crochet blanket Archives - Grid and Bloom

Posted on August 26, 2022August 26, 2022 by admin

Crochet Round-up

It’s been several years since I wrote and posted here. Here is a quick crochet round up of what has been happening in the studio.

Crochet

The crochet studio is under a buying ban in an attempt to reduce my quite sizeable yarn stash. It’s been quite unorganized as I put it all in storage as drawing become more important.

Four crochet blankets, three crochet striped pillows, and five crochet tote bags in the past 9 months seems a like a huge amount of work. There has been no pattern writing, though there have been plenty of rough drafts written. Two of the crochet blankets were WIPs (works in progress that have been finished, finally!

Thanks for your patience,

Talk to you later,

Karen

Posted on January 4, 2020January 4, 2020 by admin

A Memory Afghan

The Memory Afghan planning

The only thing better than a Memory afghan is two. A friend asked and I agreed to crochet her Mother’s yarn stash into two different memory afghans. It was a huge project and the first step was to sort the yarn into two different groups. One for her daughter’s Memory afghan and one for her granddaughter’s (or her Mother’s great grand daughter’s) memory afghan. 4 generations of women, the youngest a baby, including a daughter, a mom and her mother.

We added some white to the neutrals and light colors for the daughter’s afghan. Pinks were added to the baby’s afghan. It was created adult size to get the most use out of the yarn and longest life for afghan.

They all started at this point. A wide assortment of yarns from a Great Grandmother’s yarn stash. She crocheted with worsted weight and has a variety of yarns here from Red Heart to Caron and others. The colors were a bit blah so we added a huge skein of white and then also 3 skeins of pink plus a skein of teal to widen the range and create a more girly blanket as one of the blankets is for an infant.

The Farmhouse Style Memory Afghan

The farmhouse style was crocheted for the Granddaughter who is now a Mom. A more sophisticated selection of neutral colors was chosen. Using up the beige, off white, yellow, powder blue, and grey yarns plus a few of other shades. The squares are all sewn together to create a softer look. The afghan is surrounded with a lovely scalloped chocolate brown border. The crochet blanket is 5’x 6′ before the border was applied.

The Memory Afghan for the Grand daughter's created out of her Grandmother's yarn stash.

The Floral Afghan

The Floral Memory Blanket is crocheted using the same basic floral square. Crocheting the whole blanket in the 3-d Flower Garden Pattern was our first idea. Weight was going to be a huge problem with a blanket out of all of the 3-d flowers. It would have weighed 10+ pounds, too much for an infant, too much for me! Such a huge crochet blanket would be a problem. Suggesting instead that we use a few squares of an adapted 3-d flower and then filling in with squares that were the same design as the one above. They look similar but are different enough to add in personality and age differences. The crochet blanket is

The Great Grand daughter's Memory afghan created out of her Great Grandmother's yarn stash.

Another photo of the Memory afghan for the Great Granddaughter.

So much fun to crochet and so many memories are tied up in these Christmas gifts. I have waited 6 months to show them to you. What a great gift idea and way to use up yarn stash!

I hope you had a very Merry Christmas, and are working on a Happy New Year.

talk to you later,

Karen

Posted on February 21, 2017 by Karen Stewart

The Ombre Granny Stripe Baby Afghan

This blanket has been a long-time coming. Making baby blankets for those soft little bundles of love is so much fun! It has been fun. I have several new baby blankets coming out soon which are quick and easy to make. My first project worthy of “giving” was a ripple baby blanket for a Sunday school teacher. She was expecting her first child and I picked out the yarn and spent nights crocheting it. Baby blankets are quick and less intimidating than full-size blankets.

The Ombre Granny Stripe BabyÂ Afghan

This was so fun to make; I started it during the Use Your Stash Challenge 2017, so you have seen bits and pieces of it.

