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,

Pile o' Squares

The crocheted variety, that is.

Pile o' Squares

Yes, the crafting goes slowly--very slowly.  I had hoped to be further along, but other tasks had taken up my time and energies.  Still, I do what I can and hope that sometime before Christmas I will have a new bedspread.

A Rainbow Array . . . 

I've been looking through my project page on Ravelry.  Although I'm enjoying the crochet, my fingers are itching for something different.  I'm longing for different project--something to knit.  I haven't worked on my Aquaphobia socks (Rav link) in a long while.  Maybe I should pick up the socks again.  After all, I'll have need of them come autumn (a mere two months away).

Or perhaps I should work on something more simple and quick, just to get a sense of accomplishment . . . hmmmmm.  Decisions.  Decisions.

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.

Circles into Squares

Yup, that's what I do every time I make a new square.  It starts out as a circle and magically transforms into a square.  Since there's no specific pattern, (its a mish-mash of other patterns), I thought I'd post a lovely photo tutorial with the pattern so you could witness the transformation and maybe make a few for yourself.

Round 1: Using white yarn and 5.5 mm hook, chain 4. 

Slip stitch into first chain.  You've made a wee circle.  

Chain 3 (this will count as the first dc).  

Work 11 dc into the wee circle.  

Slip stitch to top of first chain (12 dc total including the 1st 3-ch). 

Round 2: Chain 3 (this will count as 1st dc).  

In same space where you slip-stitched, make 1 dc.  Make 2 dc in next dc from previous round.  

Continue working 2 dc in each dc from previous round until end (24 dc including the 1st 3-ch at start of round).

Slip stitch to top of 1st chain to end round.  Secure end.  Break yarn.

Round 3: Attach second colour to any spot between dc pairs.  Chain 3 (this will count as 1st dc).

In same space, work 2 dc and ch 1.  

**In-between next 2-dc space, work 3 dc and then ch 1.  Continue from ** until end of round.  

Slip stitch to top of 1st 3-chain to finish round (12 sets of 3 dc separated by 1-ch space).  Continue slip stitching through top of next 2 dc and into ch-1 space.

Round 4: Chain 3 (this will count as 1st dc) in ch-1 space.  

Work 2 dc in same space and then ch 1. 

**In next ch-1 space, work 3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc, ch 1 (this will make a corner).  In the next 2 ch-1 spaces, work 3 dc and ch 1.  

Continue from ** till there are four corners in your "circle".  

There should only be 1 ch-1 space left where you work 3 dc and ch 1.  Slip stitch to top of 1st 3-chain to finish the round.  Your circle is now a square! Continue slip stitching through top of next 2 dc and into ch-1 space.

Round 5: Chain 3 (this will count as 1st dc) in ch-1 space.  Work 2 dc in same space and then ch 1.  In next ch-1 space, work 3 dc, ch 1.  In corner work 3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc, ch 1. 

Continue working the granny square as already established, working sides with 3 dc and ch 1 and each corner with 3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc, ch 1.  At end of round, slip stitch to top of 1st 3-chain.  

Continue slip stitching through top of next 2 dc and into ch-1 space.

Round 6: Worked same way as round 5.  At end of round, slip stitch to top of 1st 3-chain. Secure end.  Break yarn.

Round 7:  Attach white yarn to any ch-1 space.  

Chain 1 and then 1 sc in same space.  Sc in each dc and 1 sc in each ch-1 space.  In each 2-ch corner, work 3 sc.  

At end of round slip stitch to top of first sc.

Round 8: Work 1 sc in each sc except for corner.  In corner work 3 sc in 2nd sc.  At end of round slip stitch to top of first sc.  Secure end.  Break yarn. 

Happy hooking! :)

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! ;)