05-11-2017

It counts as a WIP if I watched the video and started a test square, right? (Even if it’s not in the right yarn and I’m planning to rip it out.)

05-12-2017

Finished the Begin the Beguine square in Iced Aqua. It was a little tricky at first so I’m glad I used some scrap yarn to learn the pattern. I may do that for others going forward.

By the way, I had to Google “Begin the Beguine”. “Beguine: popular dance of West Indian origin, similar to the foxtrot.” Here’s a video.

The square is 10” across and 45g. Each With Love skein is 370 yards / 198g. I have 4 Iced Aqua, 4 Tan, 2 Peacock, 4 Eggshell, and 3 Chocolate. Assuming this is an average density square (which seems likely), I should be able to get 4 squares from each skein.

05-18-2017

I’m not sure if I want to do this as a bed-size blanket or two throws. I think I’ll see how the first few weeks go and decide then. I did a layout using PatternJam.com that would require 2 skeins each of the colors and 6 of the Eggshell for the squares. I’ll need to buy at least two more skeins of Eggshell, and that would leave 2 skeins of Iced Aqua, 2 Tan, and 1 Chocolate left for the border.

05-19-2017

I’m not very happy with my Fools Rush In square -- the long stitches are too loose and not consistent tension. I’m sure my technique will improve over time, however. I’ve already joined it with the first square (which is a little smaller), so no turning back now.

The join method is great! It’s a little slow with all the dropping and picking up loops but I really like the twisted effect and I love how flat it is. I definitely made the right decision on that.

05-20-2017

I did my second set of the first two squares (in Eggshell and Iced Aqua again, but with the squares reversed). The second Fools Rush In square came out much better and the two squares are the same size this time. I am going to try beginning in the corners for the squares going forward, though; I don’t like how I can see the seam on these.

Someone posted a link to a video Polly Plum did for the joining technique. Note to self: don’t work into the final corner on the second square for future squares.

05-22-2017

I have finished and joined the first Don’t Fence Me In square in tan. It needs blocking. Maybe I should do that after each row of 6 is done.

05-25-2017

Square #4, I’m Beginning to See the Light, was the most fun so far!

This was my fourth square in Eggshell (between the two blankets) and I had 12g left (of the 198g skein) which was an acceptable remainder. I didn’t feel like I was playing yarn chicken at all.

05-30-2017

Square 5 was straight forward, though each square takes me about 2 hours to do. I could do them faster but I do not rush them since they’re a pleasure to do.

06-01-2017

Square 6 is done in Eggshell. These squares are very clever! I am now done with one vertical strip of the blanket, so 1/4 way done with the body (before the border).

The difference in size is very apparent in these pictures. I am hoping that blocking and adding the border will make this not too noticeable.

06-06-2017

I decided to go down a hook size (to 5.5 mm) for the Mack the Knife square. It came out the same size as the first square (Begin the Beguine). I like the way these feel better, so I’m going to stick with the 5.5 mm going forward.

06-30-2017

I used the 5.5 mm for the last three squares and I am happy with the size. I was traveling for a large part of the first half of this month, so I still have two more patterns to finish (so 4 squares total) before the next one comes out in three days. Good thing this was a week with no new patterns, so hopefully I can catch up.

I got my nephew’s “save the date” mailing for his wedding in November. I don’t know why it didn’t occur to me from the beginning to make this their wedding present! But that’s my plan now.

07-05-2017

All caught up and joined the I Got Rhythm square today. I should have gone up a hook size for this one.

07-17-2017

Finished through square 16 today, so 2/3 done with the squares.

07-21-2017

Square 18 was a little tricky -- definitely needed the video for that one. NOTE: don’t do the corner join on this one, it makes the TR corners not lie correctly.

07-24-2017

Now it’s decision time! With the next square (#19), I could join the two blankets together to end up with one, large 6 square x 8 square blanket. Or, I could leave it as two 6 x 4 throws.

07-26-2017

I asked for opinions on Facebook and the unanimous opinion was to join the two parts into one big blanket. So, the two have been married!

08-02-2017

I joined both Square 21s today, Someone To Watch Over Me. This was a very simple pattern that was easily memorized. Just three more squares to go!

08-12-2017

The body of the blanket is done! Now just for the border that will be released on Monday.

08-15-2017

The border patterns were actually released today, Tuesday. They are nice, but I think I’ll do a hybrid -- the e-book version without the clusters. But what color(s)?

Skein amounts:

Eggshell: 7 to start, 6 used, 1 left
Iced Aqua: 4 to start, 1.5 used, 2.5 left
Peacock: 2 to start, 1.5 used, .5 left
Tan: 4 to start, 1.5 used, 2.5 left
Chocolate: 3 to start, 1.5 used, 1.5 left

According to Polly’s yarn calculator, I’d need 745 yards for the moss stitch border, and 1005 for the ebook border. I have 925 yards of Iced Aqua and Tan left (each skein is 370 yds), but this is a very thick Aran and the squares took more than the estimator indicated. So, I think I will have enough for the hybrid version I am thinking of.

Maybe start with a round of sc in Eggshell, then Iced Aqua for a wide border, then do the final sc round in Peacock?

08-20-2017

I have the first five rows of the border done. I went up to a size 6mm hook as suggested. I am skipping the clusters in the design, so doing round 3 of the border for every round. This is also very much faster.

08-25-2017

All done this morning, except for the blocking. I decided I liked it without the Peacock final round. Now to find a label to put on this (at my mother’s insistence, she’s a quilter).

In the end, I decided to make a different blanket for my nephew and his bride since this one turned out so huge. I do love it though.

January 17, 2022

This blanket has been hanging on a blanket rack in my bedroom for 4 1/2 years. My Dad is in a nursing home now and he uses the throw I made for his chair on his bed at night. It’s too small for that, so I’ll send him this big one and hope he likes it.