Semicolon Heart Rate C2C Crochet Afghan for Mental Health Awareness

Project Semicolon C2C Crochet Afghan

One of my favorite parts about afghan design is having one of my children suggest an idea to me, though this one will be a little hard to write about. This Semicolon Heart Rate Afghan was suggested to me by my daughter JMoney. She has struggled with depression and now advocates for mental health awareness.

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Lessons from Depression

Watching JMoney as well as another daughter struggle with depression and anxiety has taught me a couple of things.

  1. If you have never experienced depression, anxiety, suicidal tendencies, or other mental health problems, you do not understand. Period. Those who do experience depression cannot trust their brains. Their brains trick them into believing things that are not true. In many instances, they are tricked into believing they are worthless. They compare themselves to others and ultimately conclude that they are not worthy of love or of life. This, unsurprisingly, frequently leads to suicidal thoughts.
  2. Your perception of the situation is irrelevant at best and harmful at worst. Only your daughter’s, friend’s, or other loved-one’s perception of the situation matters. If she believes she is depressed, treat her as if she is truly clinically depressed—even if you believe differently.
  3. Don’t wait for a crisis to help. If she needs someone to talk to that isn’t family, find someone she feels comfortable talking to! If she thinks she needs a therapist, get her a therapist! If she needs a doctor, get a doctor. If she needs a religious counselor, find one. Do something now. Waiting for a crisis could be irrevocably, devastatingly too late.

To Life – Project Semicolon

In the musical Fiddler on the Roof there is a song titled “L’chaim: To Life!” That phrase “to life” takes on new meaning when you have a daughter, son, friend, parent, or spouse struggling with depression.

It is life I celebrate with this afghan.

in 2013 Amy Bleuel founded Project Semicolon. It is a non-profit organization dedicated to mental health awareness and suicide prevention. She stated, “In literature, an author uses a semicolon to not end a sentence but to continue on. We see it as you are the author and your life is the sentence. You’re choosing to keep going.”

Appropriately, Project Semicolon’s tagline is:

Your story isn’t over yet!

Because of Project Semicolon’s work, the semicolon has become a symbol of hope and power for those who do and have struggled with mental health concerns. It has been incorporated in tattoos, sculpted into jewelry, and turned into art.

I hope you’ll crochet this blanket for someone you care about.

final border close up

Jump to Pattern

JMoney’s Story

This is JMoney’s story of depression and hope in her words. (Copied from a Facebook post with her permission.)

In regards to recent events, including an email from church leaders about mental health, encouragement to help end the stigma, and the bravery of a very close dance teacher from home opening up about her circumstances, I have felt that I should write and open up about my mental health struggle in the past year.

It has been nearly a year since I have come home from my church mission. I came home early due to depression and anxiety. About the mission: it was hard. It was even harder because I didn’t know what depression and anxiety felt like and had to figure out on my own what was wrong with me. I was blessed with angel companions and an incredible Mission President and Wife, who all helped me and lifted me up.

One of the hardest parts for me was that I was doing something so good, and I wasn’t happy about it. I was numb to the peace of the Spirit, and overall, it was a dark place. I began having suicidal thoughts. I got a blessing that made things worse, tried medicine for a while, but finally received a peaceful feeling when my Mission President’s Wife asked me if I needed to go home.

The struggle didn’t end there. I had a stressful semester, and things were still not good mentally. It slowly got better after I came home, but very slowly. It took a long time to heal, and it was hard. I have since learned that God had asked me to fight this battle and that it was nearly impossible for me to fight it while I was also fighting the battle as a missionary.

Fortunately, my mental health is much, much better right now. I love dancing with all my heart; it is my therapy and medication.

Let me tell you: there is a huge difference in being mentally healthy and mentally ill. I can easily do things now that were such a struggle to me when I was depressed. My moods and actions are so different.

If you know someone with a mental health issue or if you are that person: you are validated. You are not just making it up, you are not just feeling lazy, you are not a weak person, you are not a failure.

Here are some things that you are: You are still a bright person who shines even when you are down or sad. You are still a son/daughter of God who can spread His love even when you don’t feel it. You can still brighten a room even when you feel like thunderclouds are hanging over you.

