Happy New Year!  I hope everyone had a relaxing holiday and was able to spend time with family and friends.  This was my first Christmas working so it was great to take a few days off, treck back home to PA, and enjoy the holidays with my family.  (And in case you’re wondering, yes, my siblings once again got free crochet lessons for Christmas.)

With the advent of a new year comes a new treat!

A few days before Christmas, I was commissioned to make a new afghan – this time a ripple.  This blanket was ordered by the same wonderful lady who ordered the crochet hexagon blanket  a couple months ago.  Remember that beauty – it’s probably the nicest thing I’ve ever crocheted.

Up until I crocheted “hexy“, I wasn’t much of an afghan crocheter.  I used to tend towards quick, instant-gratification projects.  A number of you have called me out on my new-found affinity for afghans, and I must agree.  I seem to be an afghan convert!

So now to introduce my new project for the first part of 2011: The Crocheted Ripple Afghan, inspired by Attic 24’s lovely ripple blanket.

The Details

• Pattern: “Neat Ripple Pattern” by Attic 24
• Yarn: Debbie Bliss “Baby Cashmerino“, a love part Merino wool (55%), part microfibre (33%), and part cashmere (12%) yarn
• Crochet Needle: Size E (4.0mm) crochet hook
• Deadline: August 2012 (but I’m hoping sooner!)

The yarn for this afghan arrived the day I was leaving for Christmas so I was able to have it over the little break I had.  Let me tell you, friend, there was lots of crocheting over the holidays!  This pattern is so relaxing, so simple, so theraputic and the colors – oh the colors.  The way they blend together and flow so perfectly.  It’s quite the treat.

I’m excited to work on this project throughout the winter (especially since they’re calling for 8 inches of snow tomorrow) and am excited to blog about my progress.  I guarantee there will be an over-abundance of pictures, so much so that you’ll probably be sick of ripples by the time the afghan’s finished.  I apologize in advance.

So far, I’m 45 rows into the afghan.  Wow – that sounds like a lot. I promise I spent time with my family and did more than crochet over Christmas!

I’d like to come up with a creative name for this blanket – something more original than “the ripple afghan”.  Anyone have a suggestion?

But Happy New Year to you, dear friend- Here’s to a great, ripple-filled 2012!