Double The Fun Crochet Sampler CAL

Ready to hook up something amazing? Grab your crochet hooks and dive into the Double the Fun Sampler CAL – where two crochet styles collide in one epic blanket-making adventure! This FREE 6-week journey kicks off Monday, November 11th, and you get to choose your path: go classic with traditional crochet or spice things up with the Tunisian crochet version (or why not try both?). Your cozy masterpiece awaits – let’s make something magical together!

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Level up your crochet skills with this FREE 6-week sampler blanket CAL - learn new stitches with video tutorials and friendly support.

GET THE BLANKET PATTERNS

Purchase the PDF Patterns: Get the Tunisian Snowy Sampler and the Crochet Amour Sampler when the patterns drop on Monday, November 11th, 2024. They will be available on Ravelry and TLYarnCrafts.com (links go live Monday, November 11th).
All-in-One Kit w/ Pattern: Get the pattern of your choice early when you purchase the Snowy Sampler and Amour Sampler from Lion Brand.
Get the FREE Version: Find links to each block in the Tunisian Snowy Sampler and the Crochet Amour Sampler, beginning Monday, November 11th, using these links. Instructions will be released weekly, with 4 new techniques and stitches for EACH BLANKET dropping on Mondays for 5 straight weeks, followed by Finishing Steps in Week 6.
Access the Pattern Library: Download both blanket patterns as part of your membership to the Yarn Hive Community. All active members will have access to the full patterns at no additional cost on Monday, November 11th.

ABOUT THE CROCHET ALONG

Let’s be real – every crocheter’s project stash probably includes at least one sampler (finished or… ahem… “in progress” 😉). And for good reason! These stitch-packed projects are like a playground for your hook, letting you level up your skills and try new techniques without committing to a whole blanket made from just one stitch. But tackling a big project solo can feel like trying to untangle a yarn ball after your cat’s had a party with it! That’s where the Double the Fun CAL comes in – think of it as your crafty GPS, guiding you stitch by stitch toward sampler success alongside fellow motivated crafters worldwide.

The Double the Fun CAL is a 6-week event that is totally free to join and open to everyone. It’s designed to jam-pack your crochet toolkit with stitches and techniques you can use for future projects. Beginning Monday, November 11th, choose between the classic Tunisian Snowy Sampler (Tunisian crochet) or the playful Crochet Amour Sampler (traditional crochet) for your CAL project. Each block includes a helpful tutorial video and written step-by-step instructions. All tutorials will be accessible on my blog and via the PDF pattern after the CAL is complete.

Get ready for six weeks of stitch-tastic fun that won’t cost you a penny! The Double the Fun CAL is your golden ticket to leveling up your crochet game, stuffing your creative toolbox with gorgeous stitches and techniques you’ll use again and again. Starting Monday, November 11th, you get to pick your path to cozy greatness:

✨ The Tunisian Snowy Sampler – for those ready to rock the long hook -OR- 🌟 The Crochet Amour Sampler – where traditional stitches shine

Don’t worry about getting lost in the stitches – each block comes with its own crystal-clear video tutorial to guide you every step of the way. Plus, all these goodies will live forever on my blog and in the PDF pattern once the CAL wraps up, so you can stitch at your own pace!

Here’s a breakdown of important dates:

Sourcing Materials, now through November 10th. Gather the yarn, hooks, and notions needed to make your blanket(s). I’ve recommended several color combinations using the featured yarn – Lion Brand Pound of Love. Not only is this yarn easy to work with, it’s economical, comes in great colors, and gets even softer after washing. Keep scrolling for details on how to get an all-in-one kit and save big while you’re at it.
Weeks 1-5, November 11th – December 15th. Crochet along with fellow stitchers to start building your blocks. We will focus on 4 new squares each week for both blankets. Find the free patterns + tutorials here on my blog, or get the printable PDF as part of your kit or from my shops on Ravelry and TLYarnCrafts.com. Get updates on the weekly stitches and other important news by joining the CAL newsletter list. Make sure you drop by the weekly live streams on YouTube, on Fridays at 4pm ET – find them HERE.
Week 6, December 16th-20th. Spend quality time finishing your blanket with instructions for seaming, adding the border, and blocking. You put in so much hard work, and now it’s time to make your blanket picture-perfect! Drop by for one last lesson on crucial finishing steps.
Final Live Stream, December 20th, 4pm ET. Join me on YouTube for the final CAL live stream to look back on all we accomplished in the last 6 weeks.

ABOUT THE BLANKETS

It’s no secret – I can’t get enough crochet! Since I learned as a teenager, I’ve been fascinated by discovering new stitches and experimenting with as many techniques as possible. Since I turned crochet into my full-time gig and started sharing my projects, I often get the same question, “I’ve never crocheted before. How do I get started?”

The Tunisian Snowy Sampler and Crochet Amour Sampler blankets are the answer! Each design is engaging for both determined novices and experienced makers, combining eye-catching techniques and stitch patterns into useable masterpieces.

I’ve always thought that sampler blankets are a hidden gem in the maker community. Most of the patterns are really well written, and you can practice a new technique in an easily digestible way. For both the Snowy Sampler and the Amour Sampler, each of the 20 unique squares brings you one step closer to mastering the magic of hooks and string.

BLANKET MATERIALS

I’m excited to partner with my friends at Lion Brand for the yarn used in the Snowy and Amour Sampler blanket patterns. I used Lion Brand’s Pound of Love, a massive 1-pound skein of 100% acrylic, category 4 – worsted weight yarn. I used 4 different colors to help the stitches in each square come to life.

