Crochet: Red and Brown Oma Blanket

 I've finished the first project in my crochet challenge! Let's get one thing out of the way first before I go on. To me, a granny square blanket will always be an Oma blanket. It's what I grew up with. Granted my Oma did more than granny square so therefore all her blankets, as well as her granny square blankets, are called Oma blankets. This includes the ripple stitch blanket we currently have on the couch. It's mostly for me a granny square blanket in its finished stage is an Oma blanket. Calling it such is a hard thing to shake.

Anyway!

My Red and Brown Oma Blanket

Description

This blanket has turned into a multi-toned, mainly deep brown and red, chunky granny square throw. 

Hook Size and Yarn

Hook: 5.75MM or J/10 Yarn: With this project I combined three different yarns. I found two in the yarn bin at Spotlight. #1 was a soft, red, and chunky yarn. #2 was multi-toned in browns, black, and white. #3 was Lion Brand's Heartland Thick and Quick in Sequoia. 

Pattern Breakdown

I wasn't really sure how this was going to go as I didn't know how far I could get with what amount of yarn I had. It's always the question when you're not following a pattern and you've lost the information for the skeins. This is my life in crochet lol

I'm sharing what I did in case you are curious or want to make something similar. However please keep in mind this is not exactly a tutorial. If you're a beginner and looking for a tutorial I highly recommend following one on YouTube. I'm directing you to the beginning circle in case you're not sure what it is. My pattern notes are taken from after the circle is begun and in US terminology.

I used dc for all my stitches excluding the final row of the border which was hdc.

Rows 1-2 was Yarn #1
Row 3 was Yarn #2
Row 4 was Yarn #1
Row 5 was Yarn #3

After crocheting 20 squares I decided to use a sc join. I like the ridge the sc join creates and given this was a chunky yarn blanket I felt it would suit the style in general. Once joined I crocheted one row of dc around the blanket and finished the border with hdc.

Overall

The blanket does annoy me a bit. I'm not one for blocking and setting. It's not something I've seen my Oma do. Honestly I didn't learn about blocking and setting until a few years after I'd started crochet and I'm not about to start doing it. My issue with the blanket is it has to be pulled into shape. I'm yet to do a cleaning test on it, like I do with all my projects, so would probably have to pull it into shape anyway. 

I know this is happening for two reasons. One is definitely different yarn types and that might be two as well... Yes they are all acrylic however they all have different tensions. Yarn #2 is more tightly spun then the other two and I find Lion Brand's yarn to be looser and therefore more drapey. I guess next time I could fix this issue with altering my crocheting tension, but really I'm just a perfectionist. If it's not perfect I'm not going to be 100 percent about it.

Overal I'm loving the blanket and a part of me doesn't want to give it away 👀  The blanket has a nice heft to it, it's very warm, and it does have a lovely drape. I'm very happy with the join too. I'm not one to assemble all that much unless it's something like a beanie scarf. My last blanket was a one piece so I was a little intimidated by the idea of joining a blanket. This one worked out really well.

Now to find someone to give it to....

Project also posted to my Ravelry and Instagram.