Almost There . . . !!!

Afghan detail

Yup, I've been very good--a good little crafter!  Last weekend I started working on a long-standing WIP from September 2010, Bernat's Mystery Afghan Crochet-along (Ravelry link). It's been sitting in a bag at the bottom of a basket, hidden in the back of the closet.  I'm sure you have similar places in your own home--that place where discontinued or unfinished projects go to hide in shame. 

There were only a few squares left to attach, maybe 4-5.  Much to my chagrin, one sad little square was missing!  Yup, I was one square short of a finished blanket.  One measly mitered square . . . Argh!!

Almost an afghan --minus one square in the upper left hand corner

So I quickly searched for my pattern (it was clue #5), but couldn't find it anywhere.  Seriously?!  I know I packed it when we moved, but heaven knows where it went.  A thorough search led to no pattern.  Was it even still online?

When Bernat became part of the umbrella group at Yarnspiration, the old website went away and the old pattern never made it to the new website.  Thankfully I found the old archived Bernat blog (I think I used the wayback machine).  Follow this link:  old blog.bernat.com entry for Nov 2010 .  It'll take you to the entries for November 2010 (clues 8 and 9 can be found there).  If you click on September through December on the sidebar, you should find the blog posts with links to PDF files for all the other clues, from #1- 10 (last clue is for the border).

Missing mitered square . . . 

With my clue printed off, I proceeded to work the last mitered square.  As I recall, some of the participants complained about how wonky this particular square looked.  Check out the old Ravelry group for that project.  Although not active anymore, there's still lots of useful tidbits and photos shared by fellow Ravelers.  Looking through the comments, I remembered I had used the suggestions to use a larger hook, chain 50 instead of 46 and work the decreases very loosely.

Here's hoping my motivation sees me through to the end of this project!

Not Enough

Next row of squares waiting to be attached

Not enough crafting that is!  It's been a busy week with the kids at school full-time.  So while I've been able to sneak some crafting in at lunchtime, things have been busy in the evenings.  And its not gonna get any easier 'cuz I start my online classes tomorrow.

One more square needing white trim . . . 

I'm actually looking forward to my classes even though I know its gonna be a lot of work.  As long as I can sneak in some crafting during the day. Living arrangements at home have changed a little, so I'll be scrambling for a study spot--a quiet study spot!

By the way, have I mentioned that we're moving?  I think I alluded to it here back in June.  It's been a long wait and it's not over yet.  Yes the time draws closer, but I still have about 8 weeks left to go . . . **sigh**

I think I need to find my hook . . . 

66 and Counting . . .

Stitched Squares

That's how many squares I've completed for my rainbow bedspread.  My plan had always been to make a bedspread that was 11 squares by 11 squares.  Simple math tells me I need a grand total of 121 to finish.  Anything over 61 squares puts me over 50%.  Yay!!  Progress!

Another View

My renewed enthusiasm for the project continues unabated, although I have projects lined up--mostly in my head, ha!

I'd best use my time wisely and get back to working on the next row of squares. 
Later,

Road Trip . . .

Red rose from a grand opening--very classy!

Now that summer has finally arrived, we're using our weekends to spend time with the kids. Usually we end up on a road trip--perhaps a visit to the city, maybe a quaint little town or dip in the ocean?  No matter where we go, I love watching the countryside as we putt-putt along the highway . . . 

View from my window . . . 

As with any road trip, its not just the destination that matters.  There's lots of great stuff that happens along the way: cool tunes, good conversation, lovely scenery--and in-car crafting!  Seriously!!  I love knitting or hooking in the car--even if I sometimes end up with boo-boos (Only another crafter can truly appreciate the joys of car-crafting).  Viola, my car-hooking:

Pink square in progress

Right now I've got tons of squares stored away in a bag in my room.  All those lonely squares, waiting to be joined . . . soon, my pretties.  Very soon.

Stitching It

Bits of ends

See the bits of yarn?  Just weaving in some ends.  Not something I enjoy, but I want to "clean up" the back.

Weaving in ends

I couldn't wait for all the squares to be completed.  I needed to see the squares joined together, just to get a sense of how the colours worked together and whether the length and width would work.  

Two rows of squares joined together

Guess what?  It all works!!  I love it!  I'm already working on the next row of colours to add to the bedspread.

It Grows!

Thus far I have managed to add a new square every day.  The pile of squares grows bigger.  Soon I will begin attaching them to each other.

Pile o' Granny Squares

I've capped the total colours to 13--and all in the stash!  Not sure about the amounts, though.  I had initially planned to make my bedspread 10 squares by 10 squares.  This meant that, with the exception of one colour, I only needed to make 8 squares in each colour.  With the addition of a 13th colour, that has changed.  Now the bedspread will be 11 by 11 squares.  The addition of an 11th square in both the width and length will fit better on the bed.  Not sure how this affects my yarn amounts, though.  Time will tell . . . 

More Grannies

Meanwhile, I'm not sure how to tackle the pillows--mainly since I'm not sure how many of the colours will be left over.  I may settle for simple all-white granny rectangles . . . I have time to think about it.

Can't Talk . . .

In the middle of studying for my last exam . . . 

Pile o' Squares

Just popped in so I could share my progress so far:

Rainbow colours

Seven squares and all different.  There are twelve different colours in total (possibly 13), and all in the stash!  This should be a stash buster, right?

Just the beginning

Only 93 more squares to go . . .

Later,

Is It Wrong?

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My Improvised Square

Is it wrong to crave colour?  Bright, springy, summery shades that evoke warmth and flowers and sun-shiny happiness? I had barely finished the baby sock (And it was close, but yay to storm days!) when inspiration hit.   Over on the Crochet Crowd Fan page on Facebook, a crocheter (Sandy Crochets) posted her finished creation (You can also find a wonderful photo on Instagram).  Isn't it purty?!  I just loved it!

My Rainbow Stash

And I had to make it!  I looked through my Red Heart Super Saver and Bernat Super Value stash and found enough suitable colours--although I may be missing the odd skein. 

Colour Plan

With graph paper and colouring pencils, I worked a workable colour chart for my bedspread.  This will look cheerful and summery in the bedroom.  I'm so excited!!

Reference Patterns

Since there was no pattern link to be found, I scrounged the internet and found a couple of similar granny square patterns.  A regular large granny would work and so would a granny sunburst pattern.  The one I used was from here (also called a sunburst granny but the centre is worked differently than others I've seen).  You could also use this sunburst granny square pdf from Priscilla's Crochet.  Both are free patterns (And You-Tube probably has lots of how-to videos as well--if you need the visual aid.  I know I often need it).  I modified the first pattern by adding a few extra rounds before working the last 2 single crochet edgings.  

I'll keep you posted! ;)

Keeping My Promises . . .

I had promised myself to finish some long-standing WIPs.  And true to my word, I have begun doing that.

Back in the knitting basket is my 2010 Mystery Afghan Crochet-along.  Back then, I was still blogging for Bernat.  I probably should have stayed away from the project as I had other things on-the-go at the time, but who could say no to free yarn?  Yup, Bernat was kind enough to provide the yarn gratis to their bloggers if they were interested in completing the project.  So I said yes . . . and I am still working on it three years later.

Lucky for me, I have all the squares completed except for two mitered squares.  Thus far my work has focused on sewing: I'm slowly attaching the squares--some of which need a little coaxing into shape.  I'm weaving in some of the ends too, but its such tedious work! So many ends!!

Still, I can see the proverbial "light at the end of the tunnel".  If I stick to my guns--so to speak--I may just have a finished afghan by the end of the summer.

Later . . .