In my last post we finished reviewing Blue Ribbon Afghans and did a review of some of the patterns in The Best Of Maggie Weldon’s Crochet Afghans. I sincerely hope that my reviews have helped you decide if you would like to address a pattern that you might normally pass up. In this article we will review several more books. We’ll start with: 50 Sensational Crochet Afghans & Throws – The Needlecraft Shop. This book is worth buying! It has afghans like you’ve never seen them before and you’ll want to try all the patterns at once. Let’s start with:

Joyful squares on page 8 – This is an in-between pattern consisting of squares like you’ve never seen before! The colors in the photo are fuchsia, leaf green, teal, and lavender. What color scheme, huh? The center of the square is a green X that looks like a chain made in the X. It is edged with lavender and then fuchsia. Then a square around all of that in teal and finally several rounds of fuchsia rimmed green to tie it all together. It’s hard to explain, but take my word for it – it’s a beauty!

Arbor Rose on page 12 – A simple and smooth blanket of whitish color made in rows of bunches. At each end is a mesh section that has a crocheted trail of stems, leaves, and flowers through it all in the same off-white. Awesome Afghan. This is also classified as intermediate.

Spanish tiles on page 22 – This blanket is made up of large and small hexagon motifs and some triangles to join the rows. It is another very unusual and pretty Afghan. The pattern is made in carrot, medium thyme, gold and burgundy. Beautiful afghan for a sun porch thrown over the back of a wicker chair! This is an in-between pattern, but it doesn’t seem to be very difficult. This is one I’m going to try!

Afghan stained glass on page 41 – This is by far the most impressive Afghani I have ever seen! It is made in blocks of blue, turquoise, light mint, gold, carrot, cornmeal and black. The center is blue graduating to turquoise. Then the cornmeal is mixed with the gold and the carrot. In the four corners there is a brochure of three colors turquoise and blue. Then it is bordered with several rows of black, then a row of carrot, and then a row of black. Above the central circle of colors there is a network of black that gives it that defined look of stained glass. Only ranked intermediate! I really want to try this one! I have seen one made and it is exquisite!

Grandmother and grandchildren on page 49 – This Afghan Hound is rated easy and easy! I have done this. It’s really a huge granny square done in dark pink for 3 rows, then fern green for 3 rows, then off white for 2 rows, then gold for 4 rows, then pink for 3 rows, then fern green for several rows and so on. . When you’re done with Grandma’s big square, make the grandkids – little squares in different patterns that are sewn to each end of Grandma. Then go through it with several rows of each color. It works pretty fast. A great blanket for teens!

Hot Spicy Afghani on page 58 – Made in panels of large orange and red clusters, then the panels are crocheted with black. Really pretty and very hot and spicy! Easy graded

Contemporary grinder on page 66 – Another easy grader! This is done in squares made up of rows of hdc in 3 colors. Shown in Yellow, Tan, and Gray, but would look good in any color combination! Multiple rows of the first color, then the same number of rows of the second color, and then the same number of rows of the third color. Then the blocks are arranged with the stripes in different directions. A bit like the old rail fence pattern in padding. Great blanket for the men in your life!

Rose Lattice on page 68 – This afghan is considered experienced due to the special stitches called roll stitch. The afghan is made of green leafy squares with a bright pink flower in the center. The flower is made of the special roll stitch. The rolled stitch is as follows (in this pattern anyway) Yo 15 times loose, insert hook at indicated st, draw lp, yo and draw through 17 lps. It may take a bit of practice, but this is a workable pattern. Very pretty too.

Fantasy Garden on page 73 – Puffed stitches made in pretty flowers bordered by 3 rounds of sc. Each square is slightly different. Made with an I and J hook and in dark orchid, dusty teal, brown, carrot and light fuchsia. For example, a fuchsia flower can have a teal background, a teal flower a carrot background, a carrot flower a fuchsia background, and so on. Nice afghan for a family room. the colors could be easily changed on this one.

Loving on page 90 – Rated easy, this afghan is made in one piece, row by row. It is made from shell stitches and the designer used Red Heart Symphony yarn in Lt Rose. It has a double knotted fringe at both ends. This Afghan Hound looks soft like a summer breeze!

