After finishing the soft green base of my watermelon blanket, I finally moved on to the fun part, the pink âfruitâ section! This part has honestly been the most satisfying yet time-consuming part so far. As soon as the pink yarn started looping through my fingers, the whole blanket began to look like a watermelon instead of just a cozy mystery blob.
When Things Unraveled (Literally)
Once I got going on the pink section, I was totally in the zone. Looping along, feeling proud of how fast it was coming together. And then⌠I noticed it. A dropped stitch hiding halfway down the row, just sitting there mocking me. At first, I tried to convince myself it wasnât a big deal, that maybe no one would notice. But once you see a mistake in crochet, you canât unsee it.
What Even Is a Dropped Stitch?
If youâve ever crocheted (or knitted), you know that a dropped stitch is basically every crafterâs little nightmare. Itâs when one loop doesnât get worked into the next row, kind of like forgetting to button one hole on your shirt and then realizing it way too late.
At first, it seems like a minor mishap, just one tiny loop hanging loose, but that single stitch can throw off the whole pattern. Over time, it can unravel a whole section, create a visible gap, or make one side of the project start to lean or shrink. In my case, the dropped stitch was right in the middle of the pink section, so it would have stood out like a missing seed in the fruit!
The tricky part is that dropped stitches love to hide until youâve gone way too far to fix them easily. Thatâs exactly what happened to me. I was feeling confident, moving fast, and then I spotted the little gap that shouldnât have been there. The only fix? Pull it apart and redo that part. Talk about frustrating!
Itâs irritating in the moment, but catching a dropped stitch early is actually a blessing. It keeps the blanket strong and even, and honestly, redoing it gave me a chance to slow down and appreciate the process instead of rushing through it. Every project has its hiccups, and this was mine for the pink section.
So, I sighed, pulled the yarn back, and started unravelling. Thereâs that split second where you watch your work come undone and wonder why you do this to yourself, but once I began reworking it, I felt at peace with it. Redoing the section actually helped me fix my tension and make the stitches more even. Itâs funny how sometimes a mistake ends up making the final piece better.
Little Black Seeds
Once the first few rows of the pink section were underway, I started adding the seedsâthe little black details that bring the whole piece to life. I used small loops of black yarn stitched in unevenly spaced spots, just like real watermelon seeds. They donât have to be perfect (and thatâs the best part). The tiny imperfections make it feel organic and natural, like something actually grown instead of made.
I decided it was time for a break. I stretched, rolled my shoulders, and grabbed some dinner. Itâs funny how stepping away for even half an hour can reset your energy. Once I sat back down, I felt refreshed and ready to tackle more. I sat on the floor once again and cracked open the third skein of pink yarn. At that point, it really hit me how big this blanket was getting. The rows were taking longer, but seeing it grow with every round was so satisfying.
Somewhere around row 13 of the pink section, I realized just how much time Iâd spent hunched over my blanket. My back was absolutely killing me. The kind of ache that only comes from sitting too long, too focused, and forgetting that posture is a thing. I decided that now is a good time for a hot shower to try and soothe my aches and pains.
It was now 10:00 p.m., and I was determined to complete this section.
Thereâs something meditative about watching each section come together, green to pink to the little pops of black. Itâs like the blanket tells its own story as it grows in front of me. Each colour change feels like a milestone, and now I can really see how the final design will come together once the white and darker green borders are added.
11:30 p.m., and the fruit section was complete! It was time for bed, with a satisfying feeling of finally being done, having completed 3 hours of work on this part alone.
Next up: wrapping it all together with the rind! But for now, Iâm just enjoying the bright, summery vibe of this pink middle. It is bringing me life in this cold and windy fall we are having.