Homespun Border Patterned Blanket (Pattern Number: 40699) CAL

[sissie44]

I found this Great looking FREE Pattern over at Lion Brand Homespun web site and thought it would be great to do a Crochet-A-Long with it since the pattern is FREE and you do not have to wait to find the pattern!!

It is call:Border Patterned Blanket (http://cache.lionbrand.com/patterns/chs-borderPatternBlanket.html) and I would love to have everyone join me so we can cheer each other on to a new Blanket to cover with:cheer

I have already been to town to get my homespun yarn and am ready to start:hook
I will be using NOUVEAU, FAWN, & HARVEST. You can check out my colors over on the homespun page where you get the pattern.

Looking forward to have you in our group!!!

[Shaylen]

Im in on this one sister,i want to make it for my DH,it will be great for the recliner.I will dig out my yarn tonight and let you know the colors.
Ive had this pattern on my hit list for awhile now.

[artemis]

Oh, I just finished this one! I made it larger than the pattern and added an additional color. It was fun, easy, too. I gave it to my adult son. It is nice and masculine and cozy for Wisconsin where we live.
You'll have fun with this. Good luck on your CAL:cheer
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e65/wiartemis/forcrochetville2.jpg

[jchllm]

I'm in for this one. I saw the one Artemis did and fell in love with it. I have a couple small things to finish here first and pick out my colors, but then I'll be on it.

Great idea!! :clap :cheer

[Shaylen]

artemis-That is so pretty,now i cant wait to start.

jchllm-Yay..im so glad you are joining us,im still tring to decide which yarn to use allso and have a couple of small things to finsh to...like my sisters Doily for her birthday,my summer sweater.But will start on this when everyone else does.

[sissie44]

Artemis, That is so Pretty!!! and I am also planning on adding and extra row:)
Thank you sharing with us! I can't wait to get started:clap

Jschllm & Shaylen, it is great to have you here! and thanks for coming along with me on this Crochet-A-long:cheer:cheer

[Merlot]

That is so pretty, Artemis.


I will have to file this one under things I'd like to make someday. :hook I've got a couple on my to-do list ahead of it, though. Thanks for sharing the link to the pattern.

[lauravee]

You know what, I think I will be in on this one. I am going to be out of work for 6 weeks for medical leave and I think this would be something good to work on in the hospital and while I am home recovering. Count me in! Now just to order some yarn.

[sissie44]

You know what, I think I will be in on this one. I am going to be out of work for 6 weeks for medical leave and I think this would be something good to work on in the hospital and while I am home recovering. Count me in! Now just to order some yarn.

It is great to have you here!! hope and pray things will go well for you :hug

This is really going to be mindless to start with:clap Just what I need after that sweater I made for the Olympics:(.
I have my first square done and all it is is 24 sc back and forth:hook

Shaylen i think I like your Idea also about not endding at the end of the square and just adding the next color and going on up:cheer:cheer

I am adding my next color and trying that way but like you i believe that will work out great!!

Patty drop in when ever you can:)

[Shaylen]

Sisterrrrrrrrr...What are you doing starting without me?????

Welcome Laura,glad you could join us.I think this is going to be a easy one.

Patty..stop bye when you can.

[lauravee]

Glad to be here. In fact I just ordered my yarn this morning. I will be using the colors LB used in the picture, I like the combo and the person who will end up with this I am sure will love the colors. As soon as it comes I will get started!

[sissie44]

Sisterrrrrrrrr...What are you doing starting without me?????



MEEE!! I,m not I was just trying the pattern out to see how easy it would be :hook:hook

[quirkyvirgo]

If anyone's interested, I think Homespun is on sale this week at Hobby Lobby for $3.22 a skein. Here's (http://www.hobbylobby.com/site3/weekly/specials/) a link to their weekly ad.
This looks so fun (and fairly simple) and I love Homespun, I may join after I finish joining my 63 squares.

[Pink and Grey]

Oh, I just finished this one! I made it larger than the pattern and added an additional color.

Artemis: How many skeins did you need of each color to make the larger blanket?

Ginny

[Shaylen]

My yarn came today...yay..so i have started.I am doing it in strips instead of squares,i like how that looks and i wont have to join them all,just the strips.

I am using waterfall,colbat and colonial,its looking good to.
The pattern calls for 3 of each color but i got 4 so i could make it bigger.

Hows everyone doing on theres??

[artemis]

Artemis: How many skeins did you need of each color to make the larger blanket?

Ginny

Oh, Ginny, I'm sorry but I don't really know. I had a lot of Homespun and I just kept using it in whatever quantities I had. It is at least a fourth larger since there is one more color, so at least 3 skeins of 4 colors, but I bet it was more.
I'm not very good at keeping records, but I've set a goal of at least writing down the type of yarn and hook size I used.

Hope your project goes well. I'll keep checking to see how you all are doing.

Enjoy. Artemis.

[sissie44]

I didn't get any done over the weekend we were out of town and can you believe I left!! my yarn behind:( OMG I was a whole three days with nothing to work on!!!

But now I am back and am starting on it today. I have three different colors I am using and am also working in strips. I will take a pic in the morning so you can see how it looks so far.

[nutz4crochet]

I am in on this one too. I couldn't find homespun on sale in stores by me, so I ordered from Joanns.com My husband wanted it to be bigger so I ordered 3 skeins of 5 colors each. I think I am going to make mine in strips too.

[Pink and Grey]

I'm considering making this blanket, but I've never used Homespun before so I purchased one skein to see how I like it. If so I'll purchase the rest of the yarn this weekend. I want to do a 4 x 5 square blanket (like artemis), but I may assemble the squares in a random pattern (still one of each color per row) that won't have the diagonal stripe effect.

