Introducing the latest addition to my TextureGhan collection, Desert Bloom.
All patterns in the TextureGhan collection are on sale, $2 off each pattern through midnight PDT, March 9, 2020. Coupon code: bloom
The links in the below post will all take you to Ravelry, but the patterns are also available on Etsy.
What is a TextureGhan you ask? It’s a name I’ve given to some afghans I designed to take the pressure out of choosing color palettes. These designs put texture first and color as a secondary feature. They work equally well in the color layout I use – 8 colors with a gentle shift and 1 color for the border, or in a solid color, or in self-striping cake yarns.
Why TextureGhans? Well, I do a lot of color-intensive crocheting. Lots of color changes. Lots of ends to weave. Lots of decisions about color to be made. I truly love that type of crochet, but in between those extra intense projects I want to relax. But I still want to crochet. I want to get lost in the crochet, and that also means I don’t want to be bored.
These designs are for getting lost in your crochet, but never bored! Pick a few colors – the gentle color shifts make planning easy – or a single color or cake yarn, and go.
I chose Stylecraft Special DK for this collection because of the wide array of colors. I wanted to try and use the yarn I had on hand and experiment more with color palettes I wouldn’t normally pick. It’s been a fun project! Normally I look for color inspiration in the world around me, but for this project I just dive into my stash and start mixing. There’s no right or wrong answers when picking colors for these patterns. Just pick the ones you like and place them in an order you like. You can try for more gentle color shifts, like mine, but I’ve seen some really outstanding blankets with high-contrast shifts too. The key here is to pick colors that make you happy. The pattern will work the rest out.
The patterns include detailed estimates on how much yarn you’ll need for how many colors you’ve chosen (6-8, sometimes 9) for the size you’ve chosen (3 or 4 sizes provided in each pattern).
Palette: Bluebell, Lavender, Wisteria, Fondant, Spice, Shrimp, Pomegranate, Fuchsia Purple. Border will likely be Mushroom.
As usual, I never intended an entire collection of texture based afghans, but once I started I just kept coming up with more! And, yes, that means there’s still more coming.
So far in the collection we have…
Desert Bloom. This one looks so sweet and springy, but it works equally well in more serious colors. Oranges and teals and/or tans are a great choice to bring out the southwestern vibe.
I wish I could say there’s a clever way the color shift is built into the border, but it’s done painstakingly with magic knots. All in all, it wasn’t as horrible to make as I imagined and if you don’t want to do it, just grab a second ball of your border color and do it solid. It will still look great.
Palette: 1 ball each Stylecraft Special DK in (A) Vintage Peach, (B) Pale Rose, (C) Wisteria, (D) Clematis, (E) Apricot, (F) Buttermilk, (G) Pistachio, (H) Lime, and (J) Mushroom
New Slant gives an overall texture of dynamic diagonal lines. Slightly more challenging than the others, this one will require a bit more concentration, but has a modern appeal for those that prefer simple lines.
Palette: Stylecraft Special DK, (1) Petrol, (1) Cornish Blue, (1) Cloud Blue, (1) Duck Egg, (1) Spearmint, (1) Sage, (1) Cypress, (1) Bottle, (2) Grey
An argyle look with just popcorns and chain spaces? Yep! This one looks great in classic argyle colors (think blues and greys), but is tons of fun in modern color palettes like the one I’ve chosen. Can I love it just for the name?
Palette: Stylecraft Special DK, 1 ball each (A) Lipstick, (B) Tomato, (C) Spice, (D) Stone, (E) Spring Green, (F) Aspen, (G) Empire, (H) Royal, and 2 balls of (J) Dark Brown
Rebel Ripple. The first official TextureGhan, and definitely the most popular pattern and color palette. There’s something about the simplicity that works so well for this one. The granny stitch is also really fun and relaxing to crochet. My personal favorite.
Palette: Stylecraft Special DK, 1 ball each (A) Mustard, (B) Lime, (C) Meadow, (D) Cypress, (E) Storm Blue, (F) Denim, (G) Violet, (H) Grape, and (J) Parchment
Finally, we have some honorary members of the TextureGhan collection. These two don’t fit the formula exactly, but they’re close enough to be included because they both emphasize texture over color.
I <3 Granny. (Say, I Heart Granny.) This challenging pattern has been a huge hit. It’s tough, don’t get me wrong. You’re going to want to turn the TV off in more than a few places, but it’s so rewarding to see those hearts come together.
Palette: Stylecraft Bambino DK; 1 ball each of Sage, Little Boy Blue, Vintage Blue, Grey Mist, Soft Pink, and Heather; and 3 balls of White.
Granny in the Sky with Diamonds. This one’s really fun to make because it’s a corner-to-corner. The very simple texture is done with granny stitch and looks classic and works in just about any colors you can think of. It was specifically designed with self-striping cake yarns in mind.
Overall, TextureGhans are one of my favorite projects I’ve been working on and one of my favorite things to crochet. I hope you decide to give a TextureGhan a try and find it relaxing and fun to make too!
Please check out the Patterns page here on Every Trick on the Hook or my Ravelry store to see more of my patterns, both free and paid.
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