Why are teenage boys so hard to crochet for??

[jchllm]

You know....teenaged boys are a pain in the butt!!! ;)
My son wants me to make him an afghan for Christmas. First he didn't know what he wanted. Then he wanted a snowflake afghan. I planned it out, made a first hexagon so I'd know if it would 'do-able' or not. Decided which yarn I was going to use and everything.
Then yesterday he sees me looking at someones finished snowflake afghan and asks 'is that the one I want you to make?', I told him it was, then he curled his nose.....'that's too girly'.
So, here's where I am, I'll have about a month (give or take) to make his afghan. What can I possibly do that's masculine but still nice?

He's into Chinese letters, dragons, swords....that type of stuff. He's 15 years old.
Any ideas? Any patterns you think might help me?
I've tried looking at CPC but it must be down.

Thanks for your help in advance.

[nightowl]

Hi Lisa

There are some brilliant links here (http://chineseculture.about.com/library/character/blzi.htm) for Chinese characters that you are allowed to download in GIF format. From there you could import them into a graphing program. How about an afghan with some of these scattered at random over it -- or even one large symbol in the centre or a corner? (Bonus: you'd only have to work with two colours :lol ).

If you click on the Chinese Names (http://chineseculture.about.com/library/name/blname.htm) link you can even get his name (first and/or family name) rendered into symbols -- cool! And a lot easier than a dragon :eek Don't know what his taste in colours is, but I could just see this in that lovely Chinese lacquer red with black symbols. . . any good?

Smiles,

[dewbaby00]

I use two strands of yarn(in thier fav color) and a q hook. I made one not too long ago with black then a few rows of camo then black agian and the guy loved it.

[yarncat]

I agree with dewbaby.Simple stitches & colors from fav sport teams or camo.Guys are practical,they just want something warm.

[EugeneClarence]

Nightowl, that is a great idea. I tried making graphs with this tool and many of these characters became fairly simple charted designs. I agree it would be beautiful in Chinese red and black.
http://www.microrevolt.org/knitPro/

EugeneClarence

[ankey]

I like the chinese characters idea, maybe with just one character in the center in black with the background in red (means good luck, wealth, and happiness to come in chinese culture) and maybe a gold (also a very lucky color) border at the edge of the afghan. I'm fluent in Chinese so if there is any particular english word you want to translate and put on the afghan or you want to check to see if a character actually means what you think it does, just pm me and I'd gladly help you out!

[CrochetCatskills]

I like the camo idea... and the yarn design is already made for you, just keep going :hook

[ickaboo]

I agree with the simple color stripes or solid colors. There's no way your son could call it too girly :) I am making my son and husband striped blankets for christmas.

[Crochet28]

How about some hacky sacks?

[Happy_Hooker]

If you have to make an afghan, like they said, keep it simple...

Skull caps are very big... I've had many requests for them from guys.

[amby525]

go to http://crochet.about.com/library/blfreecharts.htm they have dragon filet charts that would make a cool aftgan if you just used a bigger hook and yarn

[sprtsbear]

Maybe one of those Chinese symbols, like for luck, on the botttom of a scarf. A black scarf with the symbol in red or vice versa. Them make a matching hat.

[Podger1]

My oldest two are a freshman and junior in HS. The youngest is requesting a entrelac crocheted afghan in his school colors of green and black. I made a swatch of about 16 squares a week ago to show him what it would look like and he loved it. He is pumped now after we have talked about several different ideas...and keeps asking me when I'm going to start working in his stuff (and I should...his old one is getting pretty ratty...)

I make them new afghans every few years whenever they ask for one. About two years ago, my oldest wanted one and I ended up making him a simple solid colored ripple ghan. Again, he loves it.

Obviously, boys this age have outgrown the need or desire (at least in mild wintered Texas) for handmade hats, scarves, sweaters. They would rather wear what their friends wear.

The only other thing they love that I make them (and they would probably die if they knew I told anyone) is crocheted slippers. It seems like I make everyone in the family at least 2 pair or more each fall because they get worn so much around the house in the evenings.

I think simple designs in a simple stitch. Although the Chinese character thing is pretty fascinating. We adopted our 2 year old daughter from China and that idea is now bouncing around in my head of making her an afghan with her original Chinese name on it....ummmm...just what I need...another crochet idea to gnaw at me until I go figure out the pattern and buy the yarn and then see my "to be made" list grow even longer! (read sarcasm here)