1, dc in top of PC, ch 1) seven times, PC in ch-1 sp, ch 1, sk dc, dc in next 4 st, ch 1, PC in ch-1 sp, ch 1, sl st to 3rd ch of beg ch-4. (16 PC, 40 dc, 32 ch-1 sp)
Round 9: Beg PC in same st as join, [ch 1, dc in top of PC, ch 1, PC in ch-1 sp, ch 1, sk 1 dc, hdc in next 2 st, sc in next dc, sc in top of PC, sc in ch-1 sp, sc in next dc, sc in ch-1 sp, sc in top of PC, sc in next 2 dc, hdc in next 2 st, ch 1, PC in ch-1 sp, ch 1, dc in top of PC, ch 1, PC in dc] three times, ch 1, dc in top of PC, ch 1, PC in ch-1 sp, ch 1, sk 1 dc, hdc in next 2 st, sc in next dc, sc in top of PC, sc in ch-1 sp, sc in next dc, sc in ch-1 sp, sc in top of PC, sc in next 2 dc, hdc in next 2 st, ch 1, PC in ch-1 sp, ch 1, dc in top of PC, ch 1, sl st in top of Beg PC. (12 PC, 8 dc, 16 hdc, 32 sc, 24 ch-1 sp)
Round 10: Ch 4(counts as dc and ch-1) 2 dc in same st, [dc in next ch-1 sp, dc in next dc, sc in ch-1 sp, sc in PC, sk ch-1 sp, sc in next 12 st, sk ch-1 sp, sc in PC, sc in ch-1 sp, dc in next dc, dc in next ch-1 sp, (2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc in corner PC)] three times, dc in next ch-1 sp, dc in next dc, sc in ch-1 sp, sc in PC, sk ch-1 sp, sc in next 12 st, sk ch-1 sp, sc in PC, sc in ch-1 sp, dc in next dc, dc in next ch-1 sp, dc in same st as beg, sl st to 3rd ch of beg ch-4, fasten off. (25 st per side)
Round 11: Join B with sc in any ch-1 sp, sc in same sp, (sc in next 24 st, 3 sc in ch-1) three times, sc in next 24 st, sc in same sp as beg, sl st to first sc, fasten off. (27 st per side)
Round 12: Work in BLO. Join C with sc in second sc of any 3-sc corner, sc in same st, (sc in next 26 st, 3 sc in next st) three times, sc in next 26 st, sc in same st as beg, sl st to first sc, ch 1, turn work. (29 st per side)
Round 13 (WS): (Hint: In this and the next round, since we are now looking at the stitches backwards, work into the two loops “after” the stitch instead of before.) Sc in same st as join, sc in next st, [(Berry st in next st, sc in next st) 13 times, sc in next st, 3 sc in next st, sc in next st] three times, (Berry st in next st, sc in next st) 13 times, sc in next st, 2 sc in same st as first st, sl st to first sc, fasten off. Turn work. (Each side has 3 sc in corner, 1 sc before the berries, 13 berries with sc between, then 2 sc at end, for 31 per side.)
Round 14 (RS): Join B with sc in second sc of any 3-sc corner, sc in same st, (sc in next 30 st, skipping the ch-1’s that tighten the berry, 3 sc in next st) three times, sc in next 30 st, sc in same st as beg, sl st to first sc, fasten off. (33 st per side)
Round 15:Work in BLO only. Join A with sl st in 2nd sc of any corner, ch 4 (counts as dc and ch-1), 2 dc in same st, [dc in next 32 st, (2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in next st] three times, dc in next 32 st, dc in same st as beg st, sl st to 3rd ch of beg ch-4, fasten off. (37 st per side)
Round 16: Join C with sc in any ch-1 sp, sc in same sp, (sc in next 36 st, 3 sc in ch-1) three times, sc in next 36 st, sc in same sp as beg, sl st to first sc, fasten off. (39 st per side)
Copyright 2019 Julie Yeager Designs Please do not post this pattern on the internet. Posting a link to my website – www.julieyeagerdesigns.com, or to my Ravelry store – where you can see all my patterns – http://www.ravelry.com/stores/Julie-yeager-designs, is appreciated. Contact me via e-mail at [email protected]
BLOCK of the WEEK coming soon, buy your yarn now to take advantage of Holiday Sales. There are going to be 48 patterns for 12″ blocks so you will have enough for 2 or 3 afghans. Using worsted or aran each block takes about 80 grams of yarn, so plan accordingly. I started with about 1600 grams for each project and I’ll buy more later if needed. Dye lot does not matter much for these multicolored blocks. Here are some suggestions:
Buy pre-made palettes – Sometimes I find the nicest palette collected for another blanket project. Don’t you love when someone coordinates for you? Check out the designer shops at Wool Warehouse and Deramores for the expert advice.