Artemis: Thanks for your advice. If I do make this blanket I think I'll get 4 skeins for 3 of the colors, and 5 skeins of whatever color I use for the edging, just in case.

Ginny

[artemis]

Artemis: Thanks for your advice. If I do make this blanket I think I'll get 4 skeins for 3 of the colors, and 5 skeins of whatever color I use for the edging, just in case.

Ginny

Good plan. That should cover it. And you can always use up the Homespun. It makes fabulous stiped scarves with just a little of different colors.

[sissie44]

Welcome ginny & donna it is good to have you both here with us!!:clap

what colors are you going to use?

I am doing mine in the strips and it is working out good!

[Pink and Grey]

Thanks for the welcome, Sissie!

I saw the AC Moore sale and decided I'd better get there before the weekend to get my colors. I'd been thinking about doing the blanket either in earth tones, or in black, gray, and red. When I got to the store I couldn't decide, so I bought enough for both blankets! So for the first one my colors are Rococo, Fawn, Barley, and Ranch. The second one is Candy Apple Red, Black, Granite, and Metropolis.

I'd like to do the strips as well, but I've not yet decided whether I'm doing a random pattern with the squares, or the diagonal version, so I'll make one square of each color to start. I'm going to do the earth tones blanket first.

Ginny

[Shaylen]

Welcome to the new ladies.

Sounds like some good colors Ginny,cant wait to see it done.Sissie(my sister)is using ranch,fawn and rococo,hay..great minds think alike lol.

Heres what i did,i made a graph on my computer and layed out how i wanted the colors,then started crocheting in strips,its working out great so far,im on the 2nd strip now,i love how its looking.

[nutz4crochet]

Thank you ladies.

Everyone's colors sound pretty. I purchased 3 skeins of rococo, Mediterranean, barley, fawn and antique. Looking at the original pattern it seems 3 skeins is enough for 4 squares plus the border. I hope it works out. My order was shipped yesterday. I can't wait for it to get here. :D I love the idea of strips to, less sewing. I was working on a shrug that required a lot of reading. That's why I am looking forward to making this afghan. Crochet a mile a minute.:hook

[Pink and Grey]

I finished my first two squares today. I'm using a K hook and am able to get the horizontal gauge (9"), but I'm nowhere close on the number of rows. It took 31 rows (instead of the specified 25) to get 10". Is anyone else having gauge issues?

This is my first time using Homespun, and I could use some advice on how to deal with the yarn ends when I weave them in. It seems like they could fray after I'm done and leave little threads sticking out.

Oh, hey, another reason to do strips is that means not having to work into a starting chain so many times!!

Ginny

[Shaylen]

Ginny..i didnt go by row count i went by the 10" they had down and i measure every square as i go,im doing it in strips and just crochet in the ends as i go before they get frayed and unravel,then i cut the yarn im done with,its working out good this way.Im using a K hook to.

nutz4crochet..Yay..i hope you get your yarn soon..i get mine from knitting warehouse so it comes real fast for me..2 days.

:hook

[Pink and Grey]

I completed my third square today, and I might start another tonight if I don't spend too much time on thiis board! How's everyone else doing? Once I get my fourth color square done, I'll take pictures and make a mock-up of the blanket on my computer like Shaylen did with her graph. I want to play with the border colors as well as the pattern of the squares to see how the finished product might look.

Ginny..i didnt go by row count i went by the 10"


Shaylen: That's what I'm doing, too. I just didn't want to run out of yarn with doing so may extra rows. I think I'll be ok.

Ginny

[pplcrochets]

Sissie - thank you for the link - and the idea!

Artemis, Merlot has it right - striking :clap blanket (so hard to find masculine stuff that isn't boring, way to go!)

Maybe I can join when I'm much further along on the 63 squares CAL; too many WIP in the drawer from pre-C'ville days, want to shrink that number, not increase :grin

That is so pretty, Artemis.


I will have to file this one under things I'd like to make someday. :hook I've got a couple on my to-do list ahead of it, though. Thanks for sharing the link to the pattern.

[nutz4crochet]

Still waiting for my yarn. :think I was hoping it would be here today. Oh well, maybe Monday.

[Pink and Grey]

Bummer, Donna! I hope your yarn arrives Monday!

I finished my 4th square today--16 more to go.

Ginny

[JulieKay]

Whose bright idea was it to do this crochetalong ?

DOGGONE IT ---

I have been reading this daily , looking at that finished afghan that someone did . Telling myself - NO - YOU CANNOT START ANYTHING ELSE .

What did I do today ? Went and got yarn to make this . It is SO pretty .

I am gonna call this my Lonesome Dove Afghan. That's what my colors remind me of .

Can't officially start yet-- I am in the process of putting together the raffle afghan and have to make that my number one priority . THEN I'll drop in here .
Have a great day, guys ~~~

[Pink and Grey]

Julie, I know what you mean. I bought enough for two different color schemes!!!!

Ginny

[JulieKay]

Wow, Ginny -
What colors are you going with ?

I have fawn, rococo and barley .

[Pink and Grey]

Julie:

I'm doing 4-color ones (4x5)

First one is Fawn, Rococo, Barley and Ranch

Second one is Candy Apple Red, Black, Granite, and Metropolis.

Ginny

[Pink and Grey]

Hi again! I didn't crochet today--instead I played with various color arrangements of the four squares I've made.

