building a hopechest need help

[squish_52]

I would like to include a few afghans with my hopechest but I'm not finding any that I am drawn to. I'd like to try something different and I'm fond of piecework. Does anyone have any ideas as to what I could make that is challenging and colorful and not to mention quite large since I want one big enough to fit on at least a queen sized bed (I like big blankets). I'd like to try a quilt type afghan but I'm not sure. Any other ideas as what to put in a hopechest are appreciated, I need to get some towel toppers and dishcloths, curtains are in the future and a table cloth is down the road somewhere. I have several large doilies and 2 afghans that I've made that are being lighty used but are sturdy enough to last. Thank you all so much :)
:manyheart:hug

[lhasaapsolady]

I'd go check out Crochet Pattern Central and see what they have. I'm sure you'll find something to your liking.

[moonspinners]

I recommend the Cathedral Rose Window afghan. Absolutely gorgeous and a definite heirloom piece and is it ever large!

The pattern is in a book that is now out-of-print. Hopefully Annie's Attic will reprint it in the near future. Occasionally the book [Annie's Attic Award-Winning Afghans] is offered on Ebay for a pretty penny.

[funkyreporter]

I recommend the Cathedral Rose Window afghan. Absolutely gorgeous and a definite heirloom piece and is it ever large!

The pattern is in a book that is now out-of-print. Hopefully Annie's Attic will reprint it in the near future. Occasionally the book [Annie's Attic Award-Winning Afghans] is offered on Ebay for a pretty penny.

Actually, there's a few in there that meet your criteria for an afghan - the Here's My Heart afghan is spectacular...
Here's one for sale on eBay with some kind of washed out pictures
http://cgi.ebay.com/ANNIES-ATTIC-AWARD-WINNING-AFGHANS-CROCHET-PATTERNS_W0QQitemZ300071655484QQihZ020QQcategoryZ1 1797QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem?hash=ite m300071655484
I have purchased this - paid quite a bit for it - but it definitely has THE afghan patterns if you're looking for an heirloom.

[squish_52]

not so much heirloom but comfy, homey...i want to make my future house a warm home for me and my husband. that pattern is awesome maybe I have that one somewhere in my stash...My gram left me a whole bunch of crochet stuff I'll have to go through it :) thanks for the ideas :)

[Brae]

How 'bout the Prairie Star quilt ghan? I'm so not into making blankets, but this one is interesting enough to not be boring and it's making up really quick. And being a quilt, well, how homey can you get? If you did it in neutral beiges and creams, it could easily fit in with any decor you eventually choose.

http://www.*********************/free-patterns/afghan-patterns.html

Hope chests are fun! My sister went nuts with hers and she pretty much had her future household stocked up in her bedroom I never had one but I've got one started for my daughter - and no linens yet. Let's see ... you could start your holiday decorations collection, add some kitchen utensils (get a giant wooden spoon, they're terrific!), old books and smaller art pieces for decorating, fancy serving bowls. Oh, and when you get your cedar balls (or whatever shape) for it, make sure to get extra as a hope chest addition so you can put them in dresser drawers for off-season clothing. Just pick up whatever's on sale whenever you can!

Brae

[Leslie]

For your hope chest,you could also make some cute dishclothes,a lacy apron,hot pads and coasters.For the living room you could decorate with some cool pillowsand a matching throw(for cuddling up on the couch).I don't know how much time you have until your wedding,but it may be fun to crochet a lacy robe to wear with a silky night gown for the honey moon!best wishes!

[squish_52]

i never thought of an apron! i'm always in the kitchen so that is an awesome idea :) I'm thinking about embroidering a few pillow cases and putting a little crocheted lace on them. This is alot of fun :) finding patterns and making them fit, I really love that prarie star afghan, it looks like a challenge and boy do i love challenges!

[parisjem]

A Hope Chest is also known as a Glory Box. I believe it had mostly linens. You could get some quality Sheet Sets (250+ thread count), some luxurious towels (Egyptian Cotton) in classic colors and styles that won't date. You could collect and make doilies and table runners. You could make wash cloths from 100% cotton or a silk blend and store them with beautiful soaps. You could make table cloths and placemat sets with matching accessories. There are Kitchen Sets to make. Why not make a few sets? Have fun.
http://dishandwashclothmania.wordpress.com/kitchen-sets/

[EugeneClarence]

http://www.happyyellowhouse.com/crochet.html (http://www.happyyellowhouse.com/crochet.html)
http://vickisdesigns.tripod.com/afghan.htm (http://vickisdesigns.tripod.com/afghan.htm)

EugeneClarence

[Cookie Hooker]

Regular pillow cases with trim... (maybe matching trim from an afghan)

My grandmother gave me a hope chest with that inside, one bed size afghan, one throw sized, several pillowcases (linen with embroger and crochet edgings)
as well as silverware (she got in the 50s for 5cents each)

[AuntyBrandi]

I had a hope chest once, and I just filled it with whatever i found onsale, I started it when I was 14 or 15. I had a part time job and i would use part of my paycheck to put something in my hope chest. to bad i got married at 16 and didnt have much in it!!