My Study of Series was developed many years ago during the recreation of a project I had free-formed in 2013.
The blanket was made with Bernat Mosaic Yarn, and I was captivated by the colouring. I decided to go through the blanket stitches I knew, but I had significant buckling issues with them.
The blanket sucked in in the middle so much that it warped. I had free-formed to return the shape, but realized I couldn't write a pattern well. So it was my journey.
I had taken it to craft shows as an example of what I can do when people love something. What are the first words out of their mouth? "Where's the pattern?" There was no pattern. I didn't have one.
Over the years, Daniel kept reminding me about the uniqueness of this blanket and that I need to figure out a way to design it and write the pattern. This began the journey of what we know today. The Study of... Series by me.
One of the biggest joys of my series is that I can go in any direction I wish. The series doesn't suggest a shape or stitch structure. The only constant thing is that each blanket is a stitch sampler.
Sometimes the blankets work themselves out easily in the design phase, while others are nail-biters, trying to get them to work. Of course, with complexity, there are always errors somewhere in the pattern. I've come to accept that, while I get it, to some, they want an error-free pattern as the pattern is launching. Don't we all.
Original of Study Series Name
The name, The Study, came to me while designing the first written pattern version of The Study of Texture. We were watching one of Daniel's joys, a travelling chef on Netflix. The chef was doing a Study of Berries, trying to determine the best. The name of The Study really hit me, and I thought, I'm doing the study of stitches and primarily an exploration of textures.
Over the years, I have developed several in my series and one of them, I collaborated with Jeanne to include texture and unique stitchwork.
Below is the Study of Series, some of which you may have missed.
#1 The Study of Texture Afghan
The Study of Texture Afghan was the first of many that came out of my mind. Part of the issue during the launch was that I filmed the pattern from my notes and not the actual finished PDF. It worked on camera but didn't work in the PDF. So there was a bit of a hiccup with this.
So the videos today match my notes but don't match the PDF. In this version, you can either follow the video 100% or follow the pattern but they don't match each other. Filming a blanket takes about 60 hours. So it requires motivation and there's never a guarantee I will get it right the second time.
Thousands of crocheters have made this design and the results are so fantastic.
.
.
#2 The Study of Planet Earth
This was originally going to be a circle to a hexagon to a square but I couldn't figure out how to get to a square without a lot of song and dance. On TV was a documentary about the earth's stability and layers. As I was crocheting this, I thought to myself, maybe the blanket could represent The Study of Planet Earth. So that became my motivation for stitches applied to it.
.
.
#3 Study of Transition & Texture
The Crochet Study of Transition & Texture Afghan is a simpler textured-based project. As an educator, sometimes I just want to crochet for myself without the pressure. So I looked at the Red Heart Colorscape and thought to myself, what can I do with this yarn and satisfy my need to crochet without a lot of thought after I have learned the design and just hook and be happy in my own free time.
This Study allowed me to sit back and watch TV without a lot of concentration. It's one of the most popular in the series but never hit the mainstream in pattern listing on Yarnspirations as others have.
.
.
#4 Study of Flowers Afghan
aka Flora Afghan
A major series focused on large squares with 3D flowers popping up from them. This is the Flora Afghan.
A crocheter had asked me to design the Chrysanthemum Square from the free pattern from Yarnspirations with the Chrysanthemum Dishcloth. I figured it out but the very next day, the idea morphed.
I was sitting one weekend as Daniel was watching Monty Don's exploration of gardens. We binged it. In the first episode, I thought, what if made a square that looked like something I had seen. In an artistic way, of course.
There are 7 different squares in this series that are all the same size. You can mix and match and have a lot of colour play. In fact, during a live broadcast from my desk, this wall art is hanging in a frame. Here are the instructions for this particular adaptation of the Flora Afghan. It's the same pattern as the Flora but miniaturized with Patons Grace Yarn.
You can actually make the afghan all with 1 square as well. I made the Lilies in August square as a separate blanket altogether. You can have some fun with this design to mix, match, customize or whatever.
.
.
#5 Crochet Better Together Afghan
Collaboration is tough when two people have opposing views of what the pattern should be. However, it causes you to examine your goals and where you need to flex the strategy. Jeanne and I developed this one and we realized, instead of surprising each other, we come up with a strategy. By the end of the development of this Better Together Afghan, each of us had our signature look inside one fabulous project.
.
.
#6 The Study of Possibilities Afghan
This afghan is now ready to enjoy. Free pattern is now available.
.
.
#7 The Study of Geometry Afghan
The Study of Geometry Afghan was one of the hardest studies I have ever designed. The angle in which they connect was a real problem. It took me 3 solid attempts before I got it right. I nearly quit a few times in desperation of hitting failures each time.
In the end, though, depending on the colours you choose, this has a 3D look to it. Daniel insisted the Tulip Stitch be included, so I solved the problem of how to incorporate those into the design. The design has red and yellow tulips, and this represents a botanical garden of everything in modules, with the darker blue representing sidewalks.
.
.
#8 The Study of Fire and Ice
Study of Fire and Ice Blanket The Crochet Study of Fire and Ice Blanket is an adaptation based on The Study of Transition Blanket done in 2019.
