Cath Kidston Granny Square Afghan

I've been working on these granny squares with colors that remind me of the colors that Cath Kidston uses in her fabrics.   The granny square was the first thing that I learned to crochet as a young girl so I can make them without a pattern. 



When I make granny squares, I usually start by making a center from each color of yarn. 

After I use each skein once, it goes into a separate basket or tote bag.  Then I randomly pull out each color to do a second round. 

I continue in this way  until I have put 5 rounds on each square.  Then I stop crocheting and go back and sew in all of the loose ends.  I find it is easier to sew them in this way instead of waiting until I finish all the squares.

 

Right now I don't have a definite plan in mind.  I may choose one of the colors of yarn and use it as a joining color or I may join them with white.  Any ideas? 

For now I just plan to keep making squares and see where the project goes. 

Thanks for stopping by for a visit.  Happy Easter to you and your family. 

Finishing the Giant Crocheted Granny Afghan

My giant granny square afghan from Sucrette's Giant Granny Crochet Along has 55 rounds on it.  I started the blanket with 25 different skeins of yarn, and so far I have used each skein twice.   When I did round number 55 I finished with about 6 inches of yarn to spare.  That was cutting it just a little too close for comfort.  What to do?

I came up with the idea to get out my postage scale and weigh each ball of yarn that is left.  That's what all of the pink post it notes are on the yarn in the photo below.  My thinking was that if I knew the weight of the skein and there was enough yardage to go around the blanket once, then I could weigh what was left and make an educated guess as to how much it would take for the next round. 

After I had all of the leftovers weighed and labeled, I went upstairs to bring down another skein of the brown yarn I had used.  It was left from another project so I knew there was more of that color.  I also found a bag with extra skeins for this project that I had forgotten.  So now I have plenty of yarn to do several more rounds on the blanket.  I think in the CAL we were trying to get somewhere between 75 and 100 rounds. 

Stay tuned to see how many rounds I end up with. 

Hope you are doing some crocheting or knitting today.

Thanks for stopping by for a visit!

Granny Square Afghan Tutorial

I've been working on the Giant Granny Square Crochet Along over at Sucrette's blog, I thought I would do a tutorial on how to make a granny square.  Here is my progress so far - 50 rounds. 

One thing to remember:  When you are doing a granny square you need to turn your work and do every other round on the back side.   If you do every round on the right side the square eventually becomes kind of "wonky" and looks like it is in a twist.

CH = chain

DC=double crochet

DC Cluster=3 double crochets together

Chain 4.  Slip stitch in first stitch to form a ring.

Still on the right side of the work chain 3 (this counts as your first double crochet this round and throughout).  Do 2 more double crochets in ring.  Chain 1.  Repeat 3 DCs, chain 1 in ring three more times   (you will have 4 DC clusters in the ring with a chain 1 in between).  Join round with slip stitch.

  (From now on you are going to be working in the spaces between the clusters.)  Chain 3. TURN work over, 2 DC, chain 1, 3 DC in space. *Chain 1.  3 DC, chain 1, 3DC *  Repeat around ending with a chain 1.  Join round with slip stitch. 

Chain 3, TURN work.  2 DC in space.  3 DC, ch 1, 3 DC on corner.  Chain 1, 3 DC in space.  On the corner 3 DC, chain 1, 3 DC.  Continue around until you are back at the beginning and join the round with a slip stitch.

Each round is the same:  A DC cluster in the spaces along the edges and DC Cluster, chain 1, DC cluster on the corners.  A chain 1 goes in between each cluster.

Here is a chart that shows the stitches.

A close up of my granny blanket. 

I hope this has helped.  I think crochet is really relaxing and enjoy working on it in the evenings. 

If you have any questions, please feel free to email me at krugla@gmail.com. 

Thanks for stopping by for a visit today. 

Shell Look Baby Blanket Finish

Last weekend my daughter came into town, and she decided she would help me work on one of the projects that I have here.  She chose the Shell Baby Blanket that I had started in pretty variegated yarn in shades of pink and blue.  The pattern and a photo of the start of the blanket is linked on my side bar.

While she was here, she finished crocheting it.

We had a nice weekend of visiting, watching movies, and crocheting.  She and I both enjoy crocheting as well as knitting. 

I had just started this blanket because I had the yarn in my stash and I really enjoyed the pattern.  I really didn't have a purpose in mind at the time so my daughter asked if she could take it home for her cat, Squeaky to lay on.

Squeaky comes along with my daughter when she visits.  When we let her out of the cat carrier she always remembers where her food bowl, water fountain and litter are so we call this Squeaky's summer home because she always seems right at home here.  She is a lot of fun to have here for a visit, and now she has the new blanket....and who could refuse a face like that?

Hope you find time to relax and knit or crochet a little each day! 

Thanks for stopping by for a visit!