wedding gifts

[jingle125]

Some friends of mine, a young couple in their mid-20s, are getting married in the fall. I'd like to give them a gift, but money is a bit of an issue, so I'm thinking I might crochet them something.

 

My question is, could I make them an afghan (or something) without it being a bit too ... well, old-ladyish? They're awfully young and hip, but I think that they (especially she) might like a blanket.

 

Have any of you ever made anything for a young newlywed couple? Any ideas for patterns or colors that might nix the frump-factor? Or ideas for something other than an afghan to make for them?

 

The only other thing is that they've been living together for a couple of years, so a lot of their decorating, etc. is already done. So I might need to get creative here.

 

My thanks in advance for your help!

Emily <img border=0 src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v84/crochetville/ducky.gif" />

[RebeccaVelasquez]

my thoughts:

 

do a diagonal box stitch in multiple colors and textures to match their decor

[NancyCA]

An afghan would be wonderful for them! I do it all the time and the love them. Just make sure it's big enough for BOTH of them to be under!

[threeolivemartini]

well to me "old ladyish" would be with super saver in granny squares..

 

so my suggestion is to use several yarns in different weights and textures..in a nice stitch pattern.

 

. maybe <a href="http://www.crochetcabana.com/stitches/ltc-diag-box-st.htm" target="_new">diagonal box</a> or maybe even like a wave stitch to make it look like the <a href="http://www.handworksgallery.com/colthrokit.htm" target="_new">abfab throw from colinette</a>

[123mama]

I say go for the afghan. I think everyone loves them. I made one out of soft white and it looked like lace. I gave it to a very special friend when she had to retire because of bad knees.

[Ambersafghans]

Well I have made some wedding afghans. The exact same except the one for my cousin was longer. (He is tall!) There's a picture of it on my web site. Amber's Afghans

Click on the Custom afghans button. It's the second one down.

The colors I talked to my Aunt about. We don't see these cousin's alot (In fact, we've only met her once. We were unable to go to the wedding. )

And the other couple I don't know too well. Friends of Mom and Dad's. We did go to their wedding. All of us. ( It was interesting. )

I can't say how much they like it or use it, but of course we got a thank you card.

Amber

[jingle125]

rebeccav: Sounds like a neat idea! I just hope they don't end up buying a new living room set, as the current one is a tatty hand-me-down from his parents ... Thanks!

 

NancyCalif: Hee! Very, very true ...

 

threeolivemartini: Thanks for your suggestions! The diagonal square one looks especially good, since I'll most likely be working on this in the summer when I'll be doing quite a bit of traveling, and those little squares are nice, portability-wise. The AbFab is neat-looking, but from the samples, it looks like I might go blind!

And amen to the granny squares -- I guess that's really what I was dreading. Cheap yarn in an ugly flower pattern or something.

 

123mama: You're right, my fears may be a bit unfounded.

 

Ambersafghans: The pattern on #3 is absolutely beautiful! Any chance you might be willing to share?

[esekeith]

I've made afghans for newlyweds and college kids that hve been welcome AND used. I almost always make them with ecru, aran, off-white, whatever they're calling pale, pale, beige now a days. Goes with everything, or that's my theory, at least. If someone is a rabid football fan I'll make them in their team's colors. Don't know where you live, but in Alabama Auburn or Alabama :cheer2 university colors go with everything.(orange and blue, and crimson and white)

[faithpa76]

ITA on making a neutral colored aghan. I'm working on a filet crochet afghan, which should go wth several different decorating styles, and I'm using off white. You can fairly easily make it longer and very easily make it wider.

 

I'm making the one that is the pink on on the cover of this book. This link should take you to the last pic I posted of it - that was awhile ago, but I'm not posting any more pics until it's done.

[Suebee42]

I always make afghans for wedding gifts. I haven't had one recipient call me "granny" yet -- they've always loved them.

 

For two college friends of mine, I made a plaid afghan from a book I have (Afghans for All Seasons - book 1, I assume - Plaid Winner, Page 80), and I did it in their wedding colors.

 

Now I am working on a Chevron Lattice pattern in light blue for another newlywed couple (also college friends), which I snagged out of the Encyclopedia of Crochet (page 163).

 

My next wedding gift project will be the Victorian Throw in lavender from the same book I got the plaid afghan from above (page 10). This one is for my best friend from High School.

 

If your friends are more "hip," then you might look for a funky pattern. I like the Textured Throw on page 59 of Simple Crochet by Erika Knight, as well as the Stripey Throw on page 67. I'm all about funky, myself. If I was getting married again, I'd love to get either one of these!

[threeolivemartini]

the pattern for the ab fab throw is just a <a href="http://www.thesmartyarns.com/patterns/March02/SoftEasy.html" target="_new">wavy ripple..</a>.

[natalie058]

My friends are all younger, late teens-mid twenties, and they love the afghans I've given as gifts. I've made four now (not as wedding gifts!), and I haven't used any patterns, I just pick a simple repeating pattern stich and go with that... I make them solid colors, with Wool-Ease (soft but washable), so far I've used the dark and light greys, the wheat, and navy blue, and they've all been very well received.

[jingle125]

esekeith: Ooh, ecru sounds like a nice idea. That way I won't have to worry about matching anything. And, like most Ohioans, he is a rabid OSU fan, so I suppose I could always go in that direction ... although I happen to think that red and grey are a bit tacky ...

 

faithpa76: Your filet is gorgeous! I have only two concerns with that -- one, that I was thinking of making something a bit thicker/warmer, and two, that I'm still a beginner, and I'm wondering if that pattern might be a bit over my head at this point. But thanks for your suggestions!

