Annie's Kit Club Mandala Afghan Crochet Review

[@debbiekinleyrn]

Thank you, a friend of mine bought this kit, and I was thinking about buying it.. but I agree with you, it is quite expensive. And i'm not sure that I like only getting part of the project and instead the entire project, so I can work at my own pace

[@ctextoris]

Thanks so much! This review was just what I needed. I've been seeing these ads, and was so excited (but skeptical), and I'm glad to hear it's legit! I have been dreaming of learning to crochet and even though this is maybe a litte more expensive than other methods of learning, I think getting it pieced out bit by bit will really help me stay on track. I'm excited to try it! By the way, your afghan is beauitiful!

[@KatieGoesPlatinum]

Thanks so much for this video. I’ve never crocheted before and bought this kit. Trying it tonight.

[@DaynaCamplivegrace]

Let us know how it goes. :)

[@theresawooten6455]

It is okay. I worked it up. Many issues with Annie's. Was supposed to be done in what, 10 weeks, and then issues with tutorial and written instructions. I figured I paid around $25 per month x 10 months = $250... I did enjoy the new stitches. I disliked the delay in certain months for kit to arrive. Annie's customer service pointed a finger at Premier...LOLOLOLO. Anyway, what was supposed to be a 10 month project turned into 14-15 weeks. IDK!

[@bethhirtler4708]

I started this kit awhile ago and that center was irritating me with the poofing out. I thought it was just me and I was just doing it wrong. I frogged it and frogged it and it still poofed so I put it away while working on other things. I'm so glad I checked out this video. I don't know why but something told look it up on youtube haha. Thank you for this! I am now a subscriber :)

[@DaynaCamplivegrace]

I’m so sorry you’re having trouble too! I think there are other places in the blanket where the tension is just nearly impossible to get right. I ended up having trouble to the very end. I definitely won’t be ordering another Annie’s kit, but it was a great learning situation.

[@tammylittlefield1586]

I have same issue with the center pooching out. It is hard to get it exact with measurements without frogging it multiple times I just gave up and kept on

[@DaynaCamplivegrace]

I did the same thing. Just kept going.

[@jessicafritz2235]

I love this kit and the instructional videos on Annie's site. I got to about the same spot you are at in this video and was frustrated because it kept poofing out. I took the whole thing apart and came back to it a few months later. I restarted from the beginning, counted all of the stitches twice, and it still poofs out. I am almost done with it and have just decided it's just going to be a beautiful, poofy afghan.

[@DaynaCamplivegrace]

@@jessicafritz2235 that’s pretty much how I felt too. I just dug in and finished it anyway. I kept changing hook sizes back-and-forth to try to get it to work out.

[@RogueMomma25]

I am startung this one after I finish the Moroccan Afghan. I started it 2 months after teachinv myself to crichet. I love these kits

[@junemoore5599]

@@RogueMomma25 I, too, did the Moraccan Afghan too. Not perfect, but okay. Don't think I will do again.

[@junemoore5599]

My center pooched out too! I finished it and grrr ave to daughter for Christmas present (i bought gge kits). But, i had so much leftover yarn!! I loved the videos but not worth the price of the kits. Did not know you could only buy the pattern!

[@DaynaCamplivegrace]

I feel your pain! I'm glad I did it but hopefully I won't let myself buy another one from them again. I love gifting my projects too! I bet your daughter loved it!

[@junemoore5599]

@@DaynaCamplivegrace Yes she did love it...pooch and all!!

[@carolyngordon2225]

I'm glad to see it wasn't just me who has the pooched out center in my afghan! I'm about to begin kit 6 which is making the four corners which squares up the afghan! It is definitely a showpiece and I'm not quite sure what I'm going to do with it when I'm done. But I have enjoyed th e experience. I would have preferred a cotton or wool blend rather than acrylic, but ce la vie! 👍🏾

[@DaynaCamplivegrace]

When I made the Sophie’s Universe I had the same problem but not this bad. Let us know what you decide to do with it. 😀

[@wendyvantiem2717]

It's not just you! I am wondering if I can "finesse" the first kit so that the last round is the correct amount of stitches to match up with the second kit, but take out a few stitches somewhere in the beginning so that it will lay flat. It is really a shame that we pay so much for the kit,and then it is wonky. Gonna have to do some experimenting

[@dannaredford3288]

Mine was really bad to pooch out, so I finally looked at the stitch counts and they are truly “wonky.” For example: rnd 2 and rnd 3 stay the same as do rnd 8, 9, & 10. No wonder it pooches out! So I did it all over and increased the stitch counts: rnd 3 to 27; rnd 9 to 76, and rnd 19 to 84. I haven’t gone any further so don’t know what’s coming up, but at least it’s laying flat!

