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63 Squares Crochet Along

Donna

By Donna
in Crochet-Alongs (CALs)

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crochelsea Newbie

crochelsea

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i'm using Caron Simply Soft (sooo soft...soooooooo pretty!) and searched all over for the best prices. the pattern calls for around 16 skeins of yarn, about 5 or 6 each. Joann's (online) has the best prices, $1.80 a skein i think, PLUS you get free priority s&h with everypurchase over $30, and the total for my skeins (6 of one color and 5 of the other 2) came to be somehting around $34 on joanns. its a good deal!

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faithpa76 Community Regular

faithpa76

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Oh my goodness!! It is a good thing I had my dad send me a sample of his wallpaper because the yarns I would have picked would have been all wrong! Need to rethink my colors now ...

 

I hope I can find the right shades now ... I'm pretty sure the lavendar and white won't be difficult but I think the green could be a challenge to match. And I think I'm going to bypass the multicolored thing, lol.

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TxCrochetGranny Newbie

TxCrochetGranny

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Just wanted to share some excitement. :clap My DD came over today to take me to Hobby Lobby (I don't drive much due to disability & can get quite antsy waiting for a ride).

 

We spent 2 wonderful hours looking at color combinations :spina . I choose my pink and ecru, but have 2 different blues to choose from for third color. :artist Brought them home to look at with our throw rug and chairs, etc. They both look beautiful! I'll have to make a choice. Then, it's the price wars (online).

 

Having a great time.

 

MDS

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TxCrochetGranny Newbie

TxCrochetGranny

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In my last installment, my color decision was between two blues—one is muted, the other bold. In this episode, the decision is revealed: :artist

 

Seriously folks, I liked the pattern 63 Squares and browsed your galleries—they are quite beautiful—and found myself in love with Julie’s (yarngirl) colors. I knew I’d never get away with the light thyme because my DH detests green (might have something to do with his really hot blue eyes :loco ). I wanted to get that same serene feel as Julie’s, so picked out the more muted tones from our new living room rug for my color scheme. DH, on the other hand, had other ideas (image that :w-snow2 ). Because I said that I am making it for him, I let him choose between two schemes (you will note that I narrowed down the choice—some things can not be left to his idea of décor—everything would be in shades of blah!). He choose the color scheme that pulled the bold colors out of the rug. Instead of a soothing afghan, we will be making one that looks warm and cozy. Either way, it will be great.

 

I went online (thank you to everyone who has posted about online deals, etc.), but found that I couldn’t spend enough to get the free shipping (Joann’s didn’t have the Aran I wanted), so I plan to go to Hobby Lobby later today (maybe DH will pay—after all, it is for him).

 

My colors are: Caron Simply Soft Dk. Country Blue and Raspberry, and RH TLC Essentials Aran.

 

Stay tuned for my next installment of “How The First Squares Are Going.â€

 

Cheers,

MDS :sherlock

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Jewels Enthusiast

Jewels

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Just wanted to post a little update saying, woooo, OMG and can't believe it, I have now finished 62 squares and am working on the last and 63rd square tonite. Tomorrow will be sewing in the reins and beginnings on the edgings.

 

I've updated pics on the gallery too...

:woohoo

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crochelsea Newbie

crochelsea

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way to go!!! i have finished...4 squares and was getting bored doing the treble square (i had to move around since i only had one color for a while) and so today i took a break and started working on my cousins baby blanket. i am making it just one big granny square and GUESS WHERE I LEARNED HOW TO MAKE ONE OF THOSE!!! NO. 16! (i think its 16...) but tomorrow its back to the dreaded trebles.

 

btw, i let a sweetie pick out the colors too- ME! haha. its for me, anyways! :)h

 

chelsea

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TxCrochetGranny Newbie

TxCrochetGranny

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Congrats, Jewels,

 

Great accomplishment! Is your gallery on your blog? I'm not sure yet how that works.

 

Crochelsea:

 

Is'nt it great that we'll come away not only with a wonderful afghan, but also with knowledge we can apply to our own creations--good for you.

 

What does "frog" mean?

