He went to Jared's

I really don't watch much TV, but since I named this afghan GemStone, the commercial saying, "He went to Jared's", popped into my brain. Above are some donated squares I put together. Debated about what color to use...was leaning towards the off white/ivory edging and joining, then when checking my stash, noticed I had a blue on hand that seemed to be a shade that blended well with the 3 shades of blue in the ghans squares...so started counting and realized 10 of the 30 squares, 1/3rd of them were in fact blue. Decision made. Next decision, did I have enough of this one particular blue to edge, join, and border? Maybe, but if I didn't edge them, I certainly had enough. It's been years since I've not edge squares to join; but since these were all the same size squares (which often they aren't)...I thought I'd give it a whirl.
Comes together much faster when you're not edging each squares. I tied them all together at the corners with scrap yarn and starting crocheting them together, first horizontally then vertically. Added the border. I had very few tails to work in, as I worked them in as I crocheted it together.
It was a cold ugly day, one to stay indoors. I assembled this ghan in one day. I've never put one together so quickly. So, the question is, what do you think....putting it together without edging? Showing a flip of the backside as well. I probably won't have the opportunity to do this often, as typically the squares I put together come from different people, are different sizes, and different type of squares, but.........sometimes, like this they are the same style and size and are donated by one person; so it's a possibility. The other consideration is, size. There were enough of these squares I was able to put together to make a nice size adult afghan that I didn't feel I needed to edge to enlarge the ghan; often I'm not putting together as many squares, or the squares are smaller and so edging increases the overall size of the afghan.

Love some input on this folks. This is another afghan donated for Project, "Welcome Home", on Bridge and Beyond. Had hoped to show you the diagonal Buckeye Scarf today, but it's not quite finished for Finished Object Friday...close though. I have been about to about double it's size then the previous post. Perhaps I'll be able to show you it on Sunday for Year of Projects.

As always, Finished Object Friday Badge and link in sidebar. Join us, always fun to look around. The more the merrier.

Sunday with Sandy

YOP, updated in tab above, only thing remaining untouched on list is Candy Corn Ghan, and learning to make socks. Since last week's update have added 2 finished ghans, Baby Boy Blanket in previous post (FOF).

Kaleidoscope is finished. Was pleased with the end size, given how small the squares were to start with, and my limited amount of black in my stash. I edge the 25 squares with 2 rows of black, joined them using the sc continuously across, then added a row of sc pink, sc black, sc green, sc black, followed by a edge scalloped row in pink. Here it is before being laundered and blocked, measures about 44 inches squares, should grow maybe a couple of inches in the process. This will be a nice blanket for a little girl up to teen in a lapghan.

A close up of the border. Another afghan that will be donated to Project, "Welcome Home", through Bridge and Beyond.

TaDAH! I'm pretty excited about this scarf. Not that it's really even something "special". But, I started it before Christmas...ran out of time, laid it aside. Totally forgot where in the pattern I was and didn't know how to figure it out. Sometime back I posted about this problem. Was debating about frogging it. A fellow knitter, ChrisKnits came to my rescue and left directions about how to figure out where I was. Got brave the other day tried it, and ....it worked. Tank you Chris! I've successfully added 4 sections! Woot woot. Love it when a plan comes together. This has been on my YOP list untouched for way too long, so despite it just being a scarf (small project compared to all the ghans), I'm excited because I'm making headway, solved the problem, and won't be frogging. QUESTION...on the increase decrease row pattern calls for k1, k1 front and back (for the increase). I'm not thrilled with the look and wonder if I do this again (do like the stripes), how different it might be to do a yo for the increase and or cast on another for the increase. Obviously the yo would create the eyelet edge look, but what about the cast on add?

**Plan for the week is to finish scarf, begin working on another ghan, thinking of removing socks from list. Realistically, I feel making the ghans for those in need is a bigger priority then making socks for myself......though I do want to learn. Not very motivated to pull out Candy Corn, since it's not the season; but........it won't be until after we finish our year...**
Badge and Link for YOP in sidebar. Join in on the fun.

No Pink Please, Baby Boy

I'm pleased to say even I can't see the wee bit of pink in this finished afghan/blanket. I posted the process and it's story previously. If you'd like to read about this soon to be born on the streets baby, please click HERE. It measures just over 41 inches square. Not bad for a start with 16 6 inch squares. This will be hand carried by my friend Rae to this expecting homeless couple.

If you're moved, and would like to help, please pop over to my charity blog, Bridge and Beyond. There are many ways to help. The more help we have, the more people we're able to help.

Short and sweet this week folks, many things in the works though.

