I finally finished the first crochet project I ever started! Yes, that means it took me 15 months to crochet a toddler-sized blanket. Of course, the reason it took so long is that I was distracted by multiple other projects, some of which I've shared in this blog. The actual amount of time invested in this nap time blanket was not that much, but this project did a lot of hibernating during the past year. Without further ado, here it is.
Pattern
Supplies
- Lion Brand Yarn (Vanna's Choice)
- Worsted weight
- Purple (6 skeins) and terracotta (6 skeins) <--(affiliate link)
- 5.5mm crochet hook
Final Measurements
- 43" wide (starting chain of 146 stitches)
- 47" long
- 1 band = 2.25" tall
- 11 purple bands total
- 10 orange bands total
How much yarn I used
One skein was enough for approximately 2 and 3/8 color bands (each band is 4 rows high). In terms of what actually went into the blanket, I used about 4.5 skeins of terracotta and 4.75 skeins of purple. If you are OK with joining multiple pieces of yarn in the middle of a color band, then five skeins of each color should be sufficient for a blanket this size. However, I'm glad I purchased six skeins of each color because when I was about to begin a new color band but I only had a little bit of yarn remaining on a given skein, then I was able to just begin with a new skein. This is why I have half a skein and several small balls of each color leftover. I'm glad I ordered six skeins because it allowed me to minimize joining small lengths of yarn to finish most of the color bands. That being said, I still used some of the smaller pieces on several bands.
Tips
Where to buy the yarn
I absolutely love this color combination. The terracotta is a very pretty reddish-orange and it complements the purple for a 1970s, yet modern feel. This yarn is also very soft. I found it by going into Michael's and actually feeling the various yarns. I highly recommend doing this, at least for beginners before you settle on a yarn you love. I then purchased the yarn online to save money, and also to guarantee it was free of the "craft store smell" (not necessarily a bad thing, but I prefer that my yarn has no smell at all). I purchased my yarn on Joann.com, but it is also available on Amazon (see affiliate link above) for a good price (at least at the moment as I am writing this post). Just be sure to check both sites before committing and remember to use a coupon if purchasing from Joann.com.
Do you really need to roll the skeins into balls?
When I first started out,
I rolled my first couple of skeins into balls (as suggested in the tips
I found online from some experienced crocheters). But this took me a long time with
little advantage. I loved the ease of working from a center-pull ball,
but it was hardly an issue to work from the outside strand of the skein
in its original configuration. To avoid tangling, I did not pull from
the inside, and I did end up rolling the last little bit into a ball
when it started to get messy. This usually coincided with the end of the
second color band for any given skein.
Keeping track of where you are in the pattern
The pattern is very straightforward and easy to follow. It is written for a smaller blanket, but it was easy to adjust the number of stitches in the starting chain to modify the pattern for a larger blanket. In the beginning, I lost count a few times and had to add a few stitches in places they didn't belong in order to achieve the correct stitch count (rather than "frogging" the project to the mistake, which was sometimes a couple of rows back before I noticed it). After I got about half-way done, the pattern was so ingrained in my head that I didn't make these types of mistakes anymore, although I was also more careful about double checking the pattern as I went along at that point. The pattern includes instructions to add a stitch marker several stitches before the end of each row. I am not entirely clear what purpose this serves. I think it is meant to make sure each row ends correctly, but if you keep track as you go, then there is no need for the stitch marker.
"Crochet in the top of ch3"
What exactly does this mean? (for newbies)
The one thing that I was a little unsure of when I first started this project as a complete newbie to crochet was the meaning of "crochet in the top of ch3." Early on, I simply could not figure out how to fit my hook into the third chain of the chain three that ends a row (which is what this instruction is telling you to do), so I cheated and just put the stitch in the space made by the chain three. It worked, but wasn't technically correct. I also imagine that doing this incorrectly for an entire blanket may produce unwanted results. I later realized that I could manage to place the stitch in the correct location by making the chain three very loose at the end of each row. I also usually had to gently "scrape" each loop over the tip of my hook with my fingernail, rather than pushing it through because the tension of pushing on the spot closed it up. Here are some pictures showing
where to put the hook to crochet in the top of the chain three. It is
actually IN the stitch, which you will know you've done correctly if there
is a single loop under your hook and two loops over your hook. (I realize
experienced crocheters know this, but if you are an absolute beginner,
then hopefully this helps with any confusion.)
For some perspective on the finished size, here is my toddler modeling the blanket. It is plenty big for a preschooler's nap time. I did not add a border, partly to save time, but also because I prefer the simpler look. Also, if for some reason I wanted to make the blanket longer to "grow" with my child, then that option is still open since I'd just need to add more rows (and stockpile the yarn to ensure I have enough in the correct color).
This is the largest project I've completed, to date. The pattern was easy, but actually finishing it was more challenging than I expected. How long did it take to complete your largest project?
This is a great pattern that is very easy to follow and is offered in several sizes from toddler to adult. The main part of the hat is essentially a bulky beanie, but the visor makes the pattern worth buying. I have seen many newsboy patterns with "flat" brims that drop over the forehead, but this is a real visor that bends up and keeps its shape. The only tips I have are minor. First, when switching from the smaller to larger hook, I would suggest still using the smaller hook to get through the loops of the stitch, then switching back to the larger hook to maintain the gauge. Otherwise, it's quite challenging to fit the larger hook through the smaller stitches of a previous row. I attached the buttons using the same yarn that I used for the hat. The buttons I selected are great for this because the shank opening is large enough to accommodate the super bulky yarn. I did not sew the strap onto the hat, but simply fastened it with the buttons. This way, the size can be modified by adjusting the strap, if desired.
I think the pattern with strap and buttons has a slightly more feminine look. This version is also absolutely adorable on both boys and girls. Omitting the strap and buttons gives it a simpler look that some men may prefer. 