 

MDS

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Jewels Enthusiast

Jewels

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I ended up having to move down to a 4.25mm hook for all my squares. I was surprised I had to move down that far from a 5, so I guess I'm loose LOL...a loose kinda crocheter that is.

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allimac Apprentice

allimac

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A :? about blocking: Does anyone know of any good websites with instructions on how to make a blocking board or have first hand knowledge on making one? I use my ironing board, but it doesn't work the best. Also, what happens when you put the afghan all together? Do the ones that you may have stretched out a little while blocking shrink up again or will others stretch out? :ideanot

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TxCrochetGranny Newbie

TxCrochetGranny

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Thanks, Alli :frog

 

I'll look for websites re blocking (I used to be the Pre-Packaged-Project Queen, so I use those instructions for blocking). I wouldn't presume to give you step-by-step because I'm on beginner status myself. :not

 

I used to block on my ironing board, also. Now, I am using a Quilter's Square N Press and quilter's rustproof straight pins. The Quilter's Square N Press has ruled, numbered lines, is padded and designed for pins, & the quilter's pins are nice and long (gotta love those Michael's and Jo Ann coupons). Because we'll be sewing the squares together, I made sure that my pins did not "flatten" the side stitches when I pinned them. Also, my yarn is partially acrylic, so I won't be using an iron, just spraying with water to block.

 

I'm sure that someone with LOTS more experience can answer your question re stitching together squares that are not blocked exactly the same. I have found that I can "ease" the stitches together for sewing without problem.

 

I'll be interested in finding out more about blocking, too. :int

 

MDS

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TxCrochetGranny Newbie

TxCrochetGranny

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I’ve completed square #1, using Caron Simply Soft Dk Country Blue, edged with RH TLC Aran and a “G†hook. It took much longer than I thought it would because I had so much trouble with the gauge. First it came out at 9â€, so I changed hooks and tried again….then again….. then again. :bang Finally, I went to the online chat here in crochetville and asked which way to go (size-wise) when something is too large. ( a couple of very nice chatters were happy to help out a stranger :angel:ty ) Wouldn’t you know it, I was going the WRONG way. Instead of using a smaller size hook, I kept using a larger and larger—well, you get the message.

 

I was concerned because the square was curling on the edges as I worked. Because I could “block it out†by hand, I just kept going. Sure enough, I had no trouble blocking it on a blocking square when I was finished—didn’t really have to tug, etc. I pulled out my “Crochet for Dummies†book and happened to see “problem with curling†in the index. I will try some of the remedies described in it if I continue to have curling issues-- if Ican :remember .

 

I also had some problems with the count when I added the ecru edging. Because there is a ch 1 that does not count as the first sc where the 2nd color is added, that row has an extra stitch, which was giving me problems before I figured out why I had too many stitches on one side. In the end, I decreased that stitch with the next one.

 

Just a Note: I do plan to do the squares in order even though I’m not normally so well mannered. Because I haven’t crocheted in so long, I think it will be good to increase the level of difficulty a little at a time. That will give me a chance to really work on each new thing, instead of making basic mistakes while also having trouble with more intricate concepts.

 

One thing I’m learning about crochet-a-longs is that it will keep me honest. I won’t be as likely to set the afghan aside, telling myself that I’ll get back to it later. (Hopefully) I’ll just keep on keeping on.

 

Off to see Square Two. :crochet

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allimac Apprentice

allimac

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THANKS, MDS,

I did a little shopping online today, too. Found a nice board for about $35. I think my DH would croak if I spent that much, so I think I may make one out of a few layers of foam core board. I will have to buy some T-pins, too. I should have thought of this before I was halfway through the afghan, but most of my squares are pretty square and close to 8".

Thanks again,

:hug

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AgnesB Newbie

AgnesB

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I am working on my second square ... number 4. I am already using a smaller size hook (US G7) but 25 tr stitches still measure 8". <img border=0 src="http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/frown.gif" />So, I cut back to 23 tr stitches. But then I am wondering if I should try going further down on the hook size. Please give me advice. Thanks.

 

Agnes

<a href="http://knittinginthevalley.blogspot.com" target="_new">Knitting in the Valley</a>

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