Crochet Podcast Ep 2 - Chenille Blanket, Slipper, Granny Bag

Cozy Crochet Updates: My Giant Chenille Blanket, Quick Slippers, and Granny Square Bag Plans

Some projects surprise me in the best way. This week, I ended up with a giant chenille blanket that started life as something totally different, plus a pair of fuzzy slippers that make nighttime shuffling around the house feel a lot cuter. I also shared a sweet little tortoise, a top-down chenille dress, and what I'm teaching in class next (granny square project bags with sewn linings).

The cozy makes I'm finishing right now

The cocoon cardigan that turned into a giant chenille blanket

I had to show you this one because I love it. Like, properly love it. What was supposed to be a big cocoon cardigan has officially become a big blanket, and I'm not even mad about it.

This blanket is huge, about 1.5 meters by 1.5 meters, and it is heavy. The yarn is chenille (the soft, squishy kind that makes you want to rub it on your face), and it took a lot of it. I used somewhere around 16 to 19 balls of chenille yarn, and even thinking about that number makes me laugh a little because no wonder it weighs a ton.

Here are the quick details at a glance:

My favorite part is the edge. It has that "aww" factor, and it finishes the whole thing off in the sweetest way. I already filmed a tutorial for the edging, but I'm holding it back until the blanket portion is done too, so it all makes sense together.

Even funnier, I haven't finished dealing with all the ends yet, and I still love it. It passes the test of, "Do I still like you when you're not perfect?" Yes. Yes, I do.

This blanket is headed for my girlfriend's sofa, and it's going to be such a cozy, grab-it-every-night kind of throw.

If a project makes me want to immediately make a second one for myself, it's a keeper.

And yes, I already want my own. I won't copy the blue, though. For mine, I'm thinking coral with cream. That warm pop with a soft neutral just feels right.

If you're curious about the original garment idea, cocoon cardigans are usually built from simple shapes that fold into something wearable. This free cocoon cardigan crochet pattern shows the general concept of how that style comes together.

My "one-hour"  (with left and right flowers)

I also promised I'd show my slippers because I wear them all the time. I call them my "two-hour slippers," but honestly they take more like an hour and fifteen minutes once you know what you're doing. They are quick, cozy, and they feel extra plush because I held two yarns together.

For the pair I made, I used:

• One ball of chenille yarn (for the squish)
• One ball of acrylic yarn (for strength and extra fuzz)
• Little flowers on top (so I know which foot is left and which is right, plus they're adorable)

The build is simple, and it starts right at the toe. I work in rounds until the toe section is long enough to cover the top of my foot, basically until it fits over my toes the way I want. After that, I switch to working back and forth, and I always describe it as crocheting like a sled (or a toboggan, because that's the only way my brain remembers the shape). I keep going until it's long enough to reach the heel.

1. Start at the toe and crochet in rounds until it covers the toes and top of the foot.
2. Work back and forth to extend the foot section down to the heel.

My honest note is that I made this pair one row too long at the heel. I still wear them (obviously), but next time I want to stop one row earlier so they fit even better. It's a tiny change, but it matters.

If you want more slipper ideas for gifts or just to keep yourself in soft things all winter, I have a post with lots of inspiration here: https://secretyarnery.com/blogs/blog/crochet-slippers-cute-cozy-and-durable-gift-ideas-2025

And if you're in the mood to compare a different construction style, these 2-hour rectangle crochet slippers for beginners are a great reference for the "flat piece, fold, seam" method.

My Heidi Bears tortoise and a top-down chenille dress for cool weather

Two more makes were sitting nearby, and they both make me happy.

First up is my little tortoise. It's the Heidi Bears tortoise pattern (the one with the African flower look), and I think the name is "Snap the African Flower Turtle." I worked it in regular chunky craft acrylic, nothing fancy, and it turned out so cute. The shape is great, and I love that it has details from every angle: the back has that ruffle, the underside looks finished, and the shell wraps around in such a satisfying way.

The buttons are the part that made me roll my eyes at myself. I bought them at a sewing store, and they were about $0.60 each, which feels expensive when I'm used to seeing giant bags of buttons for cheap. Still, they were perfect, so I went with it. Sometimes the right button is the right button.

If you want to find the exact pattern source, here's the listing I use as a reference: Snap the African Flower Turtle pattern by Heidi Bears

The other make is my chenille dress, and I made it a while back but I'm trying to wear it while I can. It's a top-down build. I start at the collar, work down the yoke, then make a foundation chain under the arm and continue down the body. After that, I build the sleeves and finish with edging. It has that easy "keep going until it's the length you want" feeling, which I love.

Chenille makes it warm, so it's good for cooler weather, but my seasons change fast. It's September now. October brings rains (which basically signals fall, or spring technically depending where you are), and then it heats up. By Christmas it can be 28 to 30 degrees, so this dress won't get much wear then. I'm enjoying it now while it still makes sense.

