I learned to crochet when I was a kid. I probably made some pot holders, although mostly what I remember is really coarse yarn (I think it had a high synthetic content) and squares that wouldn’t stay square. Interest waned, and I eventually took up my fabric habit instead of a yarn habit.
But my particular fabric habit doesn’t travel well. I don’t piece by hand, quilt tops are generally too big to carry along on outings, and the embroidery and cross-stitch I do isn’t something I can do while in conversation. I needed small projects that I could pick up and put down easily, that weren’t really bulky, that my hands could do while my brain did something else (talk to someone, watch Caitlyn at a playground, etc). So, I came back to crocheting.
None of which explains why I’ve chosen a couple of times now to crochet a blanket. Hats, scarves, wrist warmers, shawls, even an abandoned pair of socks – these are all relatively small, portable projects. Blankets get big.
Like this one, which is just a smidge shorter than I am and about twice as wide. It took a bit more than two years to finish, mostly because it became unwieldy and difficult to take places, which sort of defeats the whole purpose of crocheting as a portable project.
The yarn is Cotton Ease by Lion Yarn, in Stone, Lake and Charcoal, which is a strange name for a color that’s more a navy blue than black. The pattern is something which may or may not be called “soft shells” (it was a free pattern online somewhere), which I may or may not have done correctly. It’s a four row repeat that’s a bit brainless and results in a blanket that has a definite “front” side. Which seems weird to me. Although quilts almost always have a front and a back, so why the same in a blanket would bother me is strange.
I’m unlikely to swear off making blankets, although the immediate goal is to keep future crochet projects small and portable. Given my wide practical streak, it’s unlikely I’ll take up crocheting amigurumi. Maybe I should make granny squares next time. Or just stick to hats for Warm for Winter donations.
Your blanket is beautiful! I'm going out on a limb here and saying if it's socks you want to make, knitting might be better. One word of warning, though, once you've worn a pair of custom hand-knit socks, you will be hooked and never want store-bought socks again. Luckily, you can take a sock-knitting project anywhere and always have one in "easy" mode (either the leg ribbing or the part between the heel and toe construction) to knit on in public.
Thanks! I sat under it last night and was nice and toasty.
Unfortunately, knitting and I don't get along really well. It bothers my wrists rather quickly (crocheting doesn't for some reason, or at least not as much or as quickly or for as long), putting me off needles, hooks, and keyboards. So, no knitted socks for me. ::frowny::