My Orbit The Dragon free crochet along has come to an end but there are still lots of you finishing up, and also making multiple dragons which is incredibly exciting! The pattern is still available if you want to join in. The next installment of my Frankenyarn blanket is coming up next – it’s a super casual crochet-along I’m sharing just because I wanted to use up my own yarn scraps and you might too. But first, a magical Mermaid Net!

Let’s pause for some mindless, easy crochet.

This blanket was inspired by some I’ve seen popping up on Pinterest and Instagram that I wanted to try. When I saw the yarn at my favorite shop I honestly thought, Those colours are really tacky looking. Who would buy that and what would you do with it? Then I remembered these blankets I’ve been seeing and I realized this yarn would be P E R F E C T for that! Sorry, yarn, I take it back. Using both balls together makes the most nostalgic candy rainbow thread of happiness!

Since this was my own time-off project, I didn’t take step-by-step photos of it. I worked on it at my fiance’s place which doesn’t have the beautiful bright daylight streaming in like my dreamy studio does, plus I worked mainly in the evenings, so there was no chance to get pictures until the end. But don’t worry – you’ve got this, it’s very easy, I promise!

INTRO

Today’s tutorial will teach you how to make your own mermaid net! But https://www.projectarian.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/27-1.jpg, does this mermaid net have magical powers? Absolutely! What kind of magical powers? Well, it has the ability to relax you, let your mind wonder down into a deep blue daydream of colourful reefs and tropical fishies, and finish a whole project in one single weekend! 100% satisfaction guaranteed! Let’s dive in…

BASIC INFORMATION

Written in US terminology

Size: 90 x 130 cm

Difficulty: Oh so easy!* 🙂

Yarn weight: Double Knit (Light Worsted/ 8ply/ 11wpi)

*Note: This pattern does not contain step by step photos, but don’t be scared to try it, it’s really very easy!

SUPPLIES

6mm hook (J or 4)

Scissors

Yarn sewing needle

2 Balls of multi coloured yarn in double knit weight. Double knit is the equivalent to

YARN QUANTITIES

This blanket uses 1 entire 200g ball of each coloured yarn, and four 1m lengths of cotton to wrap the tassels. Any yarn with a long distance between colour changes will give a similar effect. You can use any type of yarn to wrap the tassles.

Main colour 1: Elle Colour Crush, DK acrylic: I Pink Not – 200g/600m

Main colour 2: Elle Colour Crush, DK acrylic: No Truffle at All – 200g/600m

Accent colour: Elle Cotton On, DK cotton : Natural – 4m

ABBREVIATIONS

R = Row

CH = Chain

ST = Stitch

SS = Slip stitch

SC = Single crochet

DC = Double crochet

* = Section to be repeated

rem = remaining

GAUGE

Grid of 5×5 blocks of pattern should be 15 cm wide x 13 cm long

GAUGE PATTERN:

Start with 14 ch instead of 105, then follow the Pattern below to make 5 rows of 5 blocks.

BLANKET

Find the end of both balls and then crochet the whole blanket with both threads at the same time. It doesn’t matter what the colour happens to be when you begin.

R1: Chain 105. If you’re making a different size afghan, chain multiples of 3 until you have the desired with. Add a couple of extra chains to be on the safe side. Chain another 4 (counts as 1st DC and ch2). DC in 5th ch from hook. *Ch2. Skip 2 ch. DC in next ch.* Repeat to the end of the chain. Your final stitch will be a DC.

Row 1 is complete. You should have a long string of 35 squares. Your stitch count is 36 DC and 70 ch.

R2: Ch2, turn (counts as 1st DC and ch2). *Skip 2 ch, DC in next DC.* Repeat across the entire row, finishing with a DC in the last DC.

Row 2 is complete. You now have another row of squares above and in line with the first row.

And that’s all you need to know for now! Sit back, relax and repeat Row 2 until you reach Row 55. You can safely zone out for a couple of hours and set those fingers on autopilot, weaving your day-dreamy mesh.

At the end of Row 55, the main part of your blanket is complete. Note how the blanket is a large grid of square holes –  it’s time to start working the super simple border into those square holes.

BORDER

R1: Ch1, turn. 2SC into the ch space. *Skip next st, 2SC in next ch space*.

This means you will be working around the post of your last DC (into the square hole), making 2SC. Then working into the next grid block making another 2SC.

*Continue in this manner all the way to the end, working 2SC into each block down the side of your grid.

When you reach the corner, work 4SC into the last block on that edge of your grid. The proceed to work 2SC into every block again aong the second edge. Do the 2nd and 3rd corners in the same way when you reach them.

When you reach the end, work 2 final SC into the very last block, then join with a SS into the 1st SC.

R2: Ch1. 2SC in 1st st. SC in each st across, until you reach the last grid block where you worked 4SC. SC in the 1st st. 2SC in the next 2 sts. SC in the 4th st. Corner is complete. SC in each st across.

Repeat this meathod on each side and each corner.

When you reach the very last grid block at the end, SC in the 1st st. 2SC in the next st. Join with a SS into the 1st SC.

Border complete!

TASSELS

I really should have done a step-by-step for this, and I do plan to still make a nice tassel tutorial for you. For now, here is a lovely tutorial by HowDidYouMakeThis, which will show you the correct way to tie up a tassel.

Use your leftover yarn to make the tassels. Before you start, cut 4 lengths of 30cm in the same colour as your tassels. These will be used for attaching the tassels to the blanket. Cut another 4 lengths of any yarn for holding the tassel together while you work.

If you used similar or the same yarn as me for your project, you should have roughly 20g left. Divided by 4 tassels, you get 5g of yarn per tassel.

To make a stencil for wrapping, cut a piece of cardboard (card stock/ stiff paper) measuring 26 x 10 cm. Fold in in half so that is measures 13 x 10cm.

Wrap 5g of yarn onto your stencil – that’s about 31 wraps.

Tie the tassel at the end where the card is folded using your 30cm thread in tassel colour. Tie the other end, then remove the tassel from the card.

Use 1m of cotton yarn for making the wrapping knot around the tassel. Make sure each wrapping knot is the same length on all 4 tassels, that they’re in the same position on each tassel, and are all equally tight.

Trim the ends.

Sew one tassel to each corner of the blanket securely, then weave the loose ends into the tassel and trim them to the same length as the tassel.

And that’s a wrap!

– END –

Well done, you’ve finished your magical Mermaid Net! I hope you enjoyed the pattern and please join me again next week for more fun and easy to follow crochet. You can subscribe to my mailing list HERE if you want to get notifications when Projects are released.

SHOW OFF YOUR PROJECT

I LOOOOVE seeing what you’ve made using my tutorials! You can show them off to me and all your fellow Projectarians in our Facebook group HERE, or use the hashtag #MermaidNetAfghan on Instagram. You can tag me on both platforms using @Projectarian.

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