Continue reading The Ombre Granny Stripe Baby Afghan

Posted on January 31, 2017January 10, 2020 by Karen Stewart

Staying on Track: Use Your Stash Challenge 2017

Another day, another project in the Use Your Stash Challenge 2017! This one I have been putting off for at least two years–maybe more, considering the baby I made the first one for is now four-years-old. This is such a beautiful baby blanket, I couldn’t resist starting another one–but that was years ago. If you’re like me and find that staying on track isn’t always easy, this post will be an encouragement to you.

Continue reading Staying on Track: Use Your Stash Challenge 2017

Posted on October 9, 2016 by Karen Stewart

Beautiful Ruby Red Afghan Pattern

I have just listed my Ruby Red Afghan pattern for sale in my Etsy and Craftsy stores. I have included the supplies and skills list you need to be able to complete it. This afghan pattern is a step up for beginners. The yarn is a lovely wool blendÂ but can be difficult to frog (or take out) as the fibers can mat together. Even with that challenge, it is a beautiful, soft and warm blanket. It isÂ a good “first jump” into specialty yarns.

Ruby Red Afghan Pattern

It is crocheted and photographed in this lovely red yarn but you can choose from any of the yarn colors which this yarn comes in to make yours unique. There are so many different choices; from icy blues and greens to purples and yellows. Just…so many choices!Â I know you will find the perfect color combination to fit your personality.

Warm, soft and wooly, it makes a great lightweight blanket with all the warmth of wool. The yarn for this blanket is usually easy to find.

What I’ve Been Up To

October seems to be when I gear up for Christmas and begin creating any handmade gifts that I might want to give to bless friends and family. This blanket is a wonderful gift to give or receive. Spare time is always at a premium during these months and this year is no exception. My goal is to get some new patterns up in the shops soon, so keep dropping in (at the Etsy store and Craftsy store) to look around. (And don’t forget to sign up for the newsletter! Doing so will keep you up-to-date on patterns, finished products, and all that I’ve been up to in life.) I am also concentrating on my giveaway for November. I can’t wait to tell you all about it!

Talk to you later,

Karen

Posted on September 12, 2016 by Karen Stewart

Yikes! Stripes Blanket Pattern

The Yikes! Stripes blanket pattern is so fun and easy to crochet.Â The colorful stripes and long length make this a great gift for the man in your life. The soft, chunky yarn is not what I normally use in my patterns, but that’s exactly what makes it more masculine: the bold colors and thick, warm strips.

Like a Favorite Scarf

Just look at these stripes! This pattern reminds me of the “team” scarves that so many people wear to sporting events. Can you imagine presenting this to the sports fan in your life? I’m sure he’ll find the colors of his favorite team in there!

I’m so excited for you to see this pattern and make it for yourself! Keep reading for links to my Etsy and Craftsy shops, where you can find the pattern.

This pattern is perfect for a beginner. It really is fun to crochet it and watch as each stripe continues the lovely pattern.

This blanket works up super quick, but you will need to know how to weave in all of the ends as there are quite a few of them.

Yikes! Stripes

The yarn for this pattern is easily found and relatively inexpensive. If you’re looking for a second project to squeeze in before the holidays, or for an upcoming birthday, this is it. Â You can find the pattern in either myÂ CraftsyÂ store or in my EtsyÂ store.

No time to crochet and need this blanket now? You can purchase the Yikes! Stripes blanket at either Amazon or Etsy. Thanks for shopping; I hope you will consider making this fun pattern in all of its wonderful stripey-ness!

What I’ve Been Up To

If you haven’t had a chance to check out myÂ YouTube videos that I’m making for the studio yet, I hope you will take time soon to stop by and see them. I have an Okie accent, which will hopefully bring a smile to your face as you listen. I honestly had no idea it was so thick!

It is truly amazing and humbling to see my videos out there in the world for all to see. I just can’t get over it! I am sure my family is getting tired of hearing me talk about them. Besides the videos, I am also working on two different afghans, along with writing new patterns and blogging. Life is never dull around here!

School has started; it’s my daughter’s senior year. She’s the last child, and that means I am almost at the end of what feels like a lifetime of teaching. It will be the end of an era for both homeschooling and motherhood. I will have 26+ years of “always being there” under my belt. Where did the time go?!

