robot afghan wip

As you may recall, I was unable to crochet at all for about a month and then limited use of hand for a couple weeks after that. I am now almost fully able to crochet without pain so I've been slowly working on an afghan for my grandson. His birthday is coming up and he loves robots. His mom made up a chart for me.

 I was able to make a few squares a day for a while. I started putting them together and I've now got the robot portion of it done. It will pop out better once the edging is completed I think.

Because there are literally hundreds of tails to sew in for these small squares, I have decided to try a "regular" edging around the robot itself even though I have all the yellow squares already done and a few more of the blue completed. LOL You know how I hate sewing in those tails! I may add the other squares later if I have time. Not being able to crochet for a while messed up my timing.

Because of the nature of the robot it would naturally turn out longer than wide. I'm thinking I may add more rows to the sides first and then go around the entire thing. Still in the thinking stage at this point.

The squares are 3 rounds of daughter's cross-stitch square. At first I left a long tail 3x the width of the square but found that was not enough as it left only a short strand after assembling the squares. (If Lily Chin can leave small tails I can make do with these, eh?), so for the rest I left a very long tail, about 4x the size of the square. That is what I recommend using for assembly. You still have to sew in the remainder but it stops you from having to join additional yarn for assembly.

The squares are approximately 3". (If you want a larger afghan you can use larger squares but measure carefully. Remember I still have sides to do on this one.) Grandson is going to be 2 so I didn't want it TOO large. 

The yarn is Knit Picks Brava Sport Silver (light grey) and Celestial (blue) and Stylecraft Special DK graphite (dark grey). The yellow, if I end up using it, is Stylecraft Special DK Sunshine, very bright, almost orange.

The robot itself is now about 21" x 51". I didn't actually measure but given each square is 3" that should be about right. The robot uses 38 light grey squares, 23 dark grey squares and 57 blue squares if I counted correctly.

If you are brave enough to work all the squares on the chart as it is, you will need 32 yellow squares and a bunch more blue. I'll count it out for you on the post showing the completed afghan - don't expect that any time soon but I am hoping by mid October.

Happy crocheting!
Sandie

even more cloths

I continue to make dish/wash cloths from When Granny Meets Filet by Bendy Carter. The patterns are in the back of the book as noted previously. I count the "x" as open, so I chain 37 rather than 38 and go into the 4th chain from hook to make my first row solid.




In this first picture the top two cloths are made with the same Knit Picks Comfy Sport cotton yarn as the previous ones.

The pink is Flamingo. The yellow is Creme Brulee.

The cream colored one below those is made with worsted I Love This Cotton Ivory. That one is about 9".






The next two were made with leftover yarns. I ran out before I could add the edging. I don't know what the top variegated cream is. The bottom one is the last of the Knit Picks Comfy Sport Cotton in Lady Slipper.

I also made myself a koozie. I have been drinking cold water more lately and this does a nice job of keeping my hands dry and warm. These don't take much yarn and are quick to make. For a standard water bottle I just work two rounds (12, 24). Then work even to heught. I worked an additional 9 rounds for this one for a total of 11. I used Red Heart With Love Berry Red worsted yarn and an H or I hook. I can't remember which.

That's all for today. I sprained my wrist AGAIN and will have to forego crocheting for a bit while it heals. 

Happy crocheting!
Sandie

more cloths

More wash/dish cloths from When Granny Meets Filet by Bendy Carter. The patterns are in the back of the book. I sort of work them opposite as I count the "x" as open, so I chain 37 rather than 38 and go into the 4th chain from hook to make my first row solid.

I had enough of the Lilac Mist (purple) Knit Picks Comfy Sport to make another. The Honeydew (green), and the Ivory are also Knit Picks Comfy Sport, leftover from the mandalas I made previously. Those three are 7 1/2" x 8". 

This is a really nice cotton yarn. I wouldn't mind having more of it. I bought these colors in a set that was on sale a while back.

The cloth in the upper right hand corner is a worsted cotton yarn, but I don't know which it is. It is just slightly larger than the other three at 8" x 8 1/2". 

I love filet! 

Happy crocheting!
Sandie

pretty cloths

I have been wanting to use the filet patterns in the back of the book When Granny Meets Filet by Bendy Carter. I was looking at the Knit Picks Comfy Sport cottons I still have from the mandalas and decided those would make wonderful soft wash cloths, so I set to work.

As I said, these are all made with Knit Picks Comfy Sport cotton yarn. The yellow is Creme Brulee, pink is Flamingo, reddish purple is I think Lady Slipper, and the blue purple is Lilac Mist.

I have actually made one more since I took this picture, but I'll show that one in the next round.

These are worked with a G hook. They come out to be about 7 1/2" x 8". I hope to make one in each pattern though probably won't have enough of this yarn for that. I have other cotton I can use.

I really enjoy working filet though the pattern is not as evident without a solid background on which to display it. It's just enough of a challenge yet I am still able to work it while watching TV.

Hope you all are enjoying your crochet creations.

Happy crocheting!
Sandie

more mandalas

I finished the two one-color mandalas. I think they came out okay. I rather like them.

I had only one skein of sport weight cotton and I would have needed two skeins to work all the rounds of the pattern. The original pattern was for t-shirt bulky yarn which makes a huge difference in size. Thankfully, this is a pattern that works for any number of rounds.

Each skein of Knit Picks Comfy Sport is 136 yards. I had used a small amount on the other mandalas so they weren't completely full skeins to begin with.

Knit Picks Comfy Sport Sea Foam 13"

Knit Picks Comfy Sport Carrot 12"

I worked 13 rounds of the carrot and 15 of the sea foam. I really like the pattern. If I'd have been smart, I'd have worked the same number of rounds on both and created a set of different colors. ;-)

The pattern is Marinke's Mandala Floor Rug. I think this would make a great rug. Might have to do one later in a bulky yarn.

If you want to participate in the project (ending in August) go to http://www.crochetconcupiscence.com/mandalasformarinke/  . #mandalasformarinke

Happy crocheting!
Sandie