Robot Afghan almost done

I am repeating this info to have everything all together. Last I blogged, I had planned not to put additional squares but rather work around with dc. I changed my mind after I looked at it. I had almost enough yellow squares to go all the way around which would mean I didn't have to make as many blue ones so I decided to go that way. (I had started making yellow squares while waiting for the blue and grey yarn to come in and had made way more than I needed for the original pattern.)

The squares are 3 rounds of daughter's cross-stitch square and come out about 3" square. The pattern can be found at Crochet Cabana under Kate Smith. I left a very long tail, about 15", for assembly. You still have to sew in the remainder but you won't have to join additional yarn for assembly.

You can, of course, you use larger squares if you want a larger afghan. Grandson is going to be 2 so I didn't want it TOO large. Remember to consider that it will be rectangular and the wider you make it, the longer it will also be. 

The yarn is Knit Picks Brava Sport Silver (light grey) and Celestial (blue) and Stylecraft Special DK graphite (dark grey) and Sunshine (yellow, almost orange).

The robot uses 38 light grey squares, 23 dark grey squares, 60 yellow squares and 110 blue squares.

After I sew the tails in, if I have time, I plan to do a round of single crochet to even out all the edges. I hope to have enough blue yarn to do this.

Because the squares are whipstitched together, it adds virtually no width or length to the squares. The size before any additional edging is approximately 39" x 69". (13 squares x 23 squares)

Daughter and I are considering whether to add eyes and mouth to the face.

Next time you should see a finished robot! I have about 3 more weeks to work on it.

Happy crocheting!
Sandie

robotghan update

Thought I'd post an update on the robot afghan. After some trial and error I decided I wanted to continue with the squares even though it means making several dozen more squares and sewing in all those tails. It will be worth it.

Here's how it looks at present. All the squares currently made have been assembled. You can get a better idea of the robot now that there are squares on either side of it. I'm pretty pleased with the way he's looking. As I said before, my daughter came up with the design chart for me.

When I was able to crochet on a limited basis I already had the yellow yarn and the dark grey so I just made squares until the blue and light grey yarn came in. Since I had so many yellow squares I decided to use them in a continual line rather than alternating them with the blue. I only had to make a few more.

The goal is to put another bit of blue all around, then maybe one round of sc to straighten the edges. Fingers crosses that I estimated the amount of yarn needed well.

I'll give a rundown on yarns and number of squares etc when it's done.

Happy crocheting!
Sandie

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