The Celtic Sampler Throw Crochet Along has Begun!

Come along with me and learn 12 Celtic Crochet style stitches in this heirloom throw! This pattern is a crochet along that includes 3 complete video tutorials (listed in pattern below), for both right & left-handers. While this is an intermediate level design, confident beginners are encouraged to give these stitches a try. Mistakes are allowed, and are part of the learning curve that we all experience.

The celtic sampler throw

Skill Level: Intermediate

Yarn: 23 skeins of Paintbox Yarn's Simply Aran (100% acrylic, 100 g/3.5 oz, 184 m/201 yd, #4 weight), or approx. 4,600 yds of your favorite worsted/Aran weight yarn. I used color #207 (Vanilla Cream).

Hooks: I (or 9/5.50 mm), and H (or 8/5.00 mm)

Notions: yarn needle, scissors

Finished Dimensions: Approximately 47" wide x 68" long

Written Pattern: Available from Etsy here! You are not “required” to purchase this pattern, although I believe the 18 pages of information and photos may be very helpful. You are free to simply watch the 3 part series of videos available freely on my Youtube channel. The right-handed & left-handed versions will be posted in this playlist.

You can find more details in this video!

For those who wish to follow along with a community of crocheters, you can join a special Facebook page I set up here. This isn’t required, but only an option for those who enjoy this kind of interaction.

One last thought as we begin this crochet along: I know some will work fast and some not so fast, so the videos will be available indefinitely so no one needs to rush of feel as if they are falling behind in any way. This is supposed to be fun and enjoyable so I want to take any pressure out of this. It isn’t a competition, but a joyful pursuit.

The Navigator Lapghan Crochet Along!

Welcome to the Navigator Lapghan Crochet Along! This special blanket is a collaboration between myself and Tiffany Hansen (of Crochet With Tiffany Hansen), and is specially dedicated to U.S. Military Veterans. You will learn 4 new stitch patterns that will be crocheted into panels, and then connected together to form a beautiful lapghan. Feel free to use yarn from your stash on this design! The Arrow and Wavy panels plus the finishing rounds will be found here on my blog post. My video links are listed below in the written pattern.

All of Tiffany’s panels (videos & pattern) can be found here on her blog:  https://www.crochetwithtiffany.com/the-navigator-lapghan-collab-project

Here’s Tiffany’s video for this panel: Video 1- The Sc Cross Stitch Panel (Right-Handed): https://youtu.be/pV-VAEI5nOc

And the Left-Handed version:   https://youtu.be/CuD7yYss_t8

Here is some more information on this throw:

Skill Level: Beginning to Intermediate

Yarn: Paintbox Yarn Simply Aran (100 acrylic, 3.5 oz/100 g, 201 yd/184 m) 8 in #SA74, 4 in #202, 8 in #SA68. This may be slightly more yarn than used, but I didn't want to underestimate. As always, feel free to substitute yarn from your stash!

Hooks: I used size J (or 10/6.00 mm), and I (or 9/5.50 mm) for perimeter round. I used a size H (or 8/5.00 mm) hook for the finishing trim rounds. Please use the size hook that you need for consistency (and gauge) in this project since both designers are using different sized hooks.

Notions: yarn needle

Finished Dimensions: approx. 39" x 46"

Gauge: approx. 13 sts = 4"

Abbreviations:

beg beginning

ch(s) chain(s)

dc double crochet

hdc half double crochet

sc single crochet

sk skip

slip st slip stitch

tr treble crochet

Complete Video Tutorials

Right-Handed: https://youtu.be/EODYhPShDYo

Left-Handed: https://youtu.be/qh72OrBX0SU

{Pattern note about color changes & loose strands: I will be cutting generous strands (approximately 5-6") and loosely making a slip knot so I can weave these in later without tying knots. Please see video for more details.}

ARROW PANEL

Using size J (or 10/6.00 mm) and medium blue yarn (#SA 74), ch 134.