Finished Object Friday Badge and links in sidebar, please join us and share your finished projects.
*posted a bit early, that's a change

Vote for a Design, PLEASE

These crocheted mitered squares were donated for Bridge and Beyond. Been doing LOTS of design work lately, lining up designs in que to assemble into afghans. I've not worked with crocheted mitered squares before and think these might work best solo...that is to say here all together vs mixed with other donated squares. I call this design window panes, with all the squares going the same direction. These are small squares and so I'll need to add. Perhaps I'll only add to 2 sides, perhaps...all the way around? Thoughts on which would be best? At this point, I assume I'm going to use cream/offwhite/ivory...
This design I'm calling Green Boxes. They would be stitched together (4 squares each to make 1 larger square). Again using ivory/offwhite/cream, I would enlarge the 4 larger squares.
Mixed windows....windows facing each direction? Mixed Squares? In my mind, I think I can see this might look more modern? That is if, I added only to 2 sides of each square, but made it offset, such that the green square would be in the upper corner of one block and the lower one of the neighbor block? Then again, maybe just adding to one side making them rectangles to enlarge and then joining them?

Thoughts, ideas, suggestions? Have you worked with all mitered squares before? Share please.

Does this Work?

Bountiful Harvest is complete, it's been laundered and here it's being blocked. Pleased with how it turned out, but....the off white keeps looking white in the pictures. It's not white white, but in reality I wished I had not used it. I wanted to extend the size of the squares without edging each one since they were all nicely edged in green. Debated at the time using a dark green I had in my stash (which isn't really a match of the that used on the squares edge...close though), and opted for the off white thinking the fact that the greens weren't the same would be too noticeable next to each other. I think, in retrospect it would have been more striking...the darker colors? Even considered the tan/brown but didn't think I had enough and so used it on the edge to pull both the orange and tan in a bit more. Still, it's a nice size and color, I believe for a family afghan for Bridge and Beyond's, project, "Welcome Home."

Had these 16 small squares(donated for Bridge and Beyond) laid it aside and thought adding pink might be cute or green or brown for a small child's afghan. Actually pulled out pink, had a good amount in my stash. But, hadn't planned on working on this as I was jazzed up about Kaleidoscope, you might have seen recently. However, got a request for a baby blanket, for a boy from Rae. Rae, is one of the ladies who helps me deliver items to the various homeless groups. She delivers directly to those living on the streets (under the bridge), as she gives them hot meals on Saturday mornings. She asked if we might have something appropriate for a couple who's expecting. Can you imagine being homeless? Even with all the charity work I do, I truly can't. Can you imagine being pregnant and living outdoors in the cold, wherever you can? Beyond my capibility to fathom how that must feel. I thought of these squares I had layed aside and immediately went to work.

Found various browns and tans in my stash and started edging, using the lightest tan for what will be the joining color. I didn't have enough to make 4 squares of each combination, so am mixing it up a bit. Layed out the browns on the small squares and asked hubby if the browns mimimized the pink and made it look boyish? He said he didn't see any pink, and wouldn't have thought pink, if I hadn't pointed it out to him. So, this is how far I am. Does this work? Only have 4 squares to finish edging before starting the joining which I should be able to finish today. Then plan to do border with some dark brown and chocolate brown (if there's enough) you see in the squares. It doesn't look girlish to me, and it's certainly the not traditional soft baby blue........but I want something they can use a bit longer...something larger, and heavier then a baby weight blanket. Does this work for this purpose? Love your thoughts. If not, it won't go to waste...it will be donated to project, "Welcome Home", for a toddler and I'll figure out something else for this soon to be born baby. I just felt the need to move on this pronto!

YOP Plan:
Since last Sunday, I finished Bountiful Harvest...obviously. My plan was to work on the Buckeye Slant Scarf that's been on the list, needless to say...that didn't happen, as I focused all my attention on the ghans. Perhaps in the coming week. YOP list on tab at the top of my blog, and YOP badge and link in the sidebar.

Happy stitching this week one and all. Stay safe, stay warm, and please give me your input on the Baby Blanket...believe I'll just name this one Baby Boy Bridge Blanket.

Friday, already! Ghesh

Got the knitted red and black chunky scarf completed and donated to Bridge and Beyond. Had hoped to have the afghan finished, didn't quite make it; but it should be posted on Sunday for YOP. Thanks for all the suggestion for names for it. Garden Patch, fall foliage, Fall Woods, Woods in Fall, Peas and Carrots, Bountiful Harvest, Autumn Colors, and Autumn Leaves....were the suggestions. I've decided on Bountiful Harvest. Special thanks to hakucho for the idea. When I first designed the ghan I thought fall foliage, as I began working on it, I thought garden patch........I think her idea of Bountiful Harvest combines both of those ideas. It's fall, and it makes me think of picking items from the garden...like pumpkins for example....remember the orange. Anyway, thank you all for the help. Please scroll back one post if you missed it and wonder what I'm rambling about.

AND, special request today please FOF people and others. Could you pop over to today's post on Bridge and Beyond? I'm really in need of opinions about color. Looking forward to your input. Many thanks, happy Friday and happy weekend all.

Finished Object Friday Badge and link in sidebar. Please join us, it's lots of fun to see everyone's finished projects.

Asking everyone using on of the linky's to please get rid of your captcha's. The filters for blogspot work great, you really don't need them. Having captcha's AND approving all your comments is doubly un-necessary. The new captcha's are even harder to see then they used to be. Some have seen post this request before...I did for our Sunday YOP, and Wednesday for WIPW. Try it without for 2 wks, I'd be surprised if you'll have any trouble without it.