After the holiday RUSH of completing 2 knitted projects (a beret and a scarf/wrap), I was ready to get back to some comfort crocheting. I went on the hunt for something that I could make from my extensive STASH of yarn, and that I would want as a finished project, since that is a major motivator on things when we get bored OR enticed by other potential projects. I did a few searches for Ripple Afghan patterns, as that is a pattern sequence that I find to be comforting, and easy to do while binging Netflix (OMG – have you see “Evil Influencer: the Jodi Hildebrandt story” yet ??!?!)

I found one on the Hooked by Robin YouTube channel (she has wonderful tutorials) called the Peephole Chevron stitch, and I immediately knew this would be my stashbusting project!

I have several Red Heart Super Saver skeins in the Ombré variants in the brown/beige color family and knew they would be PERFECT for a mid-Winter blanket project. You can see my early progress in the photo below:

I was committed to engaging a project that used ONLY yarn that I already had as I continue to work on taming both my fabric AND yarn collections. Having the ability to start a project like this AND decrease my yarn stash was a win-win.

I have made other similar blankets and discovered my love for the ease and flow of the “ripple-like” patterns for these projects. One of my most favorite completed projects was the blanket I made in Red Heart Ombré (colorway = Violet) for my then-youngest granddaughter. It’s pictured below and at the top of this blog with my dear kitty who passed away last year, Ganymede. He was always very interested in my crocheting, knitting AND sewing.

That blanket is a sort of combination ripple/chevron and was the first one of that type that I made. I made another one that my daughter requested as a gift for someone she knew, and that was ALSO made from stash yarn (I forget the brand – it may have been a Michaels store brand). The PINK one is in progress using Lion Brand Ice Cream yarn but I’m not having as much fun with it (I think the thinner yarn is the issue), so it’s on the back burner for now.

Sometimes we just need a project that moves along without a lot of counting, thinking or attention. These projects inspire a meditative state while in progress, and for me – are comforting even after they are complete!

After the stress and frenzy of the holiday season, there’s no better activity than “yarn therapy“. Here’s to the cost savings that come with stashbusting; to relaxing with yarn, and to making things for ourselves as we settle into the New Year.

Happy stitching, however you roll!

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