Since 2019, Red Heart Colorscape was discontinued and the type of yarn it was and was stunning to look at but also pricey to crochet. Instead of letting the pattern fall, I have redone the sample and jigged up the instructions to match Caron One Pound and Caron Jumbo yarn together. Also, I have included a crochet diagram to follow as well. It's in the free download of this pattern.
The stitch multiple is 4+1.
The zig-zag basketweave section was changed so you wouldn't go over the 1 ball of the Caron Jumbo for each stripe. In this example, the Caron Jumbo Zinnias is a sharp colour that resembles bold and bright like fire. There is a difference in this section versus The Study of Transition.
.
.
#9 Study of Ombre Afghan
The Study of Ombre Afghan launched in Summer 2022 for the Annual Summer Stitch Along with our friends at Yarnspirations. It was originally designed to be a snowflake afghan that failed and the design was put on hold for a rainy day.
Using Red Heart Super Saver Ombre, the afghan lets the colours play their own tune as you crochet.
At the time of updating this article, the stitch-along is in progress and will be completed by August 4th. The full pattern without sign-up will be available in the fall of 2022. It's a free pattern, of course.
.
.
#10 Study of The Journey
This was designed for book and is a main featured pattern inside. The written instructions, pattern diagrams and more are inside this book. The pattern is not downloadable.
In keeping with the honour of teaching online, the entire pattern has been filmed in tutorial format. It's free to access the tutorials and matches the book's instructions. However, if you want the written instructions or diagrams shown, you will need to purchase our book.
#11 of Temperature Afghan
The Study of Temperature Afghan will be released in late summer 2022 as a new concept to simplify the #temperatureblanket concept has been developed.
This is using Caron One Pound yarn.
Mikey re-imagined the concept, stripped back the problems with #temperatureblankets, and devised more doable and achievable milestones.
The concept can use existing data or you can play out the real-time data as it's happening. Maybe isolate a year of someone's birthday, graduation or memorial. Maybe capture your own environment in afghan format.
How it will turn out will be unique to you. Mikey has given tools to customize and strategize your way to success. Also, Mikey invited Marly Bird to be part of this with the same structured content but with a unique knit scarf.
.
.
#12 Study of Determination Blanket
The Study of Determination Blanket, designed by Mikey, is a sampler that makes synchronizing swimming look easy! It uses Red Heart Comfort yarn.
-
-
The pattern is a stitch-along and will release new sections every Thursday for August 2023. After August 2023, the design will be put into one mega pattern for download.
Mikey designed the afghan back in August 2022 and just made quick diagram notes for the design but when it came to the finished piece, it's been rough! Squeezing into a floatie is a lot easier! In the end, I determined to make the stitches work to do a 'ta dah' moment in the end.
#13 Study of Snow Blanket
A weekend of design created the Crochet Study of Snow Blanket. An easy repeating and fast project where texture is the king. Using Bernat Blanket, the pattern worked up quickly and thus a brand new design came off the brain and into Mikey's hands.
.
.
#14 Study of Puff Dessert Lap Blanket
The study of puff dessert lap blanket focused on a two-row repeating pattern that looped like icing on a cake with a piping tube.
A pattern that can be sized to change the pattern width. It is easy to repeat once you understand the two different rows. This is using Bernat Blanket yarn.
.
.
#15 Study of Snow Days and Hot Chocolate Blanket
Stuck at home during a snow storm was the focus of this cool stitch sampler. It was designed in August to be ready for the snow days of winter. Daniel suggested doing a large interior and making it circle with other squares to bring it together as one. This is the Study of Snow Days with Hot Chocolate Blanket.
This study uses Caron One Pound yarn.
.
.
#16 Study of Christmas Cookies Throw
Designed with the intention of Christmas in July to be ready for the following Christmas. Coloured and detailed like a big massive sugar cookie. This is the Study of Christmas Cookies Throw.
Easy to follow for some, challenging for others. The tutorials will show you the way. This blanket uses Red Heart Soft yarn.
.
.
#17 Study of Rage Lap Blanket
It was designed with the intention of channelling rage over a situation Mikey had. This blanket was designed and crocheted in two days to channel an infuriating into the stitches. To speed up the design, Mikey used Bernat Blanket yarn.
Bottling up rage is unhealthy; instead, he pounded it into something tangible and beautiful. Mikey designs the best when negativity is the source of throwing the kitchen sink at the patterns.
.
.
#18 Study of Reality Blanket
The Crochet Study of Reality Blanket was developed using yarns from Yarnspirations. Daniel combined the colours from Bernat Super Value yarn to make this combination. Ultimately, it only used five balls of yarn.
This is the first time Mikey has tried to complete corners like this instead of growing out from going continuously around. It was a way to speed up the progress to the square format.
During the creation of this, Mikey was watching The Traitors with Alan Cumming. The pattern is easy to create, and watch the drama unfold.
.
.
Stitch-Along.jpg">
Dianne says
What color did you use on the Journey. The orange,pink blue lavender one? Love your video's and patterns! I have done most of them.
Wendy Maruna says
He breaks down the colors he used on that one further down in the article. The section right before the tutorial videos is where you will find those color names.