Here's a scattered arrangement (http://www.flickr.com/photos/17117440@N00/111528497/in/set-72057594080646863/). I'm not sure how scatters will look with the blanket border. Maybe too confusing for the eye?

A rearrangement (http://www.flickr.com/photos/17117440@N00/111528500/in/set-72057594080646863/) of that scatter.

This one is a diagonal (http://www.flickr.com/photos/17117440@N00/111528501/in/set-72057594080646863/) like Artemis'

Mixed dark colors on one diagonal, light colors on the next here (http://www.flickr.com/photos/17117440@N00/111528502/in/set-72057594080646863/)

I called this one (http://www.flickr.com/photos/17117440@N00/111528504/in/set-72057594080646863/) tiles. Slightly less chaotic than the scatters?

A slight rearrangement of the one prior to this. (http://www.flickr.com/photos/17117440@N00/111528505/in/set-72057594080646863/)

So, what do you think?

Ginny

[sissie44]

Thanks for the welcome, Sissie!

I saw the AC Moore sale and decided I'd better get there before the weekend to get my colors. I'd been thinking about doing the blanket either in earth tones, or in black, gray, and red. When I got to the store I couldn't decide, so I bought enough for both blankets! So for the first one my colors are Rococo, Fawn, Barley, and Ranch. The second one is Candy Apple Red, Black, Granite, and Metropolis.

I'd like to do the strips as well, but I've not yet decided whether I'm doing a random pattern with the squares, or the diagonal version, so I'll make one square of each color to start. I'm going to do the earth tones blanket first.

Ginny

Wow Ginny these are going to be two pretty blankets!!! can't wait to see how they are going :yay

[sissie44]

Thank you ladies.

Everyone's colors sound pretty. I purchased 3 skeins of rococo, Mediterranean, barley, fawn and antique. Looking at the original pattern it seems 3 skeins is enough for 4 squares plus the border. I hope it works out. My order was shipped yesterday. I can't wait for it to get here. :D I love the idea of strips to, less sewing. I was working on a shrug that required a lot of reading. That's why I am looking forward to making this afghan. Crochet a mile a minute.:hook

That is one of the reasons I chose this also!! I needed a break and mindless also :lol

[sissie44]

I finished my first two squares today. I'm using a K hook and am able to get the horizontal gauge (9"), but I'm nowhere close on the number of rows. It took 31 rows (instead of the specified 25) to get 10". Is anyone else having gauge issues?

This is my first time using Homespun, and I could use some advice on how to deal with the yarn ends when I weave them in. It seems like they could fray after I'm done and leave little threads sticking out.

Oh, hey, another reason to do strips is that means not having to work into a starting chain so many times!!

Ginny

Ginny I am doing the K hook also and it is taking 29 rows for me.
I work my cut end yarn as a work my next color.

I really like doing this in strips!!! Thanks sis for coming up with this Idea:clap:clap

[sissie44]

Sissie - thank you for the link - and the idea!

Maybe I can join when I'm much further along on the 63 squares CAL; too many WIP in the drawer from pre-C'ville days, want to shrink that number, not increase :grin

come join us when you can!! I am also working on the "another 63 square CAL" got 4 squares done today while watching the race:hook Plus i am doing a baby blanket swap that calles for 7" squares also, so as i do a square for my 63 I make and extra one for the swap:cheer

I have 5 squares done on this one and was going to take a pic BUT my camar has quit working for some reason:angry all I did was change the batteries!!

[sissie44]

Whose bright idea was it to do this crochetalong ?

DOGGONE IT ---

I have been reading this daily , looking at that finished afghan that someone did . Telling myself - NO - YOU CANNOT START ANYTHING ELSE .

What did I do today ? Went and got yarn to make this . It is SO pretty .

I am gonna call this my Lonesome Dove Afghan. That's what my colors remind me of .

Can't officially start yet-- I am in the process of putting together the raffle afghan and have to make that my number one priority . THEN I'll drop in here .
Have a great day, guys ~~~


WOW it is great to have you here Julie:clap:clap and it was mind and my sister's great Idea to do this!! Thought it would be nice to have a mindless piece of work to work on :think:think sheylen (sister) showed it to me one night and i just knew I had to have it :cheer:cheer so here we are :hook:hook

sorry i wasn't able to get my square out to you in time to help with the raffle afghan:( But I promise to help with the fall one!!

[sissie44]

Hi again! I didn't crochet today--instead I played with various color arrangements of the four squares I've made.

Here's a scattered arrangement (http://www.flickr.com/photos/17117440@N00/111528497/in/set-72057594080646863/). I'm not sure how scatters will look with the blanket border. Maybe too confusing for the eye?

A rearrangement (http://www.flickr.com/photos/17117440@N00/111528500/in/set-72057594080646863/) of that scatter.

This one is a diagonal (http://www.flickr.com/photos/17117440@N00/111528501/in/set-72057594080646863/) like Artemis'

Mixed dark colors on one diagonal, light colors on the next here (http://www.flickr.com/photos/17117440@N00/111528502/in/set-72057594080646863/)

I called this one (http://www.flickr.com/photos/17117440@N00/111528504/in/set-72057594080646863/) tiles. Slightly less chaotic than the scatters?

A slight rearrangement of the one prior to this. (http://www.flickr.com/photos/17117440@N00/111528505/in/set-72057594080646863/)

So, what do you think?

Ginny

I like the Diagonal one like Artemis

[JulieKay]

Hi Sissie
Thanks for the welcome. Yes, I think I'm ready for something mindless myself . My poor old brain aint what it used to be ~:lol

Ginny- I like the diagonal best too .

