For my sample I used 21 skeins of Vanna’s Choice to complete an approximately 46″ x 72″ afghan. (116 x 180 cm) The recommended hook with Vanna’s Choice is a “J” (6.00 mm) but sometimes I waver between an “I”( 5.5 mm) and a “J” for this yarn. I am also a loose crocheter. I used a “J”, but I suggest you can go up to a “K”(6.5 mm), because the post stitches and clusters make a very thick dense fabric, and a too small hook will make it very stiff. Use your judgement after the first clue as to which size hook you’d like to use.

I have made some palette suggestions with Vanna’s Choice. I have no affiliation with Lion Brand, but I do love working with Vanna’s Choice, an aran-weight acrylic with a nice balance between softness and sturdiness, and a great feel between the fingers as you work. If you use a thinner yarn, your afghan will be smaller, but you can easily add to the size with additional motifs.

For this color scheme that I call Bright and Beachy, I used 7 skeins Beige (B), 5 skeins Aqua (E), 3 skeins Honey (F), 2 skeins Baby Aqua (A), 2 skeins Lamb (D), and 2 skeins Chocolate (C). Baby Aqua and Lamb are discontinued, sadly, but can still be found in some stores. You can also substitute Fisherman and Aquamarine. Keep your eye out for coupons and free shipping deals. $3.00 per skein is a good price. If you get to the joann.com. Deramores. Annies. Amazon. Craftsy. Patternworks or Michaels websites through any of my links, buttons, or banners, I get a small commission.

Here is a Lavender Heather color scheme. For this you can use 7 skeins Silver Heather (B), 5 skeins Eggplant (E), 3 skeins Charcoal Grey (F), 2 skeins Purple (C), 2 skeins Dusty Purple (A), and 2 skeins Grey Marble (D). joann.com. Deramores. . Annies. Amazon. Craftsy. Patternworks. Michaels

Here is Sweet Peas in the Morning Rain – You’ll need 7 skeins Silver Grey (B), 5 skeins Dusty Green (E), 3 skeins Silver Heather (F), 2 skeins Wheat (D), 2 skeins Charcoal Grey (C) and 2 skeins Olive (A). Joann.com . Deramores . . Annies . Amazon . Craftsy . Patternworks . Michaels

I call this one Soft Adobe; you’ll need 7 skeins Beige (B), 5 skeins Terracotta (E), 3 skeins Honey (F), 2 skeins Brick (C), 2 skeins Mustard (A), 2 skeins Dusty Green (D). joann.com. Deramores . . Annies . Amazon . Crafts . Patternworks . Michaels

This one is called Comfort – 7 skeins Taupe (B), 5 skeins Dusty Green (E), 3 skeins Linen (F), 2 skeins Silver Blue (A), 2 skeins Grey Marble (D), 2 skeins Barley (C). Joann.com. Deramores . . Annie’s . Amazon . Craftsy . Patternworks . Michaels

If you would like to pick your own colors that is fine of course, but keep in mind that Color A ( 7 skeins) and Color B (5 skeins) should have good contrast.

Mystery Afghan 2016

August 3, 2016Sweet Pea CALjulieyeagerdesigns

Placeholder clue for Sweet Pea Afghan is up! This will be our 2016 Mystery Afghan, with first clue to be given out September 7, 2016. Coupon Code is SWEETPEA, good until September 6, 2016. Pattern will be released clue by clue over a period of 6 – 8 weeks. If you download the placeholder clue now you will receive all clues as updates at no charge. If you miss the pre-sale, the pattern will be available at regular price and given out week by week and you are welcome to CAL. More info soon.

Sale at Deramores

July 13, 2016Sale!, Uncategorizedjulieyeagerdesigns

Thanks to all who purchase their yarn through my links and banners.

Offer: 10% off at Deramores!

Code: DT4563

Valid: Now through August 22^nd 2016

Terms and Conditions: Offer excludes color packs, kits, knitting machines, gift vouchers. The code cannot be used in conjunction with any other promotion/codes. This code is only to be used once. (Please ensure if you publish this offer on your site you include all terms and conditions)

Talavera Tiles – All Six Patterns are Available in e-book

June 30, 2016Talavera Tilesjulieyeagerdesigns

All Six Patterns of the Talavera Tiles e-book are now available for $3.99 each singly or buy the e-book of six patterns for $11.99 in my Ravelry Store.

The latest releases are Itzel, a graphic design named after the Mayan goddess of the rainbow, and Susana, a classic daisy pattern that reminded me of a black-eyed Susan.

