Hi everyone, I just added some links in the reply to Joanne's post for a few pattern ideas I have found for the block stitch or modern granny.  I think it's a nice stitch and works up rather quickly.  As I was making that post I thought maybe some folks might be interested in a short slide show video I made last weekend that has pictures of some of the blankets I've made over the years.

Many of them I've gifted away to friends and family.  https://youtu.be/cIsIcPgkLEo?si=D4K9yaBE9zCYT1ao

I just finished making this (prayer - grief) shawl to gift to my cousin who just recently lost her daughter to cancer.  I used Lionbrand Mandala Baby yarn in colorway Rainbow Falls and a 4.5mm crochet hook.  The pattern is from Bag O Day Crochet's video tutorial - 3D reversible shawl #theMonthofBOD2024

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yj_npxQ9q5k

I am hoping it's an ok size and not too small. She lives in FL so I wanted something lightweight and not too warm or heavy. I made her another one but the color weren't bold enough so I made her a second shawl.

Here is a video I made, uploaded to my YouTube channel, where I show the shawl in person and you can see the texture and how cool the stitch is, because it's so textured it's not smooth but it is very original / unique looking.  It did take me longer than usual to make this shawl and stitch because of the thinner DK weight yarn and small hook size. https://youtu.be/efr6LYzjA88?si=9QWfINusSqA8EwFi

Hi Tiffany, I'm not sure if I can post this here or if I should post it in another section.  I heard of this a few months back and was able to make and finish and mail off one blanket for this blanket donation drive to Camp Boggy Creek in FL, it's a camp for kids with chronic illnesses.  The kids get to go for free and each kid gets to take home a hand made crochet or knit blanket with their own sewn teddy bear.  The ladies who are running the blanket donation drive will start recollecting blankets in Aug 2024 of this year.  

If you would like more information you can find it on the following YouTube channels:  @ShezgotYarn  ,  @CharmedGrammyCrochet  ,  @ninasknotscrochet  and  @CraftyFloridian  .

The requirements for the blankets, they must be knit or crochet and be the following size: 30" to 40" wide by 40" to 50" long. Thanks and I hope we can all chip in and help and reach the new goal for 2024- 2025!!

Here is a link to the video that was created by the camp from when the blankets were dropped off from the ladies running the blanket drive and dropping off all the blankets on 2/13/24.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZGAD-0Enic&t=0s

This is the blanket I finished last week it was a mystery blanket crochet along (hosted by Juan the yarn addicts YouTube channel) that I made with Red heart super saver Ombre yarns, Scuba, Violet and Blue-tiful and Red heart super saver light blue speckled yarn and a 6mm crochet hook.

Great e-book Amigurmi and crochet e-book bundle. The top tier of the bundle is $18 for 23 ebooks, it has two lower priced tiers which include less books if your budget is lower. I have used this site many times and you can pick a range of what you pay for the bundle and how much goes to certain charities... the different levels have different minimums.  Some really great books in there I've been meaning to get and I already have a hard copy of the Stitch dictionary.  If you have an Amazon kindle account to read, you can set it up to have some of the ebooks e-mailed to your specific kindle account. (you can find that address within your Amazon account.)  https://www.humblebundle.com/books/amigurumi-and-crochet-from-open-road-media-books?hmb_source=humble_home&hmb_medium=product_tile&hmb_campaign=mosaic_section_4_layout_index_4_layout_type_threes_tile_index_2_c_amigurumiandcrochetfromopenroadmedia_bookbundle&fbclid=IwAR2gVKpmU1s0_yq6xO05r9dcSto9GzHiAStMh_vk4rTH4Nz_CqALe7wDG6o

This is the book I referenced on this weeks Crafter Gathering last Wednesday night.  I recommend looking for used copies online if the Amazon one is too expensive. I haven't made any of the patterns out of it but I have wanted to.  It calls blankets rugs, and one of the blanket patters are a group of tunisian in the round squares - this uses a double ended hook to do tunisian in the round.  I've made a few squares from another pattern and a cowl in tunisian in the round. I'm still learning it.  

Crochet Techniques (Milner Craft Series) Paperback – March 4, 2008

by Renate Kirkpatrick

 https://www.amazon.com/Crochet-Techniques-Milner-Renate-Kirkpatrick/dp/186351371X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1W5UL5VP8HVF5&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.zOgAh51e8eXKzSwsMMJs0PbeWr31dfNpj5WNkxbMuX3AsiB2sHOXL3IdNO4zMceApJZl9jmabq5MmT5OUpKcs-JKOOi3dsEik9Jhtjh0TXIOkPKouKZJ4kp00OqAtC-1._6yQ0TW-x8WU07gE_QelpDBD9KGjqlrhfzof6jDLEj0&dib_tag=se&keywords=crochet+techniques+by+renate+kirkpatrick&qid=1708707479&sprefix=%2Caps%2C146&sr=8-1

This is the kit on Amazon which I mentioned that has ergonomic handles for the thin small steel hooks. This set has the hooks sized (0.5mm - 2.7mm) Tulip seems to have a set too but they are pricey, clover has one but they don't go down so small. They also have other sets of these ergonomic steel hooks with or without cases too on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BCPY72NB/ref=ox_sc_saved_image_10?smid=A8XDZQ03DWTEL&th=1

Today's stitch was the feather stitch I had made a feather stitch blanket during from a free pattern that was released last year for a blanket drive for Warm Up America. I didn't finish in time to mail it off and really loved how pretty the blanket came out so I decided to keep it. I may gift it to a relative but I still haven't decided yet.  I was thinking folks might want to see a picture of it and I can share it here.  I used Lion brand pound of love, one skein of each of those colors I think if I recall correctly.  The pattern was a free pattern with video tutorial.  If anyone wants the link please let me know and I'll look for it. I can also look for the colorways as well if anyone is interested in using these same colors.  This stitch is a yarn eater and the blanket is definitely heavy, weighted blanket and it's nice and squishy.