And Just Like That

Two years of my life pass.

Within those two years, a new baby, two new homes, more yarn than I should have had the good sense to purchase, and a new skill learned with a single hook, two hands, and a road full of good intentions.

Creating this labor of love required patience, fortitude, flexibility, and a HUGE basket to carry around all that and all those hexagons—more than 200 hexagons, no two the same—and the fifteen skeins of yarn it needed.

It is done. I can not believe it, but it is done.

Soon the afghan will make it’s way back home, the home where my heart is, to its rightful owner, my mother, for whom all the stitches were cast and carried. It may have taken two years to complete…

…but it is nothing compared to the time, energy, and love she has given me. No handmade object in the world can convey the admiration I feel for her and all that she’s done and continues to do not only for me, but my entire family. Yet hopefully the softness and warmth that these knots of wool and alpaca provide can remind her that she is always in my heart.

I love you Mom. I hope you like it.

Details ::
Inspired by the Haverhill Afghan by Garnet Hill
crocheted in Alpaca with a Twist’s Highlander yarn
using a combination of single crochet, and double crochet
stitched together with a mattress stitch.

Approximate Pattern ::
chain six, link to form a circle;
*three double crochets through the loop made with the chain, single crochet*
repeat * * 5 more times to complete six group of three double crochets, link;
change color;
*three double crochet in the gap between two groups of three; single chain; three more double crochet in the same gap; single chain*
repeat * * 5 more times to complete six groups of three double crochets, link;
change color;
*three double crochet in the gap between two groups of three; single chain; three more double crochet in the same gap; single chain; three double crochet in the gap between the next group of three; single chain*
repeat * * 5 more times to complete six groupings total of three double crochets, single crochet, three double crochet groups within the same gap, chain, then one group of three double crochet, chain in the next gap; link.

Rinse lather repeat for as many times as you can before you run out of yarn. Stitch, or crochet the hexes together, weave in ends, grab a nice long drink.