Autumn Leaves Blanket details...

A few readers commented on my last post that they either had found the book that houses the pattern I used to make the Cinnamon Latte Blanket, or they were going to look for it.  I'm delighted, and I hope you enjoy this pattern as much as I have.  That said, I'm thinking it may be helpful for me to write an addendum to my last post.

I've written some of these additional thoughts in comments over the space of a couple of posts, but I'm thinking it is a good idea to put all the information in one spot.  So here we go!

This was what I wrote in my last post about the pattern and yarn I used for The Cinnamon Latte blanket:

Pattern is called Autumn Leaves and is found in the book, Weekend Afghans (ISBN 0806964863). I started with a chain of just over 200, and undid the unneeded chains once I had it wide enough.  [I've snipped the yarn info -use whatever worsted weight yarn you like]

What I want to add is everything below:

The pattern calls for worsted weight yarn and a size K hook.  While that may work great, I have always made this blanket using worsted weight yarn and a size J hook.  The designer meant for this to be a very drapey blanket, but I have found it plenty drapey using a size J hook.  Your mileage may vary. Experiment and see what you like.

The slanted triple crochet stitches require a very smooth hook.  When I started my latest blanket of this pattern, the hook I started with would occasionally snag on the yarn, but once I switch hooks it was a pleasure to crochet.  

Because I use a smaller hook, but also because this is a "throw" size, and I generally like my blankets larger, I starte with a chain a lot longer than the pattern recommends.  I always begin with a chain of around 200 (though, this time I may have chained more), and I work Row 1 as long as I want it to be (undoing the extra chains later).  Doing this, makes the ending instructions on Row 1 a little tricky for me, but I seem to always figure it out.

Also... Row 3 of this pattern is confusing, and I've concluded it is a typo.  Right after Row 2, the pattern says to "Repeat Row 3 until work measures" [really, whatever length you want the blanket to be].  But there is no Row 3.  I'm sure it means "Repeat row 2".

And in case this isn't clear to someone else (because I'm just now realizing I've done the last step intuitively - I'm sure out of confusion over the way the instruction is written - here's what those last two sentences mean:

For a scalloped finish on the beginning edge, hold the beginning edge of the blanket so that the skipped chains are to the left of each triple crochet "shell" (beginning yarn tail will be on the right, I believe).  Join a new length of yarn with a standing triple crochet, then crochet Row 1 across. I, then, tend to use the ends of my yarns to make the corners a bit rounded on this end as I sew them in.  I just make this part up.  Again, your mileage may vary.

If you give this pattern a go, and think anything I've written here is confusing, please let me know.  I've finally written this all down here as much for my benefit as for anyone following along since I seem to have to figure these things out every time I've made this blanket.  Easy enough to do, I guess, since I've made this four times now.  

Just for fun, I went looking for pictures of each of the blankets I've made with this pattern.

A terrible picture, but my first Autumn Leaves was made using Premier Anti-Pilling Everyday Yarn in Aubergine.  Date finished: March, 2015.  This blanket hasn't gotten much use, so it's still in pretty good condition. 

In May of 2015, I made it again for a friend (an almost second-mother) whose husband had recently passed.  Yarn was Premier Anti-Pilling Everyday Yarn in Orchid.

A year later, in May of 2016, I made one for our living room. This time using Hobby Lobby I Love This Yarn in the color Sea Blue.  Now, ten years later, using this blanket as my reference, its shabbiness has become painfully obvious to me.  I'm toying with replacing this one with a fifth blanket - in another color, perhaps.

And Cinnamon Latte, made in several different worsted weight yarns, in five colors.

On another note...  on the chance that anyone remembers a blanket I made (twice) in shades of pink and pink-red that I named Sweetheart Blanket...  That pattern is actually called Corn on the Cob and is from the same book that has the Autumn Leaves blanket.

And for that matter, years ago, I made the Kitty-Cat Afghan, and that pattern (by a different name and designer, and in a larger size) is in this book, as well.

I hope this post is useful for someone.  I think it will be helpful for me to refer back to.  And it was kind of fun to take a trip down memory lane...

"Shades of Brown" got a new name...

After weeks of spilling my angst here over this project, let me introduce you to...