[@DaynaCamplivegrace]

That’s a good point. I don’t remember if I checked mine. I usually do but I might not of this time. Thanks for pointing that out.

[@barbararogers1218]

I actually have completed the afghan up to Kit #4 and decided to start over because of the cupping of the afghan. It was really poofing out and I didn't like it, and since I'm new at crocheting and a bit of a perfectionist, I decided to start from the beginning. I'm worried about running out of yarn, so I appreciate your comment about picking up the yarn at Hobby Lobby. When I emailed Annies, they said to go to the Premier website for yarn, and I did and found that they were out of some of the colors I needed. Regarding cupping, I emailed Annies Kit Club Pattern Department, and here is what they say about this: "Some curling or cupping will occur as you work. The weight of the blanket will pull most of that flat later on. If you see a lot of cupping or rippling you may need to try a different hook for a round or two. You may tension your stitches tighter or looser with different stitches or stitch patterns. I have to go up 2 hook sizes to work star stitches on the afghan I am currently working on and then back down to stated hook after those rounds. After each round, lay your work flat and make sure it isn’t too wonky before continuing. If it is pretty wonky you can undo a round and make adjustments at that time rather than working a lot (this is assuming your stitch counts are all spot on), then laying it flat and deciding there is too much wonkiness. Rippling means you should try a smaller hook. Cupping or curling means a larger hook. Blocking will also rectify some of these issues. You can stop and block at any point to see if that is going to help or if other hook/stitch adjustments need to be made. Again all of this is assuming your stitch counts are correct. Gauge is super tricky with mandalas like this so you have to be patient and check measurements and that it is laying flat often. Finding an issue early lets you correct it right then rather than finding out several long round later something is wonky. I hope this helps. In the end it is your afghan and up to you to determine if you need to undo some and try again or continue onward based on the information above." Hope this helps.

[@DaynaCamplivegrace]

Wow! Frogging 4 kits! That’s dedication! Thanks for your tips. I hope you can find yarn that matches. At Hobby lobby. I’d love to know how it goes.🧶 😀

[@barbararogers1218]

@@DaynaCamplivegrace Not sure if you saw the rest of my comment where I shared about poofing...you would need to scroll down a bit....

[@DaynaCamplivegrace]

@@barbararogers1218 I've reread your comment several times. I'm in the middle of kit 4 and it's happening again! Ugh. I frogged a few rows and will try going up another hook size yet again! I hope I don't run out of hook sizes!

[@vicrig4474]

I am on kit #2. Mine is already bunching up in that middle circle. Also, my kit #2 is missing a color. A 45 minute phone call got me disconnected. An email I sent is unanswered still since this morning. And I struggle to find the video tutorials so I go to KZbin. I am not impressed with the customer service. I will be going to Joann’s to find an anti-piling yarn close to the missing one in my #2 kit. Not sure how many more kits I will get. I started this one two days ago. I’m at a standstill until I find a substitute yarn but I will be done with #2 in one more day. I would need at least two kits per month.

[@juliecanaway3857]

How do you buy just the pattern and not the yarn? I’m only seeing the option for the kit with the yarn on the site.

[@DaynaCamplivegrace]

I'm not seeing it on the website. www.annieskitclubs.com/craft/crochet You can contact them. If you scroll down to the bottom you will see ways to contact them.

[@vicrig4474]

My mandala bunched up too in the middle even after I changed hook sizes. I’m disappointed. Not sure I will continue and I’m only on kit 2.

[@DaynaCamplivegrace]

That's a bummer! It's such a pretty blanket. It's too bad the pattern is so messed up. Maybe you can find another pattern that is similar.

[@aldepauw6358]

How many of each color skein did you end up needing for this pattern? I'm just starting mine, and I want to do a second one in other colors, so I want to make sure I have the right amount of yarn from the start.

