Bollywood Nights

The other night I told Marissa we will need all these crochet blankets 'cause one day we'll live where it gets really cold. She laughed, but I told her that it has been known to snow in Malibu. Although, I would prefer to move to Forks, Washington (where it rains, like, 200 days a year!) and live in a cozy two-story Victorian house (with my vegetarian vampire husband).

Temps in Southern California today are expected to reach close to one-hundred degrees. No doubt I will be crocheting with the air conditioner on full blast. But even with the heat, I wouldn't break a sweat with the simple and stress-free stitch I've switched to for the Bollywood Blanket! The thing is, I'm not quite sure what stitch it is. (Go ahead, laugh while I go turn on the a/c).

As I was saying: the cluster stitch started out as the "Special Stitch" (photo with instructions here). But it was (ahem) too big for my liking. So I started the clusters over and eliminated a loop, bringing it to 4 loops on the hook before pulling through all of  'em. (You can tell I'll never be writing any patterns). I did find a stitch pattern that looks and sounds just like what I'm doing now:

Alternate Double Clusters
Odd number of sts (add 3 for foundation ch)

Row 1: 3 DCTOG all in the 4th ch from hook, *1 CH, skip 1 ch, 3 DCTOG all in the next ch, repeat from * to end, turn.

Row 2: 3 CH, skip first 3 dctog, *3 DCTOG in next ch SPACE, 1 CH, skip next 3 dctog, repeat from *, end 3 DCTOG under 3 ch, turn. Repeat row 2.

♥ ♥ ♥

In a previous post, I wrote that I wanted all the clusters to face the "right" way. But I changed my mind. (Mom says I have to try fifty-seven variations of something before I'm happy). I like the definition the blanket develops by having "back" and "front" rows.  And it's super easy just to keep turning and changing colors (Bethintxl on YouTube has some of the best tutorials on crocheting!) and not get lost and confused when you stop to eat a cookie!

To elaborate more on the definition, I'm making all the right-facing puffy clusters with bright Bollywood colors, and the wrong-facing clusters with tan ("Buff" in Red Heart) and Caron Simply Soft yarn (I think it's Persimmon and Mango because I remember wondering if I should throw 'em in the blender or crochet with 'em) double-stranded with pink Bernat Baby Coordinates yarn to give a flat-back shimmering jeweled look.

I honestly believe the Bollywood Blanket may be finished by Christmas! I'm so not into the whole idea of rushing through crochet and knitting projects just to get 'em done (it's the journey, blah, blah, blah) like some crafters can be. But I would love if the Rip, Rip Hurray Ripple started a tradition of having a winter holiday blanket  to look forward to. The cluster blanket is an easy pattern, you could start this weekend and begin your own tradition. If you do decide to start one, be sure to comment and link to your blog (or wherever you have photos at)! Also, if you're crocheting any kind of afghan right now, be sure to share. I'm going to need some ideas for next year! :)

Comments

[Christine]

That was a change! Frankly, I liked both blankets. Love the colors. Thanks for the heads-up on the heat. Wasn't expecting it at all. Last year we had a heat wave at the end of Sept. and I really thought we'd "escaped". Darn! :)

[BellaKarma]

Christine ~ Thanks! I love crocheting this blanket. As for the heat! OMG! It got above 102 here in Anaheim today! I was reading some of my blog posts from last year, and in one I mentioned we had a week at the beginning of November that was in the hundreds! :(

[Louise]

Hi there! I am SO glad you posted that lovely comment on my recent post as it has given me the chance to find your fab blog!!!
I love the blanket you are crocheting. I am starting a crochet cushion for my mum this week (a pattern I have done before and she loved!)... and it calls for a round of cluster stitches in each square - for some reason I really enjoyed doing that stitch! Maybe when I've not got so many projects on the go I'll have a try at your blanket!!
Lovely to 'meet' you :)

Louise xx

[BellaKarma]

Hi Louise ~ Thank you so much for checking out my blog and for leaving the lovely comment! Your Tea at Weasels blog is so much fun!

I agree, for some reason I really enjoy doing this cluster stitch too. I've been thinking of other projects to use it in, so hearing about the granny squares/pillow has me excited!

I'm definitely doing the glass jar crochet covers I saw on your blog. So funny, because I was getting ready to throw out a bunch of glass jars literally the night before I found Tea at Weasels. I dug through the trash for the jars - thankfully they were in a bag by themselves and I hadn't thrown 'em out yet.

Looking forward to seeing what you blog next! :)