Row 1: Sk first ch, sc in next ch and in each ch across, change to white yarn (#202) as you complete the last st, turn. (133 sc)

Row 2: (Arrow Row 1) Ch 3, (sk 3 sts, tr in next st, working behind last st, dc in each of 3 sts skipped) across, dc in last st, turn. (133 sts, 33 Arrow Sts begun)

Row 3: (Arrow Row 2) Ch 3, sk first st, (sk next 3 sts, tr in next st, working in front last st, dc in each of 3 sts skipped) across, dc in top of turning ch, changing back to the medium blue yarn (#SA74) as you complete the last st, turn.

Row 4: Ch 3, sk first st, dc in each st across, dc in top of turning ch, turn.

Row 5: Ch 1, sk first st, sc in each st across, sc in top of turning ch, changing back to the white yarn (#202) as you complete the last st, turn.

Rows 6 - 15: Repeat [Rows 2 - 5] 2 times, then repeat Rows 2 & 3 once more.

Row 16: Ch 1, sk first st, sc in next st and in each st across, sc in top of turning ch, fasten off, hide all loose ends into the work along row ends (see video for more detail).

CHANGE TO THE SMALLER I (or 9/5.50 mm) CROCHET HOOK!

Perimeter Round: Using the dark blue yarn (SA68), with front side facing, join at the beginning of Row 16 using a slip st, sc crochet in same place as joining and in each st across, * turn 90 degrees, ch 2, sc in same place as last st (corner formed), working in row ends, work sc evenly across to corner (27 scs).** (I worked 2 sc in each Arrow row end, 1 sc in sc row end, and 2 sc in dc row end.) At the corner turn 90 degrees, ch 2, sc in same place as last st (corner formed), working across foundation ch, sc in each ch across to corner, repeat from * to ** once more, turn 90 degrees, ch 2, join with a slip st to first sc of round, fasten off, hide loose strand. (320 sts, 4 ch-2 corners)

WAVY PANEL

Complete Video Tutorials:

Right-Handed: https://youtu.be/sQlUX4NZNCY

Left-Handed: https://youtu.be/AtKdf4bZSMc

Using size I (or 9/5.50 mm) hook, and dark blue yarn (#SA68), ch 134.

Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across (or in each st across on repeats), turn. (133 sc)

Row 2: Ch 1, sc in first st, [hdc in next st, dc in next st, 3 tr in next st, dc in next st, hdc in next st, sc in next st] across, being careful to change to the medium blue yarn (#SA74) as you complete the last st (see video for more detail), turn. (177 sts, 22 waves begun)

Row 3: Ch 1, sk first st, sc in next 3 sts, 3 sc in next st (top of wave), * sc in next 2 sts, work 3 sc dec over next 3 sts as follows: [pull up a loop in next 3 sts, yo, pull though all 4 loops on hook, sc dec made], sc in next 2 sts, 3 sc in next st (top of wave), repeat from * across, sc in the next 2 sts, work 2 sc dec over last 2 sts as follows: [pull up loop in next 2 sts, yo, pull though all 3 loops on hook], turn.

Row 4: Ch 1, 2 sc dec over first 2 sts, * sc in next 2 sts, 3 sc in next st (top of wave), sc in next 2 sts, 3 sc dec over next 3 sts, repeat from * across, ending by working a 2 sc dec over last 2 sts, being careful to change to the white yarn (#202) as you complete the last st, turn.

Row 5: Ch 4, 2 tr dec over first 2 sts as follows: [yo 2 times, pull up loop, (yo pull through 2 loops - 2 times) twice, yo, pull through 3 loops - tr dec made], * dc in next st, hdc in next st, sc in next st (top of wave), hdc in next st, dc in next st, 3 tr dec over next 3 sts as follows: [yo 2 times, pull up loop, (yo pull through 2 loops - 2 times) 3 times yo, pull through 4 loops - 3 tr dec made], repeat from * across, ending by working a 2 tr dec, turn. (133 sts)

Row 6: Ch 1, sc in each st across, being careful to change to the medium blue (#SA74) as you complete the last st, turn.