[nutz4crochet]

I like how you tiled your squares Ginny. I am rethinking my scheme now. I was going to scatter so they weren't diagonal, but that one is my fav too. I may do diagonal also.

[artemis]

Hi again! I didn't crochet today--instead I played with various color arrangements of the four squares I've made.

Here's a scattered arrangement (http://www.flickr.com/photos/17117440@N00/111528497/in/set-72057594080646863/). I'm not sure how scatters will look with the blanket border. Maybe too confusing for the eye?

A rearrangement (http://www.flickr.com/photos/17117440@N00/111528500/in/set-72057594080646863/) of that scatter.

This one is a diagonal (http://www.flickr.com/photos/17117440@N00/111528501/in/set-72057594080646863/) like Artemis'

Ginny

Hey, Ginny...I like any of the first three choices. The first scattered is my first choice. There is something so "artistic" about scattered. I tend to be too controlled which is why I never seem to see past a diagonal or other structured pattern.
Yesterday we went to visit my son and the afghan was on the back of the sofa. No one can tell the arrangement when the afghan is in use...unless you use it like a bedspread I guess. My family tends to snuggle up in front of the TV with our afghans, then fold them once or twice and toss them over a sofa or chair. Pick the arrangement that pleases you...but know its going to be rarely noticed.
I'm glad everyone is enjoying this project. Keep up the good work!

[Pink and Grey]

Thanks for all your opinions about the layout. I'll have to think it over a bit, and play with the scatters some more.

I may do this earth tones blanked in diagonal, and the second blanket in a scatter, since the second one is red, black, gray, and mixed black/white. I think I'll want to control where the red blocks are placed on that one.

Ginny

[Shaylen]

Evening everyone :hug

Welcome Julie..its allways nice to see you join..you stay so busy im not sure how you do it..:lol..like you and sissie..after the crochet olympics i needed mindless for a bit and in between working on Kathys shawl that im testing for her :P

Ginny..i like the diagonal one to..and love the colors.

artemis..thanks for stoping in..we need the cheering party.

Donna..did you get your yarn yet??

Sissie..i am watching you and i know you havent been going at it as you should.. :devil

Im doing good..just started on my third strip..its coming along real nice and its so nice to just crochet and not worry about counting non stop.Found out today my daughter is haveing a little girl so im think of using this pattern to with some baby clouds yarn..uuummm...not sure yet..im so excited thow becouse its my frist grandaughter :c9

keep up the great work everyone!!:hook

[nutz4crochet]

Oh still no yarn :( , but today is a new day :yay

[Pink and Grey]

Wow, quiet thread! Where is everybody? I finished my 5th square today. I've had too many evening meetings this week to make a lot of progress, but at least I've made some!

I decided definitely to do strips instead of squares. Is everyone following the instructions in the pattern to leave long tails and then use those later for joining? What stitch are you going to use to join them?

Ginny

[sissie44]

hey Ginny, look like we have all been busy! It is quit here.

I am doing the strips and not leaving the long ends. I will be sewing my with needle and yarn.

I am making mind bigger, it is going to be 6 squares per strip and there will be 5 strips. so far I am doing ok with it. I have one strip done and 3 squares done on my number two strip. that makes it 8 squares done now.

I am also in the shawl swap so I have been working on that for the last couple of days, which flopped!! it came out NOTHING like the pic and even my hubby agrees that i need to frog it and start over! the bad part is I paid for that pattern!!

how is everyone else coming along?

[Pink and Grey]

Wow, Sissie, that's going to be a really, really big blanket! I can't wait to see it when it's done. I'm sorry to hear about the shawl. I hope you can finish another in time for the swap.

I don't have other projects going on right now, but I'm on the hunt for a small one to take with me on a trip next week. I'd like to use up some old yarn, so maybe a hat (or two), a bag, or the Stash Buster Vest.

Ginny

[sissie44]

Ginny I wanted it a little bit big for my hubby who sleeps most of his nights in the recliner and this way I will have a blanket to thowe over him:)
I got the second strip done today. Don't know if I will have time to work on it tomorrow are not. I have to work tomorrow afternoon and I want to get started on this shawl again. so we will see how things go:)

How is everyone else doing? we are being quit in here!

[Pink and Grey]

Sissie: I guess it's just us! Everyone must be watching the basketball tournament this week!

I finished two more squares, for a total of seven. I'm having to adjust the size of my stitches for the different colors--my fawn yarn is the thickest, plus because it's a light color a fawn square would look bigger anyway. The barley yarn is the thinniest, and I'm doing a light/dark pattern so the barley square winds up next to the fawn.

OK, thirteen more squares to go. I'm off!

Ginny

[nutz4crochet]

:yay I got my yarn today. I have to finish up a doily I started this week. If I don't it will end up another UFO. It's hard to focus now with all that yarn calling me.

[Pink and Grey]

:yay I got my yarn today.

Woohoo!! That took a while. Aw, go ahead, crochet just one square. It goes quickly!!!

Ginny

[nutz4crochet]

Ginny- I am going to start tomorrow.:) I'm wondering how my guage will be. I have some of the same colors. (Barley, fawn) I did notice the fawn looked chunky.

[Scorpio59]

Nice pattern !

Is everyone using HS for this?
I only worked with it once and wasn't too crazy about it.
Perhaps I'll try again.

[nutz4crochet]

Hi Lorraine,
Homespun is not a favorite of mine to work with either. For this project I am sticking with hs because I love the shades.

Nice pattern !

Is everyone using HS for this?
I only worked with it once and wasn't too crazy about it.
Perhaps I'll try again.