Get the Snowy Sampler and Amour Sampler all-in-one kits from Lion Brand.

Yarn used for the Tunisian Snowy Sampler:

Color A (Cadet). 1 ball of Pound of Love, about 785 yards.
Color B (Antique White). 1 ball of Pound of Love, about 735 yards.
Color C (Olive). 1 ball of Pound of Love, about 765 yards.
Color D (Terracotta). 1 ball of Pound of Love, about 590 yards.

Yarn used for the Crochet Amour Sampler:

Color A (Cerise). 1 ball of Pound of Love, about 625 yards.
Color B (Sugar Cookie). 1 ball of Pound of Love, about 864 yards.
Color C (Waterfall). 1 ball of Pound of Love, about 690 yards.
Color D (Honey Bee). 1 ball of Pound of Love, about 715 yards.

Yarn Color Combinations

Choosing the right yarn at the beginning of the project will ensure you love it by the end. I chose classic holiday colors for the Tunisian Snowy Sampler and went more colorful with a palette inspired by a child’s playroom for the Crochet Amour Sampler. Experiment with your personal style to come up with a four-color combination that you love. Here are some options from the Pound of Love collection:

Snow Day – Cadet, Antique White, Olive, and Terracotta

Love Birds – Cerise, Sugar Cookie, Waterfall, and Honey Bee

Hay Ride – Pumpkin Pie, Terracotta, Fern, and Sugar Cookie

Cabin Fever – Olive, Sleet, Stone, and Mocha

Unicorn Daydream – Pastel Blue, Pink Salt, Pastel Green, and Quartz

If Pound of Love isn’t your jam, or you can’t access these yarns easily, any comparable worsted weight yarn in the above yardage should do. Here are some options I recommend:

Brava Worsted from WeCrochet
Amigo XL from Hobbii
Plymouth Yarn Encore Worsted from LoveCrafts
Universal Yarn Uptown Worsted from LoveCrafts
Stylecraft Special Aran from Wool Warehouse
Paintbox Simply Aran from LoveCrafts

Crochet Hooks

Each sampler blanket uses multiple hooks to achieve the correct gauge for the squares, join, and border. Jump to the info for the blanket you are planning to make. Adjust your hook throughout the project to achieve the desired finished size.

The Snowy Sampler Blanket uses the following crochet hooks:

6.5mm Tunisian crochet hook with 24″ cord (or 16″ cord)
6.5mm double-ended Tunisian crochet hook (see NOTE below)
6.5mm traditional crochet hook
NOTE: The double-ended crochet hook is used for Tunisian crochet in the round. You can use a straight 6.5mm double-ended hook like this one, a corded hook with a 6.5mm hook on each end like in this set, or a corded hook with a 6.5mm hook on one end for the Forward Pass and a 6.0mm hook on the other end for the Return Pass.

The Amour Sampler Blanket uses the following crochet hooks:

5.5mm crochet hook
6.0mm crochet hook
6.5mm crochet hook

Notions

Here are the last few supplies you’ll need for the Double the Fun CAL. This shopping list is for both blankets unless otherwise mentioned:

Scissors [LINK]
Locking stitch markers [LINK]
Tapestry needle [LINK]
Tape measure or ruler [LINK]
5mm knitting needle or cable needle (optional, only used for Snowy Sampler) [LINK]
Foam blocking mats buy enough to block a 62″ x 54″ blanket [LINK]
Garment steamer [LINK]
T-pins [LINK]
Knit Blockers (optional) [LINK]

HOW TO JOIN THE CROCHET ALONG

Are you ready to get the sampler party started? Follow these steps to prepare yourself for the Double the Fun CAL!

Step 1: Gather your Materials. Kits for both the Tunisian Snowy Sampler and the Crochet Amour Sampler are now available from Lion Brand. Save 30% off on launch day – Thursday, October 24th – no code needed! Purchasing after launch day? Look for daily deals from Lion Brand. All kits include the yarn needed for your project + a PDF copy of the pattern. You can customize your kit with additional hooks and notions where available. You can also purchase yarn separately or stash dive for this project. See above for yardage needs.

Step 2: Get the Pattern. Get PDF copies of the blankets early when you buy the Snowy and Amour kits from Lion Brand. Standalone PDF copies of the pattern will be available Monday, November 11th, in my shops on Ravelry and TLYarnCrafts.com. Participate entirely for free using the Snowy Sampler and Amour Sampler blog posts. Each post will be updated weekly with links to that week’s tutorials (4 blocks per week for each blanket).

Step 3: Join the CAL Email List. Get details on the week’s stitches, pattern updates, and special news via the official Double the Fun newsletter list. This list is separate from my general email list. Join the email list here!

Step 4: Share the Love! You’ll be stitching alongside fellow crochet enthusiasts, but there’s always room for more. Invite your parents, siblings, neighbors, besties, and anyone else you know who loves crochet or wants to try it out. Share this blog post with them and let’s fall in love with crochet together.

Step 5: Crochet Along with Us. The Double the Fun Crochet Along starts Monday, November 11th, and runs for 6 whole weeks, ending December 20th with our Closing Ceremonies via a YouTube live stream. Share your projects with us inside the TLYC Makers Facebook group, via Instagram with #DoubleTheFunCAL, or inside the Yarn Hive Community. Post as often as you like so we can cheer you on!

I hope you’ll join us for this exciting stitchy adventure. I can’t wait to see which blanket you pick for the Double the Fun Crochet Along (how about both?!). Have questions? Drop them below and I’ll be sure to answer them.