Wednesday 26 January 2011

Progress Report

Another week, another WIP Wednesday post.

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First up: the Tiramisu Baby Blanket. I have been working on this, on and off, all week, and it's now a rather impressive 21" (still a way to go to 32!).


It's quite a dull project at the moment, I get fed up of just doing the same stitch over and over in rows. I much prefer crocheting in the round, I think. But I can see the end is near, and I'll be on the border before I know it.

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I haven't progressed much on the Granny Rectangle in terms of size, but what I have done this week is weave in all my ends. I'd been getting quite wary of the fact that when I finished the blanket I'd still have to weave in hundreds of bits of yarn, so I figured I get a head start.

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I've done more squares for 100 million stitches (who, I discovered today, have a group on Ravelry).

Top right: #16 Waterlily from 200 Crochet Blocks
Bottom left: #41 Bobble Triangle from 200 Crochet Blocks
Bottom right: #48 Danish Square from 200 Crochet Blocks

All made from the Sirdar Bonus DK I'm using on the Granny Rectangle. I quite enjoyed the bobble square, despite being worked in rows. I like how it's turned out. The Waterlilly was a bit awkward, I don't think the pattern is written very clearly. But as I'd done flowers just like it for my Afghan Reincarnation cushions, I kind of knew what I was doing. The Danish square comes out wonky. I guess blocking would fix that, but as I'm just sending this off to be sewn into a large blanket, I don't think its worth bothering.

I think the main issue I've been having with these blocks, is that Jan Eaton's book is the British edition, so all the crochet terms are the British terms. I learned to crochet from the Stitch 'n' Bitch Happy Hooker book, so I learned American style. Once you get into the swing of it, it becomes second nature to read a British pattern, but it makes my head hurt at first.

Annoyingly, when I think about why Americans would say single crochet when Brits say double crochet, they both make sense. Single, because you only pull through the loops once. Double, because you yarn over twice. It would be so much easier though, if people publishing patterns said quite clearly at the top "I am using American/British crochet terms". It would save on squinting at pictures and thinking "is that a sc or a dc?"; my talent for identifying crochet stitches on sight is not yet fully developed!

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And finally, before I sign off, here's a rather exciting sneak peek at something soon to appear in an FO Friday:


Yes! I finally conquered the fins! Clown Fish is a go! More details on that when I post the FO.

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That's me done for WIPs this week. Head on over to see more at Tami's Amis.

8 comments:

  1. I think the yellow is pretty for the blanket. The squares are really neat especially the orange bobble one.

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  2. Squares = awesome! They actually make me want to learn how to crochet. And I'll be back on Friday for sure to see the clown fish (which also makes me want to learn how to crochet - uh oh...)

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  3. Paula - I started out on squares, my first project was a bag made of 24 identical squares. they're a great way to get into crochet!

    I'm really enjoying using this 100 million stitches thing as a way to play with new stitches and new patterns.

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  4. I love the vibrant colors you use. Your squares are coming along beautifully - what a nice way to learn new things and also to do a good deed at the same time.

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  5. Paula, you should totally learn how to crochet!

    Tink, your projects look so great. I can't wait to see the fish on Friday!!!!!

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  6. I love the squares, especially the Waterlilly. You combine such great colors to make them, too. I am relearning how to crochet using the Happy Hooker book. I love how the material is presented in such a fun and simple way. I totally agree with you that the patterns should be more clear and less frustrating. Looking forward to seeing the completed clown fish!

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  7. Your yellow blanket is coming along nicely. And I love all of your squares, especially the friendship ring. What a good idea to get started weaving in ends!

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  8. ooh a clown fish - so cool. the squares are beautiful - really pretty xx

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