How can you hear God when you can’t feel anything? I would suggest something that worked for me: looking to those people who love and support you. My companions, my family, and my other friends and loved ones have been so encouraging and supportive. The only way I could hear God was to see His love through them. They didn’t turn me away. They loved me anyway. The love you get from those around you is just a fraction of the love that God feels for you. He is cheering you on. He is fighting with you. And He celebrates when you make progress.

My prayers go out to all those who have struggled or are struggling or will struggle with mental health issues. I pray that even in the darkest times of our lives, we will still find ways to hear Jesus Christ, however small the voice may be. Y Saludos a todos de la Misión Santiago! Les extraño mucho. Espero que mis palabras puedan ayudar a alguien con su desafío. Les quiero, adiós!

Semicolon Heart Rate C2C Crochet Afghan for Mental Health Awareness

This pattern is completely free. However, if you’d like to purchase the printable PDF from my Etsy shop, a portion of each sale will be donated to mental health organizations.

project semicolon heart rate chart

I used the standard Corner to Corner (C2C) crochet technique for the Semicolon Heart Rate C2C Afghan.  I crochet with worsted weight yarn and I use an H hook.  To brush up on C2C crochet, click over to my Crochet Videos page.

I chose to use standard C2C crochet to make this project lap blanket size – big enough for someone to hold on to when their struggling. If you prefer, you could use mini C2C crochet to turn it into a large wall-hanging.

I’ve also added a fun Puff Heart Crochet Border which just seemed perfect for this blanket. I kept thinking of the Queen of Hearts as I crocheted it. If I ever design an Alice in Wonderland afghan, you know what border I already have in mind for it.

IMPORTANT: I weighed all my yarn before and after crocheting to give you the best approximation for the amount used.  I have rounded up to the nearest half ounce. These approximations are for the entire afghan: C2C panel + borders. Please remember, differences in stitching tension and the brand of yarn you use will yield different results. Check out Gauge for C2C Afghans to make sure you are crocheting at the correct gauge.

Semicolon Heart Rate C2C Crochet Chart

Materials

~ Semicolon Heart Rate C2C Pixel Graph

Loops and Threads Impeccable Yarn 4.5 oz skeins in the following colors:

  • Blue Haze — 17.5 oz
  • Black — 7.0 oz
  • Red Hot — 3.5 oz

~ Size H Crochet Hook or size needed to achieve gauge (see Gauge for C2C Afghans)

~ Yarn Needle

~ Thread Scissors

Crochet the square starting from the bottom right corner of the chart.  Row-by-row written instructions are below.

After you finish crocheting the block, crochet one row of single crochet in BLUE HAZE around the entire panel.  See Adding a Single Crochet Edge around a Finished C2C Block for how I crochet around the edge.

Enjoy! Join me next week for the Puff Heart Crochet Border.

Your story isn’t over yet!

~ Lucinda

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Row-by-Row Instructions

[RS] = Right Side

[WS] = Wrong Side

R: Red (Red Hot) [162 pixels]

BL: Black [564]

BB: Baby Blue (Blue Haze) [2329]

Crochet from bottom right corner.

