Edited to add: This page has now been translated to by the lovely Sarit Grinberg: groovyghan-introduction-HEBREW
Following a poll I conducted on Facebook, about doing a Crochet-A-Long (CAL) for 2016, and if I did what we should do the CAL on, the resounding answer was for a ‘Groovyghan’. This is rather cool because I’ve always wanted to have a go at making one…and now I get to design one!
The ‘Everything is Cool and Groovyghan CAL’ will start on 13 January 2016. The tutorials for each part will be released every two weeks on a Wednesday on my blog where they will remain available forever.
This is a mystery crochet-along for a rectangular mixed motif blanket where either blocks or rows will be introduced every two weeks. Lots of different shapes and stitches will be incorporated so it won’t get boring and there will be plenty of opportunity to play with colour!
As well as posting information on this blog I’ll also be linking the information in my KCACO-UK Community Facebook Group, which if it’s anything like last year, is a great source for support and helpful tips from fellow Crochet-Alongers: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1512395979046485/
So on to the fine details of the CAL…this is a bit of a long post so bear with me!
DETAILS OF THE CAL:
- There is no charge to join the CAL; anyone can join in as long as they have some yarn and a hook.
- All featured pattern elements in the CAL will be FREE of charge patterns if released separately from the CAL.
- For those that like a deadline I will be adding new details about each square every two weeks on a Wednesday at 7 pm-ish (GMT time) – see below for full schedule. For those that want to hook when they have the time then that’s fine too; no pressure to this CAL it’s all about having fun!
- For this blanket I will be using double knit/8 ply/yarn weight #3 and a 4mm (US size G); though you could use worsted /aran/ yarn weight #4 with a larger hook (US size H) for a larger blanket if you wish to.
- I will be using both UK and US crochet terminology in the pattern (UK/US) so you can pick your preference. I will also always link a conversion chart and any helpful information about each element including links about special stitches with the release of each new section.
YARN:
I’ve designed this CAL to be a stash-buster to use up bits of yarn you might have lying around (in my case lots) or you can buy new. I estimate that you will need at least:
- 12 skeins of Double Knit (1200g / 3600m / 3936 yards) OR
- 14 skeins of Aran / Worsted (1400g / 2744m / 2996 yards)
Please note that these amounts are approximated – actual finished blankets may vary depending on yarn and hook used and own personal tension when crocheting. I would always round up a bit as some stitches take more yarn that others.
As for colours; well this giant bag of multi-toned blues from my stash is going to be the colours I use this time.
I would suggest, if you do buy new, that at a minimum of at least 3 colours would look best. I’m of the opinion this time that the more colours the merrier this time round – it is a groovyghan after all! If you are looking for inspiration for colours to use why not have a look at the Design Seeds website – though be prepared to loose a good chunk of your time ogling all the lovely colour schemes!
THE SCHEDULE:
- January 13th – Part 1
- January 27th – Part 2
- February 10th – Part 3
- February 24th – Part 4
- March 9th – Part 5
- March 23rd – Part 6
- April 6th – Part 7
- April 20th – Part 8
- May 4th – Part 9
- May 18th – Part 10
- June 1st – Part 11
- June 15th – Part 12
- June 29th – Part 13
- July 13th – Part 14
- July 27th – Part 15
- August 10th – Part 16
- August 24th – Part 17 / Border
- September 7th – BIG REVEAL
GROOVYGHAN SCHEMATIC:
As the groovyghan is made up from several different components I’ve drawn up this schematic for you to help with visualisation / joining together of each part.
I am so looking forward to see everyone’s groovy blankets develop over time! Stay tuned for part 1 released on January 13th.
I signed up for this and it looks like it will be Fun!
Glad to have you join us Karen 🙂
I’m really excited about this! It will be my 2nd CAL and my 2nd proper crochet project. will be using 5 or 6 colours in Aran. Am thinking autumnal yellows/oranges/reds… or maybe pinks/purples… will there be tutorials like there were on the last Afghan CAL?
