The pattern is from Crochet: The Complete Guide by Jane Davis. ISBN: 9780896896970 This is a collection of stitch patterns, not project patterns (though there are a handful of projects). I think I’ve found a couple mistakes in the pattern as written, so beware. If you use this pattern be prepared to work the sequence of 11 rows through at least once (better yet, twice) before deciding if you are comfortable with the directions as written (or if you, too, feel that some directions are likely mistakes - or in at least one case, poorly written). I hate that this warning may discourage someone from trying the pattern, because it really is lovely; and once you get it, it’s really very easy - if time consuming. Note: To get approx. 52” width, I crocheted approximately 14 “swells” across (actually 13 swells with half a swell to begin and half a swell to end) - using an H hook on yarn that is thin worsted.

And if you have created something following this pattern and you disagree that there are any mistakes in the book, please let me know. I’d love to compare notes.

While I love the pattern, I really dislike the yarn (Knit Picks Brava worsted weight). This is the first time I’ve used Knit Picks Brava yarn and after reading mixed reviews (at their site and here) I decided to give it a try (especially when I found a color of silver that I thought I’d like.

The color was darker than I had hoped, but if that had been my only issue, that would have been minor.

Here’s what I’ve found to be issues that cause me to not recommend this yarn for such a large project (and frankly, have turned me off from ever buying Brava again):

While the yarn is soft to the touch, it is on the thin side of worsted and is so very splitty! It is so splitty that I’ve had to go down to an H sized hook (which, of course, made this project take significantly more time and yarn). The label says to use I-K sized hooks. I tried J and then I, but it was too frustrating to deal with the splitting yarn on those sized hooks. I am also a little concerned about how limp this may go after it is laundered (note: after blocking the afghan is very limp - ugh. Fortunately, it is a lovely pattern so I’m not ashamed to give it as a gift, but I would have preferred an afghan that had more body).

The yarn fuzzed up quite a bit after all the handling it took to finish, but actually…with the limp factor, this ends up being a bit of a plus. It keeps it from looking too lacy with this pattern. But again…I would have preferred the yarn to provide more body and less fuzz.

At least 10 skeins (out of 14) had knots and irregular thicknesses that have had to be cut out. What a waste of yarn, and discouraging to have to weave in all those extra ends.

I had to block this afghan to “settle down” the pattern. It did not lay flat on its own, but after two steamings, it settled down enough that I can call it done.

In the end, I highly recommend giving the pattern a try, but use another yarn. I hope to someday try this pattern in a sturdier yarn (Vanna’s Choice, Stylecraft Aran, maybe even Hobby Lobby’s I Love This Yarn).