Shadow Reflections AfghanFiber Passions Out on a Limb
This blog has been almost entirely sitting here doing nothing. Amazingly unless I put something into the blog nothing happens. Imagine that something worthwhile might take some effort. My efforts of late have almost entirely involved baking, family, reading, working but most of all fiber. Not the edible kind....mostly. My efforts have involved knitting and crocheting. As my son said at Christmas, "We don't understand each others passions but we accept them." I don't understand wanting to ride a bicycle but that is his passion and I accept that. He certainly doesn't understand fiber arts but accepts that it is my passion. He is also not adverse to accepting the products of my passion! Recently while reading on a forum I really, really like, Knitting Paradise one of the members posted an absolutely beautiful crocheted bedspread/afghan she had just finished. Of course, since all members are fiber addicts, we clamored for the pattern. Through private messaging she shared the pattern with a few of us. It is an old pattern, copyright absolutely unknown. She received the pattern from a woman who has since passed away. What she received is a photo copy of the pattern without any copyright information. It is difficult to read and crumpled and re-photo copied many times. Fiber artists are generally very generous people and love to share their patterns with others. Some fiber artists also sell some of their patterns. We all want to respect their right to do so and we all, me included, buy their patterns to show our support. BUT how can we show this respect and still let the beauty of this particular afghan be shared in the community. We have no one to pay money to. We have no one to ask permission for posting to the group. I have searched the internet for hours and found nothing. I've written to Bernat yarn for information and they have no information about this pattern. What can we do? We can let this pattern fade away into oblivion like so many have done over the centuries never to be resurrected for the next artist or generations. We can surreptitiously share it with just a few until all memory of it fades as a formally published pattern. We can step out on a limb and publish it in the hopes that others will get joy of the pattern or that the original author will see this post and let us know where to purchase the pattern.I'm stepping out on that limb:
SHADOW REFLECTIONS AFGHANHook: H-8 or size to reach gauge
Yarn: Bernat Yarn by Spinrite 3.5oz or *shown in photo above Red Heart Classic 3.5oz or yarns of your choice in worsted weight
A: Eggplant 8801*
B: Winter White *
C: Rose 8921 or Pink 737*
D: Arbutus 8922 or Grenadine 730*
E: China Rose 8923 or Cherry Pink 746*
F: Dark Antique Rose 8817 or Claret 762*
G: Pale Damson 8853 or Lilac 353*
H: Light Damson 8854 or Lavender *584
I: Medium Damson 8855 or Cassis 591*
J: Damson 8996 or Purple 596*
K: Pale Colonial Blue 8863 or Light Periwinkle 827*
L: Light Colonial Blue 8862 or True Blue 822*
M: Medium Colonial Blue 8861 or Skipper Blue 848
N: Deep Colonial Blue 8860 or Soft Navy 853*
O: Pale Teal 8846 or Nile Green 679*
P: Light Teal 8845 or Parakeet 518*
Q: Medium Teal 8844 or Peacock Green 508*
R: Deep Teal 8843 or Teal 48*
Stitches Used:
Chain, single crochet plus the following variation:
One Double Treble at Front of Work (1dtr/rf):
Wrap the yarn around the hook three times, insert hook from front, under the remaining front loop (lp) of designated stitch, complete as normal.
Gauge: 4 sts=1 inch; 4 rows=1 inch
If you are getting more stitches to the inch, you are working tightly and should change to a larger size hook. If you are getting fewer stitches to the inch, you are working loosely and should change to a smaller size hook. Check your gauge as you progress to assure the correct size.
*, **--Directions following *, ** are to be repeated the number of times specified.
Pattern Notes: All sc are worked in back loops only; all dtr/rf are worked under the unworked from loop of designated stitch four rows below working row. Work each row from the right side, do not turn at the end of any row.
DIRECTIONS:
With color A, ch259 leaving a 4-in tail. When chain is complete, cut yarn 4-in from end of chain.
Start and end each row leaving 4-in of yarn for fringe.
ROW 1: With Color A and sl st on hook 4 -in from end of the yarn, sc in each of 259 sts leaving 4-in of yarn at the end of the row for fringe.
ROWS 2-8: Repeat Row 1.
ROWS 9-14: With Color B, repeat Row 1
NOTE: Rows 9-30 = one 22 row repeat from * to * # times
ROW 15: With Color C, *working in back lps only, sc in next 6 sts, work 1 dtr/rf in front of unused lp four rows beneath working row* (7th st of Row 11), repeat between * across ending with 1 sc in last 21 stitches.
ROW 16: With Color D, *sc in next 6 stitche, dtr/rf in 8th stitche four rows beneath working row*, repeat between* across ending with 1 sc in last 20 stitches.
ROWS 17-30: Continue working in the same manner as above following the color shading sequence listed alphabetically above. There will be one less sc at the end of each row. On the last row of shading (Color R) end with 1 sc in each of next 6 sts in back lp.
ROWS 31-184: Repeat Rows 9-30, 7 more times for a total of 8 repeats.
ROWS 185-190: sc in back lp only across, using Color B.
ROWS 191-198: sc in back lp only across using Color A.
Finishing: To make additional fringe, wind yarn around 4 inch pieces of cardboard and cut at one end. Double 2 strands of yarn to from a lp, insert crochet hook into end of st and pull lp through. Draw ends through lp, pull end st and pull lp through. Draw ends through lp, pull to form knot. Work fringe into each end st using corresponding color. Trim ends for neatness, to 4 -in.
Abbreviations:
ch=chain
sc=single
crochet lp=loop
st(s)=stitch (stitches)
dtr/rf= double treble at front of work
rep=repeat
bet=between