 

Suebee42: Plaid sounds like something they really might like. I'll definitely look into that. And I suppose I can trust my own taste, to some extent -- I, too, hate the dowdy look.

 

threeolivemartini: Oh, I see. I guess it was just the yarn that was throwing me off.

 

natalie058: I'm definitely a fan of the simple solids. And something neutral would probably be my best bet in making them something that doesn't completely clash with their decor. I think I might want to do a pattern for this one, though, simply because it might look a little more impressive for a wedding gift. Silly, I know ...

[Ambersafghans]

Hi Emily.

That afghan was actually custom ordered from Canada! The colors being her choice. I just tried to pick a wild pattern to go with it! That is a pattern from the Big Book of Afghans. Let me give you a link. Here.

It has a lot of really neat patterns in it. If you wanted, I could count how many are in there.

Amber

[Sue89]

For a wedding gift I would typically think of an ivory heirloom-style afghan, but when you said young and hip I remembered a pattern I've been itching to make for myself. Have you seen the Mondrian blanket at Lionbrand? I went through a Mondrian phase in college and when I saw this blanket my jaw dropped.

 

Link here

 

I don't know what their color scheme is or if they'd be into that at all, but I just thought it was worth mentioning.

[jingle125]

Ambersafghans: Thanks a bunch! I think my upstairs neighbor (I live in a dorm) actually has that book, so I'll have to bring her a cup of coffee and see if I can coax it out of her. <img border=0 src="http://img28.photobucket.com/albums/v84/crochetville/veryhappy.gif" />

 

Sue89: Ooh, very cool. I don't think it would go very well in their house, but my best friend loves modern art, and I think it might be just the thing for him. ::plots::

[jingle125]

One more thing to throw out there to you guys ...

 

This Victorian lace pattern is a current favorite of mine for the wedding afghan. (I'd probably do it in ecru.)

 

The only problem is, it looks rather difficult, and I'm still somewhat of a beginner. Do you think I'd be biting off more than I can chew? And does anyone know of a similar (and easier) alternative pattern?

 

And thanks for helping me figure this all out, guys! I'm just now getting to the age where I have friends from my generation getting married, so this is an area in which I don't yet have much expertise. <img border=0 src="http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/smile.gif" />

[Sue89]

That's a beautiful pattern. I say go for it. If you can't get it you can always unravel and try again with another pattern.

[Ambersafghans]

Oh Good! I'm hope you get a chance to use it. What colors might you do it in? (If you use that pattern) I'd love to hear how whatever afghan you do turns out!

Amber

[booklvr]

I made an afghan for a friend's wedding a couple years ago - I just did a simple pillowghan in lacy hdc (big hook), in thier wedding colors (gotten off the invitation). They *loved* it - great gift!!

 

Good luck - I'm sure whatever you do, they'll appreciate and love. :-)

[Piper0110]

I'm in my mid 20's and making an afghan as a wedding present for friends of the same age. I'm doing it in an off white, something fairly simple, but pretty. I sure hope it's not an old lady thing to do!

[viviskins]

Whatever you pick, whatever color, you're friends are gonna love it, cuz its from you! Wool-ease in Mushroom is a beautiful versatile color...

 

If you aren't confident of your skill level...set your mind at ease...

 

The beautiful thing about crochet is that its easy to start over (if the yarn isn't evil ). If you mess up within the pattern of the afghan? You can pull the yarn out to where the mistake is and take it from there....You progress will be slow in the begining because you will be constantly checking the pattern, and the stitch glossary/terms, but as you "learn" the repeating pattern, you will pick up spead and really enjoy yourself! Plus you will gain confidence cause you tried something new. Lord knows we're all here to help you if you get in a pinch! :cheer2

[jingle125]

Sue89: Thanks! <img border=0 src="http://img28.photobucket.com/albums/v84/crochetville/veryhappy.gif" />

 

Ambersafghans: I'm thinking ecru (or something similar), and maybe a blend of neutrals, possibly some blue. I don't want to make it too loud, since I'm not sure what room they'd want to put it in. <img border=0 src="http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/smile.gif" /> I saw some really pretty heather blends on the Wool-Ease site that might work nicely. If I use a cream with brown heathering, it should hide stains well ...

 

booklvr: Wedding colors sounds like a good idea -- maybe I can do a little spy work through his mom and figure out what they're using.

 

Piper0110: Hee! I'm glad to hear that. I just wanted to poke around a bit and make sure I wasn't completely off-base with this. <img border=0 src="http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/smile.gif" />

 

viviskins: Thanks! You're right, I'd might as well just give it a shot, and come crying to you guys if I have trouble. <img border=0 src="http://img28.photobucket.com/albums/v84/crochetville/bounce012.gif" />

[Stitchinpick]

Last year I started the Victorian Lace afghan in a off white for a wedding gift for a young couple in their 20's. I ended up frogging it and doing the whole thing in the ripple, as I felt the holes were too large with the N hook and the double strand of thread. Anyway, it came out gorgeous and was finished in a week or less.

 

My girlfriend loved it and I helped her to start one as she is a beginner. She loved it and finished it quickly as well. Two of her young-married daughters had to have it, so she started it for them and taught them how to crochet and let them finish their own. (Smart of her!)

 

Stitchinpick

[jingle125]

stitchinpick: Thanks so much for the tip! I'm surprised it went that quickly for you -- my projects tend to take a while, mostly because I make so many mistakes and have to start over ... <img border=0 src="http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/smile.gif" />