I’m making my first one with Scheepjes Stonewashed XL: 32 skeins should yield 20-24 blocks. I’m using 12 colors: 3 each of Canada Jade, Deep Amethyst, Lemon Quartz, Coral, and 2 each of Lilac Quartz, Brown Agate, Peridot, Enstatite, Morganite, Yellow Jasper, and Boulder Opal with about 6 skeins of Lepidolite for join and border. Try Wool Warehouse or Deramores.
Found this new yarn I like – Studio Classic by Nicole only available at A.C. Moore. I’m going with one skein each of Purple, Soft Purple, Orchid, Antique White, Orange and (not shown) Leaf Green, Soft Gold, and Deep Brown to surround each block and border.
Vanna’s Choice you will need about 16 skeins to start. A similar palette can be made with 2 skeins each of Purple, Dusty Purple, Terracotta, Fisherman, Dusty Green, Mustard, and 4 skeins of Chocolate for border. Get it at Lion Brand, Hobby Lobby,Michaels, or Joann.
Thanks for clicking through to purchase from any of my links; buy anything once you get to the website through my link and I’ll receive a commission.
I’m getting excited about our upcoming Block of the Week Crochet Along 2019 to begin on January 7, 2019.
Thanks to U2Sadie for this rendition of the offered patterns.
EDIT 2/26/19: TOTE BAG now available without patterns – Tote Bag alone in this Etsy Listing. EDIT 1/7/19: TOTE BAG now available with any $25.00 purchase from my Ravelry Store or Etsy Store. Free shipping in U.S. ; International shipping at cost. The International Shipping can be calculated in the Etsy shop listing. PM me.
I’ve put together a package for Eighteen 12″ afghan square patterns by Julie Yeager with a free tote bag.
Purchase 18 afghan square patterns and receive this attractive and functional custom tote bag for the yarn and supplies you will need for the Block of the Week with JulieAnny 2019 as a free bonus. Large capacity tote with snap fastener – keep your yarn inside and use three outside pockets for your hooks, pattern, scissors, and notions.
Bag as shown in a pretty burgundy/beige two-tone with tan handles. Tote measures about 13″ x 12.5″ x 4″ and handle length is 24″. will Fits five giant 7 oz skeins (1000 grams) or over 30 small skeins (1500 grams.)
Come Crochet Along with us on my Ravelry board and Facebook Group (Crochet-A-Long with JulieAnny) starting January 7, 2019 as we work on a different free afghan square pattern for each week of 2019 (about 48 blocks – December is for joining and border.) Patterns will be announced here on the blog. The work of 40 talented designers will be featured, and I will fill in with my own designs, including several new designs.
Purchase these 18 patterns as a digital download on Ravelry for $26.75 and I will mail the tote bag free to your US address. Check out my Etsy listing for International shipping options. Edited to add: Offer of free tote bag applies to any purchase of $25.00 in my Rav or Etsy shop. Don’t forget BOGO18 good until January 31, 2019. PM me your address for mailing.
(These patterns were included in a previous CAL and can be mixed and matched with this years’ 48 squares. Patterns include In Treble, JulieAnny’s Stained Glass Afghan Square, Eight-Pointed Flower, Sun Catcher, Catalina, Clusters, Spiky Circle, Margaret, Spiral Circle to Square, Fantastic, Firenze, Floral Fantasy, Heart to Heart, Holiday Ornament, Loopy, Mum in Treble, Viva la Vida, and Sweet and Fair.)
