There is a lot of hype surrounding New Year’s resolutions, but I have never been a fan unless you consider that every day can be the start of a new year. As a crocheter, and especially as a gardener, I experience the sting of failure more often than I would like, but those experiences have helped me become more resilient. I still feel frustrated when I realize that a project isn’t working out, but I’ve noticed that after the initial upset wears off, I am more likely to approach problems with more of a Tim Gunn-like “make it work” resolve.
Once I started writing about my crochet projects for this blog, I realized that some of my notes were lacking information about how many skeins of yarn that I’d used. That’s not a good look for someone trying to share crochet patterns, so I’ve made a change that has helped me that I would really recommend. I bought a scale.
When I finished The Favorite Art Teacher Granny Square Sweater, I had lots of colorful yarn leftover, so I went looking for a stash buster pattern that would use what I already had. When I found this pattern for a rainbow crochet blanket with a pom pom edging on the Ophelia Talks YouTube channel, I was sold. There was just one problem.
After I plunged in and started making the blanket, I realized that I didn’t have enough leftover yarn in all of the colors to make the pom poms for the edging in the size that I wanted. Oops. So I did what any crochet addict would do, I bought more yarn. Not exactly a stash buster. Don’t get me wrong. I love making things in rainbow colors, but being trapped in a rainbow stash busting loop wasn’t my goal.
Rather than continue to make the same mistake over and over again, now I can accurately estimate my yarn requirements using the scale and know whether a pattern would be a stash busting or yarn buying extravaganza.
One of my next goals is to try to take the next step from crochet project maker to crochet project designer. I’m not going to lie, it’s pretty intimidating seeing all of the amazing patterns already out there on Instagram and Etsy, but my resolution is to ignore my doubts and give it a try anyway. This year’s doubt-ignoring project was to start this blog, and I am grateful to everyone who has supported me and wish you all the best in 2023.
Instructions
Original pattern on Ophelia Talks YouTube Channel
My blanket measures approximately 30″ wide (without pom poms) x 34″ long
4.0 mm G crochet hook
Clover 65 mm (2.5″) Pom Pom Maker (Green)
1 skein of Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton yarn in Red, Tangerine, Lemon, Goldenrod, Grass, Mint, Succulent, Aqua, Sky, Denim, Navy, Purple, Lilac, Beets, Magenta, Rose, and Pink used in that order
2 skeins Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton yarn in Ecru (estimated)
Tapestry needle
Using Ecru, chain (ch) 118 + 1
Add 1 turning ch for a total of 120 ch stitches.
Half double crochet (hdc) into the second chain from the hook and in each chain across.
Ch 1 and turn work.
Put 2 double crochet (dc) stitches in the first stitch, skip one stitch, 2 dc in the next stitch and repeat across.
Place 1 dc in the last stitch of the row changing color to red.
Ch1 and turn work.
Place 2 dc in the 1st skipped stitch space and continue in each skipped stitch space across.
Place 1 dc in the last stitch of the row.
Continue pattern with 5 rows of each color interspersed with 1 row of Ecru.
Finish the pattern in 1 row of Ecru.
Ch 1 and turn work.
Hdc across.
Make 3 hdc in the corner to turn and continue making evenly spaced hdc stitches down the side finishing with 3 hdc in the bottom corner. Fasten off.
Bring up a loop on the bottom corner of the opposite side and make 3 hdc to form the corner.
Continue up the side making evenly spaced hdc stitches finishing with 3 hdc in the top corner. Fasten off.
Weave in ends.
Make and shape 2 pom poms in each color leaving tails for attachment.
Securely attach pom poms and weave in ends.
DaisyGardenCrochet 