When I was seven, my great-grandmother taught me how to crochet. She and I would sit side-by-side on her plaid couch and ball our yarn. And while I constructed long, winding chains, Bobo would weave that pastel crochet needle in and around, through, and out with the speed of a skilled master. If you're like me and can whip out a scarf in a week or two, but have yet to complete that bed-sized blanket, or even a throw for that matter, here are a few pretty Flickr finds to get you inspired.

From rainbow hued waves to pastel pink granny squares, these handcrafted blankets boast a variety of vivid patterns. Now that fall is here, it's time to break out that crochet hook and with luck, you'll be snuggling up with your very own afghan by winter's first snowfall.

I usually stick with the easy, basic double crochet stitch, but I'd love to create something with a more delicate, lacy pattern. Do you have a favorite?

(Image: 1. purejuice2, 2. brendaj, 3. MinivanNinja, 4. peterp, 5. stopnlook, 6. smittenkittenorig, 7. stopnlook, 8. _overanalyzer, 9. cturtle22, 10. kpwerker licensed for use under Creative Commons)