Laura Strutt - Modern Crocheted Afghans, Throws, and Pillows: 35 colorful, cozy, and comfortable patterns

MODERN Crocheted AFGHANS, THROWS
& PILLOWSMODERN Crocheted AFGHANS, THROWS
& PILLOWS35 colorful, cozy, and comfortable patternsDedicationTo Ethan Wolf welcome to the pack Wolfie! Published in 2018 by CICO Books an imprint of Ryland Peters & Small Ltd 341 E 116th St, New York, NY 10029 www.rylandpeters.com 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Text Laura Strutt 2018
Design, illustration, and photography CICO Books 2018 The designs in this book are copyright and must not be crocheted for sale. The authors moral rights have been asserted. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher. A CIP catalog record for this book is available from the Library of Congress. ISBN: 978 1 78249 639 7 eISBN: 978 1 78249 775 2 Printed in China Editor: Marie Clayton Pattern checker: Jemima Bicknell Photographer: Emma Mitchell Stylist: Nel Haynes Illustrator: Stephen Dew Art director: Sally Powell Production manager: Gordana Simakovic Publishing manager: Penny Craig Publisher: Cindy Richards CONTENTS Crocheted blankets, afghans, and pillows never seem to go out of style. Maybe its because we are often nostalgic for these colorful creations, or because there are so many possible variations.

Whether you wrap a blanket around yourself on a cold winter evening, drape a throw over your favorite armchair, or cuddle up to a handmade pillow, these crocheted creations are a hug that you can keep! Growing up with grandmothers who both crocheted, I recall a colorful childhood of afghans on their couches, cozy comforters for us, and even mini blankets for our dolls and teddies. Like me, many are touched by nostalgia when it comes to crocheted blankets, and many of the designs in this book are inspired by the traditional techniques favored by my grandmothers. However, when the yarns and colors are carefully selected, crocheted blankets can also offer a boho style or even a modern geometric feel, giving them a wide appeal for a variety of personal styles. Many blankets, throws, and pillows can be worked with the repetition of just a handful of stitches, making them ideal for novice crocheters looking to branch out. Others feature more complex color and stitch techniques, which will give those with more experience a bit of a challenge. Whether you are making something to give as a gift, or to keep and treasure for yourself, I hope that this collection of colorful and creative designs will inspire you, boost your personal passion for crochet, and teach you a few new techniques along the way.

Happy crocheting! Laura Crocheted blankets, afghans, throws, and pillows are fabulous projects to make, whether you want to update your decor, or to give them as gifts to be treasured.This book offers a collection of 35 different patterns, which are ideal projects for discovering new techniques and building your crochet skills, whether youre a seasoned crochet fan or a budding novice. You can also choose from larger scale designs that require a considerable time commitment, or opt for a more modular make, which you can work on the go to fit into your personal schedule.TIPS AND HINTS Blankets and throws are often very large makes. Not only does this mean that they are a commitment in time, but they can also be hard work on the wrists. Reduce the pressure and strain on your wrists by holding the weight of the project in your lap as you work. In addition, larger makes can be off-putting due to how time consuming they are perceived to be. You can always work on them in small, more manageable sections, focusing on one color or strip pattern repeat per session, and enjoy the process! Or course, you may like to change the size of these blankets, making them larger or smaller to suit your requirements.

For the most part these designs can be customized by increasing or decreasing the initial foundation chain or by working more or fewer rounds or rows. Just be sure to adjust the yarn quantities accordingly before you begin. Larger projects also use larger quantities of yarn, and it is always a good idea to make sure that you have enough yarn before you begin. Also, try to ensure that each ball in a bulk order comes from the same dye lot, as although the shade is the same, you will be surprised at just how much variation can occur from one dye lot to the nextand it can often be noticeable on a finished piece. You may prefer to work with a selection of yarns already available in your stash. Substituting yarns for those used in the patterns can be done quickly and easily: simply check the yarn details given in the projects and compare them to the yarn you wish to work with.

You can always work a swatch to see whether you will need to size up or size down your crochet hook to match the gauge given. Some of the projects, such as the Vintage Lace Granny Squares (), blocking each individual square before seaming will help the blanket to come together more neatly. Blocking can be done by soaking or spritzing with water and pinning out to the set dimensions to dryyou can buy purpose-made blocking boards or you can use foam mats or even a bed. You can also use the steam from an iron to help block pieces, covering them first with a pressing cloth to protect the fibers. Different yarns respond better to different methods of blockingusing the heat and steam from an iron can damage acrylic or man-made fibers. YARN Blankets and throws can be made from any yarn you likeyou can work with anything from hand-dyed yarns from indie spinners, mainstream brands, yarns from your existing stash, or even repurposed yarns from old handknits! Of course, all different yarns will have different properties and finishes, which will have an impact on the final pieces. YARN Blankets and throws can be made from any yarn you likeyou can work with anything from hand-dyed yarns from indie spinners, mainstream brands, yarns from your existing stash, or even repurposed yarns from old handknits! Of course, all different yarns will have different properties and finishes, which will have an impact on the final pieces.

You may prefer to select natural fibers for small babies and children, machine-washable yarns for items you expect to have heavy use, and sumptuous blends of silk or alpaca for extra special gifts. Alongside the composition of the fiber, the weight of the yarn will affect the finished piece too. Lightweight yarns will be much more floaty than the dense fabric created by using chunkier yarns, A full description of the yarnsbrand, style, fibers, length per ball, weight per ball, shade, and amount neededis included in each of the patterns in this book, to make it easy for you to recreate these designs at home. However, you will also find information on the gauge for the project. This will not only help you achieve the look and measurements of the pieces by helping you to select the correct crochet hook to match the gauge, but is also useful should you want to make a yarn substitution. The closer the yarn is in composition, style, and weight to the yarn listed, the closer to the finished piece the make will be.