it’s time: CAL, BEGIN!

Alright everyone, grab your hook and yarn — it’s finally starting time! Let’s dive right into our “As-we-go stripey blanket” crochet along! We’ll be doing our foundation chain and 5 easier rows this week, and I’ve got pictures for step-by-step demonstration.  And don’t forget, I’m using US crochet terms! Here’s a handy chart:

foundation chain

Begin by chaining any multiple of 24 (i.e. 96, 120, 144, etc., and don’t chain too tightly!). Then chain 2 more for our turning chains. With my DK weight yarn and my H/8/5mm, I chained 194 total to make my throw about 50″/127cm wide, but you make yours however long you want to! As long as it’s a multiple of 24 plus 2 you’re fine! Double, no, TRIPLE check you have the right number so you don’t have to start over later!  Edit: I should also say that because the 2 turning chains count as your first hdc, you should have an odd number of stitches for every row in your blanket (you will have a multiple of 24 + 1 stitches).  So for example, since I chained 192 + the 2 turning chains that count as 1 stitch, I will have 193 stitches in all of my rows.

row 1

In the 3rd chain from your hook, make 1 hdc:

Make hdcs all the way across, but don’t pull the final loop through the last stitch! Stop at this point:

To finish the row, pull your next color through to finish the stitch. This is how we will finish every row where we change colors:

Ch 3 and turn.

row 2

The turning chains count as your first stitch of the row (and will for all rows to come unless otherwise specified). dc in each stitch across. You can work over your tails for rows like this so that you don’t have to sew them in later:

I like to crochet over the tail for at least 5 inches before snipping the end of it. At the end of this row, pull your next color through, ch 3, and turn.

row 3

Make 1 dc in the 1st stitch:

Skip 2 sts, work 3 dc in next st:

Continue this until the end, making only 2 dc sts in the last st of the row. Pull next color through, ch3, turn.

row 4

Make 3 dc in space between the 3 dc clusters in the row below:

Repeat this pattern until the end. Make 1 dc in the top of the turning chains of the row below:

Change colors. I’m using the same one as row 3. Ch 3, turn.

row 5

Repeat row 3! Then:

Don’t leave your ends unwoven til the very end, or you’ll never want to do them!

So this is all for this week:

This took me about an hour and 30 minutes (including weaving the ends), so hopefully a wider blanket won’t increase the time by too much.

I hope you enjoy! Please feel free to post any pictures to the Ravelry group page or the new facebook page — I’d love to see!

Thanks so much for participating — I’m really excited and I can’t wait to continue making our lovely blankets grow!

Edit: on Instagram use the tag #nyaccal and we can all see your progress!