Come join the Chain Reaction Afghan Project Crochet-Along!
The Chain Reaction Afghan Project was born a year ago. A merger of professional and amateur designers, it features 20 squares and a border that appeared in Interweave Crochet magazine over five issues, and three bonus squares, available online. You can read all about it.
Here's what the completed Chain Reaction Afghan looks like:
(photo by Joe Hancock)
In this crochet-along, we'll work on the squares together, one per week.
Select whatever yarn tickles your fancy. The Chain Reaction Afghan is
worked in washable worsted weight, so if you're going for gauge, select
a worsted.
This is what you'll need.
Patterns: Available in these issues of Interweave Crochet: Summer 2010, Fall 2010, Winter 2010 and Spring 2011. In the Summer 2011
issue, you'll find directions for putting all the squares together and
adding a chain border. (NOTE: I've link to the digital issues, but paper
issues are available for some. Check the Interweave Store.)
If you missed any of these issues, you can purchase them in the
Interweave Store (that way, you'll get all the other great patterns and
articles in the issues). If you want just the patterns, in about
mid-July, all the patterns will be available as a free eBook. Stay tuned
for details. If you want to get started before then, we'll be working
the squares in the order they were published, so if you get the Summer 2010 issue, that should hold you over until the eBook is available.
And, that's not all! Later this summer, there will be a DVD available
with tips on techniques used in the afghan, as well as ideas for
customizing your afghan. Kristin Omdahl and I taped these segments as
part of Knitting Daily TV Series 700 and I'm thrilled that all these
tips will be available in one place. Stay tuned for more information on
this.
Now, for the yarn needs:
Yarn: Washable worsted-weight yarn. Below are estimated
yardage for colors as used in the original Chain Reaction Afghan,
including border
(A) blue 850 yd
(B) cream 1,000 yd
(C) green 1,400 yd
(D) orange 900 yd
(E) purple 1,200 yd
(F) red 700 yd
Hooks: H, I, J as needed for gauge (see patterns for details)
Here's the schedule, by week, with the name of the square and designer:
June 20 Circles Squared (Kathy Merrick)
June 27 Double Twist (Drew Emborsky)
July 4 Framed Flower (Edie Eckman)
July 11 Making Links (Kristin Omdahl)
July 18 Tunisian Cables (Angela Grabowski)
July 25 Lotus Blossom (Robyn Chachula)
Aug 1 Woven Arrowheads (Lily Chin)
Aug 8 Picture Frame (Lisa Naskrent)
Aug 15 Log Cabin Petals (Annette Petavy)
Aug 22 Tapestry Crochet Heart (Carol Ventura)
Aug 29 Woven Threads (April Garwood)
Sept 5 Circle Star (Julie Yeager)
Sept 12 Circle Around (Julie Yeager)
Sept 19 Intertwining Loops (Victoria Hewerdine Thornton)
Sept 26 ZigZag (Judith Bailey)
Oct 3 Snow at Midnight (Marion Braum)
Oct 10 Dilly Dahlia (Margaret MacInnis)
Oct 17 Ripples on a Coral Reef (Victoria Hewerdine Thornton)
Oct 24 Over Under Square (D. Jacob "Jake" Wildstrom)
Oct 31 Lace Square (Julie Yeager)
Nov 7 Put afghan together
Nov 14 Work border
Whew! That's a bunch of crocheting! The great thing about these
squares is that you can learn a new technique with each square. Since
they're so different, we'll all want to share our tips as we work them. Really, my fingers are itching to get started on the Circles Squared by Kathy Merrick!
And, when you make and donate a competed afghan, Interweave will make
a donation to Warm Up America. Just send an email to
crochet@interweave.com with a picture of your completed afghan, who you
donated it to and why, and information about the crocheters who made the
afghan. A photo of your completed afghan may appear in a future issue of Interweave Crochet.
Stop by the forum and join in! Let us know what colors you'll be using, the kind of yarn, and tips as you crochet along.
I look forward to crocheting with you! Together, we can do great things!
Best,
Marcy