Hi Lesley, Ooooo I’m loving the sound of the autumnal colours! Yes I am hoping to produce more support for this CAL than last years. As this will be solely my work and not the work of other designers I am definitely going to try and include at least a photo tutorial as well as the written pattern for each part – wish me luck lol!
Hi. Was really looking forward to this, but might have to give it a miss. Would it be possible for the photo tutorials to be on a separate page to the written pattern? I only have a phone and the first pattern page takes forever to load 🙁
Hi Julie, the pattern for the squares is available on Ravelry as a PDF download, does that make it easier? It still includes the photo tutorial though: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/tri-tonal-traditional-granny-square
Love the layout of this!! excited even if i didn’t finish last years LOL
Awww bless you Marie – last years CAL will always be there if you need it x
I HOOK A CRAZYGHAN, USING ALL SMALL BALLS A YARN. THEY ARE A HIT WITH FRIENDS. DO A GRANNY OR ANY SIMPLE PATTERN.
Hi Cinny, this is definitely designed to use up yarn you have lying round the house! The pattern I’ve designed will hopefully not be too difficult for everyone to join in, I hope you will join us 🙂
Would love to do this.
I hope you will join us Jane – it should be fun 🙂
Ooooh something to look forward to 🙂
Glad you can join us Elly 🙂
I’m wondering if you can tell us how much yarn yardage each weeks clue will take? I would like to use my stash yarn and plan to color coordinate. I have more of some colors than others. Based on your schematic it looks like some weeks will take more yardage than others. It would be helpful to plan the design if you could give an estimate. if possible 🙂 thanks, xo
Hi Deb, that is a very good question; I’m personally using up my stash too to make up the sections so I haven’t made any yardage notes – I’ll look into that! What I have done is to use complimentary colours (in this case blues) so that it coordinates, also if I have more than one colour I’m planning to use it on a couple of the larger parts rather than the smaller parts of the CAL, with perhaps hints of the colour in the smaller parts to help bring it altogether.
Question. I’m confused by the description of double knot yarn. Can I simply use regular old worsted weight yarn? Like Red Heart Super Saver or Caron Simply Soft? That’s what I have most of. Thanks in advance.
Hi Onna, double knit yarn is 8ply so it’s a bit thinner than worsted weight which is 10 ply but you can most certainly use worsted for the blanket, it just means that you will have a slightly larger blanket at the end 🙂
I’m looking forward to starting this afghan! I have lots of stash yarn to use up. Mmmm…now what color scheme should I choose? 😊
OOo that’s the tricky part! My finished blanket is going to be for my husband whose favourite colour is blue which helped me decide which colour I was going to go for – that and I had a lot of blue in my stash 🙂
I’m a fairly experienced hooker, but I’ve never done a CAL. This will be my first! Where do I sign up! ?
Hi Mallory, there is no sign up as such, just follow along on the blog. You can favourite the project on Ravelry here: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/everything-is-cool–groovyghan-cal-2016 and if you are on Facebook there is a support group you can join here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1512395979046485/
I just Signed up for this! It will be my first CAL…. So excited!
Yay! Glad you could join us Katie 🙂
good luck you will do fine
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If it looks as nice as 2015 cal, it will be great. Can’t hardly wait.
Thank you! Glad you can join us 🙂
Hi My first CAL can’t wait. But at least I can spend sometime checking my stash and maybe having to buy some more yarn.
hi well up for this just time to sort out my stash and maybe buy some more. I like the lay out of this. I am thinking of spring, leaf greens, primrose yellows, light blues and some dark purples. Then again may need to rethink.
Oooo I love, love, love your ideas of spring! Can’t wait to see what you choose in the end Jill 🙂
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I can’t wait to get started on this it sounds fab! I’m going to use up yarn I have got so it will be an uncoordinated riot of colour 🙂
Glad you can join us Natasha, your afghan sounds like it’s going to be really groovy! Can’t wait to see the finished results 🙂
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Count me in, my stash is getting bigger and bigger so I’m just going to search it now for the perfect colours whoop!!!
