(I'm eventually going to finish that cushion, and when I do, I'll be sure to post photos. In the meantime, here's some more afghan talk.)
Back when I was still working on my hexagon afghan-- which I still haven't really finished, if you count all the tails I still need to weave in-- I just couldn't keep myself from forming serious crushes on other crochet afghan patterns. I don't know if I'll ever make them all, but I'm definitely keeping them in the back of my mind. . .
At least one of them I know I'll be making, because I've already started it:
The Moorish Mosaic Afghan.
"An interplay of color transforms three basic motifs into a rich tapestry."
This pattern calls for sportweight yarn in six colors, but I've seen a lot of people on Ravelry making it in regular worsted weight, which is what I ended up doing, too. I'm using Caron's Simply Soft in Autumn Red (for the main color), Ocean, Sunshine, Persimmon, Light Country Blue, and Dark Country Blue.
The fun of this afghan is that each of the octagons is uniquely colored/patterned. The more I looked at photos on Ravelry, the more I wanted to make this afghan! I was tempted to pick out my favorite variations and do only those, but in the end, I think I've decided to make one of each. If I ever make it again, though, I might pick and choose.
It took me a little while to get into the groove with the octagon motif. I made my first one a little wrong-- even after seeing someone write about making the very same mistake! (The flower had one too few "petals".) Once I got into the swing of things, though, I was enjoying the pattern very much. Then I got sidetracked for a couple of weeks (trying potholder patterns, then making some scrubbies and a few small doilies), so now I'm going to have to refresh my memory of the pattern. I think I've just about forgotten it!
(Though these photos only show a handful of octagons-- because these were all I'd done back when I took them-- I've actually completed about 2/3 of the octagon motifs, I think. I have all the squares and triangles yet to go, though.)
Here are the other afghans I found so captivating, in no particular order:
Sunshine Day Baby Afghan.
(Though this is called a "baby afghan", I wouldn't necessarily be making it for a baby. Since it's made of square motifs, it would only be a matter of creating more of them to make a larger blanket.) This is one of those "circle-in-the-square" patterns I keep seeing and admiring, but this one is unique in the "puffiness" of some of the stitches. The coloring of the example afghan stands out, too.* Not your typical babyghan. The touches of pink and pale blue are more than balanced by so much beige and brown.
* I'm not sure why I even comment on the colors used in example afghans, because 99% of the time, I don't use the yarn mentioned in a pattern. . . and even if I did, I generally prefer to choose my own colors, to make it a little more "my own". That said, the colors in the examples do help persuade me to choose one pattern over the other, even though I try to look beyond that to the possibilities in the textures and shapes of the blanket.
Homespun Classic.
This is a unique afghan made of two shapes of motifs-- an eight-pointed star and a smaller floral shape that links the stars together. It's definitely something different from your typical squares, and the photo of it on the cover of the book is gorgeous. (Those colors, again!) However-- the book it's in hasn't gotten the best reviews, so unless you can get it from a library, it may not be worth the investment. Also, I only see two versions of it on Ravelry, and both those crocheters rated it as fairly difficult (though to be fair, they also both rated the pattern highly-- 4 and 5 stars). One other thing-- these very lacy afghans definitely seem more for looks than use. I'm sure they make some difference on a slightly chilly day, but still. . . And all those holes are just begging to get snagged. Part of the territory of lacy blankets, I guess.
Refreshing Throw.
(Free from Red Heart.)
This one's made of square motifs. Each individual square is worked in a single color, but (if you follow the pattern) you make squares in a handful of different colors. It has a slightly lacy texture and a little raised design that is floral or star-like-- a nice touch that makes the single-color motifs anything but dull. I'm very tempted to make this one (or something similar) in a variety of cream, white, and ecru yarns-- maybe a touch of beige or tan here and there. I think it would make a classic, understated afghan-- a pleasant change from very bright and playful afghans. (Don't get me wrong: I like bright and playful very much, but sometimes you need a change of pace.)
Double Diamond Blanket.
(Free from Bernat.)
More squares. This is a very simple-looking motif. I can't imagine that it's much of a challenge-- except maybe dealing with the boredom of repetitiveness and getting the "eyelets" to line up properly at the end. Or maybe it's one of those things that looks easier than it really is. . . It certainly looks like it'd be so easy that it might be rather dull to crochet, but the cleanness of it is appealing.
8-Color Afghan.
(This one's free from Lion Brand.)
I like the example photo of this one. So bright and cheerful. Yet more squares. It looks like a great way to use up small amounts of leftover yarn.
...And of course, since I bookmarked all those afghans, I've found at least half-a-dozen more to stare at and daydream about... If only there were time and yarn enough for them all!