→ Row 1 [WS]: BB1 

← Row 2 [RS]: BB2 

→ Row 3 [WS]: BB3 

← Row 4 [RS]: BB4 

→ Row 5 [WS]: BB5 

← Row 6 [RS]: BB6 

→ Row 7 [WS]: BB7 

← Row 8 [RS]: BB8 

→ Row 9 [WS]: BB9 

← Row 10 [RS]: BB10 

→ Row 11 [WS]: BB11 

← Row 12 [RS]: BB9, BL1, BB2 

→ Row 13 [WS]: BB3, BL1, BB9 

← Row 14 [RS]: BB9, BL1, BB4 

→ Row 15 [WS]: BB5, BL2, BB8 

← Row 16 [RS]: BB8, BL2, BB6 

→ Row 17 [WS]: BB7, BL2, BB8 

← Row 18 [RS]: BB8, BL2, BB8 

→ Row 19 [WS]: BB9, BL2, BB8 

← Row 20 [RS]: BB7, BL3, BB10 

→ Row 21 [WS]: BB11, BL3, BB7 

← Row 22 [RS]: BB7, BL1, BB1, BL1, BB12 

→ Row 23 [WS]: BB13, BL1, BB1, BL1, BB7 

← Row 24 [RS]: BB7, BL1, BB1, BL1, BB11, BL1, BB2 

→ Row 25 [WS]: BB3, BL1, BB11, BL1, BB1, BL1, BB7 

← Row 26 [RS]: BB2, BL1, BB4, BL1, BB1, BL1, BB11, BL1, BB4 

→ Row 27 [WS]: BB5, BL2, BB10, BL1, BB1, BL2, BB2, BL1, BB3 

← Row 28 [RS]: BB4, BL1, BB1, BL2, BB1, BL1, BB10, BL2, BB6 

→ Row 29 [WS]: BB7, BL2, BB10, BL1, BB2, BL2, BB5 

← Row 30 [RS]: BB6, BL1, BB2, BL1, BB10, BL2, BB8 

→ Row 31 [WS]: BB9, BL2, BB10, BL1, BB9 

← Row 32 [RS]: BB9, BL1, BB9, BL3, BB10 

→ Row 33 [WS]: BB11, BL3, BB9, BL1, BB9 

← Row 34 [RS]: BB9, BL1, BB9, BL1, BB1, BL1, BB12 

→ Row 35 [WS]: BB13, BL1, BB1, BL1, BB9, BL1, BB9 

← Row 36 [RS]: BB9, BL1, BB2, BL1, BB6, BL1, BB1, BL1, BB14 

→ Row 37 [WS]: BB15, BL1, BB1, BL1, BB5, BL2, BB2, BL1, BB9 

← Row 38 [RS]: BB9, BL1, BB1, BL2, BB1, BL1, BB4, BL1, BB1, BL1, BB16 

→ Row 39 [WS]: BB17, BL1, BB1, BL2, BB2, BL1, BB2, BL2, BB1, BL1, BB9 

← Row 40 [RS]: BB9, BL1, BB1, BL1, BB4, BL1, BB1, BL2, BB1, BL1, BB18 

→ Row 41 [WS]: BB4, BL4, BB11, BL1, BB2, BL2, BB5, BL1, BB1, BL1, BB9 

← Row 42 [RS]: BB9, BL1, BB1, BL1, BB6, BL1, BB2, BL1, BB10, BL7, BB3 

→ Row 43 [WS]: BB2, BL9, BB10, BL1, BB9, BL1, BB1, BL1, BB9 

← Row 44 [RS]: BB9, BL1, BB1, BL1, BB9, BL1, BB9, BL11, BB2 

→ Row 45 [WS]: BB2, BL2, BB4, BL6, BB9, BL1, BB9, BL3, BB9 

← Row 46 [RS]: BB9, BL3, BB9, BL1, BB9, BL6, BB6, BL1, BB2 

→ Row 47 [WS]: BB10, BL6, BB9, BL1, BB10, BL2, BB9 

Corner 

← Row 48 [RS]: BB8, BL2, BB10, BL1, BB2, BL1, BB6, BL7, BB10 

→ Row 49 [WS]: BB10, BL8, BB5, BL2, BB2, BL1, BB10, BL2, BB7 

← Row 50 [RS]: BB6, BL2, BB10, BL1, BB1, BL2, BB1, BL1, BB4, BL9, BB10 

→ Row 51 [WS]: BB10, BL10, BB3, BL1, BB2, BL2, BB1, BL1, BB10, BL2, BB5 

← Row 52 [RS]: BB4, BL1, BB11, BL1, BB1, BL1, BB4, BL1, BB3, BL9, BB11 

→ Row 53 [WS]: BB11, BL10, BB8, BL1, BB1, BL1, BB11, BL1, BB3 

← Row 54 [RS]: BB2, BL1, BB11, BL1, BB1, BL1, BB8, BL11, BB11 

→ Row 55 [WS]: BB12, BL10, BB9, BL1, BB1, BL1, BB13 

← Row 56 [RS]: BB12, BL1, BB1, BL1, BB9, BL11, BB12 

→ Row 57 [WS]: BB13, BL10, BB10, BL3, BB11 

