How to Crochet a Chevron Afghan

Initially, I was super intimidated by the prospect of making a chevron afghan, but you know what?  It was easy peasy, and I love the look of it!
There are many different ways to create the points of the chevron pattern.  I used a really simple technique that only required HDC stitches, HDC two, three, or four times in the stitch where you want your point (depending on how pointy you want it) and skip 1, 2, 3, etc stitches where you would like the dips.  Super easy right?

So far I've made two chevron throws both of which are in my shop!

What is everyone working on at the moment?

Creating and Listening

I'm convinced I've found the best thing to listen to while I work.
NPR



I'm serious!  I think they hire people based solely on how relaxing their voices are.
Right now, I'm loving Marketplace.  I feel like my IQ increases as I listen.
Other shows on rotation are This American Life, All Things Considered, and Fresh Air.
These shows somehow keep me focused while I create, budget, and brainstorm.

What do you listen to/watch while you work?

Internet Woes

As far as real life problems go, this is probably one of the most insignificant.  Insignificant, but supremely annoying.  Our internet is down, so I'm bouncing from cafe to cafe, drinking too much tea, and trying not to laugh to loudly at 9gag (apparently my sense of humor is on par with a teenage boy's).  As such, this post will be a short, picture-less one.
The problem is our router, modem, thingy.  It just...died.  We didn't want to pay $100 for a new one (really, at&t, a hundred bucks???), so we called to cancel our internet, thinking we'd read more books and try living more minimalist-like.  But lo, and behold!  AT&T loves us (well, our money anyways), and are overnighting a new system---FOR FREE!  A million points for AT&T customer service!  However, if by some stroke of luck, an AT&T big wig is reading this, here's something we didn't like: the automated menu that we got when we called customer service.  It stinks.  It's inefficient (for the customer).  It wastes a lot of time.  Improve that, and you've got a fan for life, my friend.

Anyone else have any stories of success with customer service?  Or any really tragic stories, because let's face it, those are just as fun to tell and hear!

P.S.  Check out my shop page for a treat!

Southwestern Style

I'm sure you've noticed the trend that harkens to the southwest: fringe, leather, boots, feathers, rich reds, deep blues, orange. I've taken to calling it "peyote chic." I can't wait to whip up a blanket or quilt that has this style. I'm thinking a tan colored yarn with big bands of deep red and some gold stitching and some brown somewhere, finished off with some fringe. Of course, I have to wait until funds come in to buy the materials.  Real life problems here, people. :)

My husband is apparently ahead of me in terms of the fashion world because he bought me this owl clutch from Target months ago!

Then I saw these shots from Coachella.  I love the subtle nods to the trend.

You tell me: southwestern.  Love it, hate it, indifferent?

Basket Blanket

Since getting the wild hair to start selling all of our projects on Etsy, we've made so much progress.  I've been crocheting non stop to build up inventory in the shop.  Of course, that frenzied pace has led me to make stupid mistakes.  Grr!  So, I have to  rip it all out and start again, but at least my blankets aren't ending up trapezoid-shaped. :)
Who is we?
Well, there's me.  Oh, my name?  Kim.  Or Kimberly.  Or "hey, you" works just fine, too.  I'm the daughter in the mother-daughter team.  I use crafting as a sort of therapy, and I love getting compliments on my work...who doesn't?!
Then there's Jane, my mom.  She taught me everything I know.  She is a super awesome crochet-er.  Who stitches are impossibly precise, and she won't let the teensiest, tiniest mistake make it into a project.  When she's not working crazy hours as a nurse in a (supremely underfunded) free clinic, she's crafting!

Here's our most recent project in the shop:

Our Ecru and Green Basket Weave blanket:

It's so easy.   No, really!  You can make your own pattern because only stitches it uses are front post double crochet and back post double crochet and half double crochet!
Here, I'll help:
1.  Pick a number between 2 and 6 (depending on how large you want your basket weave).

2.  Chain however many stitches will get your blanket (or scarf) the size you want.  (Make sure it's a multiple of your number from step 1!  i.e. I chose the number 4.  So I would chain 80, or 84, or 88, or 92...you get the picture)

3.  Chain 2 and turn (the work, not your body.  Though if you like to do the hokey pokey while crocheting, more power to you!)

4.  Double Crochet in all your chains, across.  (Here, you're setting up your "posts" so you can FPDC and BPDC from now on)

4.  Remember your number you chose in step 1?  Good!  FPDC that many.  Then BPDC that many.  Then FPDC that many.  Then BPDC that many.  Keep going to the end of the row.  HDC in the last loop after your last post.

5.  Chain 2 and turn!

6.  Do it all again until your blanket or scarf is the size you want!

For a more specific pattern, check out my inspiration at Delia Creates.  She uses a medium sized basket weave and uses a large hook and chunky yarn so your project will take no time at all!  (My favorite!)

I hope you enjoy!  (And if you're not much of a crafter, but appreciate the time and love put into crafting consider buying our blanket from our Etsy store: kim and jane.