Please share progress on my Facebook CAL group – Crochet-A-Long with JulieAnny or my Ravelry board.

NEW Pattern Series and CAL – Talavera Tiles

June 15, 2016Talavera Tilesjulieyeagerdesigns

I am designing a new series of afghan blocks inspired by Talavera Tiles. The first 4 patterns are available now on Ravelry. Purchase individually or get all 6 patterns for $11.99 in the E-book.

Patterns are from top left clockwise: Estrella, Catalina, Rosa de los Vientos, and La Margarita. Two more patterns will be released shortly and included in the E-book for the discounted price of $11.99 for all six patterns. If you have purchased one or two already I can send you a coupon code to complete the E-book.

We will be Crocheting Along to these patterns throughout July and August; follow along on my Facebook CAL page and my Ravelry board for encouragement, tips, and photos. Would love to see what you come up with!

Here are the walls of Talavera Tiles that inspired the blocks:

I plan to assemble mine with a minimal join; a very thin line of black or white like grout. A wider grout line would look more like this which is also nice.

Garden State Afghan CAL – Week Eight

May 21, 2016Garden State CALjulieyeagerdesigns

Garden State Afghan

by Julie Yeager Designs

Final Week – Join and Border

I had planned to hold this clue until next Friday to let you all catch up but some people are restless to finish.

Joining Motifs

The blocks will be joined according to this layout. Arrange blocks in any pleasing manner. Join with whip stitch, slip stitch or single crochet through the front loops, back loops or both loops. I joined with slip stitch through the front loops. I found it easiest to lay out all the blocks then join in strips. First join 2 small blocks, then (join the 2 to a medium) x 2, etc., down the row. After you have 4 strips it is easy to just slip the strips to each other.

Red = 12” blocks, Blue = 8” blocks, Black = 4” blocks

Border 1

MC – Main Color

Shell – (sc, ch 3, sc) in same st or sp

Round 1: Join MC with sc in any corner sp, (ch 3, shell) in same sp for corner. [Sk 2 st, shell in next st] to next corner sp, (shell, ch 3, sc) in corner sp. (You may have to sk 1 or sk 3 for last repeat to adjust to corner.) Repeat for all sides, sl st to beg st, fasten off. (Long sides 57 shells, short sides 49 shells)

Border 2

Use any and all leftover yarn for this round.

Round 1: Same as Round 1 in Border 1.

Round 2: Work a long side first. With Carnelian, join with sc in first ch-3 sp of corner. Ch 3, sc in same sp, [ch 3, (shell in next ch-3 sp) x 57, ch 3, (shell in next ch-3 sp) x 49] x 2, omitting last shell. Sl st to first sc, fasten off. ( Long sides 57 shells, short sides 49 shells, with a ch-3 in each corner.)

Round 3: With Pink Quartzite, join with sc in any corner ch-3 sp. Ch 3, sc in same sp, shell in same sp. [Shell in next ch-3 sp) x 57, (shell in corner ch-3 sp) x 2, (shell in next ch-3 sp) x 49, (shell in corner ch-3 sp) x 2] x 2, omitting last shell. Sl st to first sc, fasten off. (Long sides 59 shells, short sides 51 shells.)

Round 4: With Canada Jade, join with sc in first ch-3 sp of corner. Ch 3, sc in same sp, [ch 3, (shell in next ch-3 sp) x 59, ch 3, (shell in next ch-3 sp) x 51] x 2, omitting last shell. Sl st to first sc, fasten off. (Long sides 59 shells, short sides 51 shells, with a ch-3 in each corner.)

Round 5: With Rose Quartz, join with sc in any corner ch-3 sp. Ch 3, sc in same sp, shell in same sp. [Shell in next ch-3 sp) x 59, (shell in corner ch-3 sp) x 2, (shell in next ch-3 sp) x 51, (shell in corner ch-3 sp) x 2] x 2, omitting last shell. Sl st to first sc, fasten off. (Long sides 61 shells, short sides 53 shells.)

