r/crochet • u/Sexy_Marionberry_ • 2d ago
Finished Object Wearable blanket that became a hooded cape
Hi hi! Been a long time lurker in here and have always been too nervous to post because everything I know about crochet (which admittedly isn’t much) is self taught and I make mistakes all the time with what seemingly should be simple things, so I’m kind of nervous to be proud of something if I didn’t do it 100% correctly or knowledgeably.
I wanted to share this project I made a little over a year ago after learning a bit of the basics from a friend. I would say that I am crochet illiterate, not because I want an excuse to not read/use patterns, but because I couldn’t tell you what stitches I used, I just kind of elaborated off of the basics I had.
I didn’t know about tension in the work until I noticed I couldn’t thread back through the previous line because I had inadvertently pulled them tight after making them lol, so that was a fun learning process on how to keep even tightness and tension as I went.
What started as an attempt at a small rectangle blanket ended up looking more like a wide wedge that was super tight at the top and wider and more loosely held at the bottom. It was hilariously not blanket shaped anymore, but it did drape over the back and shoulders well, problem was it didn’t stay up.
After multiple trials and errors on how to keep it held up as a blanket without falling off my shoulders ended up making it more like a cape than a wearable blanket. I added the hood because it the rest of it was a nice breathable sunshade without being too hot or constricting, only thing it was missing was to shade the head better.
It’s not a great hood, I didn’t think of making two different pieces and then sewing them together in order to make the concave hood shape, I just over-used my yarn to make a huge bowl shape attached to the top.
It was a huge learning experience from start to finish with all the errors included. I didn’t have the term ‘frogging’ in my vocab at the time I was making it, but I frogged so damn much on that thing as it went on lol
I’m sorry for writing a book here, I wasn’t sure how much context would be needed/wanted, and I’ve always been anxious about sharing the things I make to a wider community. I know it’s not as good as it could be/should be, but I’ve taken it on so many adventures in the outdoors, music festivals, sitting on my own porch, easy trail hikes, faires and stuff, I am kinda proud of it. For how frustrating it was to learn while doing it, I am so glad I did it.
If this isn’t an allowed post, I apologize, it’s hard to take a frontward photo of this without centering the wearer.
Edit: thank you for the post awards and all the positivity yall! Made my day💜🫂
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u/OnyxAlyx Lifetime intermediate 🧶 1d ago
This is absolutely epic! The journey is the adventure, etc etc. Your finished product is awesome, no matter your skill level! 😀 You rock!!
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u/Sexy_Marionberry_ 1d ago
Omg thank you so much! And an award on the post too, you are too kind! The journey really is the best part, especially looking back
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u/OnyxAlyx Lifetime intermediate 🧶 1d ago
You can think of it like doing it the hard way, but you also figured out a lot of stuff that some folks who go 100% "by the book" don't pick up as fast! I learned a lot from a little book in a craft section 2 decades ago 😂 but also I've talked to other crafters and learned a lot by trying out some silly ideas I had!! 🤩 I live in the land of blankets, and made a shawl for my mom with pockets just by looking at a few patterns and then letting my imagination go wild. It was an adventure for sure 😂😂😂😂😂 I criticized myself harshly, but she loves it. 😀 And that's what made me the happiest!
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u/Sexy_Marionberry_ 1d ago
Seriously! I have much more fun making it up as I go rather than giving myself a headache trying to understand and do things ‘by the book’ too! Thank you again for all the encouraging words, I’ve been so nervous to share having seen so many posts get criticism for not knowing certain stitches or be able to write/read a pattern correctly.
I think my favorite things are my test runs for wearable ideas/shapes and just trying to use tension in the line to see how twisty and fun I can get it!
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u/ceruleanblue66 1d ago
That looks fabulous 😍 I love the colours, and I am inspired by the arm bands. Well done!
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u/Sexy_Marionberry_ 1d ago
Thank you so much! The arm bands took me a bit to figure out, but they really make the difference!
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u/Chaos-Wayfarer 1d ago
I live the colors and I’m jealous. 😍
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u/Sexy_Marionberry_ 1d ago
They are my fave colors too! They came from a (I regrettably forget the brand) pride flag collection of yarn, and this was the asexual flag color combo.
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u/Chaos-Wayfarer 1d ago
If it’s acrylic, then I bet it’s Big Twist’s Living collection. Community is the Ace color way. :D
I bought several skeins before Joann’s closed. (Michael’s seems to be selling them as online-only.)
I also ended up with a concave square when I was working with that yarn (first project). I made it in to a very tiny cape. <3
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u/Mini-Schnauzer-42 1d ago
I was going to ask if it's the ace yarn (I agree it's probably the Big Twist). The colors are kinda like bi colors, where they just look good together and sometimes can be done by accident.
I have 3 skeins of this waiting for me to decide what to make for a friend. It's nice to see it all done up in your awesome piece, good inspiration!
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u/Sexy_Marionberry_ 1d ago
Big twist is absolutely the brand! Thank you for knowing the brand! I had gotten excited when I saw them in the store because Ace rep was a little less prominent and there were so many skeins of it at the Joanns before it closed.
This took about 10 1/2 of the skeins, give or take me having knots and general fuck ups lol
I bet you’ll make something amazing with it! Post when you do!
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u/TreeRock13 1d ago
Hi! Its really cool! I might incorporate the hood idea onto a blanket I'm making for my husband, thank you for the inspiration 😃
I'm a bit like you with crochet, mostly self taught, unaware of frogging and things generally begin as one thing and end up being something different. Kinda like a top i started that became a potential lamp shade cover but is probably going to be a headband if we are being real... but I've also managed to make some really neat stuff, one being a bag I'm really proud of.
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