I am not much of a crocheter. But I always think of crochet afghans on the back of family sofas - ours, my grandparents’, my aunt’s - and they just make me feel so happy. So when I won a full pack of purple Shadow Tweed at the Wollongong Knitting Camp last year, I decided it was time to make an afghan.

The pattern was very easy. I had no idea how many stitches to cast on; I believe I went with the 178 suggested on the website. I spit-spliced in new balls as I went so there weren’t any ends to weave in. I crocheted about half of it last winter, and then finished it off this winter. I do wish it were a little bit bigger though. (If anybody has some of the Shadow Tweed in the same colourway, I’ll take it!) But it’s a nice lap rug for one person, and it’s just the right width for hanging on the back of the couch… which was all I was after, really.