Newest Creation

I've finally uploaded my latest creation onto the Etsy site which I'm calling the Rope and Ladder afghan. It's from a pattern that is actually called February for afghan's based off of birthstones. So this should have been made in amethyst but I think that the red looks good as well. Below is what I made off of it.

I'm a little worried about it though because with it being hot red in color when I take the picture it tends to come off really bright. I'm wondering if maybe I shouldn't take it with the sunlight on it. Of course it could just be my computer so let me know if it looks too bright for you guys.

Afghan for the Next New Baby

I make an afghan for each new baby in the family. It has become a tradition. I've tried to give them other presents but they want afghans. My nephew and his wife are expecting a baby in November and I just finished this afghan for them. It is made of many colors of granny squares and they are joined together with a looping technique. That leaves the back side nice and flat. I've made this before using a diagonal pattern. This time I just randomly attached the colors. I think it turned out well.

Update and Completed Afghans

So the latest update for me is that the numbness in my hands has finally gone away so I'm able to crochet as much as I want to....which is a lot. I've also finally gotten around to taking photos of all my completed blankets.

This is the most recent one I've completed. I'm very proud of it since it's the first time I've tried to make a blanket using two strands of yarn at once. It makes it nice and comfy.

Below is a close up of one of the circles.



The next two blankets are American flags. The only difference is that one has 46 stars and uses the double crochet shell pattern on the stripes. The other has 50 stars and is a straight double crochet across the entire stripe.

My only worry about the 50 star pattern is that you can tell the star field is too big since I had to tweak the original pattern for the 46 star to try to get all 50 in the field. But then I didn't make the stripes big enough. I'm wondering if I should try to sell the 50 for that reason or not.

46 Star...................................................................................50 Star

The Bee Stitch - Knitting Pattern

by Kelly

This was the first afghan I made. I knitted it in panels, then sewed the panels together. It was just like making scarves, only every so often I had to change yarns and knit in a different pattern.

Looks pretty good, doesn't it? Don't be fooled. Up close the seams where I sewed the panels together look really clunky and horrible.  That's why I've decided crochet afghans are the way to go, since they don't require seaming or really long, expensive circular knitting needles.

For all its problems, there is something I like about this afghan -the blocks that use the variegated yarn. They were knitted using a pattern called bee stitch. Bee stitch is really simple - here's the pattern.

(K1 b means 'knit into the stitch below. Don't know how to knit into the stitch below? I learned how from this YouTube video.  It's not hard at all, once you see how it's done.)

Odd number of stitches
 
K1 b Insert needle through center of stitch 1 row below next stitch and knit, slipping stitch above off needle at the same time.

Row 1 (WS): knit
Row 2 (RS): K1, * K1 b, K1; rep from *
Row 3: Knit
Row 4 (RS): K2, K1 b, * k1, k1 b; rep from * to last 2 sts, k2
Rep these 4 rows for pattern.

When used with variegated yarn, this pattern produces an awesome, hand-dyed fabric look, only with yarn. Each block looks unique, but they still seem to belong together.

I think this would work really well if you were trying for a quilted blanket look. Using a bunch of different variegated yarns, and one simple stitch to make the blocks, would combine the best of both worlds - quick, 'mindless' knitting and the excitement (okay, not heart-pounding excitement, but still) of seeing pretty, unique designs come forth from a pile of chaotic yarn.

Just make sure that you really understand seaming first. I can't recommend learning as you go for that part of the project.

My current project

Hi,

My name is Donna. Unlike the multi talented Kelly, I only crochet. I crochet afghans, pillows, Christmas ornaments, towels. My favorite is Christmas ornaments. So far I haven't made a doily but I plan to one of these days. Right now I am working on a baby afghan called Playful Spiders (by Sheila Leslie). To the left is a picture of it. If you look at it, it has white on both sides with a color block between them. This is done in rows with four white double crochets, then the rest of the color row and then four white double crochets, then turn, do four more white, then color. You have three rolls of yarn attached at the same time. You just drop one color and pick up the next. I have never done this before. I have always finished off one color before starting another. I've just finished pulling three rows apart because I didn't count and I was a stitch short. When will I learn!