Rows 7 & 8: Repeat [Rows 1 & 2], change to dark blue (#SA68) as you complete last st of Row 8.

Rows 9 & 10: Repeat [Rows 3 & 4], change to medium blue (#SA74) as you complete last st of Row 10.

Row 11 & 12: Repeat [Rows 5 & 6], change to white (#202) as you complete last st of Row 12.

Rows 13 & 14: Repeat [Rows 1 & 2], change to medium blue (#SA74) as you complete last st of Row 14.

Rows 15 & 16: Repeat [Rows 3 & 4], change to dark blue (#SA68) as you complete last st of Row 16.

Rows 17 & 18: Repeat [Rows 5 & 6]. Do not fasten off, but hide all loose ends. Turn and continue to the perimeter round at the end of Row 18.

Perimeter Round: Ch 1, sc in each st across, * ch 2, turn 90 degrees, work 25 sts evenly along edge to next corner, ch 2, turn 90 degrees ** to work along foundation ch to next corner (see video for more details), repeat from * to ** once more, join with a slip st to first sc of round, fasten off, hide loose ends. (316 sts, 4 ch-2 corners)

FINISHING TRIM

Before working these rows, please check out Tiffany Hansen’s channel for how to connect the panels here:

video 3 - Joining Sections Right Handed =   https://youtu.be/Hh1vLWQk9cw

video 3 - Joining Sections Left Handed =   https://youtu.be/MMGv5disHZg

Complete Video Tutorials for the Finishing Trim:

Right-Handed: https://youtu.be/QrKjPZdrkBU

Left-Handed: https://youtu.be/tL8c-QDiCU8

Round 1: Continuing with the dark blue (SA#68) yarn and using a size H (or 8/5.00 mm) hook, join with a slip st in any ch-2 corner, ch 1, * (sc, ch 2, sc) in same sp (corner made), sc in each st across, working sc in each join of each panel evenly to next corner, repeat from * around lapghan, join with a slip st to first sc of round, fasten off, hide loose strands. (Stitch count may vary. It is more important that the stitches be worked evenly around.)

Round 2: Change to medium blue (#SA74) yarn, join in any ch-2 corner with a slip st, ch 1, * (sc, ch 2, sc) in same sp (corner made), sc in each st across to next corner, repeat from * around, join with a slip st to first sc of round, do not turn.

Round 3: Slip st to ch-2 corner, ch 1, * (sc, ch 2, sc) in same (or next on repeats) ch-2 sp, sc in each across to next corner, repeat from * around, join with a slip st to first sc of round, fasten off, do not turn.

Round 4: Change to white (#202) yarn, join to any ch-2 corner with a slip st, * (ch 2, hdc, ch 2, 2 hdc - hdc corner made), [ch 1, sk next st, (work Puff st as follows: (yo, pull up loop) 3 times, yo, pull though all 7 loops on hook - Puff st made)] to corner, repeat from * around, join with a slip st to top of turning ch, fasten off, do not turn.

Rounds 5 & 6: Using medium blue (#SA74) yarn, repeat [Round 3] 2 times.

Round 7: Using dark blue (SA#68) yarn, repeat Round 3 once more, TURN.

Round 8: Ch 1, [sc in each st across to corner, (sc, ch 2, sc) in corner] around, join with a slip st to first st of round, fasten off, hide rem loose ends. Block if desired.

My Top 10 Thankful List for 2024

Seems time has flown once again and the holidays are upon us! I thought I’d revisit my thankful list as I’ve done in past years, only to find out that it has been way too long since I’ve done this. Please know that I realize just how inadequate this attempt is and far too incomplete, yet I find pleasure in it nonetheless. So at this point in time, these are the 10 things for which I must give thanks:

1. I get to live in a free country where I have a say in my government, which is something the majority of people on earth will never experience.