I’m in love with this take on Moroccan Lattice Afghan stitched by Sarah Fabbri. She used the entire 50 mini-skeins of Scheepjes Stone Washed yarn, now available in Hobby Lobby (hello, 40% off coupon) as well as all online Scheepjes retailers such as Wool Warehouse. She bordered the motifs with three skeins of Stone Washed in Yellow Jasper, and used a 3.5 mm hook with the Stone Washed. (In the original pattern I used Stone Washed XL and a larger hook.) Her finished blanket is 28″ x 40″, but some people are buying two packs to enlarge. I really want to make this! Pattern in my Rav Store (20% off with Coupon Code JULIE20) and my Etsy shop.
Love granny squares? Now’s the time to take advantage of my $0.99 Granny Square Sale in my Ravelry Store, Coupon Code 99Granny – good now through December 31, 2018. Good on all squares (not the full blanket designs.)
Exciting CAL project planned for 2019 involving granny squares so time to stock up. Link: https://www.ravelry.com/stores/julie-yeager-designs
Pattern uses American crochet terms. Ch-2 counts as hdc.
AbbreviationsBeg – beginning Ch – chain hdc – half double crochet sc – single crochet sk – skip sl – slipst – stitchsp – space
Instructions:
Ch 12 loosely. (Use a larger hook if desired to work loosely for chain and first row.)
Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and next 10 st, ch 2, turn, changing to smaller hook (if you used a larger hook to begin.)
Row 2: (2 hdc, ch 1, hdc) in first st, [sk 2 st, (3 hdc, ch 1, hdc) in next st] three times, leaving last st unworked, ch 2, turn.
Row 3: (2 hdc, ch 1, hdc) in first ch-1 sp, [(3 hdc, ch 1, hdc) in next ch-1 sp] three times, ch 2, turn. Repeat Row 3 until piece measures 19 inches.
Last row: (Hdc, ch 1, 2 hdc) in first ch-1 sp, [(2 hdc, ch 1, 2 hdc) in next ch-1 sp] three times, fasten off, leaving long tail of about 15 inches.
Overlap last row to beginning rows, lining up the bumpy edges. Sew with tapestry needle; I used whip stitch sewing through the back loop. Weave ends and block as desired.
Copyright 2018 Julie Yeager Designs Please do not post this pattern on the internet. Posting a link to my website – www.julieyeagerdesigns.com, or to my Ravelry store – where you can see all my patterns –
http://www.ravelry.com/stores/Julie-yeager-designs, is appreciated. Contact me via e-mail at [email protected]
Here is a fun offer from Darn Good Yarn – a monthly yarn package with a skein of their eclectic yarn and another goodie – for only $10.00 a month. The first month I received a nice hand-dyed worsted silk, a set of knitting needles, and a crochet hook! The second month more hand dyed silk – lace weight – and a couple of cute stitch markers. Also included each month is a crochet and a knit pattern for the yarn. They offer recycled silk and provide a sustained income to their yarn producers, dyers, and their kits are packed by members of the Schenectady ARC. They also offer fun yarn bowls, clothing, and more on the website.
Here are the one-color directions for Gentle Waves with Spiral Crown , Adult and Child:
Gentle Waves Adult Hat One Color Version with Spiral Crown (20” circumference and 8 ½” length)
by Julie Yeager Designs
Round 1: Ch 4, join with sl st to form ring, ch 2, 9 hdc in ring, do not join. (10 hdc)
Round 2: (BLO – Back Loops Only) (Sc, hdc) in top of beg ch-2, (2 hdc in next st) nine times, do not join. (20 st)
Round 3: (BLO) 2 hdc in first st of Rnd 2, (hdc in next st, 2 hdc in next st) nine times, hdc in next st, do not join. (30 st)
Round 4: (BLO) 2 hdc in first st of Rnd 3, (hdc in next 2 st, 2 hdc in next st) nine times, hdc in next st, do not join. (40 st)
Round 5: (BLO) 2 hdc in first st of Rnd 4, (hdc in next 3 st, 2 hdc in next st) nine times, sc in next 2 st, sl st next st. (50 st)
Round 6: Ch 3, 2 dc in same st as join, [sk 1 st, sc in next 2 st, sk 1 st, 5 dc in next st (shell)] nine times, sk 1 st, sc in next 2 st, sk 1 st, 2 dc in same st as beg, sl st to top of beg ch-3. (70 st)
Round 7: (BLO – Back Loops Only). Ch 1, sc in same st as join, sc in each st around, sl st to first sc. (70 st)
Round 8: Ch 1, sc in same and next st, [sk 2 st, shell in next st, sk 2 st, sc in next 2 st] nine times, sk 2 st, shell in next st, sk 2 st, sl st to first sc. (70 st)
Round 9: Repeat Round 7.