Back when I was still working on my hexagon afghan-- which I still haven't really finished, if you count all the tails I still need to weave in-- I just couldn't keep myself from forming serious crushes on other crochet afghan patterns. I don't know if I'll ever make them all, but I'm definitely keeping them in the back of my mind. . .
At least one of them I know I'll be making, because I've already started it:
The Moorish Mosaic Afghan.
"An interplay of color transforms three basic motifs into a rich tapestry."
This pattern calls for sportweight yarn in six colors, but I've seen a lot of people on Ravelry making it in regular worsted weight, which is what I ended up doing, too. I'm using Caron's Simply Soft in Autumn Red (for the main color), Ocean, Sunshine, Persimmon, Light Country Blue, and Dark Country Blue.
The fun of this afghan is that each of the octagons is uniquely colored/patterned. The more I looked at photos on Ravelry, the more I wanted to make this afghan! I was tempted to pick out my favorite variations and do only those, but in the end, I think I've decided to make one of each. If I ever make it again, though, I might pick and choose.
It took me a little while to get into the groove with the octagon motif. I made my first one a little wrong-- even after seeing someone write about making the very same mistake! (The flower had one too few "petals".) Once I got into the swing of things, though, I was enjoying the pattern very much. Then I got sidetracked for a couple of weeks (trying potholder patterns, then making some scrubbies and a few small doilies), so now I'm going to have to refresh my memory of the pattern. I think I've just about forgotten it!
(Though these photos only show a handful of octagons-- because these were all I'd done back when I took them-- I've actually completed about 2/3 of the octagon motifs, I think. I have all the squares and triangles yet to go, though.)
Here are the other afghans I found so captivating, in no particular order:
Sunshine Day Baby Afghan.
(Though this is called a "baby afghan", I wouldn't necessarily be making it for a baby. Since it's made of square motifs, it would only be a matter of creating more of them to make a larger blanket.) This is one of those "circle-in-the-square" patterns I keep seeing and admiring, but this one is unique in the "puffiness" of some of the stitches. The coloring of the example afghan stands out, too.* Not your typical babyghan. The touches of pink and pale blue are more than balanced by so much beige and brown.
* I'm not sure why I even comment on the colors used in example afghans, because 99% of the time, I don't use the yarn mentioned in a pattern. . . and even if I did, I generally prefer to choose my own colors, to make it a little more "my own". That said, the colors in the examples do help persuade me to choose one pattern over the other, even though I try to look beyond that to the possibilities in the textures and shapes of the blanket.
Homespun Classic.
This is a unique afghan made of two shapes of motifs-- an eight-pointed star and a smaller floral shape that links the stars together. It's definitely something different from your typical squares, and the photo of it on the cover of the book is gorgeous. (Those colors, again!) However-- the book it's in hasn't gotten the best reviews, so unless you can get it from a library, it may not be worth the investment. Also, I only see two versions of it on Ravelry, and both those crocheters rated it as fairly difficult (though to be fair, they also both rated the pattern highly-- 4 and 5 stars). One other thing-- these very lacy afghans definitely seem more for looks than use. I'm sure they make some difference on a slightly chilly day, but still. . . And all those holes are just begging to get snagged. Part of the territory of lacy blankets, I guess.
Refreshing Throw.
(Free from Red Heart.)
This one's made of square motifs. Each individual square is worked in a single color, but (if you follow the pattern) you make squares in a handful of different colors. It has a slightly lacy texture and a little raised design that is floral or star-like-- a nice touch that makes the single-color motifs anything but dull. I'm very tempted to make this one (or something similar) in a variety of cream, white, and ecru yarns-- maybe a touch of beige or tan here and there. I think it would make a classic, understated afghan-- a pleasant change from very bright and playful afghans. (Don't get me wrong: I like bright and playful very much, but sometimes you need a change of pace.)
Double Diamond Blanket.
(Free from Bernat.)
More squares. This is a very simple-looking motif. I can't imagine that it's much of a challenge-- except maybe dealing with the boredom of repetitiveness and getting the "eyelets" to line up properly at the end. Or maybe it's one of those things that looks easier than it really is. . . It certainly looks like it'd be so easy that it might be rather dull to crochet, but the cleanness of it is appealing.
8-Color Afghan.
(This one's free from Lion Brand.)
I like the example photo of this one. So bright and cheerful. Yet more squares. It looks like a great way to use up small amounts of leftover yarn.
...And of course, since I bookmarked all those afghans, I've found at least half-a-dozen more to stare at and daydream about... If only there were time and yarn enough for them all!