Looking for a substitute for raffia. I have a really cute pattern for a sun hat, but it is calling for a raffia premium yarn. Would love any suggestions 

I just finished a blanket that I will be donating for Bag O Day Crochet's auction to raise funds for a local animal rescue.  I used Caron Simply Soft yarn (color ways used: Feathered Grey and Dark country blue). Has anyone washed and / or dried this yarn in washing machine and dryer and how did it turn out?  Thanks.  I'm thinking of washing it in cold water on delicate and drying it on delicate with low heat in the dryer.  I don't usually lay big blankets out flat to dry because of how much space they take up and I don't want to hang them.  It's Geometric Interlocking crochet, it's a free pattern from Yarnspirations and the crochet crowd has a video tutorial for it. I used a I9/5.5mm crochet hook. I made the blanket bigger than the pattern, I used 3.25 skeins of each color (3 full skeins and a bit of a 4th skein of each color).

Hello all!  Has anyone ever made a blanket using yarns of different weight?  My 3 year old grandson was in my yarn and brought me some and said "Mimi, will you make me a blanket out of this green, blue and purple yarn?"  How could I say no?  But the green and blue yarn are medium weight 4 and the purple yarn is 5 bulky. Any suggestions??😊