Interlocking filet - Early American inspired afghan

So, I have finally finished the first of the three blankets that I am doing in this style. I had to weave the ends in and it had to be on a gloriously hot and sunny day to do it as well! I am so pleased with how this Early American inspired Afghan has turned out as it is the first time I have had a go at doing this particular style of crochet and I can definitely say that I am hooked.

There was a practice sample that the designer did do to ease you into this way of crochet which also had a video that I followed for the first few rows until I was happy with the technique. She also has pictures in her written instructions for this Early American inspired afghan which I found really useful as I learn better through visual aids until I am confident with the written instructions.

The technique does look a bit daunting at first I must admit but it really is a case of doing the same stitch into the same colour as they overlap slightly. It is written in American crochet terms for double crochet followed by a chain which is repeated all along the row with the double crochets being done stacked as opposed to in the gap. You just have to remember whether you are going into th front of the work when you stack or the back. A bit like back post double crochet and front post double crochet but in the top of the stich instead of around the post itself.

I do like the colour choices I have done this blanket in and I am hoping that the recipient of it does too. I chose to do this one using double knit yarn and stylecraft in both black and teal colours. The other 2 that I am working on I am doing in Aran weight yarn and with black being the main colour and a variegated yarn for the accent colour. One in shades of purple and the other blanket in shades of yellow, oranges and red to give hopefully a sunset feel.

I added a border around the outside which was not part of the pattern from the designer for the Early American Inspire afghan. I am really pleased with how it has come out as I completely made it up as I went with a bit of informed knowledge on how to do it having completed the blanket.

So, onto completing the next one. Now will it be the sunset one or the purple one that gets done first ................................

Locking filet crochet - Floral elegance

So, I have been doing the interlocking filet crochet style now since about half way through January and I must say I am absolutely in love with this technique. The stitches are very simple as it is the same stitch all the way along the row but you make the pattern by either going into the front of the work to make it or the back. I will admit that it did take me a while to get comfortable with it, especially the inside stitches as I have done them wrong on more than one occasion! This was down to me entirely not reading the pattern right and doing what I thought it should be and not what it stated. A rooky mistake.

The designer I have been using has been releasing a mystery Cal for the last few week. She releases 4 rows per day and the joy of this is that you don't know what it will be and you have to take a leap of faith when starting it. The only clue is that it is called Floral elegance. She does suggest lighter colours but I have gone for black as my main colour with stylecraft dreamcatcher yarn, in the shade of Cheyenne, as my accent colour.

I love how this is coming out with the colours blending beautifully from one shade to the next. This is it completed up to 128 rows with the total rows in the pattern being 204. I am starting to think that the flower in the middle could possibly be a tulip as they have those shape leaves.

Despite not knowing what this interlocking filet crochet pattern would be when I started I am really pleased that I did. It is definitely addictive and I look forward to seeing the next 4 rows as they are released.

So, here's to the next rows being released .....................................