Round 6: Join MC with sl st in first ch-3 sp of any corner, ch 3, (2 dc, tr) in same sp, (tr, 3 dc) in next ch-3 sp for corner. (3 dc in next ch-3 sp) x 59, (3 dc, tr) in next ch-3 sp, (tr, 3 dc) in next ch-3 sp, (3 dc in next ch-3 sp) x 51] x 2, omitting last corner. Sl st to top of beg ch-3. (185 st per long side, 161 st per short side)

Round 7: Ch 3, dc in next 2 st, (2 dc, tr) in next st, (tr, 2 dc in next st), {dc in next 183 st, [(2 dc, tr) in next st, (tr, 2 dc) in next st] for corner, dc in next 159 st} x 2, omitting last corner. Sl st to top of beg ch-3, fasten off. (189 st per long side, 165 st per short side)

Border 3 – Butterfly border

Butterfly Stitch – Insert hook from front to back in skipped space before previous 2 dc and single crochet around the posts of last 2 st made, gathering the two st together.

Round 1: Join MC in any corner stitch, ch 2 (counts as hdc), 2 hdc in same st, hdc in each st around, with 5 hdc in corners, finishing with 2 hdc in same st as beg. When you come to a “dip” between blocks, dc2tog over the last st of one block and the first st of the next block. Fasten off or hold MC to the back. ( 172 st on long sides, 148 st on short sides, total of 640 st)

Round 2: Join D with sl st in any corner st, ch 4, 2 dc in same st, sk 1 st. (Sk 1 st, dc in next st, ch 1, sk 1 st, dc in next st, butterfly stitch) around, with (sk 2, (2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc), sk 2) in corners and ending with dc in same st as beg st. May need to fudge by skipping 1 or 3 st at end of round instead of skipping 2. Sl st to 3^rd ch of beg ch-4. Fasten off. ( 42 butterfly st per long side, 36 butterfly st per short side)

Round 3: Join MC in corner st, ch 3, 2 hdc in same st. 2 hdc in each sp between butterflies and in each ch-1 sp around, with (2 hdc, ch 1, 2 hdc) in corners and ending with hdc in same st as beg st. Sl st to 2^nd ch of beg ch-3. (174 hdc on long sides, 148 hdc on short sides)

Round 4: Dc in each st around, with 5 dc in corners.

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

julieyeagerdesigns@gmail.com.

Garden State Afghan CAL – Week 7

May 11, 2016Garden State CALjulieyeagerdesigns

Hope everyone is enjoying the pattern and CAL. Please post photos on Facebook and Ravelry – love to see what you come up with! As always, if you need help, please contact me via comments here, or email, but if I am not around at the moment, I encourage you to interact with fellow CALers on my Ravelry Board or my Facebook CAL group. Another suggestion for help would be the wonderful tutorial photos and VIDEO put together by Iris van Meer on her blog . The video is in Dutch only but for those who need a visual it may be helpful no matter your language. Thanks, Iris! And just a reminder that Yarn Packs in the Suggested Scheepjes Stone Washed XL are still available atDeramores.

For week 7 we have four 4″ motifs – Easy Sun, Mini Mum, Mini Daisy, and Simple Circle Flower and you will work each 4 times in different colorways. The pattern is posted here and can be printed with the Print Friendly button. You can also download the pattern for free to store in your Ravelry library with coupon code #JULIEYEAGERGARDEN (expires June 30, 2016) at the Ravelry pattern page. Please make a Ravelry project page and share your photos there. Please do not share the code anywhere on the internet, but encourage people to come here to see the code. If anyone sees the code shared online please let me know.

As always, thanks to my wonderful testers and to Iris van Meer for her Dutch translation and Dutch language video. Thanks also to Eunbi in Colorado Springs for her Korean translation .

Week 7 – Easy Sun, Mini-Mum, Mini Daisy, and Simple Circle Flower

Make 4 of each motif in designated colorways.

Abbreviations and Special Stitches

Ch – chain sl – slip st – stitch dc – double crochet beg – beginning sc – single crochet sk – skip sp – space hdc – half double crochet BCL3 (Beginning Cluster of 3 dc) CL3 (Cluster of 3 dc) MC – Main Color FPsc – front post single crochet FLO – front loop only BLO – back loop only

BCL3 (Beginning Cluster of 3 dc): Ch 2, (dc in same st until last step leaving one loop on hook) twice, yo and pull through all three loops on hook

CL3 (Cluster of 3 dc): (Dc in same st until last step leaving one loop on hook) x 3, yo and pull through all four loops on hook

FPsc – front post single crochet – Insert hook from front to back to front around post of next st, yo and pull to height of current row, yo and pull through 2 loops

Easy Sun 4” Motif

Round 1: With A (B, C, D), ch 4, sl st to first st to form ring. Ch 3, 11 dc in ring, sl st to top of beg ch-3.