Glad you can join us! This is a good pattern for busting that stash – that’s definitely what I plan to do! 😀
Hello again, I’ve sorted my stash, cream, beige, dark green, dark turquoise, just had to buy an extra colour for a ‘pop’ RED!!!
It’s a beautiful super wash soft and squidgy Aran by drops yarn,
I’m so excited about this my very first proper CAL!!!
I don’t do Facebook so I hope I won’t miss any important stuff, look forward to the first post!!! Xx😁
Oooo your colours sound lovely! Glad you are so excited I am too! Part 1 starts tomorrow!!!! Don’t worry about not being on Facebook all the 2016 CAL stuff will be posted on here first 🙂
Just a quick question: Will the patterns be in US or UK terms? I am used to US terms, but am currently doing an afghan in UK terms, so either is great with me, as long as I know at the beginning. Thank you for putting this on for us. I love the comradery of all of us doing the same patterns.
Hi Tammi, glad you are joining us! I write all my patterns with UK/US terminology so will be doing both on the CAL – I tend to write it with UK first then US second e.g. UK treble / US Double Crochet will be written tr/dc, folks can then choose the terminology they prefer to use 🙂
I’m looking forward to starting this! I have plenty of stash to work through – let the fun begin!!
🙂
Yay glad you could join us Sue 😀
oh great – I got started on an afghan for my daughter but got stuck. I’m going to switch to this (she is a groovy gal!) and look forward to the paced work and group support keeping me afloat. Tell me, will this or can it be a join-as-you go type of work?
Hi Judy, glad you could join us 🙂 We will be pretty much joining as much as we can as we go to avoid masses of stuff to join at the end – I’m always a fan of that!
hello
I would like to know the blanket size , if it’s possible .more or less ( with DK )
Hi Arianna, the groovyghan will be roughly 50 x 60 inch (1.3 x 1.5 metre) made with double knit yarn 🙂
Hi, really looking forward to starting this 🙂 My sister and I have a small wool shop and some of our customers have said they would like to do the cal and asked if we could work on it together during our knit and natter sessions (they are quite new to crochet). Don you have any objections to this? We wouldn’t be charging anything and would be directing people to your blog for the pattern. Many thanks.
Hi Cara, I think it’s a fabulous idea that you’d like to do the CAL as part of your knit and natter sessions, I have no objections at all. I do hope you will share your results with me though! Where is your wool shop?
Brilliant thanks, we are in Devon. Fudges wool and haberdashery. Def will share pictures once we get going 🙂
Boo you are about 200 miles away from where I live lol! Can’t wait to see your results!
Reblogged this on craftcrazygran and commented:
I love Groovyghans, would you like to join? Follow the links
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Hello! I have done a couple of practice squares as the first one looked a bit ‘gappy’ . I have done one with 4 trc clusters! Would this make a huge difference when completing the rest of the blanket?
Hi Tina, it’s hard to say – it would affect the stitch count and I have gone by stitch count to join the other parts to part 1. Have you added a chain 1 in-between the clusters? I know some people did that by accident; as some granny patterns do do that.
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I was wondering is there a youtube video of part 6?
The lovely Jenn is making the videos for the CAL and I understand that she has been having some computer issues. Once she’s made it she will add the details to the group https://www.facebook.com/groups/1512395979046485/ and I’ll add it to the blog CAL round up page https://keepcalmandcrochetonuk.wordpress.com/crochet-a-long-2016/
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I am interested in this, but there does not seem to be a part 1 on your blog. Without buying the pdf, is there a way to find out what it is supposed to be?
Hi Haley, thank you for getting in touch. The link to Part 1 is here: https://keepcalmandcrochetonuk.com/2016/01/13/kcaco-uk-groovyghan-cal-2016-part-1/ or you can find the links to all parts here: https://keepcalmandcrochetonuk.com/crochet-a-longs/crochet-a-long-2016/
They are all free here on the blog 😊