"Done in a Day" Crocheted Blanket Review

Simply Soft crochet yarn by Caron

I love to crochet. But I usually am only in the mood to crochet during the cooler months. And I'm somewhere between a beginner and an intermediate. Patterns with a variety of stitches or changes in the rows confuse me. These factors often limit the projects I can crochet. However, I've found an easy and pretty crocheted pattern called "Done in a Day" as found on Dabbles & Babbles. I am so excited about this treasure that I have to share it with you (and put it here so I don't loose track of it!).

"Done in a Day" Crochet Baby Blanket

My only criticism is that "Done in a Day" is a misnomer. At least it is for a beginner like me. It certainly is not going to be a project I finish in a day. A weekend. Or even a week. Perhaps advanced crocheters can do this in a day. I can't. Granted, the author is using a bulky weight yarn and I am not (I am using the Caron Simply Soft shown in the photo above). But still. I wouldn't have it done in a day. You might, though.

EVERYTHING else about this pattern is awesome!

I used different yarn and a different gauge hook to suit my needs. Fortunately, the pattern begins with a chain in the amount of stitches divisible by 2. The author's pattern started with 66 stitches. Mine - with a smaller hook and yarn - started with a chain of 122 stitches.

The pattern continues with directions for three rows. Yes, only THREE rows that are repeated until the length of the item is obtained. How easy is that?

Easy enough for me!

Double crochet (dc) is a stitch that comes to me intuitively. It is a stitch that adds length more quickly than some other stitches. This project is row after row of double crochet. And the subtle "pattern" comes from the placement of the stitches. The two double crochet stitches are grouped in the top of the "V" formed by the two double crochet stitches in the row below. Make a "V" and skip a space, make a "V" and skip a space. Easy.

A portion of the pattern directions:

Chain 66 (made in multiples of 2 if you'd like to adjust size)

Row 1: 2dc in the 4th ch from the hook, *skip 1 ch, 2dc in the next ch*, repeat across entire row ending with a dc in the last ch. turn

Row 2: Ch 3. Skip the first dc and dc twice into the space between the next group of 2 dcs. *Go to the next group of 2 dc's and dc twice into the space between*, repeat until the end of the row ending with a dc in the last dc

Row 3: Repeat row 2. Bind off and weave in ends.

The Dabbles & Babbles finished blanket measures 32" x 32". Mine will finish to be a couple of inches longer and wider. 

CLICK HERE - for Done in a Day crochet pattern by Dabbles & Babbles

I am very excited about my progress with this project and can't wait to start more throws in a variety of colors. My next project will be one for myself -- in Bernat Blanket Yarn.

If you are looking for an easy and beautiful pattern, check out this one. Add your personal touch by choosing a variety of colors and/or weights of yarn. 

*This article may contain affiliate links. If you shop via one of the affiliate links, I may earn a small commission - at no additional cost to you. I am very appreciative of every reader who visits my articles. Thank you. 

The Shack Tour: Before

Welcome to The Shack. I have decided to challenge myself and learn how to take videos of my land and upload them to platforms such as YouTube. I realize that most 8 year olds would ask, "What's there to learn?" But the technological advances beyond the most very basic photograph editing do not come easy to me. 

Currently, I don't have any particular homesteading skills or talents to video and share. But I do have my country-living, retirement dream in progress and I would like to document the before, during, and after. 

My Off-Grid and Debt-Free Retirement Dream

In 2015 I had quite a year. Too many things were going on to list here. But one of those things is important for this post - I bought 4 acres in West Virginia and started dreaming of retiring there as soon as possible. Preferably, debt-free and self-sufficient.

Two years later, I'm moving slightly away from the idea of replacing the existing rickety hunting cabin with an completely off-grid small home. But that is still to be determined.

Currently, The Shack (that rickety hunting cabin) is off-grid. And I go camping there as often as possible in order to escape the hustle and bustle of living near Baltimore and to plan for life on that West Virginia Ridge.

I do know that I plan to build a small home. Use solar for power and passive solar for heating. And I hope to grow as much of my own food as possible.

Two weekends past, I spent the weekend there. I like cool weather camping. I love keeping warm with that wonderful wood stove.

This is a partial and brief tour of the inside:

This is a tour of the "yard" portion of the land. 

The previous owners left behind the old shed (it is not an outhouse - although it looks like it) along with probably two truckloads of things that need to go to the dump. I have been slowly but surely trying to do some removal of poison ivy and invasive weeds. While planting a few fruit trees, and starting a "flower garden".  

There is much to do. And even more to learn. Thank you for coming along on this journey with me.

*This article may contain affiliate links. If you shop via one of the affiliate links, I may earn a small commission - at no additional cost to you. I am very appreciative of every reader who visits my articles. Thank you.