63 Squares Crochet Along

[crochelsea]

heres what i did:

 

you know those divider things you have to have in binders at school? well they come with like 6 sheets of the little tear off labels which is like 5x too much. so i followed the intructions on the paper on how to type on them on the computer and numbered thme 1-63. then i bought a box of 75 safety pins at michaels for $1. now whenever i finish a square, i tear off that number, poke a hole with the pin through the paper and pin to the square! perfect!

 

(ok, guys. congraduate me. that was the best idea that i had like ALL MONTH LONG! lol)

[CraftyChristine]

<span style="font-family:comic sans ms; color:purple;">Samantha, for the gauge it says that 25 stitches equals 7 inches, so you'll have 7 inches before the edging. 7 1/2 is probably about right I think.</span>

[TxCrochetGranny]

Christine,

 

Using tabs is a great idea. I love all things recycled.

 

I made a table in Word, used bullets and numbering to number each cell, went in and typed out the stitch and hook used for each square (so far), then printed the page. As I go along, I cut out the square and attach it with a straight pin.

 

Even though the numbers are on each square, I'm still attaching a little piece of yarn on the front of each one, just in case some 3 year old thinks it is amusing to take off the numbers or any other catastrophe should come along. I'm a great believer in having a back up plan.

 

MDS

[CraftyChristine]

<span style="font-family:comic sans ms; color:purple;">Really great ideas! I like the idea of printing off the name of the stitch and the number, too bad I don't have a printer <img border=0 src="http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/frown.gif" /> It'd be much better than my writing lol</span>

[TxCrochetGranny]

Samantha,

 

I’ll try my best not to further confuse the issue. :fc I have found the following works for me:

 

Different squares use different stitches; therefore, the gauge for each square must be checked each time.

 

As for the edgings only, I found the correct gauge for each yarn/color that I am using by working a swatch of single crochets in that color; therefore, it doesn’t matter which hook I used for the square itself, I use the F hook on all the ecru edging and the G hook on Rnd 1 of each edging on the color squares because those were the hooks that give me the correct gauge (25 st = 7").

 

 

Now, I find the right gauge for each square;

work it to a 7" x 7";

pick up the designated edging hook based on yarn/color;

work the rounds;

and all my squares end of measuring 8" x 8".

 

I do, however, spend a lot of time and frogging finding the right hook for each square. So far, I've found the following:

 

#1-G hook; #2-G Hook; #3 F-Hook; #4-E-Hook; and #5-G Hook.

 

Hope this helps.

 

MDS

[Donna]

Hi, WonderSheep, I'm glad you're joining us! :woohoo I've added you to the list.

 

Agnes, In my gallery, I don't have any blank squares for the upcoming squares, but I'll try to find out about that for you. I use Gallery, which can actually be a bit complicated to set up for your site.

 

Aww! Thank you Jewels!

 

MDS, I did quite a bit of ripping on #5 also! Thanks for answering about the square measurements! Very good explanation!

 

Christine, I've just tied a bit of scrap yarn on the right side of the square and put a small piece of tape at the end with the number on it.

 

:cheer2 Chelsea!

 

Hi, Bunni! I'm glad you're joining us! :woohoo I've added you to the list. As far as the gauge, I just keep ripping and redoing until it's right. I've got a lot of hooks often one H hook will give me a different result than another.

[Donna]

Oh, as far as making photo albums, lots of people have used different services -- Yahoo photos, PictureTrail, WebShots, Photobucket, etc. Some people who have their own web site have made a web page for it, but you need to understand HTML for that. I think those are the ones you're talking about with the blank spaces for upcoming squares. I believe they used tables in HTML to do that.

[Guest Cattus Petasatus]

Hi there! I found Crochetville and this crochet-along on a blog and decided I wanted to join in! Not sure how much time I'll have in the future, but now I've got the first 2 squares completed. I'm using Caron Simply Soft: Dark Country Blue, Country Blue, and Country Blue Ombre.

 

So glad I found this BB.

[Donna]

Hi, Matilda! I'm glad you're joining us! :woohoo I've added you to the list.

[Jewels]

Welcome Matilda...your 63 square colors sound really nice. Look forward to seeing your progress.

[faithpa76]

I finally picked my colors and I'm so excited! I know I've been really slow getting into this ... lol.

 

I'm using the simply soft in sage, orchid and white. I wasn't expecting the simply soft colors to go with the wallpaper - the shades aren't exact but the base color is the same, so I'm going with it. I'm going to FINALLY start crochting tomorrow!!

[AgnesB]

I have made a lot of progress! <img border=0 src="http://img28.photobucket.com/albums/v84/crochetville/bounce012.gif" /> You can see pictures of my squares in my blog.

[springiscoming]

Count me in! What yarn do you recommend? I see some people are using Wool Ease? What's best??? I'm new to this and am overwhelmed by all the yarn choices.

[TxCrochetGranny]

I am loving this project. I am NOT loving gauge-finding for each square. :<> Now, I don't mind trying one or two hooks sizes to find a gauge, but I HATE trying three or (gasp) four times to get the right gauge--not to mention that ripping out that many time causes the yarn to fray and need cutting. I'll probably have to buy extra skeins just to make up for all the riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiippiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiig! :irked

 

Anyway, I thought it might be helpful if all who are using Simply Soft would post which hook they are using for which stitch. Even though each of us might use a different hook, maybe we can calibrate somehow (keeping my fingers crossed and my right hand in the ripping out position :irked ).

 

So far I've used the Simply Soft for:

 

#1--G Hook

#2--G Hook

#6--I Hook

#7--G Hook (for some reason, I thought this stitch would take up much more thread, thus needing a larger hook, so I started looking for gauge with an I--what a dummy I was )

 

Looking forward to help with this dilemma.