2. I am thankful that I have the freedom and physical stamina to travel and visit family and friends.

3. I am so very thankful to have been blessed with two wonderful grandsons who are a delight!

4. I am so very thankful that I get to do what I love for a living, and get to meet some of the most amazing people in person and online (i.e. YOU!).

5. I am thankful for being able to travel to Pittsburgh, PA this year for an in person fiber festival and teach crochet classes!

6. I am extremely thankful for being able to celebrate 36 years of marriage with this handsome guy!

7. I am so blessed to have the freedom to worship God as I choose and play my flutes & whistles with the worship band at my local church again.

8. I am thankful for my church community group where we care & prayer for each other in a life-giving way.

9. I also give thanks for technology that allows me to stay in touch with my family and friends as well as make new friends online.

10. I rejoice and give thanks for the joy of knowing that my greatest problem (my sin against a Holy God), has been eliminated by my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who died on the cross and rose again so I can spend eternity with Him!

EASY KNIT Baby Blanket

Are you a crocheter who has wanted to learn how to knit but just couldn’t get it? That was me for decades until my friend and yarn store owner Lana Ford took the time to show me the Continental Method using a pair of wooden circular knitting needles! I was hooked almost immediately! For a limited time I am providing this easy pattern for free both on my blog and in my LoveCrafts store. I hope some of you pick up a set of knitting needles and give it a try. If you do, please let me know how it goes!

Description: This EASY KNIT Baby Blanket is a fun project for a beginning or seasoned knitter! The complete video tutorial (QR code below) demonstrates the Continental Method.

Skill Level:  Beginning

Yarn: Yarnspirations Caron Colorama Halo Perfect Phasing (71% acrylic, 18% nylon, 11% polyester, 8 oz/227 g, 481 yds/440 m, #5 bulky weight)

Needles: Circular knitting needles size 10 (or 6.00 mm), 40" total length (a shorter wire can be used)

Notions: yarn needle

Dimensions: approx. 23" x 23"

Gauge: 14 sts = 4"

Complete Video Tutorials:

  Right-Handed Left-Handed

Abbreviations:

BO bind off

CO cast on

k knit

kfb knit front & back (single knit increase)

k2tog knit two together

yo yarn over increase

BLANKET

CO 8 sts using a long tail cast on.

Row 1: k across, turn. (8 sts)

Rows 2 - 8: kfb in first st, k across, turn. (You will add 1 st each row. 15 sts at end of Row 7.)

Rows 9 - 110: k4, yo, k across, turn. Repeat Row 9 until blanket reaches desired width diagonally, or until you have 117 loops on your needles. (At this point my blanket measures approximately 23" x 23". If you wish to make your blanket larger, you can continue to repeat the increase row before going to the next row below that begins the decreases.)

Rows 111 - 213 (Decrease Rows): k3, k2tog, yo, k2tog, k across, turn. (Repeat until you have 17 loops remaining, and 7 center sts.)

Rows 214 - 222: k2tog, k across, turn. (Repeat until you have 8 loops remaining.)

Row 223: BO

The Meaning Behind "On a Hill Far Away" Easter Throw

On this past Monday, February 10, 2024, I finally released a new Easter Throw on the Bonnie Bay YouTube channel, Watch channel and in my LoveCrafts store. I’ve had this design on my heart for a couple of years and I’m so glad to see it become a reality. As the layout of the design and stitches were being chosen, I tried to select stitches that could visually represent the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, celebrated by Christians worldwide.

Video available on youtube here.