[Pink and Grey]

This is my first time using Homespun. I definitely did not like doing the first row into the chain. Crocheting the squares worked out fine once I started feeling for the place to put the next stitch. Counting the stitches is a pain.

The thing I'm really struggling with, though, is stitching these squares or strips together. I tried mattress stitch, which I had never done before, and it was a struggle to pull the yarn through again and again. Then it didn't look that great--definitely not invisible. So next I tried slip stitching them, and I still didn't like the look, and the seam on the back was so thick and unattractive. I don't know that whip stitch will be much better. I'm giving serious contemplation to starting again and making it a one-piece blanket--making a chain out of the color of the first border row and carrying along 4 colors!!! Ugh.

Ginny

[sissie44]

Good evening everyone, Hope we are all having a good weekend!!

Donna so glad your yarn finally got here:cheer:cheer

Lorraine yes I am using the homespun and once you figure it out it is easy to use.

Ginny I also have problem with the starting chain But since I am doing it in strips it is easy to just keep going. and i agree with you on the fawn being thicker!! but I am still able to use 29 rows in my count. I do like your thinking about maybe doing it in one piece!! let me know if you try that. I might try it also!!

I did get another strip done last night. I am still not sleeping so I crochet. This gives me three now and two more to go! now that you have said you are having a problem sewing them together I think I might better try that and see if it looks ok :think

have a great weekend everyone!

[nutz4crochet]

I got a chance to make a square. I made one that is 1/2'" to small using a J hook. Started a second one using a K hook my width is 10", too big. :eek I want to peek at the picture again, maybe I will go bigger, and crochet until it is 9".


Ginny, I have thought about making it in one piece too. I stink at sewing and hs is difficult to see individual stitches.

Sissie, Sometimes insomnia is a good thing. Quiet time to get some crochet done.

[lauravee]

Hello all! I have not checked in for some time but now that I am home recovering I have plenty o' time on my hands. In fact I have so much time that I will be making two of these afghans. I plan on starting tomorrow. I wanted to start sooner but with the morphine and demarol I could barely see straight. Now I am on tylenol which makes my days a little more productive. I will check back in when I get started.

[sissie44]

Hello laura, glad to see you are home! this blanket is easy to do so you should enjoy doing two of them:cheer:cheer

I looked at your blog and read what type of surgery you had! I have thought about thatmyself:( Hope you are feeling better soon!! :hug

[Pink and Grey]

Laura, glad you're back and recovering. I'm making two of these blankets too!

I've made no additional progress on my first blanket. I've not yet decided if I'm frogging what I've done and making it a one-piece blanket or not.

Ginny

[nutz4crochet]

Hi Laura, glad to here you are feeling better.

I made my first five squares, but I figured out my color sequence and only need four of the squares. I wasted so much time playing with color placement that I was so tired when I was though and went to bed. I copied the swatches from lb site and pasted them into word. My husbund was getting ocd on me. He wanted to make a tetris pattern. :lol

Ginny, I hope I'm not making a bad choice but I am going to make strips. I hope I don't run in to the same problem. Hs is tough to see stitches.

Sissy, Did you finish yours?

[Shaylen]

Laura..im so glad you are home and doing good.

Donna..i think tetris would look cool, lol .

Ok im on the 3rd strip and moving along very slowly,tring o get the shawl swap done and im making baby afghans for three new grandbabys..im starting to feel really old here lol

[Pink and Grey]

No progress to report, but I wanted to let you know I'll be away from my computer until Tuesday--I haven't jumped off the face of the earth. Have a great weekend!

Ginny

[Everyday Crochet]

What a beautiful blanket!



Oh, I just finished this one! I made it larger than the pattern and added an additional color. It was fun, easy, too. I gave it to my adult son. It is nice and masculine and cozy for Wisconsin where we live.
You'll have fun with this. Good luck on your CAL:cheer
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e65/wiartemis/forcrochetville2.jpg

[sissie44]

Hi Donna, No I am not finished yet:) I have three strips done and two squares on the forth strip done.
Sorry I haven't been here for the last few days Been having a flare up lately but I am back on track now:) so I hope to get more done on here plus I am still working on my stole swap so I am so ready to get busy again:cheer

How is everyone else doing?

[Pink and Grey]

Sissie, that's great progress!! I can't wait to see it when you sew it together

I'm afraid I've regressed instead of progressed. While I was away on my trip I decided to redo the blanket in one piece, without all those seams, so I spent an hour or so frogging what I'd made. So tomorrow I'll be starting again with four balls of yarn at once. Once I get the starting chain and first couple of rows the correct size I'll be off and running. Today, however, I get to unpack and do laundry!

Ginny

[nutz4crochet]

Oh I haven't touch mine in a few days, but I finished my doily:) I have to start a new project. I was more motiavated working on two projects. I do have 3 strips done, one more to go.

[sissie44]

hi donna and ginny like you I haven't done much lately I was getting close to deadlines on swaps so I need to get them finnished!
then I am back to this and my strips cal!

[Pink and Grey]

Yea, finally restarted my blanket! Over Thursday and Friday I completed one row of four blocks. Switching colors every 24 stitches slows me down a bit, but I'm happier with the look of the blanket this way than if I had sewn it together. Since I'm doing one long row I have to adjust my tension per color because of the variation in the thickness of each yarn.

