front post stitch square

I didn't rework the back loops only square but I did do the Front Post Double Crochet square of the Stitch-cation. When I looked through the list for this link I thought I'd made a mistake and worked the square incorrectly, but as it happens there are three different front post squares on this afghan. The FPdc is one and that is the one I worked.

Here is my FPdc square.

My square is 10" x 10". It is like a waffle stitch, thick and cushy. It is not too difficult a pattern to do, but new crocheters need to watch that they do not miss the front post stitch which is sort of pushed back on the working row, and also not to add stitches by working the front post stitch and then working a dc in that same stitch. The dc goes in every other stitch and the front post goes in every other stitch. 

The other thing is to know whether you are on a 2 dc start row or a fp start row (my words). If you pay attention, you shouldn't have any trouble. If you do, however, Mikey has a video demonstration. I didn't look at it, but he normally does an excellent job.

The yarn I used for this was Red Heart Soft Grape, just as I used in the other square. 

I have started the next square (for me) which is the Crossed Stitch Square using RHS Wine.I don't know if I'll have enough for two squares as I've used part of this skein for other projects. We shall see.


Happy crocheting!
Sandie

Celtic Afghan

I finished another 150 yo-yos. Not much to say about those. I use an H hook and work 16 dc into a ring. That's a yo-yo. :-)

My daughter finished this beautiful afghan from the Knit Picks pattern Celtic Knot Crochet Afghan. She added the Doris Chan edging found at Ravelry here. As you can see it is just gorgeous.

The final product is about 48" x 58". She used the Brava worsted yarn. She started out with 18 skeins (the pattern suggests 17) and had 4 1/2 skeins left. About 2 skeins were used in the edging.

It is so gorgeous that I determined I would give the pattern a whirl myself even though cables are not really my thing generally speaking. I do not have enough yarn to make an afghan of that size but I did have close to 3 skeins of Red Heart Super Saver aran so figured I'd use that and see how it went.

I miscounted my foundation chain the first time and since this was such a complicated pattern (at first glance anyway), I wanted to be SURE I had it right, so I ripped it back and did it again. This time I had the right number, but when I got to the end I had 6 stitches instead of 5 and there were 4 (per pattern) on the other end. *scratches head* Sooo I ripped it back and did it again with same result.

Now I'm getting annoyed. So I ripped it back and worked 5 sc at the beginning and then had 5 at the end. Progress. And now it was even. I checked with daughter and there was no reason we could discern for having a different number of stitches at one end.

Then I started working the cable rows. It looked odd. My dcs leaned which didn't appear they would give the right cable look. I'd only worked about 10 rows at that point. The first time I tried the cable row, I missed stitches and had to rip that back. It's a little tricky when working a sc and then a fpdc. I think that is just my eyes. heh

After looking at the pattern yet AGAIN, I realized I had not read the "notes" section which indicated that the front post stitches were to be worked on the row BELOW. In other words, into the previous front post stitches. Which made a lot of sense, but WHY on earth wasn't it in the pattern itself? Why in notes? This is a crucial point in the pattern. It makes a HUGE difference in the look.

I ripped the thing back to Row 4 and then began again at Row 5. Finally I think I have it.

For future reference, I copied and pasted the entire pattern in my computer with corrections noted. So, if you are going to work this beautiful afghan, note that you should change each row to reflect "turn, sc in next 5 sts" not 4. And in all rows that use FPdc they should be worked into the previous FPdc on the row below the working row.

RC (right cable) is used on only one row. I haven't gotten to that section yet so I can't comment on it.

In my opinion, a FPtr might work better on the cross stitch part of the cable, giving you a bit more stretch, but I'm working it as noted in the pattern.

As to how hard the pattern is, some of my problems were MY problems, not the pattern. You do have to keep track of where you are but the pattern emerges fairly quickly it seems. A lot of it is single crochet so if you don't like sc, not a good choice. You also have to be careful in placement of stitches. Make sure you work a sc into every stitch of the cable on the sc row.

More details on this afghan as I go along. That's assuming it doesn't become a UFO. LOL

Happy crocheting!
Sandie

troop hats and site update

I am happy to report that I have 33 hats ready to deliver to Donna for the Louisiana troop in Afghanistan. Big thanks to Annemarie, Rosemary, Myrna, Joyce, and Carla. I am expecting more to come in the next couple of weeks as well as crocheters have contacted me for information. I appreciate each hat.

I was reading a guest blog post that Kathryn did over at Stitch and Unwind. I was intrigued by the idea she put forth on cutting up lines of different patterns, putting them together and working the "new" pattern. What a crazy - and fun - idea! I think I must do that soon. I'm curious to see what I would come up with.

I've been so busy working on the web site to the exclusion of most other things. I've reworked some of the old patterns. I'd like to do them all, but of course won't have time to do that if I ever want the site live in this century. LOL

Here are some things I've completed recently.

Chevron scarf

Jamie scarf

Quick Scarf

striped scarf

dishcloth worked in blo

Dinah's Tears square

front post dc hat

Spiked dishcloth

There may be other things as well, but you'll have to wait and see them when the site debuts. (All of the above patterns will be available on site.)

Finally, I hope all my friends out there who experienced the wrath of Hurricane Sandy are safe and dry. My prayers go with you.

Happy crocheting!
Sandie