Give the gift of warmth when you stitch up the Gift of Love Throw, a FREE crochet pattern from Rohn Strong, JOANN & Susan G Komen®. Check out my inspiration, design process, and find the FREE pattern below!
Before we jump in, I want to remind you all that from October 6, 2019, to November 2, 2019, Jo-Ann Stores, LLC will donate to Susan G. Komen® $0.50 for each skein of select pink loop yarns purchased, with a guaranteed minimum donation of $5,000.
Yarn included this promotion is Lion Brand Off The Hook Yarn in colorways Secret Princess and Paradise, Lion Brand Off the Hook Crayola Yarn in Magenta, and Big Twist Yarns Loopity Loops in colorways Pink and Gradient Pink!
Head HERE for all the info you need!
The Inspiration
I often find inspiration in the strangest of places. When researching the kind of project I wanted to make with this awesome yarn, Big Twist Yarns Loopity Loops, I was streaming a television show. In it, one of the characters mentions a quote that I found fitting and it helped guide my hand through this design.
It was from Julian of Norwich, a nun who is widely credited with having been the first woman to write a book in English that has survived. She said, “He said not ‘Thou shalt not be tempested, thou shalt not be travailed, thou shalt not be dis-eased’; but he said, ‘Thou shalt not be overcome.”
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Susan G. Komen has teamed up with my friends at JOANN to benefit cancer research. In 2019, it’s estimated that among U.S. women and men there will be about 270,000 new cases of invasive breast cancer and 42,000 breast cancer-related deaths.
Between 1989 and 2015 the breast cancer mortality rate declined 39% here in the U.S. in large part because of awareness of the disease and cancer research.
I’ve always felt that we crafters have this innate ability to come together and make change happen when it’s needed. This is why I’m so proud to work with Susan G. Komen and JOANN on this project.
So, here’s the deal. For every single skein of Big Twist Loopity Loops Yarn in PINK or PINK OMBRE that is sold, JOANN will donate $0.50, with a minimum donation amount of $5,000.
That means, if you make the throw blanket below you’ll effectively be helping donate $3.00 toward cancer research. Amazing right? Even more amazing? You can then donate the blanket to your local hospital or give it as a gift to a member of your family courageously undergoing chemotherapy treatments.
The Design Process
I knew right off the bat I wanted to create a nice large cuddly soft blanket. Why?
Many cancer patients fighting the fight, have said that soft blankets are the perfect option when going through chemo as they often are cold and hospital blankets just aren’t the same. So, how amazing would it be to stitch up a blanket for a man or woman fighting breast cancer out of this soft loopy yarn?
Big Twist Loopity Loops is, as it’s name implies, a loop yarn. This mean you don’t need a crochet hook or knitting needle to stitch it up! You just need your two hands. There are a ton of tutorials on how to use this yarn out there but I just couldn’t make it work for me.
Then I grabbed my crochet hook.
Crocheting with loop yarn is quick and easy. It’s basically like doing a slip stitch over and over again. It’s fun, easy, and works up much faster than just using my fingers, at least in my experience.
I know most of you out there are crocheters and kntters wondering, “Why the heck would I use this yarn? I can just get some thick yarn and crochet with it!”
So, here are my top three reasons you should give loop yarn a shot:
- It’s soft. Like, soft soft. I was legit cuddling this blanket as I was stitching it. You can’t get this kind of softness anywhere else.
- Its economical. Big chunky yarn like this costs a ton of money. Have you seen those arm knit blankets? They can cost a pretty penny. Buying Big Twist Loopity Loop yarn isn’t only affordable, for every single skein of Big Twist Loopity Loop Yarn in PINK or PINK OMBRE that is sold, JOANN will donate $0.50, with a minimum donation amount of $5,000 to Susan G. Komen.
- It’s fast. This blanket worked up in a day. From start to finish. I worked on it on my front porch. I even stopped to play with the dogs a few times. And it’s even easier to sit down a pick back up!
This throw blanket is easy as pie and even if you’ve never knit or crocheted a stitch in your life, you could work this up in no time flat.
Gift of Love Throw Pattern
MATERIALS:
- Big Twist Yarns Loopity Loops in Pink, 5 balls
- Big Twist Yarns Loopity Loops in Pink Ombre, 1 ball
- 5.5mm crochet hook (optional)
- Scissors
FINISHED SIZE:
47″ wide and 54″ long
GAUGE:
Gauge does not apply to this project.
NOTES:
- When beginning project, you can begin at either the right or left. Instructions are written with yarn beginning at the far right. Reverse directions if it is more comfortable.
- Right Side of project is facing at all times.
- Working Yarn is held behind stitches throughout.
- Loops from working yarn are always pulled through the stitches from back to front of work.
PATTERN:
Count 60 loops for the foundation row.
Row 1: Work from left to right, pull the 61st loop up through the 60th loop from behind to create a knit stitch. Pull next loop from working yarn up through next loop of foundation row. Continue in this manner across to end of row. DO NOT TURN.
Row 2: Working from right to left, work as for row 1.
Row 3: Working form left to right, work as for row 2.
Repeat Rows 2 and 3 until all 5 skeins of yarn have been used.
Bind off row: Working in same direction as last row, pull 2nd stitch through first stitch. Then pull 3rd stitch through 2nd stitch. Pull 4th stitch through 3rd stitch. Continue in this manner to end of row. Cut last loop to create a yarn tail. Tie to secure and weave in ends.
I really hope you enjoyed stitch up the Gift of Love Throw with me. I can’t wait to donate mine to my local hospital! Share your blanket with me on Instagram using the hashtags #giftoflovethrow and #rohnstrong. Oh! And don’t forget to show off your project in the Rohn Strong Maker Community Facebook group too!
Rohn Strong 