How Vicki Found Her Groove with the Spin Me Around Blanket

Bringing the Rhythm of Live Music Straight to a Beautiful Crochet Masterpiece

Some people have an inner rhythm that flows through everything they do. If you know Vicki, you know she has a heart as big as they come and an absolute love for live jazz and blues music. When she picked up her crochet hook and some Uptown DK to start the ‘Spin Me Around’ circular blanket (pattern by Catherine Bligh on Ravelry), she was ready to channel that musical energy into a gorgeous handmade throw.

But even experienced makers can lose their tempo when a new pattern rhythm comes along. For Vicki, the struggle started right at the center of this circular design. She found herself tripping over the rhythm of the spiraling increases, trying to find where the pattern was taking her before the shape had fully developed.

When Vicki reached out, I gave her a simple technical nudge. When you’re working a circular design, the stitches can be compact in those first few rounds, and challenging to read. I reminded her to use stitch markers early on, because when a design is still in its infancy, you can’t always read your stitches or see where the pattern is going yet.

Those little markers act like a visual metronome for your hands. Once she had those guides anchoring her work, she quickly found the rhythm of the stitch placement, and her confidence soared.

The proof’s draped right over the back of the couch. This gorgeous blanket features a deep, soothing lavender center, with turquoise and sky blue stripes framing the outside edges to anchor the piece with bold pops of color. You can see the swirling open-work increases radiating out from the center in beautiful, even tension.

Vicki chose a fiber that is built to honor her hard work and her generous heart. Uptown DK is a classic plied, anti-pilling luxury acrylic. That means this beautiful throw’s going to stay incredibly soft and completely resist pilling, even after years of love, frequent use, and machine washing.

It’s a good thing, too, because Vicki expressed her love the way she always does—by giving this masterpiece away. The lucky person who received it absolutely loves it.

Suzi’s Technical Take

When you’re crocheting a circular blanket, you might be working with a continuous spiral. It’s a beautiful way to show off stitch precision, but it also opens up a brilliant opportunity for smart yarn stewardship.

Normally, finishing a circular project can leave an abrupt, blocky jog where you bind off, or where the rounds stop and start. But a circular layout can make it incredibly easy to use up every single scrap of your yarn without leaving a messy edge.

If you want to maximize your stash and get a seamless finish, here is how you fade out your final row:
🎶 Keep working your stitches until you have about twelve to eighteen inches of yarn left.
🎵 Slowly step your stitch height down to gradually close the gap.
🎶 Transition from double crochet, to half double crochet, to single crochet, and finally to a slip stitch.
🎵 This tapers the row down to nothing, melting the edge into the circle instead of ending with a harsh step.

Ready to move past the beginner fog and start creating your own masterpieces?

If you’re tired of getting stuck in the early rounds or feeling unsure about how your yarn is going to behave, you don’t have to figure it out alone. Come join our free Stitchery Journey community. It’s a zero-judgment space where we celebrate your progress and share the practical wisdom that moves you forward. I’ve put together some extra deep-dive video breakdowns inside the Classroom tab to help you master stitch rhythm, tension control, and seamless finishes.

I’d love to celebrate your latest project, too. If Perfectly Knotty helped you finish something you’re proud of, submit your project here so I can share your journey with our community.

Happy Stitching, Love SuziQ