[@DaynaCamplivegrace]

I found my receipt. I ordered two skeins of each color except for linen. I ordered four skeins of linen. It seems like I ran low on Porcelain blue and had to use a different color. So, in hindsight, I should’ve ordered three skeins of porcelain blue.

[@aldepauw6358]

@@DaynaCamplivegrace Thank you sooooo much! My daughter is wanting me to make one for her, and since I only finished the first kit, I had no way of estimating how much yarn to order. I appreciate you for looking that up for me!

[@DaynaCamplivegrace]

⁠​⁠@@aldepauw6358 you are welcome! 😊 by the way, I ordered from Herrschners.

[@aldepauw6358]

@@DaynaCamplivegrace That's exactly where I'm ordering from! They have the yarn a little bit less expensive than directly from Premier.

[@KathyHefner]

My center has pooched out too. I've blocked it about 3 times now but it keeps coming back - especially after it's been folded up. I have a HUGE problem I have run into. I did all the rounds, up to 35, measured according to pattern. When you finish kit 2 and round 35, it should measure 21in diameter. Which mine does. It should have 216 stitches, which mine has.But then I created 36 2" flowers and it's much bigger than the size of the base. Every flower is 2". I added the edge on to it and have 326 stitches instead of 216. If I remove 12 flowers, it will end at the end of the color sequence and I will have the exact number of stitches. But that will leave me with 24 flowers instead of 36. I have measured and remeasured everything and the flower round is just too big. What did I do wrong?

[@kedashibainu5567]

I had the same issue you did with the flowers...Once I began to join them they began to form a circle which was considerably smaller and actually fit the circumference of the circle. However, my chain spaces were only one single crochet instead of two which tightened it up a lot. As far as the 326 stitches, you should have 108 stitches and 108 chain spaces...maybe you're counting the actual stitches instead of the chain spaces.

[@aldepauw6358]

You don't happen to have a digital copy of kit 9 and 10, do you? They are having a yarn shortage and cannot send me my kit 9 and 10 directions until their yarn is in stock. I just need the directions so I can finish my afghans! I am making 5 different ones in different colors and I am on hold until....who knows when.

[@claudiamerida46]

I have the same problem in the center is puffing out. I think is the pattern.

[@DaynaCamplivegrace]

I’m glad I’m not the only one but I’m sorry you’re having that problem too. 🤪🤔

[@DaynaCamplivegrace]

Now I'm on kit 4 and having the same problem again. I'm starting to think it's that pattern too.

[@peggyhopf4801]

My center puffed out also.

[@DaynaCamplivegrace]

😢Were you able to keep going?

[@dinaljones7773]

I am just wondering if anyone else is having trouble getting their kits? I'm waiting for kit 6 and they said they are having trouble getting the yarn. I am so frustrated.

[@jdevries6245]

I can't find the tutorial videos! Can anyone help mecwith this?

[@DaynaCamplivegrace]

Did you purchase the kit? After you sign in at Annie's Kit Club, any kits you purchase should show up. When you click on a specific kit the video option should show up. If you can't find it you should call their customer service. I hope this helps.

[@bethbutton6878]

Do you know how long you have access to the video

[@DaynaCamplivegrace]

I’m thinking you have them forever

[@dannaredford3288]

I meant rnd 10, not 19.

[@sharmin_sultana783]

Tutorial please

[@DaynaCamplivegrace]

Here is where you can order the kit and get the tutorials. www.annieskitclubs.com/products/crochet-mandala-afghan

[@wendyvantiem2717]

Here is a kit 1 pattern revision from the Annie's website . I have not tried this yet. file:///C:/Users/wlvan/Downloads/CMA001L_Errata.pdf

[@GinaRuiz-x4f]

Same thing happened to me with the middle puffing out. Also mine measures way bigger. I think I am going to run out of yarn. I'm just done with the flower part.

[@mousebabyhickman9527]

I’ve pulled this thing apart 7 times!!!! I thought it was me!!! I am so disappointed with it I’m going to call them and demand a refund.

[@DaynaCamplivegrace]

Please let us know what they say. It’s a bummer. I finally finished mine but would be embarrassed to give it away.