Unknown commented on "It's been 20 years . . . Can I still get the ORIGINAL color scheme for this afghan?"

4 hours ago

Is there a yarn you could recommend that comes close to Gemstone Red heart Classic? That's a critical element of your design. Thank you for sharing this beautiful creation.

The first thing you should be aware of is that the "Gemstone" yarn isn't the "original" yarn I used for this afghan.  It is one in a series of substitutions that Annie's has made over the years as Red Heart has chosen to cut back on the variety of selections they offer in their yarn colors.

My best advice at this point to anyone who wishes to attempt to recreate a specific color theme is to go to www.Herrschners.com and spend some time browsing their collection of yarn offerings.  They have the broadest selection of yarn and colors currently available that I have found, and the color you see onscreen is essentially the color you will find in the box when the yarn is shipped to you.  Don't limit yourself to the Red Heart brand, but DO look for a "worsted weight," 4-ply yarn to get the same end result.  And be sure to buy enough yarn to complete the project when you make your order, as dye lots can vary significantly one from another.

Good luck, and let me know how it turns out!

It's been 20 years . . . Can I still get the ORIGINAL color scheme for this afghan?

This is one of the most frequent questions I am asked. And I'm sorry to say, the bottom line answer to the question is: You can't.

It took me 3 months searching every catalog and yarn store I could get my hands on to find exactly the right colors to get the effect I wanted for this creation: the effect of sunlight streaming through ancient stained glass.  For many years you could still get the main colors needed using Red Heart yarn, but as of this writing (summer 2020) they have discontinued their “wedgewoods ombré” that I used for the body of the afghan and I have yet to find an acceptable substitute. 

Errata

Two notes:

1.  When I first designed this afghan, I used 2 strands of a variegated fingering yarn which is no longer available to create the pentagons and half circles, because it was the only way to achieve the look of light streaming through antique stained glass.

After the pattern was published in 1994, the yarns I originally used became unavailable, and other yarns were substituted to give the same overall appearance.  But, since the yarns now being used are all 4-ply, it is no longer necessary to double the yarn for those small sections.  Doing so gives an overly-bulky result.

Please correct your patterns to remove ALL references to using two strands of yarn together.

2.  Elin of Sweden has found what appears to be an error in the printed pattern.
On Row 8, it reads:
Join black in first st of any black 5-dc group, ch 3, dc in each of next 4 sts, [changing to gemstone, dc in each of next 6 sts, inc, dc in each of next 3 sts, working across rnd 6, working over sl sts, dc in next st, changing to black, dc in each of next 5 sts, changing to gemstone, dc in each of next 2 sts, working across Valley fill-in, dc in next st, inc, dc in each of next 3 sts, inc, dc in each of next 2 sts*, changing to black, dc in each of next 5 sts] 16 times, ending last rep at *, changing to black, join in top of beg ch-3. (34 sts in each rep - 544 sts total)

The problem is, these instructions, as written, will give you only 33 sts, not 34, in each rep.

There are supposed to be two increases in each gemstone section. I spaced them evenly, so once you see the pattern of where to increase in each gemstone section, it should be the same throughout:
" changing to gemstone, dc in each of next 3 sts, inc, dc in each of next 3 sts, inc, dc in each of next 2 sts*, changing to black, dc in each of next 5 sts 16 times"So, it's a pattern of 3 dc, increase, 3 dc, increase, 2 dc for each gemstone section, then switch to black and dc 5.  This will give you the proper number of increases for Row 8.

The Designer is *IN*

I'm working on something wonderful to celebrate the birth of a new grandchild. Stay tuned . . . This is gonna be SPECIAL!!!

A few more beautiful recreations

My Original Cathedral Window Afghan

If you want to recreate my original color scheme, you can still do so!
You can get all the yarn you need at www.Herrschners.com
They still sell the Red Heart Super Saver black (#0312) and White (#0311) at $3 for 7 oz;
they sell the Red Heart CLASSIC "Wedgewoods" (#0972) for $2.70 per (I think it's 3 oz) skein;
and they now have Herrschner's 2-py Afghan yarn for $1.70 each in Berry Delight (#0103) and Teal (#0039), which, if you tweed one strand of each, will give you just the right look for the half circles.

I am *so* pleased to fine just the RIGHT color combination once again!

Make it Your Own!!!

Isn't this the most GLORIOUS interpretation of my pattern??? Thank you, THANK YOU, Brenda Jackson for sharing your creativity with me!!

Honestly? I wish I had one just like it!!!

My design captures the design and appearance of the Notre Dame Rose Window;
for me, Brenda's work captures it's inspiration!

To see Ms. Jackson's step-by-step work-in-process, go to http://ravel.me/bjackson99/crwa