DIY Crochet- Halloween Chevron Blanket

Welcome back friends! Do you crochet? I dabbled in crochet off and on for a few years, always fascinated, but never fully catching on. I kept at it, and suddenly, it clicked! I feel calm and cozy when I’m crocheting, and fiercely proud whenever I complete a project.

It’s that time of year for autumn and Halloween decor, so let’s create a chevron Halloween blanket! I thought it would be creative to make a candy corn color pattern framed by black on either side. Mine is the size of a lap blanket, but you can use this pattern to create any size you choose!

SUPPLIES
  • Crochet hook (size 6.5mm)
  • Medium yarn (size 4) in black, yellow, orange and white
  • Scissors
  • Yarn needle or small crochet hook
INSTRUCTIONS
  1. Starting with the black yarn, create a slip knot and then chain stitches in increments of 27, then add 5 extra stitches to whatever amount you choose. I chained 216, plus five came to a total of 221 stitches.
  2. Turn your chain around and single crochet (sc) into the back-loops of the second and third stitch from the hook, then skip the next stitch.
  3. Single crochet into the back-loops of the next 12 stitches.
  4. After completing the 12th sc, put three single crochets together into the back-loop of the next stitch (this will create the peak of our chevron).
  5. Single crochet into back-loops of the next 12 stitches, then skip the following two stitches after that (this will create the valley of our chevron).
  6. Now we’ve reached the start of our next chevron and we are going to repeat steps 3 through 5 until we have 3 stitches left in our chain.
  7. When you have 3 stitches left in the chain, skip the next stitch after your hook and sc into the last two stitches in the chain. Chain 1 and turn your blanket around.
  8. For the rest of the blanket, we will be working in both loops.
  9. Repeat steps 2 through 7, for the next 6 rows, then we’ll change colors.
  10. To change colors, halt halfway through your final single crochet of the row when two loops are over your hook, hook onto your new color (yellow), and pull it through. Cut off the previous color of yarn and weave the tail into the blanket with a yarn needle or small crochet hook to secure it.
  11. Chain 1 with the new color and turn your blanket around.
  12. Repeat steps 2 through 7, for the next 7 rows, then we’ll change colors to orange and do seven rows, then white and then back to black. We’ll keep going in this pattern until we’ve created the length of blanket we desire.
  13. When you’ve reached the end of your last black row, chain two and rotate the blanket 90 degrees. Begin single crocheting down the side of the blanket.
  14. At the end of this side of the blanket, chain 2 and rotate the blanket 90 degrees. Single crochet along the starting chain of the blanket, following the chevron rules from above (steps 3 through 5) over the peaks and valleys.
  15. At the end of the starting chain of the blanket, chain 2 and rotate the blanket 90 degrees. Single crochet down this side of the blanket.
  16. At the end of this side of the blanket, chain 2 and rotate the blanket 90 degrees. Single crochet along the top row of the blanket, following the chevron rules from above (steps 3 through 5) over the peaks and valleys.
  17. Repeat steps 13 through 16 until you are happy with the width of the blanket’s borders (I did 6 passes around).
  18. Cut the yarn and pull the loose end through your last loop, then weave the tail into the blanket with a yarn needle or small crochet hook.
  19. Place in your house, cuddle up under it and enjoy!

Let’s try Oak – Meditation and Breathing Application

Let's Try Meditation with The Free Oak - Meditation and Breathing ApplicationLet’s be real, this year has been rough; we’re all just trying to adjust and survive the best we can. Current events have really revealed that there are some pretty rude, self-entitled people out there and I for one am way too sensitive to people’s actions and emotions. I’ve found myself absorbing and/or responding to their vibes, which results in living day to day with too many negative thoughts and feelings.

In an effort to bring the tranquility and positivity back to my life, I have begun meditating and it feels good! If you’re feeling anything but tranquil, I highly recommend taking some time to meditate each day or, if every day isn’t for you, less frequently yet consistently; you will feel better!

Interested, but not sure where to start?

I am using the Oak – Meditation and Breathing application. It is simple and straightforward, with enough content to get you started without becoming overwhelming.  It is also the only meditation app. I’ve found that is truly free. Other applications, like Calm and Headspace (both fantastic), are free to download and offer some free content and/or free trials, but if you want more you’ll have to pay for a monthly or yearly premium membership. After Oak, Insight Timer is probably the next application that has the most free classes, but does have a premium membership if you want to access certain practices. We’ll focus on Insight Timer at a later date.

So let’s take a look at Oak!

When opening the app., you are presented with three categories: Meditation, Breathing and Sleeping. Each category has two or three practice options.

Let's Try Meditation with The Free Oak - Meditation and Breathing Application

Once you’ve selected a category and practice, you can customize a few more details depending on the practice. For example, if you want to practice Mindful Meditation, you can select the duration, instructor’s voice, background noise and a warmup duration.

Let's Try Meditation with The Free Oak - Meditation and Breathing Application Let's Try Meditation with The Free Oak - Meditation and Breathing Application

The breathing practices do not give you customization options, but they will give you details about how long you will be inhaling, holding and exhaling.

Let's Try Meditation with The Free Oak - Meditation and Breathing Application

If you’re looking for something deeper, there is a Courses tab which (so far) offers one course on Mantra Meditation. You will be prompted to “Buy” the course for $0.00. I’ve “purchased” it (yes it is free) and I am very pleased with the quality and length. I hope there will be more free courses in the future.

Let's Try Meditation with The Free Oak - Meditation and Breathing Application Let's Try Meditation with The Free Oak - Meditation and Breathing Application

I will be testing out other options for meditation and let you know what I discover!

How do you meditate? Do you use an application, or something else? If you do use an application, what is your favorite and why? I’d love to know!

Happy Independence Day!

IndependenceDay

It’s Independence Day here in the United States of America, and while I’ve never really been a person who is interested in politics, this year has really made me think about what being an American is and what independence means to me.

No worries, I am not going to shovel my deep thoughts on you, let’s keep it light! What I will say that I am thankful I have been given the right to live my life the way I want to live it due to others before me standing for what they believe in. I am also thankful for those who are doing what they can now to ensure that we still have that freedom. I hope you have the freedom celebrate this holiday in your own way.

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