A lot of people have asked me about the stitch sampler crochet blanket you see at the top of my website and across my social media channels. So today I am going to talk a little bit about the blanket as well as why I have it on my website.
Making this blanket back in 2017 is actually what led me to my current design life. This blanket was a Crochet a Long that started in May 2017 by designer Sapphire Cameron of SpitSpot Crochet.
I learned to crochet 40 years ago and I have crocheted pretty consistently throughout those years. However, I didn’t really start crocheting all the time until the grandkids were born. And generally that ended up being baby blankets and a few Christmas presents every year. And never anything that I had designed! In fact, I had never ever designed my own pattern. I had always worked from someone else’s patterns!
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When I first saw this blanket on Facebook I fell in love! I feel like this blanket represented to me all the things that crochet was yet I hadn’t personally experienced. With some amazing and unique stitches that I hadn’t seen before it made me happy just looking at it! I had never participated in a Crochet a Long before and I was very intrigued by the idea of crocheting along with others and waiting for the pattern parts to get released!
I remember anxiously awaiting each pattern part — sometimes checking the website multiple times in a day to see if it was there yet! And then starting on it immediately after work wanting to see the next part start to come to life!
I had never crocheted anything that didn’t already have a destination in mind. This blanket wasn’t meant as a gift or intended for any recipient — I was making it simply for the joy of making! What a novel concept for me!
I will never forget how I felt when I completed the blanket — it felt like there was a piece of me in that blanket. As if the joy from making it had transferred to the blanket and when I looked at it it was reflected back to me! I don’t truly understand it and it may sound strange to some. However, I think a lot of you makers can relate!
I felt like there was more to the story — as if now that I had experienced such a feeling I needed to find a way to replicate it. I started to think about designing patterns on my own. How would that feel? Was I even capable of it? That was the big question in my mind. I had been wanting to start a blog and felt this may be the time to further explore the possibilities.
Without any plan or really much forethought I just jumped in to designing my first pattern. The Retro Duster Vest was my very first design and I published it on my blog as a free pattern at the beginning of August 2017. Just a couple months after I had completed the blanket!
Looking back on it I didn’t do any of the things that are recommended when starting a blog — I just jumped over the cliff! What a ride it has been! I have been so blessed by this journey. I am currently doing this full time from home now so I am able to spend more time with my family and I couldn’t be happier!
And it all started with this blanket — a blanket I didn’t even design! So I have this blanket always as a reminder of that feeling I first had. As a reminder that even small nudges from unexpected places can wind up with amazing destinations!
I am so very excited to announce that I am currently designing my very own stitch sampler blanket which will be released as a Crochet a Long in September! Follow me on Facebook or Instagram to get more details as we get closer! UPDATE: The Autumn Rhapsody Blanket has now been released in its entirety and is now available as a free pattern on my website! You can find all the details HERE.
Details about the Summer Love pattern and my yarn choices
The pattern was originally available as a free pattern on SpitSpot Crochet’s website or as a free Ravelry download. However, currently it is only available as a paid pattern by the designer available here. I am not receiving any commission for any purchases. Since so many of you love this blanket I wanted to share how you can make your own if you desire!
I get asked what yarn I used as well and I primarily used yarn I already had on hand and a rather eclectic mix at that! Most of the blanket is Mary Maxim DK weight yarn Mellowspun. However, I threw in some I Love this Yarn! Sport weight* in red for that bright pop of color. And the green around the sunflowers was a random ball of bamboo yarn I had. I really wasn’t expecting that anyone would ever see this blanket and ask which yarns I had used. I just found colors that made me happy and that I already had on hand so it was a great stash buster!
*This post contains affiliate links. You can click on any yarn or material highlighted to purchase. I will receive a small commission if you purchase but it won’t cost you any extra!
You may also like the following free patterns at Nana’s Crafty Home!
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Hi! Thank you so much for being here! I am Tonya the designer behind Nana's Crafty Home. As a wife, mother, Nana of 9 & with 2 fur babies, my days are filled with love, laughter, hugs and yarn! Here you will find colorful and creative crochet designs for yourself or loved ones. My hope is that you will be inspired to learn and create along with me!
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