Hint of Spring Round Photos

These are the Round Photos for the March 12 in. Square for the 2012BAMCAL (Block A Month Crochet A Long) Group on Ravelry. I am not doing a full tutorial because, though you have to read them carefully, I think the instructions are fine. The only problem is that they leave out the Slip Stitches to finish off each round, and the ch2 or ch1/sc to start new rounds. The designer assumes that you know to do that. I only added instructions when I thought something was missing, or I was changing color. Please go to the design's page for the full instructions.

Here is the information on the square and the link to the design:

Hint of Spring
2012BAMCAL 12 in Square for March
by Sally Ives (CrochetSal on Ravelry)
Her website is here.


I would like to thank Sally Ives for generously making this design free, and posting it on the web.

She recommends hook size G (4.5mm), but my first attempt at this square did not hit 12 in, so I am hooking this with a size H (5.0 mm).

It is gray and rainy (well! I do live in the Pacific Northwest), so let's see how the photos come out...

She says to start with a chain 4 ring, but since I learned the Magic Ring, that's how I love to start these squares. 

Round 1

Round 1: I started this with ch2, then did not count it as part of the 12 dc. Followed instructions. Joined with ss. 

Round 2

Round 2: ch1, first sc in same space as ss join. Followed Instructions. Joined with ss in first sc. 

Round 3

Round 3: began with ch 2 (did not count it as a dc). Followed Instructions. Joined with ss in first dc. FO (Finish Off) 

Round 4: started with Red with a sc in ch1 sp. 

Round 4

Followed Instructions. Joined with a ss in first sc. 

Round 5: ss to first ch 1 sp, 

Round 5

then ch 2 (I did not count this as the first dc). Followed instructions. Joined with ss in first sc, and FO. 

Round 6: Joined White with sc in 1st dc of corner.

Round 6

Followed instructions. I joined with a ss in the first sc, and FO








Round 7: Joined Blue with sc in the center dc of a 5 dc corner. (that sc counted as my first sc).

Round 7

Followed Instructions. Fastened with a ss in the first sc, and FO. 

Round 8: Joined White with ss in first sc of the 3 corner sc's, ch 2 (which I do not count as my first dc), and dc in same st. 

Round 8

Followed Instructions. Joined with a ss in the first dc.

Round 9: Ch 2 (I did not count this as my first dc), then Dc in same st as join. 

Round 9

Followed Instructions. Joined with ss in first dc and FO.

Round 10: Joined Red with ss in the center dc of any corner 5 dc, ch 2 (which I do not count as my first dc), then 5 dc in same stitch. 

Round 10

Followed Instructions. Joined with ss in first dc, then FO. 

Round 11: Joined White with ss in center dc of any 5dc corner, ch2 (which I do not count as my first dc), 5 dc same stitch. 

Round 11

Follow Instructions. Fasten with ss in first dc, FO. 














Round 12: Joined Blue in a center corner dc with a ss, chained 2 (not counting this!), 5 dc in same st. Followed Instructions and FO. 

Round 12 and Finished Block

Thank you, again, to Sally Ives for sharing her design.

Yours,
f1bercat
shaping the planet one more afghan block a month

P.S. I was checking this post as a preview, and laughing at how the photos get lighter and darker.  Well, it was raining, and the day darkened and lightened as I took them.  Also, I was racing the setting sun at the end.  I am amazed that the photo at the top, of the 2 blocks, came out as well as it did.  Also, I experimented with photo size in the post, making the finished round photos bigger than the teaching photos.  I would appreciate comments on whether or not this is helpful, or just irritating.  I can't decide if I like it or not.

Thanks again, f1bercat

The One Where My Computer Breaks Down But I Keep Knitting

WIP

I worked on the Red Hot Lewk Sweater, but didn't get any photos, so I won't talk too much about it.

I finished another square of for the 2012 BAMCAL (Block A Month Crochet A Long) Group on Ravelry.  This is the "official" March square (they have 2 squares every month, one is the month square, the other is the filler square).  The pattern is Hint of Spring by Sally Ives, and can be found for free at this link. 

It was super easy to follow, and no mistakes or confusions in the instructions at all.  I did not really follow the color change instructions, but that is pretty much optional anyway.  In fact, I will try to do something very different with the second square I will make of this pattern.  This one is for my son L for his high school graduation afghan.  The next one will be in the University of Arizona's colors, and by for my son J, who will go there next year.  I don't want the two afghans to look too similar.

