For the last 2 years I’ve signed up for a year’s worth of yarn. It’s called a “monthly yarn subscription” consisting of 12 months of surprise skeins in the mail. Each month I crocheted the skeins into a Granny Stripe Blanket (1st year) and for the past year I’ve been making a granny square blanket from the “Year of Surprises Blanket Pattern” — this year I’m doing it again!!

You see, I thought I would try and make myself a temperature blanket. I started, stopped, amended, started again…and again…and again….

Eventually, after trying and failing to decide which kind of pattern I wanted for my temperature blanket, I decided it was way too big of a commitment for me (with the amount of other things I usually have on the go). But, I still liked the idea of a “yearly” blanket…. cue: the yarn subscriptions.

I discovered the idea of the yarn subscription sort of by chance—but loved the idea way more than a temperature blanket. Surprise, hand dyed merino wool in the mail…every month!?!?! -Sign me up!!

The weather’s starting to turn in my part of the world and that means I’m totally ready to be snuggled up in a blanket, making blankets and buying ALL THE YARN. While I love the original Coastline Sunburst Hexie Blanket Pattern— this super chunky version has my heart singing! Just like last years Special Edition Island Time Blanket, this one is quick to work up-the colour combinations are endless, and the result is a giant blanket my entire family can curl up under. Movie night…here we come :)

Because of the success and love for last years Special Edition Blankets; Steph (@thecreativeknitter) and I decided that this blanket needed to be a crochet-a-long (CAL). What’s more fun than the squishiest blanket I can think of and building community!? I can think of nothing. I hope you all join us for this years CAL and share our beautiful makes together with the hashtag: #autumncoastlineCAL on INSTAGRAM.

Follow Steph (@thecreativeknitter) and I (@nautikrallcrochet) as well as #autumncoastlineCAL on Instagram for all the updates! We will both be doing another blanket throughout the CAL because-why not, right!?!?!? I’ll have my yarn and colour options listed below and will be posting updates on Instagram throughout. Can’t wait to see all your beautiful makes!!!

L, M

Something I get asked often is: “Do I have to use JAYG (join as you go) or CJAYG (continuous join as you go) to join my squares?” The answer? -No! Of course not, there are many beautiful ways to join squares! This pillow pattern is meant to encourage those who haven’t made a pillow yet to try (because the above-mentioned methods may seem intimidating to first time crocheters). These squares are just slip stitched together and the result is a perfectly squishy pillow you can feel good about. Not only are the colour options endless-the sunburst squares always fill me with joy. Work them up solid coloured for an easy, carefree crochet experience OR change up the colours each round and create a multicolored masterpiece— just like the timeless granny squares Nan used to make :)

When hot, summer, beach days turn to cool, bonfire nights; the summer stripes throw is the go-to bring along to cozy up in. Perfectly packable for your weekend getaways. Add a pom-pom border and you have the hottest blanket this summer.

I get asked a lot for this blanket. It was never intended to be a pattern—but here she is anyway! Hope you all love her as much as I do. -M.