WEEK 4 - Granny Rose CAL: Granny Row and Bonus Row and Join

Hey, hey my CAL friends!

Now let's add a granny row to your granny rose squares,
add an optional hdc row and join the squares.

I hope your leaf row went well and that you are ready to push
up your shirt sleeves for a busier week this week.

WEEK 4

The Granny Row,
Optional Bonus Row and Joining Squares

This pattern is now available by clicking here.

Part of this week is similar to last week;
you'll add a granny square row in the lighter pastel colors of your yarn.
  Just follow step four in your pattern from here.

I used:
Sherbet
Soft Peach
Spring Green
Lemon
Apricot

I tried to make an even amount of each one, but it worked out a little more random than that.
I made more Sherbet and Spring Green.

Every effort was made to ensure that the granny row
 was a different color than the outside of the rose petals.

Also, when I placed them together I tried not to have two roses colors
 and two granny row colors next to each other,
 but occasionally that happened and that's alright!

Once you have finished all the granny rows,
you are ready to join the squares in any way you choose.

Here they are with a sc join:

Or you can join as per the pattern.

I was thinking that I wanted more white to soften the afghan.

So here's an added optional row of white.
(You will; however, need more than one skein of white if you choose this option,
probably three skeins if you include the additional border option for next week.)

It's just a hdc all the way around the granny rose square.

Like this:

Start with 3 chs in the corner.

2 hdc in same corner

a hdc in each st around

  including a hdc in the ch space from the granny row below.

 Continue,

 with 3 hdc in each corner.

Finish off with invisible join, if preferred:

Weave in ends and

there you go.
A finished square with a pretty white hdc edge.

Do this 64 times and you'll get this:

Here's a photo with and without the bonus hdc row:

You choose what you like best.

You could even made the hdc row a different color on each square - that could be fun!

Once you have them placed in an order that you like, you will join them.

This is how they look joined with a single crochet:

The following photos might help with the sc joining:

When you join the second direction simply ch 1 to jump over the first set of joining rows:

Does it look like this?

I hope so!

Happy joined squares that all have each other now!

Join us next week for the final week: 

WEEK 5

The Edging

Have fun with your pretty squares!

(I think this is my most favorite Granny Rose project, so far.)

WEEK 3 - Granny Rose CAL: Leaf Row

Hi there!

So how did the roses go?
Did you finish all 64?
If not, keep up the good work, if so, it's time for:

WEEK 3

The Leaf Row

This pattern is now available by clicking here.

This weeks "assignment" is easy.
Take all your roses and follow Step 3 on your pattern from here
and crochet the leaf row in Meadow or the color of your choosing.

Here's a little variation that you may like on the leaf row:

Start with ch 4 in the ch space of any outside petal:
(this will count as a dc and ch space for the corner)

 then 4 dc in same space.
The photo shows 3 but 4 works better since
 2 of the chains will count as your  corner.
(This will be part of your first corner,
and you will finish this corner at the end.)

I also changed the sides a bit from the pattern as follows:

After the corner, ch 2 and sc in the middle of the bottom of the petal instead of 3 dc,

 then ch two to the next corner.

Perhaps the following photos will help:

This is the finished square from the back:

And here is a close-up from the front.

Here's the finish of the leaf row:
2 dc back into that same beginning corner to complete that corner,

then an invisible join:

Weave in ends:

See how the 3 chs at the beginning made for only one ch for the middle of this corner,

 that's why 4 chs at the beginning would have worked better so there woudl be 2 chs for the corner.

Once again, I live and learn; a student of myself and my blog friends. haha ;-)

Complete the leaf row on all 64 squares and then 

 you'll be ready for the granny row

along with and extra row option of a delightful surprise that

varies from the pattern. ;-)

Let me know if you have any questions;
otherwise I will see you next week

for the 

GRANNY ROW!

WEEK 2 - Granny Rose CAL: The Rose

Hello Again!

