63 Squares Crochet Along

[Julie]

It's better to go down a hook size (or two) so that you will still have the same number of stitches around the square. We joke sometimes that we could have called this the "Great Frog-Along" because some of these squares get ripped out a few times before the size is right. It's always good to know it isn't just one of us with the same issues though. )

[crochelsea]

i had trouble starting that one too, i think i eventally made the chain smaller.

[ZingyZoid]

Agnes - So far I find myself using my F hook for all my squares. For me this works and I'm getting 8" squares. I think everyone here has used different hook sizes at one point or another. Don't be afraid to use the smaller one.

[AgnesB]

Thanks everyone. It's really comforting to know I am not the only one having to frog and start and frog and start.<img border=0 src="http://img28.photobucket.com/albums/v84/crochetville/veryhappy.gif" />

 

Agnes

[JenC]

So I've finished 9 squares of the afghan for my parents. Yesterday my mom calls and tells me all about her new furniture. (WHAT?!?) To make a long story short the colors I was making the afghan will no longer match my parents "new" living room. The colors are not my taste. I do not want to give up on this project as I am a beginner and really like learning new and different stitches. But I don't want to spend so much time on something I won't use. I'm thinking about changing colors and starting over. This time I will make the blanket for me (I know I'm not changing my room anytime soon! ) My spare room has a navy futon and tan walls. So I'm thinking navy, tan and white, or maybe cream. But I'm concerned about the navy. Will the stitches show up with such a dark color? Has anyone used navy? How does it look?

[lissylaine]

JenC,

 

I'm not using navy, but I am using a dark blue (and some other darker colors), and I think the patterns show up just fine.

 

You can see my gallery of squares on My 63 Squares afghan page.

 

Hope that helps!

[Donna]

Woo hoo, Jewels!! :cheer2 That's great!

 

Your layout plan looks great, Chelsea! :cheer2

 

Jen, the stitches will not show up as well in navy, but that's okay if it's the color you want to use. Sitches don't show up well on dark colors such as black or navy.

 

Allimac, if your squares are all pretty close to the same size and reasonably square, they should pull each other into shape when they are assembled. (But not if they're really wonky! )

 

MDS, thanks for answering the question about blocking! :thumbsup

 

Agnes, I had to go down to a G hook for square #4 (treble crochet). Are you using a thicker yarn like Red Heart Super Saver? That will make the squares a little bigger. My suggestion (to everybody) is this:

 

:twocents Start with square #1 (single crochet). This will be your base square. Start with your chosen yarn and an H hook. If it comes out too large, go down a hook size (G). If it comes out too small, go up a hook size (I). If you still cannot achieve gauge, choose whatever hook size made the nicest square (G, H, or I) or that you are most comfortable with. Whatever size that square is will be your gauge and you will make the rest of the squares to match that size.

 

Thre reason I wouldn't go up or down more than one hook size on square #1 (single crochet) is because you're going to need to go up and down on other squares and you don't want to be having to try to use a really tiny or really big hook.

[RebeccaVelasquez]

:o

am i still allowed to show my face... um sheep around here?:o

 

has my avoiding of this thread been obvious? i feel so guilty for not working on this blanket, i've been in hiding. i got out my squares last night and put them on my eye level craft shelf - i am going to start working on them again... gotta finish the cross and mr speckles and this will be next.

i added it as part of my gift-along projects so i hope to get it done before Christmas (again ).

 

there are a LOT of people working on this one!!:danc

[TxCrochetGranny]

I am commiserating with you... how sad and just the sort of thing a relative would do! (wink, wink)

 

I'm also using a dark blue and hoping the special stitches show up. After I choose my colors, I began reading older posts in this thread and found the discussions regarding using lighter thread so that patterns show better. (What! After all the trouble I went through to find my colors, and now the pattern might not show up--- :bang

 

luck to us, :rollin

MDS

[TxCrochetGranny]

Donna,

 

Thanks for the advice re using square #1 as the gauge square. You were very clear and concise. Not to mention taking the worry out of whether or not I am "guessing" about the best way to do things.

 

This is my first experience with an (anything)-a-long. It is so nice to have the experience of others to draw on.

 

Cheers,

MDS:day

[Donna]

You haven't been obvious, Rebecca! And don't worry, you're always welcome here! This is a loooong term project! I haven't made much progress in quite a while myself.

 

MDS, I'm glad my post was helpful! ) And I'm glad you're crocheting along with us!

[crochelsea]

lol, rebecca, i havent worked on mine since...last saturday i think although i DID do it for a realllllllly long time AND had to start my square over 3 times so by the next day i was tired of it and started to work on the baby blanket.

[AgnesB]

I absolutely agree with MSD ... Donna rocks!!!<img border=0 src="http://img28.photobucket.com/albums/v84/crochetville/boxing_2.gif" />

 

I started with square 3 because I just bought one ball of Bernat CottonTot in Sunshine ... so I thought I should start with an ecru square. Actually I tried to avoid stashing too much yarns. I already have the yarns for another knitted afghan in store now ... but maybe I need to buy the yarns for this so that I can start with square one. The colour combination of the original afghan was one of the reasons that attracted me to the pattern, so I think I'm going to stick with that.

