The year-long Traveling Seasons Afghan 2021 CAL, sponsored by Lion Brand Yarn, is now ready for my square.
Starting in January 2021, the first of 12 afghan square designs will begin the journey of the Traveling Seasons Afghan and travel to a new designer every month, spanning across the U.S. and Canada. Each designer will create a 13″ x 13″ square, designed with their favorite memories behind that season. As we create these squares just before the season starts we can share in all the memories we hold onto year after year, each row representing fond memories of Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter. A completed border will be the last destination on the journey, bringing our collaborative project to a close. Scroll down for the free pattern to square no. 3 or purchase an ad-free, printer-friendly PDF here.
You can find all of the patterns for the Traveling Seasons Afghan published free online so you can follow along with us and create your own crochet afghan!
Below is a list of this year’s designers from Lion Brand Yarn and links to their sites. Follow the designers on social media for a new square each month, as the Afghan travels around for each season.
Traveling Seasons Afghan Designers
1. Whistle and Wool
2. EClaireMakery
3. Two of Wands
4. Pink Plumeria Maui
5. Little Red Knits
6. Evelyn and Peter
7. Knits and Knots by AME
8. TL Yarn Crafts
9. Rohn Strong
10. Meghan Makes Do
11. Capitol Crochet
12. Coco Crochet Lee
13. Rain and Bolt
For more information and a complete list of all the designers involved, flight map, and FAQs, please visit the landing page of the project, hosted by Angie from Whistle and Wool.
Want to have some virtual maker fun? Host a virtual CAL with your maker friends! Get together online to share in your favorite memories along the way as you create your squares. Tag @MyLifeInYarn and @LionBrandYarn on your Instagram posts and use the hashtags #mylifeinyarn #travelingseasonsafghan #lbtravelingseasonsafghan and #seasonsafghan2021.
Square 3, the final of the spring set, utilizes the lotus stitch to represent the abundant life that returns in the springtime. I have always loved the quote, “no mud, no lotus” by Vietnamese Zen Buddhist spiritual leader Thich Nhat Hanh. I know many of us were drawn to yarn crafts last year as a way to cope with all of the stress and tragedy that 2020 brought, and as we emerge from the global covid pandemic and look ahead, we are eager for life to spring forth again.
I see this square both as a representation of all of the life that starts anew in springtime as well as vibrancy and renewal coming to humanity after such a dark time. Lastly, it also speaks to the silver linings of 2020 that would not have been possible had it not been for the circumstances.
This is an easy + level crochet pattern and the techniques involved are single crochet, chains, and puff stitches.
MATERIALS:
1 skein Lion Brand Wool-Ease in Grey Heather or approx. 197yds/180m of another worsted weight, cat. 4 yarn
Size US J/10 (6mm) crochet hook
Tapestry needle
FINISHED SIZE:
13″ x 13″ / 33cm x 33cm, after blocking
GAUGE:
12.25 sts x 6.75 rows = 4”/10cm in lotus stitch, blocked
ABBREVIATIONS:
*All Two of Wands patterns are written in standard US terms.
Ch – Chain
Ch-sp – Chain space
PS – Puff stitch
PScl – Puff stitch cluster
Rep – Repeat
Sc – Single crochet
Sk – Skip
St(s) – Stitch(es)
STITCH EXPLANATION:
Puff stitch (PS) – Yarn over, insert hook into stitch, yarn over, draw up a loop (3 loops on hook); yarn over, insert hook into the same stitch, yarn over, draw up a loop (5 loops on hook); yarn over, draw through first 4 loops on hook, yarn over, draw through last 2 loops on hook.
Puff stitch cluster (PScl) – Make 1 puff stitch as above, chain 2, make second puff stitch as above, chain 2, make third puff stitch as above.
Notes: Pattern is worked over a multiple of 6 + 4 sts (6 + 5 initial chains). To increase or decrease size, aadd or subtract multiples of 6 to the established pattern below. Pattern is worked in back and forth rows – turn at the end of each row.
Ch 41.
Row 1: Starting in 2nd ch from hook, sc across row. (40 sc)
Row 2: Ch 1, sc 1, *sk 2, PScl, sk 2, sc 1, rep from * across row to last 3 sts, sk 2, (PS, ch 2, PS) in last st.
Row 3: Ch 1, sc 1 in 1st st, *sk ch 2 + 1 PS, PScl in next sc, sk 1 PS + ch 2, sc in top of middle PS in next PScl, rep from * across row to last sc, (PS, ch 2, PS) in last sc.
Rows 4-22: Rep row 3.
Row 23: Ch 1, sc across row, working 1 sc into each st and ch-sp. (40 sc)
Fasten off. Block work to 13”/33cm square. Secure and weave in all ends.
Check out my video tutorial for this stitch:
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Purchase the printable, ad-free pattern here.
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Check out the #crewofwands community page here.
The patterns and photographs of items on this site are the property of Two of Wands and are for personal, non-commercial use only. These patterns files are protected by US copyright, and you may not distribute or sell them electronically or physically. Small batch sales of finished pieces made from these patterns are permitted, but seller must use their own photographs and credit must be given to Two of Wands as the designer.