The Cinnamon Latte Blanket:

I came to terms with the colors as the blanket grew.  And at some point, being finished began to feel more important than how I, personally, felt about the colors.  TB, totally reframed the colors for me into imagining a cup of coffee. I told my friend this and she dubbed it Cinnamon Latte.  Perfect!

And you know what...  while I questioned the colors most of the time I was crocheting this blanket, at my friend's house, with her warmly painted walls, it looked great!

I have to admit... I'm loving the cozy vibes.

What I especially love about the pattern is that when it's finished, it's finished.  The pretty edges eliminate the need for a border, and I've never had to block any of the four blankets I've now made from this pattern. That said, I was actually surprised, using five different colors, and slightly different types of yarn that I did not need to block this to make the edges lay pretty and even.

With the Cinnamon Latte finished and delivered, progress on some other projects began immediately.  My colorful large granny square blanket is once again being worked on.  And I've been motivated to get back to working on some Christmas stitches.  Hopefully they'll show up here finished soon.

Pattern is called Autumn Leaves and is found in the book, Weekend Afghans (ISBN 0806964863). I started with a chain just over 200, and undid the unneeded chains once I had it wide enough.  Yarns used: Hobby Lobby I Love This Yarn in Cinnamon, Almond Toast, and Latte; Yarn Bee ID in Fawn, and Yarn Bee Soft and Sleek in Tobacco (this is my new favorite yarn - so squishy.  I just wish it came in more colors)

A little Valentine's stitch, a little late...

Late last week I was feeling the need to take another short break from the "shades-of-brown" blanket. Fortunately, I had this sweet little cross stitch waiting in the wings to be finished:

I enjoyed using a variegated floss and somewhat strategically working out where the light and dark shades would be on the design.  And then twisting the variegated with a solid red floss for the trim.  You can perhaps see the different shades in the lighter floss of the cording in this close-up:

And just look at the sweet fabric on the back:

I'm so glad I snatched up this pretty "Valentine's" fabric (from the tiny holiday section in Hobby Lobby's fabric department) when it was first discounted right after Christmas. I think it was gone by January.

To be honest, what I like most about the fabric is that it's not overly Valentine-themed. I'm already imagining other uses for it. 

While I mentioned this the first time I showed this project in progress, I'll note again (mostly for myself) that the cross stitch pattern was found in the February 2015 Just Cross Stitch magazine.  The variegated floss is DMC 48, and the solid red used in the cording is DMC 321.  To get this size cording, I used 4 lengths of each color (solid and variegated, all six strands in each length).  And the length of each color used was 5 times the perimeter of the square pillow.  I'm so glad I tried making my own cording again.  Using my Kreinik Custom Corder was a cinch this time.

 

Lenten reflections...

Popping in today to share a new resource for the Lenten season that the pastors of our church are offering this year.  The podcasts are short (today's is 11 minutes) - which makes it nearly impossible for me to come up with a reason NOT to tune in.   The short format will also make it easy for me to catch up if I miss any. 

The official description is below the graphic.  If you click the graphic, it will take you to the podcasts.  I'm also keeping this graphic/link at the top of my sidebar during Lent this year - to make it easy to find.  

"In Light of the Cross is a 40-day devotional podcast helping us view every part of life - our sin and failures, our relationships, our suffering, our calling, and our hopes - in light of the cross. Through a daily P.R.A.Y. rhythm (Pause, Reflect, Apply, Yield) we'll consider how the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ cast a different light on everything - revealing the truth about our sin, the depth of God's love, and the unshakable hope that carries us through suffering and into resurrection. Join us as we slow down, listen to Scripture, and learn to live anchored in grace. 

On a mission to finish...

A short and sweet post today.   I've gotten back to the shades of brown blanket, and it's still giving me angst.

The two mid-range browns are very similar.  To the point that I'm second-guessing them again.  

I have to say, though, that it's kind of amazing how quickly I can make progress when I plough forward through my uncertainties and stop ripping back and starting over again.  I keep telling myself the recipient will love me (and maybe the blanket) in spite of whether or not I am comfortable with it.

There are, no doubt, several life lessons in the making of this project.  Some, yet to be discovered, I think...