Afghans..

Last year, when I attended my first FFA State Convention and discovered that there was a silent auction, which is one of the  major fund-raisers for the state chapter, I decided that I would make something to donate to the auction this year. I had on hand a supply of yarn that was spun at Barlett’s Yarns in Maine, from sheep raised  by the Ag program a few years ago and this seemed like the ideal use for it. I love the heathered colors of Bartlett’s yarns.

 

My first thought was to do a sampler of sorts with squares done up with the outline of various agricultural items – a chicken, a tractor, a cow, a tree – and alternate them with either a seed or a moss stitch square. This was a grand idea except that with the lovely heathered colors I lost my images in the darker colors. Once I accepted this disappointing fact, I set out to find a simpler pattern that would show case the yarns.

This is a lovely double crochet cluster with one long double crochet to give it punch that I got out of Quick and Cozy Afghans – one of my favorite afghan pattern books. It worked up fairly quickly in spite of being wool and wanting to stick on the long double crochet.

I was so pleased with the result that I think that I will make another one up out of the remainder of the yarn I have for the house. It is delightfully warm and surprisingly soft once it’s washed. Now, all I have to do is to fill out the paperwork and come up with a value for the afghan I’m donating. This part always seems to be a challenge. Do you have a favorite charity to which you donate?