Here is the back:

 You can see how frazzled I was today.  More about that to come!  But, I usually weave in all ends IMMEDIATELY.  I know if I don't, I may never do it.  But it was one thing after another today.

As I was typing this entry, my computer keyboard froze, and I had to spend about 2 hours on the phone with Dell trying to fix it.  It was so strange.  I tried rebooting the computer (my first fix for everything), but then couldn't get back in because I couldn't type in my password on the log on screen.  Wow, that was scary because I thought, how will I get this document off?  then I noticed a small icon in the bottom left corner of the log on screen.  It is the Ease Of Access icon, and led to a screen with a choice to use an "on screen keyboard."  So, by using that little keyboard, and my mouse (which worked) I could log on, bring up my blog document and the photos I had saved, and email them to myself so I could access everything from a different  computer.  Dell was able to help me in the end.  At first they thought they would have to send out a service rep to replace the keyboard in my laptop.  Then, no kidding, they had me turn the computer off, take out the battery AND unplug it.  Press the on button and hold it on for 10 seconds, then replace the battery, plug in the computer, and turn it on.  AND IT WORKED!  This was after trying about a gazillion other things.  So, if you have a similar problem, now you know! 

Where in the World is f1bercat?

Today I worked on my taxes.  Well, I didn't really get to the Taxes part.  I worked on bringing our financial records up to date so that I can then gather the information needed to work on the taxes.  Ugh.  I started at about 7 am and stopped at 10 am.  It was horrible.  I mean, it's not hard or anything, but I really wanted to go ride the bike so I could start knitting.  And as time was passing, I kept thinking, I'll finish this part tomorrow... I better stop now, or I will have to skip the bike ride... I just need to set this aside and work on it another day...  BUT, I was a good cat, and I finished the part of the job I had set for this morning AND I still made it to the Y to knit myself some exercise.  I worked on the sleeves of the Never Ending, Super Slow, Red Hot Sweater for Lewk.  I am at the small side (started with the cuffs), and still I am not making much progress.  I decided that it is because I have to worry about not only 2 yarns, but I have to think about the increases, and working the increases into the pattern, WHILE I am pedaling an exercise bike.  Honestly, I thought I might as well be balancing a pie on my head, or perhaps juggling some flaming hoops.  Anyway, I only got 5 rows finished in 34 min / 6 miles.  But still, I am 5 rows closer to a finished sweater, and 6 miles closer to California.

So, where am I?  You might have noticed that I am wandering decidedly West, instead of South.  

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That is because I noticed another LYS  (Local Yarn Store) while I was checking out the Puget Sound Yarn Crawl website.  And, well, in the spirit of all f1beristas, I had to stop!  Here I am at The Yarn Stash in Burien, WA.

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This shop is owned by a Mother/Daughter team, Bonnie is the mom, and Beth is the daughter.  They have a nice selection off classes, from Private Knitting, to Open Knitting, and quite a few in between.  I was happy to see that they have Kid's Knitting sessions, too.  At the kids' classes, they dye their own yarn with Kool-aid.  What a wonderful way to get kids excited about f1ber.  They also have some wonderful charity knitting projects that they are helping with.  They are on Ravelry, with a group called The Burien Yarn Stash Crew    If you stop by, remember to tell them that f1bercat says, "hello."

But I had a few miles more to my trip today, so this is where I ended up:

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Once again, I'm not exactly sure where I am.  I think I am still in Burien?  or is it Sea-Tac?  You can just see the corner of the airport.  I am now headed south again, towards Tacoma.  But!  I found another LYS, this one in Federal Way.  I should reach it on Monday.  I think I am going to rest my bike on the weekends.  Ha!

Here is what my trip will look like when I have finished:


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You might notice that all of the markers so far are totally squished up on each other way at the top.  At some point I will make Tacoma.  And then, Portland, where I will visit my daughter, S.  Any of you reading this, who are on the route south, and know somewhere I should virtually stop, please leave me comments with suggestions.  I would love to visit your favorite LYS, or cafe, or coffee house, or just visit with you!  We can spend some time knitting together.

Good night for now,
f1bercat
shaping the planet one crocheted block at a time