At some point in 2016, I decided to crochet (more) blankets for my kids. It was partly because I had discovered that having a simple project on hand - like an uncomplicated straight across double crochet blanket - was a great way to blow off steam and decompress after work.
I used Red Heart Super Saver yarn (I don’t remember specific color names, sorry!) for both projects. Although that brand can feel horribly scratchy, the level of discomfort varies depending on which color was/is chosen. (That’s true for all yarns, btw.) So I went to JoAnn Fabrics (😭😭) and happily fondled the Red Heart yarns until I had what I deemed decent color combinations that the kids would also like, in less scratchy fiber.
My son has always preferred green:
At the time, I wasn’t completely happy with how the light green blended (or not) with the variegated camouflage - but it turned out fine.
My daughter likes purple the best:
That (as you can see) was a much easier task.
I don’t remember how long it took me to finish them. I do remember that each blanket has exactly the same number of rows, and stitches across. (By that time I had been a Mom for a quarter of a century.) I didn’t use a pattern, just wrote down everything I did on the green blanket, and repeated it exactly for the purple one.
Several years ago, Ann Budd wrote a couple of little “yarn yardage” guides for both knitting and crocheting projects, from baby socks to big blankies. (She has her own website where they can be purchased; look it up, if your Local Yarn Store doesn’t carry them.) I definitely used the crochet one for a guide. Still, there was so much leftover yarn that I could knit the kids identical (ish) bonus hats for the next Christmas!
They still wear these, years later. Just a simple skullcap pattern from Ann Budd’s The Knitter’s Handy Book of Patterns (indispensable IMO) - I really liked how the green/brown one turned out. I don’t remember why he didn’t get a pom pom - maybe I didn’t think it was very manly??
I’d never knit a cabled hat before. These were pretty easy. The pattern was free on the yarnspirations dot com website, but when I tried to track it down a couple of days ago I couldn’t find it.
Look for the helpers, and believe women.