[CraftyChristine]

<span style="font-family:comic sans ms; color:purple;"><img border=0 src="http://img28.photobucket.com/albums/v84/crochetville/woohoo2.gif" /> Yay! Hammie brought the leaflet to me today as a gift! (She grabbed one for herself too!) Sign me up Donna! I'm so excited I already finished the first square and have started on the second.

 

I decided to do it all in scrap. I like the idea of all different colors for all different squares. I don't think I'll get 63 colors in the mix, but enough for some variety <img border=0 src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v84/crochetville/toothygrin.gif" /></span>

[crochetlady]

After waiting and waiting for my mil to return my book to me, I saw that book on her dining table the other night when we went over for dinner! She had earlier told me that she had misplaced the book. But I didn't have the heart to take it away from her as she was working the aligned shells square and I told her that I will take it from her after she completes that square!

 

So I hope to start this one reaaall soooooon.

 

hugs

Vims:)h

[Donna]

Thank you, Agnes! You could always do square #1 in the color you have right now and just not use it in the afghan. It would make a great dish cloth since you're using 100% cotton. ) I would recommend, though, that when you buy each color you buy the full amount you need of that color, otherwise the dye lots will not match.

 

I'm glad you're joining us, Christine! :woohoo I have added you to the list.

 

I'm glad she found the book, Vims! :cheer2

[wondersheep]

Well, wandering around various boards and blogs I kept seeing the 63 square crochet-along, and it intruiged me. But alas, graduate studies got in the way of what wee time I had.

 

No longer! The thesis is turned in today, and I have the leaflet sitting on my couch downstairs! I started the boxed shells one last night for fun (sorry, can't remember the number) and got about halfway through before I remembered other obligations.

 

I'm going to work it up in Carom Simply Soft, since I have a lot of that lying around right now. I'm not going to follow the color pattern, though, 'cause, well, not enough yarn of the same color lying around ! Let's see how this works. And if it can be done by the time I graduate in June....

[TxCrochetGranny]

I breezed through the treble crochet square

once I realized that I had to go down to an “E†(3.50 mm) hook for the square (I stayed with the “F†hook for the border because that is the hook that is my correct gauge for sc in the RH TLC).

 

I hope E is the smallest hook I'll need for the project because I don't like working with really tiny hooks with this type of yarn. 8o (I'm already having to use my Dazor magnifying lamp for the edging--I'd hate to have to do a whole square under magnification--I keep hitting the lens with my hook!)

 

I'm apprehensive about the front and back loop HDC--I can just see me lost, trying to determine if it's time for a front or a back loop.

 

Going for it right now.

 

MDS

[AgnesB]

First is about the measurement. When you say, for example, a square measures 8 inches ... do you include the 2 rounds of edges? When I consider if I am having the correct gauge, I am only considering the main pattern. Therefore, the first square I made actually measures 8 1/4 inches including the edges. Sometimes I am just confused.<img border=0 src="http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/frown.gif" />

 

Second is about some of the really cool photo galleries of yours here. How did you make those square spaces for the up-coming squares? I like that a lot!<img border=0 src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v84/crochetville/Loco.gif" />

[crochelsea]

yes, i've been wondering that to (about how to get it on a webpage)...i dont have a webpage but is there a way i can do it on photobucket?

[Jewels]

I've started working on the edgings of the 63 squares now and I must say, WOW, with the edgings on, I can see how beautiful this afghan really will be. I've gotten 5 edgings done now, and am actually enjoying it. It's nice to start a long term project and be doing it quicker than I figured I would. Usually it's the other way around hey?

This is a great *along.

kudos to Donna yarntomato for all her help on this board and the along(s).:yay2

[TxCrochetGranny]

Rippin’ My Life Away (sung to “I’m Lovin’ My Life Awayâ€)!

 

Started Square #5 hours ago, since then:

 

Used F hook; gauge looks good. 5 rows later, noticed dropped stitch on row 2—

 

Started over; 5 rows into it, noticed sides were curling and found that I had started doing 24, instead of 25 st to a row— :frog

 

Started over, 5 rows into it, checked gauge, noted that alternating front with back loops shortens width, so now the gauge is wrong— :frog

 

Started over with G hook; 5 rows into it, noticed eyes were drooping, so went to take nap! 3 hours later, picking back up again.

 

Starting to disliked frogs! :frog :frog

 

MDS

[TxCrochetGranny]

Agnes--By the instructions, the squares should measure 7" before putting the two rounds of edging on. After each square is edged, it measures 8".

 

I'm also wondering about photo galleries, etc. If there is a thread on this BB that discusses the how to's, I would appreciate directions there.

 

TTFN

MDS

[AgnesB]

MDS - Thank you for clarifying on that. I just started on square one using G hook and the gauge is perfect! <img border=0 src="http://img28.photobucket.com/albums/v84/crochetville/wha.gif" /> I almost can't believe it!<img border=0 src="http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/smile.gif" />

 

Keep my fingers <img border=0 src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v84/crochetville/fin.gif" /> ... hope everything stays fine!

[CraftyChristine]

<span style="font-family:comic sans ms; color:purple;">In the leaflet it suggests that you label each square so you know how to place them when you join them. I was just wondering how everyone's doing that? I've been tying a small bow and putting a piece of paper on it with the number...I can see that's going to start to be a pain in the butt soon lol. Anyone have a better way?</span>