Crochet Ruffled Gingham

Okay! It's been 1 week since I last posted. This planner thing is keeping me going strong. I must be a planner - 'cept when it comes to fitness and food!! LOL

I have been sewing, but not with woven or knitted fabrics. I pulled out my crocheted Afghan squares that took me two winters to complete (150 squares total). Last year I was hung up on the "whip stitch" that I was supposed to use to connect the squares, but this is what I finally decided to do, if you can make it out from the photograph. The blanket is not for a competition, so I did what would work best for me. :)

Here's the Afghan spread out over our sofa, so you can see that it's not too large. It's not completed as you can see - still need to sew the rows together and make the ruffle border. I think the directions said the finished size was 40" X 60". I'm sure the kitty will take it over unless I keep it in our bedroom. I loved the colors of the Afghan in the book, so that's why I went with this pallet, but I don't decorate in these colors. It's just going to be random throw that I love. It's a really soft yarn. :)

I haven't been feeling the best. This is day 3 with a sore throat, but it hasn't gone to my head or chest. It's just lingering. I do plan on drinking herbal tea several times today and hopefully a walk. I have energy for it. YAY! I've invited my ma over for a sew day - we have purchased fabric to make cute little card wallets. We picked up the pattern from Bear Patch Quilting in White Bear Lake, MN. I haven't heard back from her, but I invited her to come over on Friday. That means I'll have another project to post next week! I have a gorgeous rose patterned fabric that I'm so excited to use!

Okay, I better scoot off to get my walk in.

Until next week...

150th Square Completed!

I can't believe it. I finished crocheting my 150th granny square this evening.Yes, yes. I am ready to sew them together. Directions for that step are as follows:

"Thread light rose yarn into tapestry needle. Hold 2 squares with right sides tog, join with overcast st in outer lps only. Work across each square, carefully matching sts. Join all squares in this manner whether joining squares for a row or joining rows of squares."

My question at this point is "Is an overcast st the same as a whip stitch in embroidery?" Geez. Time to pull out the crocheting resource. :D

55 Down, 20 to Go

I wanted to post an update on my crochet blanket. I'm really beginning to enjoy the act of crocheting. I can think deeply during my crochet time and not pay attention to my project, and still produce something. It's a double whammy!

I found something to be interesting as I ran out of my yarn last night. One pound of Caron yarn at 4 ply makes 55 squares at 4" each. I am going to write this information down on a note card and store it with my knit and crochet samples. Good information to use for future projects.

I have 20 squares to go in the rose color, before I begin the ruffle for the blanket. I am considering sewing the squares together before I complete my ruffle. Since this is the first blanket that I've crocheted, I don't know if my gage is off enough to matter for the ruffle pattern. I have a little bit of time to think about it. :)

A Little Gift For The Tree

Isn't this such a cute pattern!? I decided it would be a perfect little hand made gift for my mum for the holidays. I found the pattern here.

My mom is a member of a quilting group, but she's the one who crochets at their meetings. She just might want this pattern to make them for the gals in the group next year. :D