Dream Time Wave on page 140 – A beautiful wavy blanket made with cluster stitches. The designer used Red Heart Baby Light yarn (which is lightweight worsted) in pale yellow, lime, and a feminine print. Very soft and lacy ripple. Rated as easy.

Giggles on page 142 – this is one for the little girl in your life. Made in flamenco pink and snow Bernat Satin yarn (yarn weight) and Bernat Bubbles Bulky in baby bubble pink. It is done in rows of dc. First several white rows followed by several pink rows. Then the special stitch row (v-st and cluster) that makes the row look like little flowers. These rows are repeated until the blanket is the size you want. Then it is edged with the pink baby bubble. Adorable and rated as easy!

Grandma’s Lullaby on page 150 – Lovely baby blanket made up of large granny squares of different colors. The designer used medium weight TLC Baby Amore yarn (combed) in pink, mint, yellow, orchid and white. Rated easy, this afghan will go with any nursery!

Fun Blocks on page 156 – Smooth cc blocks made in different colors. Stitched together in a fun pattern. The colors used were rice green, dark orchid, blue, cherry red, white and black. Rated easy, you’ll have this finished in no time!

The next book I’m going to talk about is Ripple’s 40 Favorite Afghans – Leisure Arts

Wine On The Vine on page 5 – a first prize winner, this beautiful ripple is done in a variegated plum and green, dk plum, dk green and tan. The tan wave rows are spaced between the varig and plum rows. Makes a beautiful blanket. There are clusters everywhere that look like grapes on the vine!

Snowman Ridge on page 7 – The perfect wavy afghan for the winter months! The ripples are done in blue, dark blue, and white. There is a row of squares sewn into the ripple that has these cute snowmen worked into the squares. Then there are several more rows of rippling. Simply adorable!

Romantic melody on page 15 – Soft and beautiful with flowing fringes for the edging. This ripple is done in pink and ecru and the front dc post adds definition to this beauty!

Evergreen forest on page 25 – Done in dark green and white, this ripple shows off evergreens through the ripples of green and white. Great Afghan Christmas!

Daisy border on page 33 – Ripples of ecru, green, brown and a variegated brown make up this afghan. At each end are hexagonal motifs with an ecru daisy in the center. Then more rows of waves and everything is edged in an ecru picot. Very nice blanket!

American Waves on page 45 – Dc rows of curled into blocks of red and white. About five wave blocks above is a row of blue squares with star centers. Then more red and white waves, another row of stars, and more red and white waves. Very beautiful afghan

Aztec sun on page 51 – a wave made in the round! This is just beautiful when done! I have seen this in many color combinations and they are all awesome! The pattern calls for a round yellow ripple in the center that is graduated to orange and then red. then yellow, orange and red repeat and end with red approximately 60 “in diameter

Rosebud on page 61 – Beautiful curly done with a K hook in muddy green, light green and pink. There are rows of muddy green ripples, then a row of pink bunches, then more muddy green, and then another row of pink bunches and so on. Beautiful and warm!

Grandma Wave on page 63 – This undulation is made in panels of 7 squares wide. Then rows of curly (one raw row, 2 lilac rown, three med rown. Plum, 4 rows of dark plum, then medium plum then lilac then one raw row and then another panel of squares. This pattern continues until the afghan reaches a length approximately 62 “.

Azalea Lane on page 77 – Made in wavy rows of ecru, pink, green, pink and green. A cluster stitch and a puff stitch give a lacy feel to this beautiful blanket. Great for the back of the couch!

Sailboat Celebration on page 79 – This is one that I plan to do for our ship. There are rows of lieutenant blue that graduate into dark blue waves. There is a row of blocks that are made to look like sailboats (quilt pattern), then more waves from navy blue to blue, then a panel of blocks made with stars in the center (another quilt pattern) and then repeats again . Beautiful and it seems difficult, but after reading the instructions several times, it seems really easy. The book is worth buying for this pattern!

Intensity on page 85 – When I see this wave, I think of my granddaughter, Shannon! She loves these colors. This ripple is made of plain dc in dk blue, lime green, and variegated green and blue. Several of the variegated wavy rows are made from the loop stitch!

Mountain flowers on page 107 – Simple DC ripples with rows of white petals between the dark green ripples. Elegant! Made in lt green, green dk green and ecru.

Well, I think I have given you enough to think about this article. I have several more crochet books to review which I will do in future articles. Until then, happy crocheting!

Lynn