Oh, I wanted to give everyone a heads up for when you get to the border. I looked at the border pattern to calculate the changes I'd need to make for my 4x5 blanket (instead of 3x4). The number of stitches for the side borders (the longer sides) seemed off when I compared it to the gauge. The top and bottom borders match the gauge of your rows because you do the border one stitch in each stitch across (plus extra chains to make it longer for the part that extends out to the side). But for the long sides I think we will need to add extra stitches. I looked at Artemis' photo, and it looks like she has more "ripples" or "shells" on her blanket than you would get by extending the pattern to account for the larger 4x5 square blanket. When I get some time I'll check my calculations and let you know what I came up with for the number of stitches for the long sides.

Donna and Sissie: I'm glad we've all renewed our enthusiasm for this project. I know they're going to be so beautiful when we finish!

Ginny

[sissie44]

Thanks for the heads up on the border! I had not even thought that far ahead yet:)

[Pink and Grey]

I made a little progress over the weekend--I finished a little over three more inches of the blanket, the equivalent of about 1 1/3 squares if I were doing them individually. I love that I can see the colors coming together now that I'm into the second row of squares.

I also wove in all my ends from the first row of squares. That task always seems to take more time than I think it should!!

How's everyone else doing?

Ginny

[nutz4crochet]

I finally started working on it some more yesterday and plan on some more today. Only 1 1/2 squares to go. I didn't join any of the strips yet, I hope it goes smoothly. I'm thinking of using a different yarn to sew it up.

Ginny~I was going to try working it as one piece too because of the sewing. Did you get time to work on it?

[Pink and Grey]

Donna:

Just 1 1/2 left? Wow, are you doing 3x4 or 4x5?

As of tonight I've finished two rows of four blocks each, switching colors as I go across one long row. I like that I don't have a bulky seam on the back, but it is slower doing it this way. Also I have a harder time with my gauge--it's much easier to keep the rows from getting wider when they are only 9 inches. Also since I'm using all the colors at once, some are thicker than others so I'm having to adjust tension to try to keep the rows the same height. Doing that sometimes causes my stitches to get wider on some squares, even though I try to keep the first loop on each stitch type, and I wind up with my rows growing in width. I don't know which is the better fight--dealing with the sewing, or struggling with the gauge!

Ginny

[Pink and Grey]

Ok, here are my calculations for the side border stitches. I think the pattern as written is inconsistent in gauge.

For the original pattern, the top border has you sc in each stitch plus make an extra 13 sc extension for a total of 85. The next rows you do a ripple pattern which has a 6 stitch repeat, so there are 14 ripples plus an extra sc on the end. That makes 4 ripples (24 stitches) for each block (9" across), and 2 ripples on the extension piece. 24 stitches / 9 inches = 2.67 stitches per inch. Note the official pattern gauge is 2.625 stitches per inch.

Now, looking at the vertical, the pattern says to work 103 sc evenly on the edge (would make 17 ripples). The rows added to the blanket on the border on the top edge should have increased the length of the sides by the same size as the 13-stitch extension above. So I'm assuming we work 13 sc along the side of the top border, leaving 90 sc to work along the sides of the 4 blocks, which should be 40 inches. 90/40 = 2.25 stitches per inch, 22.5 stitches per 10-inch block, or 20.25 for a 9 inch block to compare it to the 24 stitches on the horizontal.

If we take the 40 inches along the sides of the blocks, to keep the same gauge as the horizontal we'd need 40 * 2.67 = 107 stitches plus the 13 for the extension = 120. To make the ripple come out even we'd need 121 stitches to make 20 ripples plus 1 extra sc. So by my calculation we wind up with 3 more ripples along the side edges than specified in the pattern.


Or, using the 2.625 stitches per inch gauge from the pattern would make 105 sc along the sides of the square, plus 13 for the extension, for 118 total. To make the ripple pattern come out even we'd need to either go up to the same 121 above, or go down to 115 (either 19 or 20 ripples).

I hope when I read this in the morning it actually makes sense.

ETA: For a 4 x 5 block blanket I calculated approximately 145 sc on the sides for 24 ripples (2 on the extension, and 22 along the 5 blocks.

Ginny

[nutz4crochet]

Ginny, I am doing 4x5 and I finished the squares. Your extra effort will be worth it. Thanks for the border tips. When I get to that point I will come back to your thread for help.

I hope when I read this in the morning it actually makes sense. :lol :coffee Very funny!

Now for sewing. :eek I sewed up one section of blocks..Doesn't look too bad, but I am wondering how it will hold up the test of time? I worked a small section of sl st and did look much different so maybe I'll try sl st. I will have a wrong side for sure.

[Pink and Grey]

Donna: One of my concerns with stitching the squares together was that repetitively pulling such a thick, textured yarn through all those stitches would seriously weaken the yarn. I agree that slip stitch would be a better choice for the homespun.

Ginny

[nutz4crochet]

Ginny- that's my exact feeling too. I only joined one block together. By the time I was at the end of the block the strand of yarn was so fuzzy and thin. I haven't touched it since. Ah maybe today.



Donna: One of my concerns with stitching the squares together was that repetitively pulling such a thick, textured yarn through all those stitches would seriously weaken the yarn. I agree that slip stitch would be a better choice for the homespun.

Ginny

[Poochie]

I love this afghan.....perfect for the hubby!!

I can't say I've ever noticed Lion Brand yarn in the stores.....is this something you can only order online?

If I don't use Lion Brand....what other type of yarn do you think would look nice?

I'm going to do this.....just not the CAL....too many other wips to get done...LOL!