Okay, so I trust you are ready for:

WEEK 2

The Rose

This pattern is now available by clicking here.

I gather that you have gathered your supplies and you are ready to make 64 roses this week,

or what ever number you chose.

Crochet 80 centers with the following change:
(I used the "Magic Circle" option, then ch 4 for first dc - counted first sc
 that connects the magic circle as a ch)

Pull on the yarn to bring in the circle.

 Close the circle with either a slip stitch into the third beginning chain or stitch
 as below for an invisible join.
The pattern will slip stitch down into the ring, but this only works
if you stay with the same color of yarn for the petals.

Since the original Granny Rose pattern is written for a one tone rose, you would normally

sl st into the ring and start your chains on the back of the circle.

If you are new to the rose you might want to practice it with one color first,

or you could make the blanket one-toned roses, as well.

After the last dc, then join the circle by creating an invisible join like this:

For a really great invisible join,

see Mr. Micawber's tutorial here.

That's another blog full of crochet delights!

 Or you can sl st into the third chain, as mentioned above,

and call it good. :-)

They'll pretty much look like this either way.
Don't crochet too tight or it will be difficult to crochet in between the dc's.

Flip the circle over so the back side is facing you:

 Slip stitch in between any two dc's:

 and start the ch 3, as indicated in the pattern:

 A different angle:

Continue following the pattern until your rose is done.

Colors:
If you are using the same colors as the afghan pictures then proceed as follows:

You will have nine colors for the roses.
Make eight centers of each color except Lemon: TOTAL=64
 Take each set of the same colored eight centers and crochet two rounds of petals
in the other eight colors that are different than the center.

That's difficult to explain so here it is explained in a different way,
that may make it clear as mud. ;-)

Here are three sets of the eight roses.

Each set of eight has the same colored center and

then the other eight colors (because there are nine total) are the outer two rows of petals.

In this photo, the three sets of centers are (from top to bottom):

Shrimp

Sherbet

Spring Green

and the outer two rows of petals are (from left to right):

Fondant

Turquoise

Soft Peach (or Candy Floss)

Apricot

Lemon

Citron

The last two columns are different because the middle
 would have ended up as the same color as the petals,
 if I would have continued this same thought pattern.
I hope this explains why you need nine colors for eight squares.

You will need to leave out one center color though,

I left out Lemon, although the first photo shows one - it was an accident, oops.

I choose Lemon because it was pretty close to Citron.
(They even sound like the same color: same fruit - different language. ;-) )

But of course Lemon will be used for the outer petals for eight of the roses,

each with a different colored center (except a Lemon center, hehe.)
Ooooo, my mouth puckers.

This was my way of ensuring that I mixed up the colors as much as possible.

The end result of the afghan does not have a specific color pattern to it -

it's random, but I was concerned that I would start repeating the combinations

that I liked best if I didn't have a method to mix it up. :-)

On a different note, I adjusted the first row of petals by adding a triple crochet

 before and after each chain that is the top of the petal, 

which made the petal a bit longer and wider,

I don't know if I love it, but you could try it and see what you think,

or stick with the original pattern.

I kind of wish I would have stuck with the original,

but you may like the variation. I was thinking it would make it fluffier,

but it may not have needed any extra fluff.

Play around with it and see what you can come up with.

When you are finished you will have 64 roses, as this afghan will be 8 x 8 granny squares,

and there will not be two roses alike (unless you want it that way - which is really pretty too!)

Whew!
I think that was the most difficult part to explain.

Good luck this week!

I will see you next week

for the 

LEAF ROW!

WEEK 1 - Granny Rose CAL: Gather Supplies

Hello Everybody!

And a BIG welcome to you if you are new to this site

and a BIG welcome back in the event that you have been here before. :-)

Today starts the first step of the new and improved granny rose crochet-a-long.

(Each Friday the next step will be posted, for a total of 5 steps.)

