Sweet Nothings Crochet: BANDS OF STEEL JAMAICAN AFGHAN

BANDS OF STEEL JAMAICAN AFGHAN

This pattern has been chosen by my niece who has just moved into a new apartment. Luckily I was able to get the color choices almost to the “T” .. why do they say to the “T”.. hmmm..

(If you're still curious, maybe this link may help figure it out?! ;) http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/to-a-t.html)

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The pattern she chose is this Jamaican afghan and this is the beautiful photograph that got us all excited for this project

So while I have used this pattern, our Indian yarn thickness seems to be way thinner than the one on the pattern link. So a few notes of the differences.

Materials used : Today I’ve used ~ 550- 600 gms of our lovely Indian Oswal Cashmilon 4-ply acrylic yarn, with a 4 mm crochet hook ; embroidery needle

Size : My finished afghan is ~ 40” x 60”

Skill level : Easy - Intermediate.

Stitches used :

Starting slip knot : Here’s how you start with a slip knot. https://youtu.be/lJcqsVcs8cw

Starting slip knot 1 or the Sloppy Slip knot : This is a neat new way to start your work without a slip knot. https://youtu.be/YfC7KmGpifs

Foundation Single Crochet : fsc : To refresh your skill on the fsc, please view this video https://youtu.be/mcT85fwh4mA

Single Crochet : Sc : yo, insert hk into st ; yo (2 lps on hk); yo, draw through both lps. One sc made. Check out the video at https://youtu.be/ghACqBpA-3k

First stitch for Single Crochet : This is how I like to start my row of sc. Check out the video at https://youtu.be/6pVYRfsf4_M

What is a slip stitch : Here is a neat video tutorial at https://youtu.be/weB3QNbA8Iw

Double Crochet : dc : yo, insert hk into st ; yo (3 lps on hk);

[yo, draw through 2 lps] twice. One dc made.

Check out the video at https://youtu.be/xdnjB27zpYo

Chainless start for Double Crochet : I dislike the ch-2 / ch – 3 start, and this is what I do to start my row of dc.

Check out the video at https://youtu.be/wskv3iTjRx0

Here is a sizing chart for general head sizing :

https://in.pinterest.com/pin/470063279839058772/ OR

https://in.pinterest.com/pin/470063279837764548/

Abbreviations used : (Using U.S terminology)

lp(s) : Loop(s) sc : Single crochet

dc : Double crochet sp : Space

sl-st : Slip stitch ch : Chain

st(s) : Stitch(es) hk : Hook

yo : Yarn Over

Instructions using U.S terminology

Please note that I start all my rows with a ch 1, turning chain for ease.

Please check the top of this blog for easy video tutorials on all stitches used in today's pattern.

Please read through all my notes before you pick up your hook, so you know just where we're heading in our pattern.

Whipstitch to join : Here’s a quick tutorial on how to join using the whipstitch at https://youtu.be/wZ-9LNzftMA

Invisible join : Here’s a quick tutorial on how to join using the embroidery needle and whipstitch to get an invisible join at https://youtu.be/a6XZQ6VzJFM

Single crochet to join : Here’s a quick tutorial on how to join using the single crochet at https://youtu.be/6FXoW_47_dI

How to change colors seamlessly : Here’s an easy video tutorial to show you how to change from the Main color to the Contrast or second color of yarn seamlessly. View it at https://youtu.be/fRzSBja9jno

How to carry your yarn when using two colors : Here’s an easy video tutorial to show you how to carry your yarn along when working with two colours.

View it at https://youtu.be/NuascBU3pxQ

So using the basic idea of this lovely afghan, I’ve made a few changes, mainly because of the yarn thickness I’m using

1. I’ve started with 23 fsc (which equaled 6.5” as specified by the designer). So while I could just follow the pattern stitch-wise, being lazy, and preferring less ends to weave in, I thought matching the size was a better bet.

2. I thought I’d worked the pattern in the same way, alternating colours , but yet again, I could not make gauge with the sc, so I opted to work hdc rather than sc in each fsc all the way through.

Half Double Crochet : Hdc : yo, insert hk into st ; yo (3 lps on hk) ;

yo, draw through all 3 lps. One hdc made.

Check out the video at https://youtu.be/sDiELJdB2Dg

Chainless start for Half Double Crochet : I dislike the ch-2 start, and this is what I do to start my row of hdc. Check out the video at https://youtu.be/lWXpl1KdbZ8

3. Yet again to make this a little easier for me, and also to try to achieve the gauge needed, I decided to work two rows back n forth in the same yarn. So the fsc row and the next row were in the light yarn ; then I attached the new darker yarn and worked the next two rows in the darker colour. So each switch was made at the same end, and I worked two rows in that colour.

4. In the last repeat, I did one row of hdc and the last row in sc (to coordinate with the start of fsc)

5. Finally I’ve decided to run one row of sc down the two sides as well. So there are two sides that have ended with sc – the start row and the end row. The other two sides do not have an end-stitch, so for convenience and ease of joining, I turned at 90˚ at the end of my last sc row and worked 23 sc down the side of my little square. Fastened off at the end, and then re-joined yarn to work 23 sc down the other side of my square. I now have a little square with 23 sc on all sides. This helps as now we can put these squares anywhere we need and will have the same number of easy stitches to work through.

Part 3 : Finishing

Once you have all your squares complete, you can decide how you want to place them. The pattern is the same in all our squares and the designer has made it look funky and different by placing one with stripes facing horizontally and the alternate one with the stripes going vertically.

The joining is easy, but here are a few ideas

1. Place all the squares out and look at it from a distance to see if you like the color combination (if you have several colors) and the pattern it created. I always find looking at it through a camera lens gives it a better perspective.

2. There are several join methods for joining the granny squares. Check the links at the top of this blog and choose the one that suits you best

3. You can sew the squares in a straight line or using the diagonal method – once again choosing the method that suits you best.

4. I would suggest a small border all around. We have a neat row of sc on all sides, so I’d suggest working at least one round of dc all around your blanket, working 3 dc in the corners.

5. If you decide to work a wider border (or anything over one row), you must work 3 dc in each corner stitch. In each of the following rows, the corner stitch will be the middle stitch of your 3 dc from the earlier row.

6. In my final border round, just to get a cleaner finish, I’ve worked 5 dc in the corner stitch will be the middle stitch of your 3 dc from the earlier row.

7. The most important thing with motifs and squares is the joining and weaving in of ends. Ensure that you weave in ends as soon as you’re done to prevent the (seemingly) unending weave-ins. So after completing one square, I usually weave in the ends, and ensure that when I am joining the squares I neatly ‘hide’ the little end that is sticking out.

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