Knit afghan - perhaps the most beautiful I've ever made

Closeup - giving just a small flavor of detail and texture

Made for niece Jackie McLemore and hubby Jamie.  This is perhaps my favorite of all the afghans I've ever made - and that's really saying something!

Made with two strands of Homespun yarn (Deco), this is super warm and heavy - but they do live in New Hampshire.  The texture doesn't show in the photos at all, but it is amazing - soft and fuzzy.

Pattern can be found in two different books.  A little booklet called "Beginner's Guide: Knit Stitches & Easy Projects" and also in a very good pattern book, "Big Book of Quick Knit Afghans",  Both are available from Amazon and quite possibly your local everyday yarn shop.

The pattern is written quite stupidly in these books, I think.  It's just a horseshoe print and what's called a Trinity stitch, plus seed stitch and and easy bordering pattern.  I did use stitch markers and also a row counter, but the pattern was not hard.  No cables or other things that slow you down.  Intermediate level, I'd say.

Perhaps you'd like more info - including needles, skeins and help with translating the pattern in these books.  If so, leave a comment or contact me with questions.

Knit Afghan - Lacy Garter Stitch Diamonds

Afghan made for nephew Andrew and his wife Kelly.  I've made this pattern several times - and my sister has made it a dozen or more.  Unusual but easy.

Pattern adapted from "Lullaby" pattern in the Leisure Arts book, "Our Best Knit Baby Afghans," although this afghan is adult size.  The book - which has a number of good patterns - is available at Amazon and probably also at your local not-so-fancy yarn place.  Afghan was made with two strands of Caron Simply Soft.

I'm not going to post the pattern because you really should buy the book.  But if you need help adapting the pattern, leave a comment or contact me.

Pattern is advanced beginner.  Stitches used: knit, purl, yarn over, purl 2 together.  Always easy to know where you are (as is true of just about every pattern I do).

"Toe poke" crochet pattern

You'll have to read the pattern to see how "toe poke" got its name.  This is a lovely pattern for a lacy scarf or shawl, and perhaps for an afghan.

Here's the exemplar I made to show my crochet students.  I've created exemplars of a number of different patterns that use only single crochet, double crochet and chain.  So after I teach someone the basics, she can pick out a pattern that appeals to her.

Here's a shawl I made with this pattern, along with a closeup of the shawl.  

This is an absolute beginner's crochet pattern.  It uses nothing but single crochet, double crochet and chain - and it is always easy to know what row you're on and what you need to do.

Click here for the pattern (PDF format).