Are you transitioning this year? Perhaps you’ll soon have an empty nest, like me. Or maybe you have elderly parents for whom you have taken on caregiving duties. Leave a note in the comments and tell me what’s going on in your life! Then take time to sign up for our newsletter, so you’ll always know when new patterns are released.

Talk to you later,

Karen

Posted on September 2, 2016 by Karen Stewart

Yikes! Stripes, Ta-dah!

I love the Yikes! Stripes crochet blanket. The masculine colors and simple stripes makeÂ it ideal for the man in your life, while the easy pattern makes it fun and quick to crochet. This blanket only took me about two weeks to whip up, working in the evenings. The striping pattern reminds me of team colors and scarves. This blanket is longer than usual to be a bit more man-sized and perfect for a bed or using in a recliner.

It started like this.

Little bits of yarn

to check the

striping pattern.

I have always liked

blue and cream.

More color

combinations

were checked

until I felt it

was just right.

Then it evolvedÂ into this

lovely striping pattern,Â marching along

row after row.

Here it is in all of its glory.

ItÂ is the perfect size to fit over someone lying in a recliner. The length is a generous 80+ inches, and the width is 43 1/2 inches.

Yikes! Stripes

The Yikes! StripesÂ blanket is available in my Etsy and Handmade at Amazon shops, and the pattern will release next week. (Choose the colors of some of your sports fan’s favorite teams and you’ll win for sure!)

School Colors

The Yikes! Stripes afghan reminds me of the first days of school and how so many students wear school sweaters or team scarves to show support for the home team. We take our high school and college sports teams pretty seriously in this area. What about you? Do you have a favorite team or school?

School has already started in Oklahoma, and I’m seeing lots of people in the northern part of the country posting on Facebook about their school starting today. I hope that you and yours have a wonderful time at school this year. Thoughts of new notebooks and textbooks, rekindled friendships, and the feel of a sharp, new #2 pencil gliding across a page of paper are dancing in my head. I can hear the laughter that happens at lunch and see the kids havingÂ fun on the playground in my mind.

We have already started our homeschool courses. Our dining table is overrun with school books, supplies and (of course) yarn, scissors, crochet hooks, and even more paper. I found myself running late one morning this week, and my spot on the table looked like this.

I would like to say it doesn’t look like this very much, but I hate to lie. It looks like this most mornings; coffee, something quick to eat for breakfast, and colorful piles of yarn.

I am in the middle of grading math and writing patterns, checking dentist appointments for my family, and driving Mom from time to time. Life feels too short, and the to-do list feels too long. I am learning to be content once again; that in my weakness and incapability God is my strength. I do it all for Christ’s sake, for when I am weak, then I am strong. It is seeming to take me most of my life to learn this truth.

Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christâ€™s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:10)

How about you? Leave a comment to let me know how the beginning of school is going for you. What are your school colors? Who do you cheer for? Don’t forget to sign up for the newsletter, too!

Talk to you later,
Karen

Posted on July 5, 2016 by Karen Stewart

Where I Burn Yarn and Expose my Okie Accent

This is where I burn yarn and expose my Okie accent at the debut of my Youtube channel. Â It is funny to me how I actually sound and I hope it doesn’t grate on too many nerves. It is amazing to me to see these videos come together so quickly. I am showing tips, tricks and just generally sharing my knowledge. I have found it hard to crochet slowly enough to show what is going on. The first video I am releasing is called Burn Test. Â I was terribly afraid that I would set the house on fire and you can see the results of the test in the video. It was very interesting to see how the yarns actually burned. We did this test in one of my classes at college. I was amazed to see how much knowledge I actually retained. Here you go!

It was fun to create and see how things turn out. I have been filming little videos all week.

The July 4th weekend has been fun and busy. We have been finishing a bunch of yard work and cleaning in the house.

I am working on a couple of different crochet projects. This one is fun and it looks nothing like this now but I played with the colors bit.

These are the basis of my blanket.