 

MDS

[TxCrochetGranny]

Agnes:

 

Your squares are beautiful! :cheer2 Like you, I have to change hook sizes for some of my ecru edgings also.

 

At first, I thought that I needed to use the same hook for every ecru edging because that adds just the right amount to make the squares 8", but I'm finding that causes some of the squares to pull. I can either block out the pulling edges to 8" or use the "wet" method to block the entire thing to the 8". I'm thinking it will sew together better without the tendency to pull. :fc

 

I'm most of the way through square 6 also. I'm sure that you'll pass me up though, because I crochet WAY slow.

 

MDS

[t1nk]

Hi all,

I'd like to join the ring please

I got the book from Walmart last week and have been crocheting away... I am working on my 10th square right now.

For most of the squares, I'm using the I hook, since I don't have H hook. so far the squares come out to the right size. Although It looks like I will need to buy the H hook for the squares that contain shells. I cannot get the right size w/ I hook (too large) and G hook (too small).

This is SOO fun :woohoo

Except for the ribbing part of course (I agree w/ you MDS)

 

:yay2 :cheer2 :cheer2

[Donna]

Faith, I'm glad you got your colors! :cheer2

 

Agnes, your squares are beautiful! Fantastic work! :cheer2

 

springiscoming, welcome! :woohoo I've added you to the list. Any worsted weight yarn will be fine. I'm using Patons Decor. A lot of folks are using Red Heart or Caron Simply soft. Some are using cotton.

 

MDS, yeah, I am not a fan of having to rip so many times either. I find Caron Simply Soft fuzzes up with ripping more than some other yarns. The Patons Decor (75% acrylic, 25% wool) I've been using has been great; I can frog it multiple times without any fraying at all.

 

t1nk, welcome! :woohoo I've added you to the list.

[AgnesB]

Thanks to all of you who have visited my blog <img border=0 src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v84/crochetville/thanks.gif" /> ... and special big thanks to those of you who added delicious icing (your comments) to it. <img border=0 src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v84/crochetville/rowofhearts.gif" />

 

The cotton yarns I am using will fray after a couple of ripping. So I keep praying that I don't need to rip more than that.

 

Donna, I am using Patons Decor for another afghan (knit) and yes the yarns are good. However, the dark colour (navy) seems to bleed a little bit on my fingers. So, be careful.

 

I have stopped after the 6th square to focus on finishing a sweater. I hope I would resume the project some time next week.

[gabbygirl]

Oh oh oh!! ME TOO! I just joined Crochetville...but imagine my surprise when I find this group of people working on the SAME AFGHAN I'M WORKING ON!! Just meant to be.

 

AAJ

[luvtocraft]

I really hate to do this, but I am going to have to drop out of this crochet along. I have a lot of projects and things going on and something has got to give, and this is it. Thanks for understanding.

[NancyCA]

I'm going to get some yarn today to start this. I have had the book FOREVER (got it from my MIL) and another friend decided to do this and I'm going to as well!

 

Hugs! !

[TxCrochetGranny]

Hi and to the newest a-longers! My daughter, who began learning to crochet last December, made me buy her the book and materials for her to make a going away present for her best friend, who graduates college this year. It's really exciting having on-line friends and a local visitor to discuss progress and notes with!

 

Donna: thanks for the info re Patons yarn. I'll keep that in mind the next time I have a project calling for stitches new-to-me.

 

Can I just say that I am finally finished with the 7th square . I know it has a mistake about the third row of puffs, but I am NOT ripping it out again. I vow never to use this stitch voluntarily in the future, as I detested doing it. >: It may have been easier with a larger hook, but with the G it was very frustrating--the yarn wouldn't pull through the loops evenly when I made the puffs and kept shredding--I was about to tear my hair out the next time I had to tear a stitch out. :(

 

Looking forward to square 8.

 

Over and out,

MDS

[SoCalDonna]

Hi:

 

I'm a newbie to your group and also to crocheting. So far, I have only used the sc and dc, and have made three scarves and some granny squares. This question has probably already been asked, but would this crochet be too difficult/frustrating for someone like me? Or would it be a good way to learn new stitches?

 

Thanks for your advice--

 

Donna L.

[CraftyChristine]

<span style="font-family:comic sans ms; color:purple;">Hi Donna,

 

I think (just my opinion) that it would definitely be a good way to learn new stitches as long as you had plenty of time to sit down and play with it. The only big problem I could see is getting the gauge right. I've frogged the squares I've made several times.

 

Might I suggest finding a site online (like<a href="http://www.stitchguide.com/" target="_new">www.stitchguide.com/</a>) and trying some stitches there before you buy the leaflet?

 

Looking forward to hearing about your progress.</span>

[TxCrochetGranny]

Dear Donna L.

 

In the x-stitch world, where I am most at ease, a sampler can be a beginning piece for learning new stitches or it can be an advanced piece for showing off special stitches that one has mastered. I think that you will find that this is the perfect project to learn new stitches. Just my :twocents

 

I haven't crocheted in a very long time and don't remember more than someone who is just starting out would know (in fact I've been going to the book store to look at pictures in crochet books for help). Also, my daughter is learning to crochet using this project. I know that I am enjoying even the squares that I agonize over--just knowing that I am gaining experience and the confidence to jump into new waters once this sampler is complete makes me :danc

 

I am working the squares in sequence because they seem (to me) to build on knowledge gained in previous squares. Many others on this board, who are more advanced and/or adventurous, are working in their own desired order. No matter how you choose to tackle this project, I think you will find it fun )

 

MDS