December 2003 Archives

In the evenings mostly, I've been working on Paula's blanket - 15 squares of various patterns that take about 5 hours each to complete from start to finish. Each pattern switches color every X number of stitches and colors carry over from one row to the other without finishing off - which makes a lot less ends to hide but makes a tangled mess of yarn as the square is turned around with each row.

I had been wanting to do this pattern because it was different from any other blanket I've ever done, but now that I've done it once, I may not do it again. It is a struggle (and at times a frustrating one!) to keep the tangle from getting too tight which can stop the yarn from being smoothly pulled through the mess to continue crocheting the blanket. Sometimes I have to give up, cut yarn strands here and there, pull them free from the tangle, and add them back in...which sometimes becomes another tangled mess within a few rows depending on the square's pattern.

Overall, however, I like the blanket! It will be large and warm! There are 2 more squares to be made, then I'll add the border to 11 of the squares, hide those ends, sew the squares together, and add the main border. I will probably have it done by Monday morning...unless some other project distracts me first!

As best as I could write down the instructions, this is the Half Hexagon granny "square" pattern I created for the hexagon lap blanket I made for my boss' mother. I used the half hexagons to fill-in the 3-sided gaps left when the hexagons were joined.