WEEK 1

Gather supplies

This pattern is now available by clicking here.

The yarn pictured is Stylecraft Special DK.

And those are the colors.

There's one skein of each.

You can find this yarn at Wool Warehouse by clicking here.

I am going to make an afghan for a baby girl.

I like square blankets for babies. 

The afghan will be made up of 8 x 10 granny squares for a total of 80 squares.

I also like even numbers for afghans, as they seem to fold better.

They fold on a joining seam for a neat and orderly little package

 when not wrapped around the baby.

Please adjust the pattern to your preference i.e. size, shape

 or even make a pillow, as demonstrated in the pattern.

Here are the supplies you will need:

Pattern:

Can be purchased by clicking here.

Yarn

 As stated above, but please use any yarn you would like.

This project has great stash-busting potential, too.

White will only be used to join the squares and for the edging.

Meadow will only be used for the "leaf" row.

There are nine additional colors for the flowers and granny row.

(The nine colors will be used for the centers and flowers, 

I know it's 8 x 8 - but I have a plan.)
Either Candy Floss or Soft Peach can be used for the roses, or both if you would like.
I got confused and mixed them up, so most of mine are Soft Peach,
but I think Candy Floss would be better if you want an afghan a bit brighter than mine.

The Roses will be explained in more detail next week in Week 2 - The Rose.

Crochet Hook

 Size "H" aka 8 aka 5 mm

Needle

Scissors

A Mug or Cup or Glass

For your favorite hot beverage. :-)

Mine is creamy half caf coffee!

This is the mug I intend to use:

What will you be drinking?

And in what?

Each week I'll include tips to help you along the way.

So take a look at this great tip from The Felted Button:

Mini hair clips to hold in the ends of the yarn balls!

I found these at the grocery store.

(Make sure they are the very tiniest ones though.)

Oh and if you are a crochet lover, check out the Felted Button site.

You'll be glad you did!

OK so I will be back next Friday 

WEEK 2- The Rose

Be sure to rest up and get your energy boosting drink ready

 because we are going to make 80 roses!!!

(That's less than a dozen roses a day.)

It can be done, but it doesn't have to be - 

that's the beauty of the internet - the posts will be there when you are ready,

so go at your own pace...and perhaps learn from our mistakes. ;-)

See you next week!

Flash from the Past - A Spring CAL

Hello everybody, long time no see!

Good-ness! I have missed you all dearly.

Between going back to work full-time and trying to fit in some traveling,

this poor blog and my lovely blog friends have been neglected.

My work week has been recently reduced to 30 hours,

so now I can pay some attention to that which I love that's been pushed aside.

In light of this reduced work load,

I thought it would be fun to celebrate this new freedom with a CAL,

which is really an old CAL with a little twist.

You are all invited to Crochet-A-Long!

This crochet-a-long will be in five steps over five weeks.

The first week's post will be posted Friday, May 1, 2015.

Here's a glimpse of what's to come:

5 steps over five weeks will be as follows:

Gathering tools and supplies

Week 2 - Granny Rose

Week 3 - Leaf Row

Week 4 - Granny Row

Week 5 - Joining and Edging

You will need the pattern and it can purchased here.

The posts will include photos of each finished step and additional tidbits.

The first post will be to gather supplies, but if you want to use the same yarn that I am using,

 then the photo below indicates the yarn color names. 

I use Stylecraft Special DK from Wool Warehouse.

In Utah, it takes approximately 2 weeks for the package to arrive upon ordering.

This blanket is made with DK (sport weight) yarn.

Please make your first granny square and adjust the amount of yarn needed for DK.

If you are using a different weight yarn, you can also unravel your first square and measure how much yarn is needed for each square,

in order to calculate total yarn needed for the specific size of blanket you would like to make.

That's just a little tidbit if you like to plan ahead, but, of course, you can use any yarn for this project.

This could even be a great stash-buster!

I hope to connect with you on May 1st!