The main central motif is of 3 crosses, representing the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus on a Roman cross on Golgotha outside of Jerusalem. He willingly went to the cross, a perfect, sinless man, to die many (like you and me) who due to our sinful ways needed to be reconciled to a righteous and holy God. Even in his pain and suffering on this cross he offered forgiveness to a thief dying beside him (Luke 24: 39-43), as well as those performing the crucifixion saying, “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). As Christians we believe that this precious death, and followed in 3 days by his resurrection, is enough to pay our huge debt we could never pay.

Three crosses on Golgotha in Jerusalem

The rest of the various stitches are crocheted in rounds, signifying that God has no beginning and not end. Three sets of the Knurl Stitch, framed by 2 sets of the Cable Stitch represent the Holy Trinity of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

the braided cable

The Braided Cables also point to the Holy Trinity, as well as to how God is intertwined into our lives, making us stronger than we could ever be on our own (Ecclesiastes 4:12, Matthew 28:20).

The Arrow Stitch, framed by 2 sets of the Cable Stitch, visually points in a direction to the Lord Jesus Christ, who proclaims, “I am the way, and the truth, and the lift. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)

The Celtic Weave, being interwoven and seemingly without a beginning or end, represents God’s infinite qualities: omniscience, His ability to be omnipresent, and omnipotent.

Perimeter: Trimmed with the crown motif

Finally, the throw is surrounded by a perimeter of crowns. When He walked this earth the best this world could offer the perfect holy Savior was mockery, death, and a crown of thorns. He wore that crown of thorns for you and for me, again - to pay a debt He didn’t owe, to pay a debt we could never pay. Be assured that the crown He now wears is one of glory and beauty beyond any human imagination as He sits st the right hand of God the Father. (Colossians 3:1)

I do hope you enjoy this journey crocheting this throw, and perhaps even use it to meditate on the rich truth of the gospel, whether that means crocheting this during Lent leading up to Resurrection Sunday, or anytime of the year.

NEW Woven Stitch Dish Cloth....FREE for a limited time!

woven stitch dish cloth

Learn how to crochet the Woven Stitch and make a dish cloth in the process! This is a very practical way to learn a new Celtic style stitch that will build confidence to give larger projects a try as well as produce a very usable cloth for either your kitchen or bath. You can print the written pattern below for a limited time. You can watch the complete video tutorial here for right-handers, and here for left-handers.

Skill Level:  Confident Beginner

Yarn: 1 skein of I Love This Cotton Yarn (100% cotton, 3.5 oz/100 g, 180 yd/165 m) worsted weight in any color.

Hook: Size H (or 8/5.00 mm), Notions: scissors, yarn needle, 4 stitch markers

Gauge: approx. 4" = 7 sts, 10 rows = 4”

Finished Dimensions: in Woven Stitches, approx. 8" x 8.5"

Special Stitches: Woven Stitch and Low Front Ridge (in the round) - details in pattern below.

Abbreviations: ch = chain, dc = double crochet, sc = single crochet, sk = sk, sp = space, slip st = slip stitch, st(s) = stitch(es), yo = yarn over.

DISH CLOTH

Ch 25

Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across, turn. (24 sts)

Row 2: Ch 2, begin Woven Stitch as follows: (yo, insert into first {or next st}, pull up loop, pull through 1 loop on hook, yo, pull through 2 loops on hook, yo, insert hook into same st, pull up loop, pull through 2 loops, Woven Stitch completed, sk next st) across row, turn. (12 Woven Sts, 1 ch-2)

Rows 3 - 18: Ch 2, work Woven Stitch in sp inbetween first or next 2 sts across, work last Woven Stitch in ch 2 turning ch, turn.

Row 19/Perimeter Round 1: (Discontinues Woven Stitch) Ch 1, work 2 sc in the sp between the Woven Stitches and in the turning ch (24 scs), turn 90 degrees at corner, ch 2, sc in same sp as last 2 sts, working in the row ends, work (1 sc in next row end, 2 sc in next row end) across to next corner, work 1 sc in last row end (approx. 27 sts), turn 90 degrees to work across foundation ch, ch 2, sc in same place as last st, sc in each ch across (24 sts), turn 90 degrees at corner, ch 2, sc in same sp as last 2 sts, working in the row ends, work (2 sc in next row end, 1 sc in next row end) across to next corner (approx. 27 sts), working last sc in same place as first st of round, ch 2, join with a slip st to first st of round.