If you're hunting around for other dress options in the same general category, this roundup is a helpful jumping-off point: 30 free crochet dress patterns

Getting ready for class: granny square project bags and sewing linings

The granny square bag plan (and the rope handle I'm still designing)

I had class coming up, so I was rushing around, trying to get myself together, tidy up, and prep for a few new ladies joining. I always want the room to feel welcoming, especially when someone hasn't been here before.

I also wanted to pick up some snacks for the students. There's a new Carrefour down the road (it's a big French grocery chain), and their bakery is really good, so I planned to grab some little bites for us to snack on while we work.

For class, we're starting granny square project bags, and the structure is nice and straightforward:

• Five granny squares total, whatever size you want
• One square for the bottom
• Four squares for the sides

I want our squares pretty big because projects lately have been pretty big too. After we join everything into the bag shape, the big decision is the handle. I know what I want, I just haven't made it yet. In my head, I'm picturing fat crocheted rope handles, the kind that feel sturdy in your hand and don't cut into your shoulder when the bag is loaded.

The other important piece is adding a cotton liner inside. Crochet bags can stretch, especially if you load them up with yarn (and let's be honest, I always load them up with yarn). A sewn lining gives the bag structure and helps it keep its shape.

Since some of my students want to learn stitching as well as crochet, adding a liner is also a great beginner sewing project. It's useful, it's not scary, and you end up with something that looks polished.

If you're making your own bag alongside us, this step-by-step tutorial walks through the project in detail: https://secretyarnery.com/blogs/blog/crochet-a-granny-square-project-bag-part-one

And if you want extra inspiration for other square-based ideas, this list is packed with options: https://secretyarnery.com/blogs/blog/top-20-fun-easy-granny-square-projects-for-crafters-of-all-levels

Why I own six sewing machines (and the one that flies at 1,600 stitches a minute)

I said it out loud and it still sounds ridiculous: I have six sewing machines.

In my defense, getting machines fixed where I live is not simple. The fancy computerized embroidery machines are especially hard to service, so once one breaks, it can turn into a whole situation. I do have one of those, but I try not to use it too much because I don't want to deal with repairs.

The machine I use the most is a professional quilting machine, and it goes so fast it almost feels like it's trying to run away from me. It does around 1,600 stitches a minute, and it even has a throttle to slow it down. When I'm sewing linings, that speed is a dream, as long as I'm paying attention.

I like teaching sewing in small, practical pieces, and bag linings are a perfect example. You're not trying to learn every technique at once. You're just learning how to measure, cut, stitch, and fit fabric into something useful. It also pairs so nicely with crochet because it solves a real problem (stretchy bag syndrome).

What's next on my hook (and in real life)

Birthdays, a crochet initiative, and a half-finished shopping bag idea

The calendar for the next week is full, and it's the kind of full that makes me talk faster.

We have a birthday lunch tomorrow for my 4-year-old, then a bouncy castle after. Monday brings the school cupcakes and all the extra kid stuff that somehow needs to be done at the last second.

On top of that, we're starting a crochet initiative that I'm really hopeful about. The plan is to teach unemployed single mothers how to crochet, then help them make items we can sell so they can earn an income. It's early days, and I'm still working out what the first project should be.

Right now, I'm leaning toward starting with a shopping bag. I have the bottom started and it's really cool, but it's only half figured out, not fully figured out. I want to show it once I know exactly where I'm going with it, so that's on my list for next week.

It all sounds like a lot because it is a lot. Still, I can always find a few minutes to pop in, show what I'm making, and keep the yarn joy going.

If you like long-term granny square projects that stay flexible (no pressure, no catch-up guilt), this is a fun read: https://secretyarnery.com/blogs/blog/ear-of-the-granny-cal-2026-a-stress-free-crochet-along-for-scrap-yarn-squares

Thanks for being here, plus a few helpful links for your kit

I also want to say thank you for watching and hanging out with me. It's still wild to me that people choose to spend time with my yarn chatter, and I appreciate it a lot. I even got a thumbs down from someone, and honestly, I'm fine with it. It happens.

If you want to keep up with new videos and projects, these links are the official places I share updates and patterns:

• Secret Yarnery YouTube channel subscription
• written crochet patterns on SecretYarnery.com
• Secret Yarnery membership
• support me on Ko-fi

I also share a list of tools I use a lot. If you're building your own kit, these are solid basics. (As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.)

• ball winder for tidy yarn cakes
• crochet hooks I reach for often
• stitch markers for granny squares and shaping

Conclusion

This week was all about cozy wins, even the accidental ones. That chenille blanket turned into something better than the original plan, the slippers proved (again) that fast projects can still feel special, and the granny square bags are going to be so useful once we add those linings and sturdy handles. Thanks for being here with me, and for cheering on all the works in progress. Until next time, stay hooked, and keep making something soft.