:hook

[Pink and Grey]

Stephanie:

Lion Brand is in all the major craft stores--Michaels, AC Moore, JoAnn Fabric, etc. Homespun is a very thick, textured yarn. I'm not sure what other yarn to recommend as a substitute as I've only just started using bulkier yarns. Perhaps someone else can help. If you get your WIPs done, come back and join us. I bought yarn to make two of these, so I'll be doing another later this year.

Ginny

[Poochie]

Thanks Ginny....unfortunately, here in Quebec, we don't have ANY craft stores....besides Walmart and Zellers (which only carries yarn). Walmart has a bigger selection of crafty type items.

I decided to make it using Bernat Illusions (http://www.bernat.com/product.php?LGC=illusions&SPP=999) yarn which is pretty thick, so I think it will turn out nice. I only bought 1 skein each of three different shades today. I don't want to buy a whole bunch....just in case I don't like the look of it. And it's great because it's no dye lot.....gotta love no dye lot!!

[Pink and Grey]

I completed my third row of squares over the weekend. Two rows (8 squares) to go! How's everyone else doing?

Stephanie: what colors are you using?

Ginny

[Poochie]

I completed my first square today, while my son was napping. I can only do it during the day while he naps cuz it's a surprise for my hubby. Nighttime crochet is either my afghan or my daughters poncho.....lol

The colors I chose are: soft heather, stone hues and earth hues....

So much for me waiting till my other wip's are completed! :P :hook

[Pink and Grey]

Stephanie: I looked on the Bernat site--those colors are great! You're husband will love it. And now at least you can say you've started, even if you work on other things too.

Ginny

[Poochie]

How's everyone progressing on this?

Here's my ONE square I have done so far...LOL...

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a39/Poochie99/Crochet/100_3573.jpg

[Pink and Grey]

No great advances to report. I've done about 6 inches on my fourth row of squares. Every once in a while I have to frog a row or so because I dropped my yarn to the incorrect side. I'll get there, though!

Stephanie, your square looks great. I'll have to take some pictures soon.

Ginny

[sissie44]

Hello Everyone so sorry I have been missing from here lately!! But you know how life gets sometimes!

I am back now:clap so how is everyone coming along? steph I love the yarn you are using! I haven't gotten much done on mind lately But i am going to start back on it this weekend and will post where i am at later!

Wish all of you a very happy easter!!:manyheart

[Pink and Grey]

Sissie: Glad to see you back!

I'm part way through my last (fifth) row of squares, so I will be finishing them this coming week! Then I want to look at the size of the blanket and decide if I want to add a sixth row to make it a little longer before I start the border. I think I would have enough yarn to do that.

Ginny

[Poochie]

:cheer How we doing? I plan on jumping into this tomorrow afternoon!!

[sissie44]

Jump on in the water is fine :lol

Ginny I have gotten four strips done. and like you I will be looking before i start the border to see what I like!

hope everyone is having a great week,

[nutz4crochet]

I haven't touched mine because of the sewing.:( Boo me. It's been on my mind. I think I need a push start.

[Pink and Grey]

I've finished all my rows of squares. Woohoo!!! I decided the 4x5 square blanket was big enough, so now to attack the edging. I have to decide on the order of colors yet, but I should be able to start it this weekend!

Donna, here's your push: "Go, Donna, Go!!!!" We can do this. It'll look so great when you're finished.

Sissie: How's it going? Are you ready for the border yet?

Stephanie: Have you been able to get going again?


Ginny

[Pink and Grey]

I've completed the top border and left border, and I have one third of the bottom border done. Once the border is done there are 6 rounds of sc (over 560 sc per round) for the edging. Yuck!! I'm tempted to do fewer rounds in hdc.

How's everybody else doing??

Ginny

[sissie44]

Hey Ginny, I am so sorry that I left everyone alone in here:( I have been fighting my dark hold again:cry:cry and just have not been able to be here.
I did finish the two swaps I was in!

now I am back to this one. I need some mindless for a couple of weeks here:blush

I have finished three rows of six squares and three squares on my fourth row.

If anyone is still here I would love to hear how you are coming along!

[Pink and Grey]

Hi Sissie! Glad you're back. Man, your blanket is going to be huge! Six rows! My is big at 4x5. I'm working on the rounds of sc on the edging--just two more rounds to go, then I have maybe a dozen ends to weave and I'm done!

Ginny

[Kiki]

I wish I had seen this CAL earlier!!

[Pink and Grey]

Kiki: Join us! I bought yarn to make two of these (different color schemes). I don't think I'll start the second one immediately, but I'll get to it at some point.

Ginny

[Kiki]

I will join then! I love this pattern and I love Homespun!!

[Pink and Grey]

Great, Kiki!! Can't wait to see what colors you choose.

Ginny

[hmcquigg]

LOVE the pattern!! :cheer I thought that it would also be neat if done with a thinner yarn and smaller hook - and used as a baby blanket (hope someone didn't mention that already :think ).

[sissie44]

Welcome Kiki! glad you can join us, what colors are you going to be using?

hmc great Idea on the baby blanket I had not thought of that and it had not been mention here. so you going to join us?

ginny you are right about it being big!! I really didn't think it was going to be:eek
the pattern looked kinda small to me so I figured add an extra block and row to it!! I should have mesured first:lol But i think it is going to be cozy!!

I finished up the fourth row today and have one square done on my last row.

I had to go to wal-mart today to pick up some more cotton yarn for the kitchen/bath swap so I am going to try and finish that up tomorrow so I can spend my weekend watching the nascar races and working on this:yes

[Pink and Grey]

Heidilyn: Ooo, great idea on the baby blanket!

Sissie: Right-- big and heavy! I'm going to weigh mine when I'm done.