Round 10: Sl st into next st, ch 3, 2 dc in same st as join, [sk 2 st, sc in next 2 st, sk 2 st, 5 dc in next st (shell)] nine times, sk 2 st, sc in next 2 st, sk 2 st, 2 dc in same st as beg, sl st to top of beg ch-3. (70 st)
Round 11 – 14: Repeat Rounds 7 – 10.
Round 15: (Back Loops Only). Ch 1, sc in same st as join, sc in next 3 st, (sk next st, sc in next 6 st) nine times, sk next st, sc in next 2 st, sl st to first sc. (60 st)
Round 16: Ch 1, sc in same st, [sk 2 st, shell in next st, sk 2 st, sc in next st] nine times, sk 2 st, shell in next st, sk 2 st, sl st to first sc. (60 st)
Round 17: (BLO). Ch 1, sc in same st as join, sc in each st around, sl st to first sc. (60 st)
Round 18: (Back Loops Only) Ch 2, hdc in next st, (sc in next 3 st, hdc in next 3 st) nine times, sc in next 3 st, hdc in next st, sl st to top of beg ch-2. (60 st)
Round 19: Repeat Round 17, fasten off. (60 st)
Gentle Waves Child Size One-Color Version with Spiral Crown (17” circumference and 7” length) by Julie Yeager Designs
Round 1: Ch 4, join with sl st to form ring, ch 2, 9 hdc in ring, do not join. (10 hdc)
Round 2: (BLO – Back Loops Only) (Sc, hdc) in top of beg ch-2, (2 hdc in next st) nine times, do not join. (20 st)
Round 3: (BLO) 2 hdc in first st of Rnd 2, (hdc in next st, 2 hdc in next st) nine times, hdc in next st, do not join. (30 st)
Round 4: (BLO) 2 hdc in first st of Rnd 3, (hdc in next 2 st, 2 hdc in next st) nine times, sc in next 2 st, sl st next st. (40 st)
Round 5: Ch 3, 2 dc in same st, [sk 1 st, sc in next 2 st, sk 1 st, 5 dc in next st (shell)] seven times, sk 1 st, sc in next 2 st, sk 1 st, 2 dc in same st as beg, sl st to top of beg ch-3. (56 st)
Round 6: (BLO). Ch 1, sc in same st as join, sc in each st around, sl st to first sc. (56 st)
Round 7: Ch 1, sc in same and next st, [sk 2 st, shell in next st, sk 2 st, sc in next 2 st] seven times, sk 2 st, shell in next st, sk 2 st, sl st to first sc. (56 st)
Round 8: Repeat Round 6.
Round 9: Sl st into next st, ch 3, 2 dc in same st as join, [sk 2 st, sc in next 2 st, sk 2 st, 5 dc in next st (shell)] seven times, sk 2 st, sc in next 2 st, sk 2 st, 2 dc in same st as beg, sl st to top of beg ch-3. (56 st)
Round 10 – 13: Repeat Rounds 6 – 9.
Round 14: (Back Loops Only). Ch 1, sc in same st as join, sc in next 3 st, (sk next st, sc in next 6 st) seven times, sk next st, sc in next 2 st, sl st to first sc. (48 st)
Round 15: Ch 1, sc in same st, [sk 2 st, shell in next st, sk 2 st, sc in next st] seven times, sk 2 st, shell in next st, sk 2 st, sl st to first sc. (48 st)
Round 16: (Back Loops Only) Ch 2, hdc in next st, (sc in next 3 st, hdc in next 3 st) seven times, sc in next 3 st, hdc in next st, sl st to top of beg ch-2. (48 st)
Round 17: (Optional for length) (BLO). Ch 1, sc in same st as join, sc in each st around, sl st to first sc, fasten off. (48 st)
Copyright 2018 Julie Yeager Designs Please do not post this pattern on the internet. Posting a link to my website – www.julieyeagerdesigns.com, or to my Ravelry store – where you can see all my patterns – http://www.ravelry.com/stores/Julie-yeager-designs, is appreciated. Contact me via e-mail at [email protected]