The next photos remind me of the Grandmother’s Flower Garden Quilt.

I have already moved on from these square arrangements. I am crocheting a scrap afghan and just ran out of yarn for these little flowers. The yarn that I have left over I roll into little balls of yarn. These end up in a jar or when it overflows into Â a large plastic box. When the box overflows, I try to start using them up. I am and it is turning out really bright and colorful.

Talk to you later,

Karen

I would love to see your projects. Post your photos in the comments and I will stop by and see them. What are you working on now?

Posted on May 30, 2016 by Karen Stewart

Crochet projects and other projects

Here is what I am doing now on my crochet projects and other projects. The flower blanket is zooming along and I am almost finished with it. Here is a more current photo of it. Â I just have the borders left on it now and it is enormous. It is a heavy blanket and will be wonderful this coming winter. The blanket already has a home as it is a custom order. It will feel good to start on other crochet projects, I have so many in mind.

I went to the business conference last weekend and it was wonderful. The goals setting advice and clarity I got for my business has been wonderful.Â

I was able to meet Crystal Paine of Money Saving Mom. I have been reading her blog for years and it was nice to meet her in person. Â She is as fun in person as she is online.

There has been a bunch of stirring around and re-organizing. I am excited that part of this area will be my new studio area.Â

We have been having a huge cleaning session, getting rid of extra stuff, condensing boxes, and packing up our daughter’s college items until she gets her own place. This is the dirty truth about our makerspace. It sometimes becomes the catch all!

I also found some yarny messes that I have been organizing and clearing out.

It is Memorial day here and we spent time at the cemetery decorating Dad’s gravestone. He was a veteran and we are thankful for his and other’s service for our country. Â Dad’s stone is the one in the foreground.Â

If you or a loved one has served we thank you for your sacrifice for our freedoms.
The week was full and fun. It has been a busy week and even busier weekend. I am excited to finally get to work in the new studio area. I hope to get more organized with my pattern writing and crocheting. Â My yarn is more organized. I have decided that I have too much yarn and need to get started crocheting so that moreÂ of it leaves my house! (Is it really possible to have too much yarn?) I have yarntopia and then three plastic tubs full along with baskets full in the living room. I also bought more this past week at a flea market, but it was sooo nice and such a lovely color!

Talk to you later,

Karen

Posted on May 16, 2016 by Karen Stewart

Crochet Projects

I am working on several different crochet projects this month. I have three in progress; a custom granny square and two new stripe afghans. There are also 3-4 projects in what I call the incubator.

The incubator is a blending of several things; a secret pinterest board of ideas, yarn in yarntopia, and visual ideas that persist in running through my mind over and over again. Sometimes the ideas make it to the sketchbook or a yarn order.

The flower blanket you have been seeing updates on through Instagram. It is just a huge project. I feel like I am eating an elephant, one little bite at a time. I know it will be completed soon but it feels like climbing up a mountain on a slippery ice. It just keeps dragging on and on with no end in sight. I really wish I was at the joining stage. Truthfully, I’m not. I was just setting them out to verify how many squares I really needed.

I have been continuing to read the books on my list. I have been completing the exercises as I go and I think I am making progress. Breaking Busy has been reminding me to not overcommit to activities. Frankly, it has been hard as my life is in a shift of priorities. It appears that we are shifting from parenting to coaching to support staff, and from being friends with parents to keeping an eye on things for them a little bit more. Mom calls it the sandwich generation. I know she is right as sometimes I feel pretty squashed.Today, I am tired, deeply exhausted that tends to go with the fibromyalgia has set in. The weekend was full of family, fun and plain hard work. The results are amazing and today’s exhaustion is worth it.

The weather is gloomy and chilly today, which makes me want to snuggle under a blanket with a cup of coffee. I just need a Â day of quiet, crochet and dinner in the crock pot. So, I am off to get dinner started so I can sit and crochet the rest of the day guilt free. The laundry is going so I feel pretty productive even if I am not working very hard.

Talk to you later,

Karen