What happens when you mix Red Heart Super Saver Bitty Stripes with Red Heart Super Saver to create two worlds of crochet mashed together? Introducing the Study of Complicated Blanket. This is part of the Study Of series that Mikey knows.
The Study of Complicated is designed around the complications of relationships: the push, the pull, and problem-solving. The obvious answers are not so obvious.
This blanket is being designed with Yarnspirations in mind for release in the summer of 2025.
Yarnspirations asked that The Study of Reality Crochet Blanket get pushed forward to Spring instead of the summer. This meant a hole was left in our scheduling for summer.
Back Story
I was thinking about granny squares' trends, but I didn't want to deviate from the textures I love. Knowing that granny squares can be shaped into trapezoids, I wondered if we could do a signature start and then transition to picking up grannies. Then, continuing onward.
The centre of the circle design came second nature to me, but then I had to finish one and figure out how to shape a granny square into a trapezoid. There is a lot of technical math involved, and it took me about 10 hours of trial and error before I got it to work. The angle of the granny matters the most, with the stitch counting on the smaller size being the big deal.
I created Crochet Diagrams, one after the other, to figure out the granny trapezoid design. I didn't give up.
Yes, a glass of wine or three was involved. One thing I hated is sewing the trapezoids together. It looked like shit. However, I figured out how to add the ring to the main circle without sewing, using the petals to hide the join.
I didn't like the way it was shaping after I had completed the circle, and I left the blanket sitting for a month. I needed a rethink of my concept.
I had to reset mentally, start fresh with new yarn, and figure out the join-as-you-go for the circle ring. It was successful, but then I got stuck again.
The blanket was taken apart several times from the last photo above to figure it out, as the blanket kept misshaping and ruffling out.
I eventually got over the math complications and started pounding into it.
Daniel came up with the concept of adding flowers to the edge of the 21 points. I came up with Unicorn Flowers, but the finished sample won't be done in the Red Heart Super Saver Bitty Stripes, as shown here. It will be solid colours.
When the blanket is rolled up with the right side facing out, it will look like a flower bouquet, with the textures acting as fancy textured tissue wrap.
Final Sample
I am working through the final sample and don't have exact yarn amounts yet. I was using the scrap yarn above for the other two samples. My goal is not to go over 2 balls for any of the colours with the exception of the Contract C White.
Red Heart Super Saver, 198 g/7 oz, 333 meters/364 yards
- Contrast A - Dark Orchid
- Contrast B - Shocking Pink
- Contrast C - White
- Contrast D - Lavender
Red Heart Super Saver Bitty Stripes, 283 g/10 oz, 471 meters/515 yards
- Contrast E - Grapey
Hook 5 mm / H/8 Crochet Hook or size needed to obtain gauge.
Gauge 14 sc and 15 rows = 4” [10 cm] 4”.
The pattern will be free for the written instructions and video tutorials, but the crochet diagrams will be an add-on purchasable item. At the time of publishing this, there are nine crochet diagrams, but I suspect there will be eleven when all is done.
The stitch-along will not be in an obvious order; we will start with making the 21 flowers for week 1, then the centre section, continuing onto the ring of granny trapezoids, then another week of round stitches and finishing off with conversations to the pointed 21-star shape. It will not transition to a square.
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