Some Squares

Hello:

I have finished the first row (plus one square not shown) for the Wedding Afghan I am making (ok, the half of the Wedding Afghan, as my daughter, Allifer, is making the other half).

For the Final Round of Quidditch in the Harry Potter Knitting/Crochet House Cup (HPKCHC) this term, we had to craft something with 450 yds in two weeks.  Well, since I need to make 15 squares, and each square is about 100 yds, I decided to make 5 squares and hook them together for my Quidditch submission.

We are making the afghan out of Caron One Pound in Espresso, Beige, and Taupe.  I know, I have already made 2 afghans using these colors, and frankly, after the second one, I was pretty tired of them, but they go together really well, and make a nice neutral afghan that will go in many rooms without clashing (I hope).

I have been putting the squares up here as I finished them, but I haven't shown you the last two that I finished.

I took the Spider Square 

that I designed last year,
put her on a brick wall and gave her

BABIES!!

So much fun to play with and expand on this pattern.

The other square is a bit wonky, I need to work with it a bit more to get it to lie flat (I might have to steam this one ... really that means melt it a bit), but I still love it.  Puzan brought me a photo of some crochet last Sunday, and asked if I could figure out the pattern.  It's a bit tough to see if the stitches are sc or hdc but I made this square using sc.  Anyway, for right now, I'm calling it "Drips."

I didn't ride my bike today, taking one day off, but hoping to get on the bike early tomorrow before I tutor and it gets hot.  Because it has been super hot here.  ugh!

Peace,
f1bercat
shaping the planet with new afghan squares.

Finished All the Squares

Hello:

I love these mornings when there are clouds on the horizon. 

I have been working monogamously on the Graduation Afghan for my baby, Pookie.  He graduated from high school in June, and will leave for college in 1 1/2 weeks.  His college is in New Jersey, so he will need a warm blanket.  I made most of the squares last year, but they sat in a bag in the cave (our sub-basement) while I made 3 other afghans. 

I had forgotten how pretty the colors are.  The Doc asked why I wasn't using Princeton's colors (orange and black).  I started this afghan when Pookie was a Junior in High School.  When I knew he was applying to Princeton, I asked him if he wanted me to change the color, or make a different afghan, and he said, no.  He didn't want me to jinx him.  Also, now, he said he doesn't want his room to be all orange and black. 

Yesterday, I finished the last row of squares.  I am making six rows with five squares each.  I needed four more squares.  All of the original squares are from the 2012BAMCAL Group on Ravelry.  For the last four squares, I chose 3 squares from the 2013BAMCAL Group, and added my own design, Spider Square.  

The first square I used is  Squaring the Big Circle by Kate Jenks.

This square is very very easy.  It looks great with lots of color changes.  It's almost like a big round granny.

The next square is a 6 in.  Diamond in a Frame by Rhonda Rowley.

The BAMCAL Group has two 12 in. squares for each month, and one 6 in.  Sometimes I make four of the 6 in. and hook them together into a "foursquare."

Never Fading Flower

Sometimes, I hook four different 6 in. squares together.

Sometimes, I take the 6 in square, and add some type of border, or just keep crocheting until it is a 12 in.  That is what I did with this square. Because the square is very open, I didn't want to make a solid frame.  And, I wanted to skew the square.  So I chained a sort of web, and then attached that to a square frame.

The third square is Cocoa Puff by Melissa Green.  She uses Triple Crochets (tr) in a cool way that adds texture.  You can see this in the puffy white round in my square.

The last square is my Spider Square (have I mentioned that I designed a square?)  I added more rounds so that the 6 in square is now a 12 in.  I used inspiration from the Not in the Middle square by Pia Linden, a Swedish designer.  She says in the pattern that she didn't actually design the square, but more figured out a technique.  I used some of her idea and then added my own.  I am not 100% happy with what I hooked, I tried to use the white yarn to make the extra rounds look like bricks with white grout.  I wanted my Spider to look like he was in the corner of a brick wall.  But as I hooked I got another idea of how to change it to make it look more "brick-like."  I will certainly make another version of this very soon.  Anyway, this how it looks.

This will be the very bottom square on the right side of the afghan so it looks like the spider has just crawled onto the afghan.


