63 Squares Crochet Along

[Karen C.]

Hello Everyone,

 

Thanks again Donna for allowing me to participate! I have had this leaflet forever and couldn't find a good time to start on it, so...now's a good time! <img border=0 src="http://members.aol.com/dustkittys/bow.gif" /> I am a Texan living in a college town North of Dallas but I'm originally from San Antonio. I've been crocheting forever and just recently learned to knit. I really enjoy crochet a longs and look forward to posting and reading how everyone is getting along with their project.

 

Karen

[Donna]

Welcome to the crochet along, Karen!

[shelbyro]

I have put some pictures of my squares up at <a href="http://shelbyro.diaryland.com/" target="_new">shelbyro.diaryland.com/</a>. They aren't the greatest of photos--I swear the squares look much better in person!

 

<img border=0 src="http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/eyes.gif" />

[Karen C.]

HI Michelle,

 

I think you did a great job on the squares and you've started them and took pictures! At least you've done that <img border=0 src="http://members.aol.com/dustkittys/approve.gif" />.I see you are doing them in different colors and I will change the colors, too. I just bought some yarn to get started this weekend in Aran, country blue and country rose.

 

Karen

[Karen C.]

Just checking in to say that I've completed my first square of the crochetalong...62 to go!

 

Karen

[Donna]

Go, Karen! :woohoo

[Guest Paula]

Hi, I'm new at crocheting, and I'm trying to make the 63 Easy-To-Crochet afghan. I was able to complete the Ripple Baby Afghan in New Crochet Basics book (it's not perfect, but I don't think my new grandchild due next week will notice ), but I am struggling with some of the patterns in this one!

 

I'm having trouble with block #8, Chevron Relief Stitch. the chevron is just not coming out right! After the FDpc it says: skip 2 sc "behind" FPdc (now and throughout), hdc in the next 5 sc...... The "behind" and "now and throughout" are what are confusing me. Where do you put the next stitch after the FDpc? There's no mention in skipping after the FDpc in the following rows.

 

Thanks for any help!

 

Paula

[Donna]

Hi, Paula! :wave Welcome! I haven't done #8 yet. I think only a few people have gotten to that one. One of them should pop in here soon, and when they do, I know they'll be happy to help!

[Karen C.]

Hi all,

 

Well, I am up and running with this crochetalong! I've completed 1-4 of the squares and will probably be doing 2 a night?! Maybe that's too ambitious since I do work but that's my goal. I have been vacillating between a g and h hook to complete my squares to the required 7" has anyone else had to do this?

 

Karen

 

59 squares to go!

[Donna]

Great, Karen!

 

I have used H, I, and J hooks on my squares so far.

[Guest Paula]

Donna, How do you know what size hook you're going to need before you start the square. I'm thinking it comes from experience of having done different stitches before?

 

I have 10 of the squares done and they're not sizing up too evenly!

 

Paula

[Karen C.]

Hey Paula,

 

Measuring is the key to maintaing gauge(tension). I measure each square a couple of rows into it to see if it's 7", If it's too big, I go down a hook size and if it's too small, I go up a size. I am finding that it depends on the pattern stitch for me. I tend to crochet taller stitches loosely and short stitches tighter.

 

If your squares are not measuring up, it will be difficult to join them together later, so I would get them as close to 7" as possible before the edging. Just my two cents:)

 

Karen

[Guest Paula]

Hi Karen,

 

Thanks very much for the info. I think I'm going to have to start over with my squares and chalk it up to inexperience, but that's OK. At least I have had a lot of practice with some different stitches!

 

Paula

[Julie]

<blockquote><strong><em>Quote:</em></strong><hr>I'm having trouble with block #8, Chevron Relief Stitch. the chevron is just not coming out right! After the FDpc it says: skip 2 sc "behind" FPdc (now and throughout), hdc in the next 5 sc...... The "behind" and "now and throughout" are what are confusing me. Where do you put the next stitch after the FDpc? There's no mention in skipping after the FDpc in the following rows.<hr></blockquote>

 

This one was a pain to figure out Paula. I did it but still was particularly unhappy with the end result. What I thought it meant that since having done the two FPdc, if you turn it around and look at the back, there are two sc stitches that you didn't actually crochet in. Skip those two, don't stitch back behind the FPdc's. And believe me, I tried it where I didn't skip them thinking I could get the chevrons to pop out a bit more. Begin your next hdc in the next sc after you do the second FPdc (does that make sense?).

 

I think "now and throughout" just means that they weren't interested in writing out the whole directions over and over again.

 

Hope this helps! You can see a picture of my block at my blog if you click on the link below. It's alright, not one of my favorites.

[Guest Paula]

Thanks Julie, I thought that was what it meant about the two stitches. I think my biggest problem with crocheting is knowing where to start the next stitch, and I think my problem with this one is also knowing where to start the next row!

 

Your squares are great! I hope mine (starting over) come out as nice.

 

Paula

[Ambersafghans]

I'm not doing this, but would someone explain how many squares you are making? I've heard twenty eight, but it's a sixty three square crochet along!

Amber

[Julie]

Amber, this CAL is 63 squares total. You can read about it <a href="http://www.yarntomato.com/63squares/" target="_new">here</a>. The Pillowghan CAL is the 28 squares one, 24 for the body of the afghan and four for the pillow top.

[Donna]

Hi Paula, I don't know ahead of time what size hook to use. Like Karen, I do a few rows and then measure. If it's not right, I rip out what I've done and start over with a larger or smaller hook. I definitely don't have expereince with all these stitches. That's why I'm doing this afghan.

 

And as Karen also said, you need to get them as close as possible to 7" (without the edging, 8" after the edging is added). Even if you managed to join different sized squares together, your afghan wouldn't lie flat, it would pucker all over.

 

Julie, thanks for answering about square #8. I knew I could count on you!

[Guest Paula]

Hi Donna, Being new at this, I didn't realize how important it was to make sure all the squares were even. I started over with #1 with a G hook (originally used an H) and got it to measure exactly 8".

 

I'm wondering if I can re-use the yarn from my original squares after ripping them out.

 

Paula

[Julie]

You can Paula. If you switch up to a bigger hook you'll end up needing a bit more yarn to finish the square. I'll save some things to use for other projects, or edgings or whatever. One of these days I'll go through all my scraps and make my sweetheart very happy! <img border=0 src="http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/tongue.gif" />

[Donna]

started over with #1 with a G hook (originally used an H) and got it to measure exactly 8".

Yay!

 

Yep, like Julie said, you can reuse the yarn. If it's gotten too curly and is difficult to work with, check out this link about straightening out used yarn: Reusing Yarn

[Guest Paula]

Thanks Julie,

 

I already have somewhat of a stash. I bought some yarns for doilies and some yarns for baby products, but those are on hold because I had a terrible time trying to work with those skinny yarns and keeping the thread on the hook! Also bought some some "crinkly" time yarn where I couldn't figure out where the next stitch was! I'm hoping with experience I'll be able to use those yarns some day.

 

Paula

[Guest Paula]

Thanks for the link Donna. I thought I had read somewhere something about reusing yarn!

 

Paula

[Guest Paula]

That should have been "crinkly-type" yarn. Have to proofread better! :nono

[shelbyro]

Just had to chime in about my #8. I had a bad time with it too, and will probably do it over. The chevrons do not pop out at all. Generally I stay waaaaaaaaaaay away from Front and back Post stitches, as I haven't ever gotten my stuff to look like the pictures. <img border=0 src="http://members.aol.com/dustkittys/crying.gif" />

 

Oh well. Maybe I will try it again.