Is your yarn stash getting a little out of control? Do you enjoy learning new stitches? If you answered yes to either of these questions keep reading to learn about our 2019 Stash-Busting Sampler Afghan Crochet Along (CAL).
If you’ve been here a little while you probably know about my love affair with learning new crochet stitches. So I came up with this fun idea to make a sampler afghan using a new crochet stitch for each square of the blanket.
I brought this project idea up to my Facebook group last week and everybody seamed really interested in participating. Which of course made me even more excited about it, so we are getting started right away.
How does this crochet along work?
In total we will have 24- 12” squares each featuring a different crochet stitch pattern. I will publish 2 square patterns on my blog each month on Wednesdays for all of 2019 (I’ll put a schedule below). Each pattern will include written and photo instructions.
Part of what makes doing a CAL fun is sharing with other crocheters who are also participating. I invite you to join my crochet group on Facebook, this is a great place to share your progress, ask questions and participate in other fun yarny shenanigans.
At the end of 2019 we will join our squares and add a border.
Save the Stash Busting CAL Bundle to your Ravelry favorites! I will update the bundle with each square as its realeased.
Materials
- #4 Worsted Weight Yarn
- 5.5 mm Crochet Hook
No shopping is required for this CAL! Dive into that over flowing yarn stash and grab your favorite colors and get started.
A word of caution, be sure to use worsted weight yarns that have similar qualities. For example: Red Heart Super Saver, Bernat Super Value and Lion Brand Vanna’s Choice would all work well together.
But I would not try and mix yarns like Caron Simply Soft with ones like Red Heart Super Saver. Your squares will end up not being the same size and the textures will be off too.
I will be using mostly Bernat Super Value with some Red Heart Super Saver and With Love Thrown in for mine.
I am not sure exactly how much yarn you will need for this project yet as I will be crocheting as we go along but just from doing a little research of other sampler afghans I am anticipating needing about 4500 yds. This not an exact number but will be a good starting point.
Tentative Schedule
I will release a free square pattern on my blog every other Wednesday starting next Wednesday, January 16, 2019. As each square is released I will add the link to the schedule listed below to make them easy to find. .
Don’t miss a pattern, sign up for my email newsletter below!
Materials and Info: Today
Square 1: Herringbone Half Double Crochet
Square 5: Paired Double Crochet
Square 6: Wide Checkers Stitch
Square 8: Tiny Flower Crochet Stitch
Square 10: Braided Crochet Stitch
Square 11: Crossed Cable Stitch
Square 12: Alpine Stitch (Raised Ripple Stitch)
Square 14: C2C Double Crochet Square
Square 15: Aligned Cluster Stitch
Square 16: Half Double Crochet V-Stitch
Square 17: MIxed Cluster Stitch
Square 19: Vertical Filet Stitch
Square 23: Bobble Stitch (Blackberry Salad)
Square 24: Interlocking Shell Stitch
Joining and Border Instructions
Join the crochet group on Facebook and show us what colors and yarns you’re using!! I can’t wait to see all your pretty squares.
I’m so excited!
Yay! Me too!
Hi… will you also send the link to the pattern via email?
Yes, for sure!
Thanks…. I not always on FB and wouldn’t want to miss something. I am so excited!
Yea! Ready!
I’m a beginner i hope i can keep up
I hope I don’t miss any. Not a good computer person
Hi! Just wondering if square 12 is on its way soon. Thank you!
Its there, I just havent updated the link yet. Click to the home page and it will be the first post that pops up.
Thank you!
Would Caron Big Cakes work or is solid colors suggested?
I think caron big cakes would work great!
Do you send any that we may have missed?
Nope, you haven’t missed anything! The first pattern will be out on Wednesday.
Hi 🙂 has the pattern been posted or emailed out?
Not yet! 🙂 It will be out by noon EST.
Do you know what worsted weight is in English wool please? Double knit or maybe Aran? Thank you.
I believe its aran.
Look forward to being a part of this. My passed away three years ago and left back bins and bins and bins of yard I believe was acquired from her garage and estates sales. This will be made in her memory. Thank you for this crochetalong!
Sorry, had an emergency and had to travel. Going to do first block but video has been removed
I am in! I’ve been trying to clear up my stash so I could start over fresh. So happy to have found this. Hope I found this early enough to get all patterns.
I am doing the square I am frustrated some seem slightly bigger than the other. I was going to quite but my mother in law told be I was not going to complete the cal cause I like immediate reward. Can it be fixed when joining together. Words of encouragement needed
Hi Zakia,
If my square is not large enough, I add more rounds to the border. Don’t let mom-in-law discourage you, add another round!
Impatiently awaiting today’s square,
Tracey
Hi, I’d love to join this CAL and use up some of my stash. However it is mostly baby dk. I guess that will be fine so long as I use the right size hook? It will just be a smaller finished piece. Is that correct?
I want to join a current Cal and enjoy being part of a group doing the same. I am a beginner so I’m looking forward to trying the different stitches. I’m not worried what the overall blanket size will be so long as it looks pretty and I will be able to achieve uniform sized squares using DK.
I’ve been lookin daily for the pattern to show on the tbd list. Will it be coming soon?
I just linked it, thank you for reminding me!
Hi. I’m loving these squares. Is there going to be a square #7? You have dates listed for #6 and #8, but no 7. These stitch patterns have so many possibilities. Can’t wait to see what’s next.
Yes there is I must have missed it when I was typing it out. Whoops!
I still don’t see a block 7 and never got an email for it. Waiting with hook in hand.
Hi! Just wondering if square 12 is on its way soon. Thank you!
Um, just curious – June 19 was a week ago – I know life can happen and it might be late, but where is block 12?
I stumbled across this CAL this week. It looks like a lot of fun! I’M excited to start. But I’M doing a CAL for a cause right now, so will have to fit it in around that.