I have hooked all the squares together into their rows of five, and added a row of white dc to the top and bottom of every row.

I will start hooking the rows together today.

But, not right now.  I just had some wonderful news.

Right now I will head to the kitchen to bake a batch of brownies.  Then run to the store to get some beautiful flowers.

Our Eastside Stitchers Group has grown by 2 very new members.

Welcome Twins!  And Congratulations! to Hrvdmnky and her DH.

Peace,
f1bercat
shaping the planet ... as a new... Yarn Auntie!

Still Dancing with Surprises

 

Hello:

Thank goodness it is clouding over.  We are close to the record for days without rain here, and while for a few weeks it was gloriously sunny but only in the mid 70's, the last few days have been horrible for our area.  Upper 80's.  UGH!  I don't know if I want thundershowers tonight, but I do want the low 80 temperature that we are supposed to have tomorrow.

I have been hooking and ripping and hooking and ripping.  Like one step forward, two back, two forward, one back.  It is a weird and frustrating dance.  I have started highlighting the chains on the pattern.  That is helping me keep everything straighter.  I get so mad at myself because I think I am checking to make sure I'm counting, then when I come around on the next round, I find some stupid error like 4 chains instead of 7.  There is nothing to do but rip back a round.

I need to finish this up because I have so many other projects going.

I am working on a Gryffindor inspired scarf for my Great Nephew Z.  He will be in first grade next year, and has been reading the Harry Potter series with his mom.  Of course, he loves Gryffindor, and wants a scarf.  He is a tough kid to knit for because he lives in Southern Calif where he would never wear knit hats or mittens, and he is not the kind of kid who likes stuffed animals.  The scarf will be perfect for him.

I am crocheting rather than knitting, because it will be way faster, he will never know the difference, and I don't think I would actually finish a stockinette scarf.  I mean, I made the Dr. Who scarf once, and that was garter stitch, but it took about 6 months.  I want to finish this in 2 days if possible.

I am also test hooking a pattern.  I decided that now that I am a famous designer, did I mention that I had published a pattern?, I need to get hooked up with the testing community.  I wanted to experience it from the tester point of view first, to learn about how to submit patterns and get feedback, etc.

This pattern is very simple.  It is for a crocheted snake. 

In some ways, I question the need for a written pattern for this project.  But, the designer, Sonea Devlon, has done a very good job with the shaping, especially for the head.  I don't know if she is planning on putting the pattern up for sale, it is currently free.  Anyway, it is fast and fun, and I have lots of nieces and nephews as well as some new honorary nieces on the way who might enjoy a snake friend.

I have not been able to knit on my Tour de Sock socks for 3 days now.  I am getting the spare bedroom ready for visitors who will arrive Thursday.  That is where my yarn was stashed.  I had to pack it all up (I had been storing most of it in the dresser...), and moved downstairs to The Cave (my office).  I put most of it in plastic storage bins, and my darling baby, Pookie, did the carrying for me.  "Why do yo have so much yarn?"  was his only question.

"Because I need it,"  I replied.

Enough writing.  I have projects to get back to!  Honestly, I am amazed that I actually cleaned out that room today.  I would way rather be dancing with my crochet hook.  Even with all the errors and ripping, it is a fun project.

Peace,
f1berat
shaping the planet with a song in my heart.

2 Tables for Fiber Friday

Hello:

The weather has cooled down nicely, here.  We are back to the kind of summer days that I love, where the temperature stays in the mid-70's (F), (23.9 C), there is often some cloud cover in the morning, and the nights are low 60's (15.5 C).

The Fiber Friday group from Eastside Stitchers met at Crossroads Mall.  This group started with only 5 original members, one who has moved to the OTHER Eastside, and one who was on vacation today, and yet, we still had so many people show up, that we needed 2 tables.

Fridays have a different feel from the Wednesday meet ups.  Part of it is that Crossroads is a bit slower and quieter in the mornings, at least until it gets close to noon.  Also, we sit at a different table, one in the center of the mall.  This table is under the big skylight, and has good light for stitching.

One thing that is the same, though, is how nice everyone is, and how supportive.  I love how we can ask for help or advice, and how generous the more advanced people are with their help.  Another thing that is the same for both groups is the great projects people bring.