← Row 58 [RS]: BB10, BL3, BB10, BL11, BB10, BL1, BB2 

→ Row 59 [WS]: BB3, BL1, BB10, BL10, BB12, BL2, BB9 

← Row 60 [RS]: BB8, BL2, BB13, BL9, BB10, BL1, BB4 

→ Row 61 [WS]: BB5, BL2, BB8, BL10, BB13, BL2, BB7 

← Row 62 [RS]: BB6, BL2, BB14, BL9, BB8, BL2, BB6 

→ Row 63 [WS]: BB7, BL2, BB8, BL8, BB15, BL2, BB5 

← Row 64 [RS]: BB4, BL1, BB17, BL7, BB8, BL2, BB8 

→ Row 65 [WS]: BB9, BL2, BB8, BL6, BB18, BL1, BB3 

Corner 

← Row 66 [RS]: BB2, BL1, BB7, BL10, BB3, BL3, BB8, BL3, BB9 

→ Row 67 [WS]: BB9, BL3, BB14, BL10, BB9 

← Row 68 [RS]: BB8, BL1, R9, BL1, BB13, BL1, BB1, BL1, BB9 

→ Row 69 [WS]: BB9, BL1, BB1, BL1, BB13, BL1, R9, BL1, BB7 

← Row 70 [RS]: BB6, BL1, R10, BL1, BB12, BL1, BB1, BL1, BB9 

→ Row 71 [WS]: BB9, BL1, BB1, BL1, BB12, BL1, R10, BL1, BB5 

← Row 72 [RS]: BB5, BL1, R10, BL1, BB6, BL1, BB4, BL1, BB1, BL1, BB9 

→ Row 73 [WS]: BB9, BL1, BB1, BL2, BB2, BL1, BB7, BL1, R10, BL1, BB4 

← Row 74 [RS]: BB4, BL1, R10, BL1, BB7, BL1, BB1, BL2, BB1, BL1, BB9 

→ Row 75 [WS]: BB9, BL1, BB2, BL2, BB8, BL1, R10, BL1, BB3 

← Row 76 [RS]: BB3, BL1, R10, BL1, BB8, BL1, BB2, BL1, BB9 

→ Row 77 [WS]: BB9, BL1, BB11, BL1, R10, BL1, BB2 

← Row 78 [RS]: BB2, BL1, R10, BL1, BB10, BL1, BB9 

→ Row 79 [WS]: BB9, BL1, BB10, BL1, R9, BL1, BB2 

← Row 80 [RS]: BB2, BL4, R6, BL1, BB9, BL1, BB9 

→ Row 81 [WS]: BB9, BL1, BB9, BL1, R6, BL3, BB2 

← Row 82 [RS]: BB4, BL1, R6, BL1, BB8, BL1, BB2, BL1, BB6 

→ Row 83 [WS]: BB5, BL2, BB2, BL1, BB8, BL1, R6, BL1, BB3 

← Row 84 [RS]: BB3, BL1, R6, BL1, BB7, BL1, BB1, BL2, BB1, BL1, BB4 

→ Row 85 [WS]: BB3, BL1, BB2, BL2, BB1, BL1, BB7, BL1, R6, BL1, BB2 

← Row 86 [RS]: BB2, BL1, R5, BL1, BB7, BL1, BB1, BL1, BB4, BL1, BB2 

→ Row 87 [WS]: BB7, BL1, BB1, BL1, BB7, BL1, R4, BL1, BB2 

← Row 88 [RS]: BB2, BL5, BB7, BL1, BB1, BL1, BB7 

→ Row 89 [WS]: BB7, BL1, BB1, BL1, BB7, BL4, BB2 

← Row 90 [RS]: BB12, BL1, BB1, BL1, BB7 

→ Row 91 [WS]: BB7, BL3, BB11 

← Row 92 [RS]: BB10, BL3, BB7 

→ Row 93 [WS]: BB8, BL2, BB9 

← Row 94 [RS]: BB8, BL2, BB8 

→ Row 95 [WS]: BB8, BL2, BB7 

← Row 96 [RS]: BB6, BL2, BB8 

→ Row 97 [WS]: BB8, BL2, BB5 

← Row 98 [RS]: BB4, BL1, BB9 

→ Row 99 [WS]: BB9, BL1, BB3 

← Row 100 [RS]: BB2, BL1, BB9 

→ Row 101 [WS]: BB11 

← Row 102 [RS]: BB10 

→ Row 103 [WS]: BB9 

← Row 104 [RS]: BB8 

→ Row 105 [WS]: BB7 

← Row 106 [RS]: BB6 

→ Row 107 [WS]: BB5 

← Row 108 [RS]: BB4 

→ Row 109 [WS]: BB3 

← Row 110 [RS]: BB2 

→ Row 111 [WS]: BB1 

2 Comments

  1. Gina Bishop

    I love this! Thank you so much

    • Lucinda

      You’re welcome! I feel strongly about mental health awareness and am happy to do what I can.

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