I don’t understand why yarn swatch cards are so difficult to find. They’re extremely useful because they have real yarn samples, so you can see all the colors–not just the ones that might be available in your local store. And even more useful if you don’t have a local shop that carries the yarn and you have to order on the web.

I was very fortunate to find a shop offering Patons swatch cards for sale, but when I called, they said Patons had stopped making them. I must have sounded terribly disappointed, because the very nice woman said she’d check and see if they still had one or two hanging around. Well, they did, and my Patons Decor swatch card arrived in the mail today–yay!

I desperately wanted the swatch card because I don’t have a local source for Patons, and I’m trying to select colors for the Learn-to-Crochet Afghan in Crochet Your Way. I know I could use another yarn, but I tried some color combinations from Plymouth Encore as well as Lion Brand Wool-Ease, and they just weren’t working out. The pattern calls for four colors of Patons Decor: mountain top variegated, country blue or aubergine, light country blue or pale aubergine, and aran. From the photos in the book, I wasn’t sure I wanted to use either of those color combinations, and seeing the yarn in person really helps.

One thing I am sure of is that I want to use a 25% wool/75% acrylic blend yarn (which Decor, Encore, and Wool-Ease are) for this afghan, because they’re soft, lightweight, durable, and washable but still have a woolish feel. Patons Decor has a good selection of solids that coordinate with the variegated colors.