Fasten off. (12 dc)

Round 2: Join D (E, A, B) with sc in any st. 2 sc in next st and in each st around, ending with sc in same st as beg sc. Sl st to first sc of round. Fasten off. (24 sc)

Round 3: Join C (D, E, A) with sc in any st. (Ch 4, sk 1 st, sc in next st) x 11, ch 4, sk 1 st, sl st to first sc of round. Fasten off. (12 sc, 12 ch-4 sp)

Round 4: All stitches are placed behind the Round 3 loops in the unused stitches of Round 2. Join MC with sl st in any st. Ch 4 (counts as dc and ch-1), dc in same st. [(Hdc, sc) in next st, ch 1, (sc, hdc) in next st, (dc, ch 1, dc) in next st for corner] x 4, omitting last 2 st. Sl st to top 3^rd ch of beg ch-4. (32 st)

Round 5: Ch 3, hdc in each st around, including chains, with (2hdc, ch 1, 2 hdc) for corners. (48 st)

Mini-Mum 4” Motif

Round 1: With E (A, B, C,), ch 4, sl st to first st to form ring. Ch 3, 11 dc in ring, sl st to top of beg ch-3.

(12 dc)

Round 2: Ch 3, dc in same st as join. 2 dc in each st around, sl st to top of beg ch-3. Fasten off. (24 dc)

Round 3: All stitches worked around front posts of Round 1. Join A (B, C, D) with sl st around front post of any st in Round 1. BCL3 around same front post, (sk 1 st, sl st and BCL3 around front post of next st) x 5, sl st to first sl st of round. Fasten off. (6 BCL3)

Round 4: All stitches worked around front posts of Round 2. Join A (B, C, D) with sl st around front post of 2^nd dc of any 2 dc group in Round 2. BCL3 around same front post, (sk 1 st, sl st and BCL3 around front post of next st) x 11, sl st to first sl st of round. Fasten off. (12 BCL3)

Round 5: Join MC with sl st in any st in Round 2. Ch 4 (counts as dc, ch-1), dc in same st. (Hdc in next st, sc in next 3 st, Hdc in next st, (dc, ch 1, dc) in next st for corner) x 4, omitting last 3 st, sl st to 3^rd ch of beg ch-4. (32 st)

Round 6: Ch 2, hdc in each st around, with (2 hdc, ch 1, 2 hdc) for corners. Fasten off. (48 st)

Mini Daisy 4” Motif

Round 1: With C (D, E, A), ch 4, sl st to first st to form ring. Ch 1, 8 sc in ring, sl st to first sc. Fasten off. (8 sc)

Round 2: Join D (E, A, B) with sl st in any st. BCL3 in same st, (ch 3, CL3 in next st) x 7. Ch 3, sl st to top of BCL3. Fasten off. (8 CL3, 8 ch-3 sp.)

Round 3: Join MC with sc in any ch-3 sp. (FPsc around tip of CL3, 2 sc in ch-3 sp) x 8, omitting last sc. Sl st in first st of round. (24 st)

Round 4: Ch 2 (counts as hdc), [(dc, ch 1, dc) in next st for corner, hdc in next st, sc in next 3 st, hdc in next st] x 4, omitting last hdc. Sl st to top of beg ch-2. (32 st)

Round 5: Ch 2, hdc in each st around, with (2 hdc, ch 1, 2 hdc) for corners. Fasten off. (48 st)

Simple Circle Flower 4” Motif

Round 1: With B (C, D, E), ch 5, sl st to first st to form ring. Ch 1, 12 sc in ring, sl st to first sc. (12 sc)

Round 2: Ch 1, (sc, dc) in same st as join and in each st around. Sl st to beg sc. Fasten off (24 st)

Round 3: Work all st in FLO of Round 2. Join D (E, A, B) with sc to FLO of any st of Round 2. Ch 1, sc in same st. (Sc, ch 1, sc) in each st around. Sl st to first sc. Fasten off, invisible join recommended.