 Teahouseknits  is designing something new, so I could only photograph her yarn.

I won't say anything about the project except that I really like what she has finished so far, and we had a discussion about magic looping, and 2-at-a-time.  I am a fan of both.  Teahouseknits is not so enthusiastic.

Winterpromise31, in the quest for some easy social knitting, brought a new hat.  It is the hat pattern and yarn from the Goody Bags for the Seattle Mariners Stitch and Pitch.

One of the interesting things about this hat is that it is knit flat.  In the goody bags, in addition to a bunch of patterns, you get some yarn and a pair of wooden straight needles.  These are meant to encourage beginning knitters, I guess.  So, it makes sense that if you only have the needles that came in the bag, you would knit the hat flat and seam it. 

Colleen brought a ... shhhhhhhhhhhh!  secret project.  She worked on it for a while, but brought a Safe-to-knit-around-Preggos Project as well because we knew GwenS was going to stop by for a bit.  The safe project is her first seamed sweater.  I am calling it the Pink Practice Sweater.

Welcome back, CodyJunk! 

CodyJunk came with a bag full of the cutest toys.  Of course I only took a picture of the washcloth/soap bag thing, Soap Nut Vessel, she was knitting. 

This prompted a discussion of who knits washcloths and dishtowels, and why.  I find them to be great social knitting.  Also, they make quick, nice gifts.

Constance49 brought her 2013 Summer Mystery Knit-a-long Shawl from The Fiber Gallery.  She is knitting it in beautiful Hazelknits sock yarn.

CathieC brought the Racing Raindrops Scarf. 

On Wednesday night, CathieC was having trouble with this pattern.  It's not the easiest social knitting.  When she brought out the project this morning, I was surprised.  But, since Crossroads is a bit more mellow on Friday mornings, it is easier to bring a more complicated project.

Wireknitter was wearing a new shawl, LightWaves by Susan Ashcroft.  This is knit in Noro Silk Garden and Cascade 220.  I just love the short row waves.

her knitting project was Cameo by Paulina Popiolek.

At first I thought she might be making a Color Affection, because of the striping.  This is a really beautiful pattern.  I am very tempted to make one.

Skeinherder was working on secret projects.

It seems that I am only able to photograph her yarn lately.  Here is her finished Stage 3 Tour-de-Sock sock to show that she does not just bring yarn, she actually Knits at Crossroads.

GwenS showed up near lunch time.  All of the secret knitting was whisked away.  GwenS brought a baby project, too, but for a friend who is not in Eastside Stitchers.

Yes, it is another Aviatrix hat.  We both agreed that it is just about the cutest baby hat in the world.

BlueBerryMary was starting a new Hoody Jacket.

But, she brought the best finished project of all.  No, not the darling baby dress and blanket she has been knitting the last few weeks. 

She brought the baby.  Welcome, Genevieve Rose, her new great-niece.

Peace,
f1bercat
shaping the world with a published pattern (have I mentioned lately that I published a pattern on Ravelry?)

I actually published a pattern

Woot! 

I have finally published a pattern on Ravelry.  It is for the Spider Square that I designed for a HPKCHC challenge and used in the First Anniversary Afghan that I made for my Godson and his Bride.

Let's see if I can successfully give a link to the pattern page.

It is for free. 

It has not been test hooked.

I haven't had time to add tutorials.

But,

I have actually published the pattern.

I am so happy.

Peace,
f1bercat
shaping the world with a published pattern.

Deadlines

I crocheted like a fiend these last 2 days to finish the afghan I have been making for my Godson and his bride's first wedding anniversary.  I finished all but a border (which I may not bother to hook).  It was too late to take a photo of all 4 rows of squares, but here is a photo of the first 3 rows.

Also, I designed a new square for the afghan, the Spider Square.

Actually, this afghan has 3 square that were my designs:  The spider square above,

the 2 x 3 Granny:

and the Twisted Rose with a Thorn Border:

I also created a new way to join the squares, but more on that in another post.

I'll try to get a photo of the afghan tomorrow.  I hope they like it.

Peace.
f1bercat
shaping the planet with a giant spider (afghan square).