A Granny A Day

208/365 - Square #24

Pattern: Square 24  from  Leisure Arts 99 Granny Squares to Crochet

Hook used: J

Finished size: 12"

Colors Used:
Michael's Loops and Threads Impeccable Worsted in Aqua.

Hobby Lobby's I love this yarn in Metallic Pinky Toes and buttercup.

I really like the different nature of this square in how it's created. The four triangles made from scs to create the bigger sqaure is pretty fun. I went back to using my trusty J hook from here on out. The I hook was still making my sqaures a little more stiff than I wanted. I'm not sure I like the impeccable yarn if it's not going to be soft. The line has some cute colors though.

A Square A Day in May Blanket #2

These baby blankets are just big enough that I can't get a good full on photo of them. That's it, I need a wide angle lens. haha I like to justify incredibly big purchases with silly reasons. 

To finish off this blanket I learned another new joining method! I used the flat braid joining technique with this one. While it's a little more time consuming than the zig zag chain method I used on the other blanket, it is way prettier! I can't recommend it enough for baby blankets. Do you all know of any other cool joining methods? I will never sew squares together ever again!

I finished it off with a couple of rounds of two dc clusters and a shell stitch edging. 

Want to see what everyone else participating in A Square a Day in May did  with their squares? You can see all the finished ones here.  A lot of people are still finishing up their blankets so it will be updated as everyone finishes. 

A Square A Day in May Blanket #1

It was soo difficult to get a full photo of this one so forgive the light coming through the fence. 

I learned a new joining method for this blanket! It's probably one of the easiest methods I've ever used before. I was browsing Ravelry for joining methods and coming up empty so I just started looking for full blanket patterns so I could see what joinging method they used. When I saw this one from DROPS, I knew I had to learn it. It even has a chart and a video. 

For the border, I did a single crochet all the way around, then a double crochet-chain-skip the next space around. Then I did a simple little edging that my old boss taught me. It's super easy! You just do a double crochet in one stitch then a slip stitch in the next stitch and repeat that around. It makes a pretty little finished edge. 

One thing I like to do when I'm giving crocheted items as gifts is to use the same yarn to wrap the present. It gives a little hint to what's inside. Sometimes I make a little pom pom, but this time I just wrapped it up with a bow. 

This is pretty big for a baby blanket, in fact, while I was doing the edging, I thought this size (4' x 4') would be great for a lap blanket. 

135/365 - Lace Petals Square

Pattern: Lace Petals Square by Chris Simon

Hook used: H

Yarn Used: Hobby Lobby's I Love this Yarn in  Sea Blue, Sungold, and Old Rose.

Finished size: 12"

My last 12" square for a while :) There's more that I want to make but it will have to wait until later when I have more time. I'm also ready to finish the blanket that I'm making for us. 

134/365 - Wish Upon a Star

Pattern: Wish Upon a Star by Melinda Miller

Hook used: H

Yarn Used: Hobby Lobby's I Love this Yarn in  Old Rose, Soft Pink, Periwinkle, and Sungold.

Finished size: 12"

I'm trying to make as many Melinda Miller squares as I can while I'm still doing 12" squares :)

I love a good star square and this one is no exception. It's really cute and easy to work up.

I'm done with this blanket too!! :) I've been a very busy bee lately I'm sharing both of the finished blankets next week.

133/365 - Pineapple Flower

Pattern: Pineapple Flower by Melinda Miller

Hook used: H

Yarn Used: Hobby Lobby's I Love this Yarn in  Gray Mist, Turquoise, and Yellow.

Finished size: 12"

Another great one from Melinda Miller! I get confused by pineapple lace. I know what it is when I see it but I don't know why it's called that or why so many vintage pieces use the technique. I went searching for answers and the history behind it but came up empty. Can anyone help me out? 

17/365 - Center Heart Square

Pattern: Center Heart Square by Ginger Badger

Hook used: H

Finished Size: 8"

Colors Used: I love this yarn's Grey Beard, Sungold, hot rose, and Ivory

This one made me cuss. I'm really bad at directions with lots of steps and no visual chart. I only completed rounds 1-8 of the pattern and then added a round in the grey. I also added an sc of pink around the heart.

I guess I should mention that all of my squares for this color scheme are 8" so I can join them together when I get enough finished. That's why I didn't finish this pattern. It finishes at 12" I really like the V stiches around the edge of the original that make a zig zag effect. I might have to try that out another time.

*photo updated 8/25/2011