Ginny

[sissie44]

Sissie: Right-- big and heavy! I'm going to weigh mine when I'm done.

Ginny

OH LORD I HAD NOT THOUGHT ABOUT HOW HEAVY IT WILL BE:think

I finished with my bath swap today and hope to get it in the mail tomorrow on my way to work. so tomorrow night when I get home and just in time for the Bush race i will be ready to sit and finish my last row on here then start putting together:clap

[Pink and Grey]

Woo hoo! I've finished the crocheting and the weaving in of the few ends I had left. Now I have to go back and clip the ends and I'm done. I'll get a picture tomorrow in the daylight.

Sissie: Great progress! Now you get to do the fun part--the border.

Ginny

[noblebird]

How do you do a crochet-along? This blanket will be great for my son
who lives up on Puget Sound. I started a jigsaw puzzle afghan for his last
birthday. What a pain! Tossed the yarn in the back of the closet. I am going to pull it out and start this blanket! :cheer

[sissie44]

Hello Noblebird, CAL's are easy just start the blanket, Have fun, come here and update when you can, Have fun, and oh yell did I forget HAVE FUN:jumpyay

It is good to have you here. what are the colors you will be using? some of us like me decided not to end each square just change colors at the end of that row.

Can't wait to see your piture Ginny! so Hurry up:lol:lol Now what are you going to be working on?

[Pink and Grey]

Noblebird: Welcome! Glad to have you here. Let us know what colors you're using.

Well, here it is, my completed blanket. (http://www.flickr.com/photos/17117440@N00/sets/72057594133950390/) The colors look a little brighter in the pictures than they really are.

I have yarn for one more of these blankets in other colors, and also for the second prize afghan from this book. (http://leisurearts.com/crafts_needlework/item_detail.asp?item_num=3067&search=1)The name of the pattern is "Blue and White Checkerboard." I also want to start some smaller projects since summer is coming, but I haven't decided what yet. I'll be starting the checkerboard afghan first, I think.

Sissie: By the way, my blanket weighs about 4 1/2 lbs.

Ginny

[noblebird]

I am not happy with the colors I have. It is 4 ply acrylic from Walmart, (Mainstay Crafts) I thought I would keep the vallejo tan and chocolate, return the other two colors and add an off-white. Do I really want to work with acrylic or do I want to "ditch" this yarn and get cotton? This is the second set of yarn I have bought for my son's afghan. The first set was primary colors. Then I realized his wife wouldn't want him to lay it around there "earth-toned home" My son is color blind, so I really don't know why I am so "fussy" about the colors.:think I guess I had better get started!

[sissie44]

WOW Ginny that is so pretty:cheer:cheer Great job on the border i really like The way you did your colors!!
Are you going to make a second one or are you starting on the checkerboard afghan now?

Noblebird your colors sound pretty to me, what are the two you are wanting to return?

I didn't get to work on mine today:( But i did finish with my bath swap:clap , me two 12 squares for jimmie lu's father:clap, & two preemie blankets for our april chirty blitz :clap now tomorrow i can spend working on this one:yay:yay

hope everyone has a great happy mother's day:hug:hug:hug

[Pink and Grey]

Noblebird: The vallejo tan, chocolate and off-white sound good to me. The Homespun I worked with is 98% acrylic. Cotton might be ok. If your yarn is not as thick as homespun you'll have to add more stitches and rows, but I think it could work with cotton if that's what you prefer.

Sissie: Wow, you've been busy. Good job! I'm going to do the checkerboard afghan next. I need a change!

Ginny

[noblebird]

Pink & Grey: I failed to tell you how beautiful your blanket is. I will compare my acrylic with the homespun. Thanks

[sissie44]

Sissie: Wow, you've been busy. Good job! I'm going to do the checkerboard afghan next. I need a change!

Ginny


are you going to be doing this in a CAL? hey maybe you can start one for it:yes

i never did see the pattern for it:no

[Pink and Grey]

Noblebird and Sissie: Thanks for both your kind comments. I think it turned out pretty well. The fawn yarn was so much thicker than the other colors that it created some problems, such as a tendency for the border to bunch up a bit, but I just decided to live with it and not try to adjust the pattern somehow.

I can't find any pictures online of the checkerboard afghan. I'll put a picture of a swatch or something out here for you at some point.

Ginny

[Poochie]

Well...I kinda got offtrack with this one....but I purchased yet again, some new yarn to use for this blanket. I was using Bernat Soft Bouclee...but it's pretty hard to use....to fluffy! So I bought some Bernat Harmoney last night, and I've made two squares already!!

[Isabella2000]

I love this pattern and am dying to try it. The only thing is I really hate doing single crochets. How do you gals think the blocks would look done in double crochets?

[Poochie]

I think it would look just as nice in double crochets....and I agree about doing single crochets.....blah! LOL

I posted a pic of all my squares sewn together...all I have left to do now is the border!

I was hoping to have this done for my boyfriends birthday, but considering it's tomorrow....:eek....I don't think I'll be finished!!

You can check it out on my blog! :hook

[amyquilt]

OMG I just found this CAL!

You ladies doing all these awesome CALs are gonna get me into trouble. :devil

I have recently started a Tupperware business and am supposed to be focusing on it (starting off much better than I anticipated) since I recently sold my cloth diaper accessory manufacturing business...but heck...I just cannot stay off of this group and out of these CALs. :hook

We are relocating with my dh job at the end of next week...so I definitely want in, but first we must be moved, unpacked and I must complete a few WIP.

I'll be back around in a couple of weeks to show my progress!

Thanks!
Amy