Round 4: Work all st in BLO of Round 2. Join MC with sl st to BLO of any st of Round 2. Ch 2 (counts as hdc), [(dc, ch 1, dc) in next st for corner, hdc in next st, sc in next 3 st, hdc in next st] x 4, omitting last hdc. Sl st to top of beg ch-2. (32 st)

Round 5: Ch 3, hdc in each st around, with (2hdc, ch 1, 2hdc) for corners. Fasten off. (48 st)

Copyright 2013, 2016 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 julieyeagerdesigns

Garden State Afghan CAL – Week 6

May 6, 2016Garden State CALjulieyeagerdesigns

For week 6 we have the 8″ motif, Nubby Flower, and the 4″ motif, Turn Around, and you will work each 4 times in different colorways. The pattern is posted here and can be printed with the Print Friendly button. You can also download the pattern for free to store in your Ravelry library with coupon code #JULIEYEAGERGARDEN (expires June 30, 2016) the Ravelry pattern page. Please make a Ravelry project page and share your photos there. Please do not share the code anywhere on the internet, but encourage people to come here to see the code. If anyone sees the code shared online please let me know.

As always, thanks to my wonderful testers and to Iris van Meer for her Dutch translation. Thanks also to Eunbi in Colorado Springs for her Korean translation .

8″ Pattern – Nubby Flower

Abbreviations

Ch- chain sl – slip st – stitch sc – single crochet dc – double crochet tr – treble crochet BLO – back loop only hdc – half double crochet beg – beginning sp – space sk – skip MC – Main Color tr – treble crochet FLO – front loop only fpsc – front post single crochet

Make 4 in 4 Colorways.

All stitches are worked on the Right Side (RS) except for Rounds 7 and 8 which are worked on the Wrong Side (WS.)

Round 1: With E (A, B, C), ch 4, join with sl st to form ring. Ch 1, 10 sc in ring, sl st to first sc. (10 sc)

Round 2: Ch 1, (sc, dc) in each st around. Sl st to beg sc. (20 st)

Round 3: Ch 3, (sc in next dc, dc in next sc) x 9, sc in next dc, sl st to top of beg ch-3. Fasten off. (20 st)

Round 4: Join D (E, A, B) with sc in any sc, sc in same st. 2 sc in each st around. Sl st to beg sc. (40 sc)

Round 5: Ch 1, sc in same st as join, (dc in next st, sc in next st) x 19, dc in next st. Sl st to FLO of beg sc. (40 st)

Round 6: Ch 3, (sc in next dc, dc in next sc) x 19, sc in next dc, sl st to top of beg ch-3. Turn work. (40 st)

Round 7 (WS) All stitches worked in BLO (back loop as you work, but front loop of the piece.)

Ch 4 (counts as tr), sc in same st as join. *(Tr in next st, sc in next st) x 2,** (tr, sc) in next st.*

Repeat * to * x 6 and * to ** once. Sl st to top of beg ch-4. (48 st)

Round 8 : (WS) Ch 1, sc in same st as join. (Tr in next st, sc in next st) x 23, tr in next st, sl st to beg sc. Fasten off. Turn work. (48 st)

Round 9: (RS) Join MC with sl in BLO of any st of Round 6. (Ch 3, dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in same st. (Dc in next st, hdc in next 2 st, 2 sc in next st, sc in next st, 2 sc in next st, hdc in next 2 st, dc in next st, (2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in next st for corner)x 4, omitting last corner. Sl st to top of beg ch-3. (64 st)

Round 10 – 11: Ch 3, dc in each st around, with (2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) for corners. Sl st to top of beg ch-3. Fasten off at end of Round 11. (80, 96 st)

4” Pattern – Turn Around

Make 4 in 4 colorways.

All rounds worked on RS (right side) except for Round 3 which is worked on WS (wrong side.)

Round 1: With B (C, D, E), ch 4, sl st to first st to form ring. Ch 3 (counts as hdc and ch-1), (hdc in ring, ch 1) x 7, sl st to 2^nd of beg ch-3. Fasten off. (8 hdc, 8 ch-1 sp)

Round 2: Join D (E, A, B) with sc in any ch-1 sp. (Fpsc around next hdc, 2 sc in ch-1 sp) x 8, omitting last sc. Sl st to beg sc. Turn work. (24 st)

Round 3: (WS) Ch 1, sc in same st as join, (tr in next st, sc in next st) x 11, tr in next st, sl st to first sc, fasten off. Turn work. (24 st)

Round 4: (RS) Join MC with sc in any sc. Hdc in same st, [sk 1 st, (dc, ch 1, dc) in next sc for corner, sk 1 st, (hdc, sc) in next sc, ch 1, sk 1 st, (sc, hdc) in next sc] x 4, omitting last 2 st. Sl st to beg sc. (32 st)

Round 5: Ch 2, hdc in each st (including chains) around, with (2 hdc, ch 1, 2 hdc) in ch-1 sp for corner. Fasten off. (48 st)