Stix on the Beach: Tales From The Happiest Hooker!

Hooray For Bollywood!

The completed crocheted Bollywood Blanket is making its debut!


Ever since 2006, when I made the Stripes (and Stripes) Forever Scarf from Stitch 'N Bitch Crochet: The Happy Hooker, I have always wanted to turn it into an Indian-inspired afghan. Then last Autumn I started seeing the cluster stitch being used a lot in all kinds of awesome designs. The shape and texture of the stitch appeared to be what I had in mind for a natural, almost stone-like, look. Stone, not to be confused with the natural, stoned-like look I often possess. The idea for the Bollywood Blanket was born!

Researching for my next movie project — er — my next knitting project.

Four months in the making! It probably could have been finished in four weeks if I hadn't taken a three month hiatus. A cluster stitch blanket is super fun, super easy, super quick, super pretty and will make you look like a superstar crocheter!

A cluster blanket like the "Bollywood" is an ideal first project for beginners because of the basic crochet involved that becomes perfect with practice:
Single Crochet Stitch (Written/Video)
Double Crochet Stitch (Written/ Video)
Changing Colors in Double Crochet (Written/Video)
Instructions on the cluster stitch and crocheting over tails as-you-go are at the bottom of this post.

Kali, the namesake of the Hindu Goddess, approves of the Bollywood afghan.

Basic Blueprint for the Bollywood Blanket

Hook: H
Size: 37 inches wide, 72 inches long

The Stitch: Alternate Double Clusters
Odd number of sts (add 3 for foundation ch).
The Bollywood foundation chain: 249 PLUS 3.

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.

Written instructions: How to Crochet a Cluster Stitch For Dummies.
Video instructions (repeat steps for larger cluster): Crochet Geek  Cluster Stitch


Borderline, Feels Like I'm Going To Lose My Mind. I was going crazy deciding on a border to use on the top and bottom of the blanket. I didn't want anything too busy. The best choice turned out to be two clean lines of single crochet, much like the wider ones on the sides. Be sure to do the wide, side borders first, though.


The Yarn: Red Heart Super Savers, a Caron One Pounder and a Side of Six-Year-Old Sparkly Stash.
Red Heart Super Saver Aruba Sea
Red Heart Super Saver Buff
Red Heart Super Saver Carrot
Caron One Pound Rose
Bernat Baby Coordinates Pink Double-Stranded with:
Caron Simply Soft Sunshine
Caron Simply Soft Persimmon
and...
Sparkly Novelty Yarns


Crocheting Over the End Tails As You Go: Or "How To Finish Your Blanket Much, Much Sooner." I haven't come across the how-to video of this technique that I learned from. Now that I know how to use our tripod (pause for laughter), I may just end up making one of my own.


A Wet Blanket. As soon as you bind off the last row, run to the nearest washing machine! The sooner you can do this, the sooner you can toss it in a dryer with several fabric softeners! Then you can spend the rest of your life squeezing the insanely soft cluster stitches.


You've Made Your Blanket, Now Lie In It. Don't just fold it over a chair and take pretty pictures of it — use it and enjoy it in every way! Sleep with it! Let the cat sleep on it! Eat a picnic and play Scrabble on it! Curl up with a cup of coffee and read Game of Thrones in it! Avoid watching full-frontal nudity and bloody beheadings on Game of Thrones by covering your eyes with it (oh, who am I kidding?)! Or even give it to someone who will love it too.

In a single day

 

I woke up on Tuesday — which was forecast for rain all day — ready and raring to go! No one had to be anywhere, so I knew I could kick back on the couch, cup of coffee within arm's reach, watch the rain come down, and crochet the day away.

Of course, it never did actually rain here in Anaheim. There was, however, clouds and howling wind, creating enough of an ambiance to give a boost to my motivation to finish up the Bollywood Blanket!

After completing the last couple of rows of clusters, I had to check how to make a single crochet stitch...again...so I could start matching the bottom with the top design. Shockingly, I had all (and enough!) of the novelty yarn required from when it started out as a scarf...six years ago. Not that I like things to be all matchy-matchy, but I wanted that balance with this blanket.

It wasn't finished by Tuesday night, but I got a lot more done with the wind than I anticipated. Just a few more rows of single stitches and two length-wise borders, which I'm pretty sure will be of picot stitches, then it's hooray for Bollywood!

 

 

Back in the Loop

 

I've been crocheting again and it's been great! Of course it took being camped out on the couch with cramps to get me back in the loop, but it's cool 'cause the Bollywood Blanket is almost complete! Back in December when Kali and I were having our slumber party, I decided to decrease what I had planned for the width of the afghan. At that point, it was the perfect size to cover up with on the couch without half of it hitting the floor! And I had already changed what I had in mind for the orientation after realizing the rows looked better running vertically versus horizontally. I am, however, a bit baffled by how to do the borders, so here's hoping for a moment of brilliancy!

Aside from the afghan looking pretty, I  knew it was time to wrap up because it felt cozy and comfortable. And also because I started to feel bored with it. Any more would just be more of the same — and I believe more would not add to the attractiveness, instead it would distract. I do not share this philosophy when it comes to mascara, though.

all in a row

Yesterday there was a light drizzle and a need to turn a lamp on at noon. Days like that are when I am most inspired and motivated. When it is hot outdoors, I lay around and lack ambition. But when there's a chance of rain coming down is when I feel the most up and at 'em!

(Days like yesterday are also a reminder of how it will soon get harder to take photos from inside the apartment and I would rather pour kerosene in my eyes and light them on fire than ever use flash).

I've been getting things all in a row because there's going to be a change in my routine starting this weekend (because my daughter Marissa is going to be working somewhere magical!). And after literally seeing a sign this past weekend, I will be busy starting something (that's not a business!) that I promised myself to aspire to attempt after we made it through our frightening financial crisis.

 
At night I've been switching back and forth between reading a real book and crocheting the Bollywood Blanket. I'm halfway through The Radleys: A Novel ― about a Vampire family living a normal life in a small village in modern-day England. I much prefer reading about a Vampire family living a normal life in a small town in modern-day Washington. The biggest difference between these two stories of undead families is one has heart.

But if you're like me and have a library card that you actually use, then definitely check out The Radley's! It won't cost you anything to give it a try and there are some great lines of humor scattered throughout. I'm just really glad I did not buy it for fifteen bucks at Barnes & Noble when out shopping a few weeks ago.

And just to be clear: I was not paid for that review.

What I am halfway done with and totally excited about is the Bollywood Blanket! It has been the perfect simple and fun cluster crochet project I was craving to do! When it's complete, I'll put up  the specs — including which and how many yarns were used and ways to save cash on 'em. And for the love of Gandolf, I will show you how easy it is to weave in the tails as you go.

You know I am all about the Big Reveal, so the photos are totally misleading as to how huge this blanket really is: when it's all done, it will be appoximately 62 inches long and 77 inches wide! Just the right size to roll myself up in a Bollywood blanket burrito!

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! :)