Warm Heart Blanket Online Course: Part 1 (left handed)

welcome

Okey-dokey, let’s start crocheting your chunky blanket – starting is so exciting!

A little bit of advice before we start – crocheting with chunky yarn and a giant crochet hook may feel a bit strange and foreign at first. This is completely normal. You’ll find that the more you make the different stitches it will get easier and your movements will become more flowing and quicker. Take your time and persevere, you will master this.

Remember to fill in your progress worksheet as you’re crocheting.

Share your crochet photos in our Chunky Crochet for Mindful Makers Facebook group, and tag your Instagram photos with @homelealass #homelealass #warmheartblanket.

before we start - how to follow this online course

 

how to use this online course

Work through the online course lessons sequentially to make the Warm Heart Blanket.

To make the videos go faster or slower, adjust the controls in the bottom right corner of the video screen – click on the gear icon, and then change the “speed” setting.

 

how to read a crochet pattern

Before you pick up your chunky crochet hook, I’d love to explain the basics of reading crochet patterns. Reading crochet patterns is just like eating an elephant – when you take it one bite (or step) at a time, it’s easy to do.

The basic elements of crochet patterns are the stitches, and the easiest way to work through a crochet pattern is to go one stitch at a time. I’ve written this crochet pattern so it is easy for you to follow. You’ll find a lot of the elements we use here (like the terminology and abbreviations) in every good crochet pattern you come across.

 

crochet terminology

Each type of stitch has a name, and crochet patterns are written in one of two stitch terminologies – UK or US. This pattern is written in UK terminology and this is what I use in the videos. In the written instructions – if the stitch names are different, they are shown as UK terminology (US terminology).

The stitch abbreviations that are used in this pattern are in the table below:

 

number of stitches in each row

Throughout this crochet pattern, you’ll notice curvy brackets at the end of the row – this indicates the number of stitches in the row. For example, {30 sts} means that there are 30 stitches in the row. Counting the number of stitches at the end of each row is a good way to check that you haven’t gained or lost any stitches during the row.

 

turning chain

The turning chain is worked at the start of the row in this pattern and is not counted as a stitch.

 

copyright

This pattern and online course is the original work of Lynda Rennick and is covered by copyright. Do not share any of this pattern (or your access to it) without my written permission.

how to turn your skeins of Homelea Bliss into balls

Before you start crocheting your chunky blanket you’ll need to turn your skeins of Homelea Bliss into balls.

The easiest way to do this is to:

  • open the skein
  • lie the skein flat and in a circle in front of you
  • untie or cut the loops that are holding the yarn together
  • find the end
  • carefully unwind some of the yarn
  • wrap the end around your fingers a couple of times
  • slip the yarn off your fingers, fold it in two and then wind the yarn around this to start creating a ball
  • keep carefully unwinding the skein and wrapping it around the ball until you’re finished.

Do this for all your skeins. If you have a yarn swift you can put the opened skein on your swift and unwind it from here.

make a slip knot

Most crochet and knitting patterns start with a slip knot – this is an adjustable loop that becomes the first stitch. There are lots of different ways to do these, and each one works fine.

The important thing to remember is that the end attached to the ball needs to make the loop bigger and smaller and that the other end needs to be at least 30cm (11.8in) long.

place the slip knot on the crochet hook

The slip knot goes onto the crochet hook, and this will become the first stitch.

The size of the slip knot is important for determining the size and consistency of the stitches in the blanket. With practice, you will discover the right size or tension, for your crocheting.

how to hold the crochet hook and yarn

There are different ways to hold the crochet hook and yarn, and the best way to do it is to do what feels best for you – the important thing is that you can control the hook. Experiment with different ways until you find something that works for you.

I’m right-handed, and I hold the hook in my right hand and the yarn in my left hand. If you’re left-handed it’s the other way around.

make the foundation chain


The foundation chain provides the “foundation” for the first row of stitches to be worked into.

To make your foundation chain do the following:

  • put your slip knot onto your crochet hook.
  • make a chain – wrap the yarn around the hook from back to front and pull the yarn through the loop on the hook.
  • place a stitch marker through the “V” of the first chain.

At the end of a chain stitch, you will only have one loop on your hook. From now on we will refer to a chain as “ch”.

  • make another 29 ch.
  • Place a stitch marker through the “V” of the last chain. {30sts}

count the number of chain stitches

Each chain stitch has a “V” and to count the number of chain stitches simply count the number of “V”s.

crochet row 1

There is a total of 24 rows in your chunky blanket, and now we’re about to start the very first one!

To make row 1 do the following:

  • hold onto the ch closest to the hook with your hand that’s not holding the crochet hook.
  • make 2 ch (this is the turning chain, and it gets the stitches to the top of row 1 – it is not counted as a stitch).
  • make a treble (double crochet):
    • start by wrapping the yarn around the hook once.
    • slide the hook through one of the loops of the ch that you’re holding on to – do this by going through the front (side closest you) to the back. The hook moves away from you.
    • wrap the yarn around the hook again and pull it back through the loop. You should have three loops on your hook.
    • wrap the yarn around the hook again and pull it through two of the loops on your hook. You should have two loops on your hook now.
    • wrap the yarn around the hook again and pull it through the last two loops on your hook. You should have one loop left now.
  • As this is the first stitch, put a stitch marker through the “V” at the top of the treble – this will make it easy to see where the end of the row is.

We’re now going to refer to trebles as “tr” (or double crochets as “dc”).

  • make another 29 tr (dc).
  • put a stitch marker through the “V” of the last tr (dc) – this will make it easy to see where the end of the row is.

it's okay if your crocheting isn't perfect

Congratulations on finishing row 1 – you’re going well!

It’s okay if your crocheting isn’t perfect – it’s part of the learning process and you will improve the more crocheting you do. The important thing is that you’ve finished it, and it’s worth celebrating!

You’re going to learn and improve, and you may even find that your crocheting gets better after doing a couple more row.s

We’re going to continue crocheting in the next part, so do up to row 4 (we do this in part 2)  and then have another look at your crocheting. If you’re still not happy with it at the end of row 4, then pull it out and do it again.

Remember – it’s okay to be imperfect and this makes your blanket unique.

tell me what you think

Is there something you love about this pattern, or perhaps there’s something that could be improved? I’d love to hear about it, so tell me what you think here.

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