Perimeter Round 2: (Low Front Ridge Round 1) Before beginning round, place a stitch marker in each ch-2 corner. Ch 1, working only in the front loops, (work a slip st in each st to next corner, sk ch-2 corner, continue working a slip st in each sc across), around, use a yarn needle to for final join: drop hook, cut yarn leaving at least an 8" strand, thread into yarn needle, insert into loop of last st worked from the bottom side of loop, insert under top 2 loops of turning ch, insert back down into last loop (same loop you just went up into, hide strand into work, fasten off. (Invisible Join: see video for more details)

Perimeter Round 3: (Low Front Ridge Round 2) With front side facing, make a slip knot, join with a ch to any ch-2 corner, ch 1, (work 3 sc in ch-2 corner, working in remaining loop from Perimeter Round 1, sc in each st across) around, do not work in last loop on last side, join with another Invisible Join as in  Perimeter Round 2. Fasten off, hide any remaining loose ends.

A Mini-Miracle Yarn Story from Florida

I recently received this email from a crocheter in our online community about this unusually special wedding gift and have her permission to share with you. Please sit down and enjoy her story with me. She tells it best…

Bonnie,
I finished the Winter Cabled Throw for my niece’s engagement present. I love this pattern. It drew oohs and ahhs from the guests at the party and my niece cried with joy. 
I lost most of my yarn during Hurricane Ian in Florida but there’s a mini-miracle story attached to the yarn in this blanket. I’ve attached the letter I presented with the blanket which explains.  

Dianne K.

Here’s her letter to her niece:

Dear Lindsay and Alex,

I’m writing this on October 4, 2022, six days after Hurricane Ian hit my community in Florida. This blanket has a story. It is very special. Not because I made it but because I believe God had a hand in getting it finished and delivered to you…

I had been working on this blanket for months and was about half finished, bringing up a few skeins of yarn at a time from the storage crates in my garage. Then Hurricane Ian hit on Wednesday, September 28. The storm forced 5 feet of water into my garage. Forty-two 65 qt. plastic bins of yarn were destroyed, soaked with salt and sewer waters. I just stood there and felt sick to my stomach, because I had just lost all of my yarn and I did not know how I was going to finish your gift!

When the waters receded, I noticed on the other side of the garage one lone bin that had landed upright with the latched top intact. Upon opening the bin, my heart immediately filled with joy, because I had just witnessed a miracle! Inside the bin it was clean and fresh and all of the yarn was bone dry! The “miracle” was that the yarn in this “lone bin” was the yarn that I was using for “your” gift! Noah’s ark came to mind. When everything around it was destroyed, the ark floated above the destruction and landed upright and intact because of God’s mercy and grace.

I rejoiced out loud saying, “Thank you, Lord!” I thought, this is a good sign for Lindsay and Alex. Let me tell you why I think that…

First, you need to know that when a yarn artist makes a handmade blanket for a person, a lot more than yarn and time and workmanship goes into it. The crafter puts a piece of her heart into it. I believe that God has granted a special grace by saving this particular yarn. God is the Artist here and I am merely His hands. Along with my love, His grace is worked into every stitch. As I finished the stitching, I prayed prayers of thanksgiving and praise to Him. Those prayers are also worked into every stitch.

This blanket has survived a great storm, just as you will inevitably survive stormy times in your life together. God will bring you through those storms. His hands have touched this blanket in a miraculous way. As you wrap yourselves in it, know that you are wrapping yourselves in God’s grace and protection. He will be with you always.

With all my love,

Aunt Dianne