Long Awaited Mario Afghan Directions
Okay folks, I've had a zillion requests on Ravelry so here it is. I'm giving you the tools and the design is up to you!
Yarn: I used worsted weight acrylic in the brightest colors I could find. Red Heart Super Saver works well and is quite color fast. I used Turquoise for the sky, Carrot for bricks and goomba, and Spring Green for the hill. The rest are pretty self-explanatory.
Crochet Hook: Around a size I works well.
Other supplies: You will also need a tapestry needle.
Basic construction:
The entire afghan is single crochet with details cross-stitched over top afterwards. To begin start at the bottom edge (Carrot yarn) and I believe I chained about 200 stitches. Basically, just go until it feels wide enough for you. Turn and single crochet into the second chain from end and in each chain across. I literally made the rest up as I went along. The only part that is actually crocheted is the orange at the bottom, the green hill, the bricks (orange & yellow) and the sky. Everything else I added later. I apologize to all of you OCD folk that want detailed directions but frankly, I don't have any and I don't have the afghan anymore so I'm doing my best:) Before you actually start, sketch out where you would like the various elements on a piece of graph paper. That's what I did. It's crude but this is what I started with:
Here is a link to all the little graphs I did for the various characters.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/thomcatdesigns/sets/72157612493583253/
I didn't use them all in the afghan so feel free to use any you want. As far as the crosstitch part, use the character graphs and each square translates to an 'X' of crosstitch over one chain stitch. Whew! I know that's vauge but I hope this at least gives you a starting point!
I've also got a series of process shots here for reference:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/thomcatdesigns/sets/72157607204480386/
Good luck and I'd love to see your pictures!!
