September 17, 2019

Sandra released her “Getting Ready” post today with a swatch square and some info/videos about reading charts. I made up my sample square and it is 22cm instead of 16cm which is a huge difference! I like the fabric I'm getting with the 4mm hook though, so I think I'll leave it at that. [Edited to add: I’ve changed my mind and I’m going to swatch again with a smaller hook.]

The square weighs 21g which is the information I was really after. As I was going through my SSDK scraps this morning to get them organized for the Bláithín scrapghan, I pulled out a few balls that were 25g or more that were colors that could possibly go with my nature palette. I think there are 4 of each pattern for 12 patterns which would be 48 squares.

Since I’m not buying the yarn pack, I will only have the 6 free patterns from the CAL, plus I can supplement with the “swatch” square, the Vibrant Vintage square, and other filet-in-the-round squares I’ve found on Ravelry. [Update: Sandra told us on Facebook that she will have the other 6 patterns on her blog after the CAL finishes. I guess that’s motivation for me to take this CAL slowly, not to mention the motivation of having 4 CALs going at once!]

September 19, 2019

I redid the swatch with a 3.25mm hook and it’s still significantly bigger than Sandra’s 16cm gauge (19.5cm). I’m not used to crocheting Special DK with such a small hook, so it was a little splitty.

I also went through my SSDK stash / scraps and gathered up some colors that I think will work, as shown in the bottom picture. I’ll probably edit out the bright green in the middle since I’d only have enough for one square. It might look like the “odd man out”, which is too bad because I love the color and think it would add a bit of interest to the blanket. The Magenta (second from left, bottom row) is also a bit brighter than the others but I think I’ll leave it in but will see how it looks when worked up.

Overall, I’m happy with the colors and think they capture the spirit of the official colorways fairly well. I might pilfer a skein of Cloud Blue from the blanket kit I’ve got made up for another pattern just to round it out.

September 23, 2019

That was interesting! I redid the swatch after watching Esther’s video about adjusting for stitch height (that a kind soul posted to the CAL Facebook group). Since going down hook sizes didn’t make much of a difference, I went with a 3.5mm Clover hook and just paid attention to the “golden loop”. Not only am I getting gauge now but the stitch definition is quite nice and it is more square (won’t need blocking except maybe to soften it up). It takes more concentration to be a “yanker” rather than a “lifter” but I guess I’ll be making the effort for this blanket.

October 8, 2019

I thought this project was going to be super simple and relaxing, and the patterns are lovely, but I’m making it difficult for myself. I decided I don’t like having to concentrate so much to keep my squares as small as Sandra’s. So, my week 1 squares are too small, even after blocking, and I’m going to have to redo them. I’ve settled on a 3.5mm Susan Bates hook (because the deeper throat of the SB doesn’t split the yarn as much as my Clovers), but I should have just gone with my trusty 4.0mm from the beginning and gauge be damned! Lesson learned. I’ve finished the second of the week 3 square, Buds, and I’ve modified it just a bit to use a 4 dc popcorn instead of 5 because I like them a little less prominent.

October 28, 2019

The Leaves squares were done last week and North Star this week. Just one more pattern to do before this goes into hibernation while I await the release of the kit exclusive patterns. During the wait I’ll redo the Gates squares since they’re a little small and I’ll give the newest ones a good blocking.

November 1, 2019

I’ve been thinking about where I would like to donate this blanket since I have no need of it personally. Rather than wait until January for the bonus squares to be released and doing the full-size blanket, I may make it 40” x 40”, the preferred size for a Welcome Blanket.

As I am going back to work full time in a couple of weeks, I really would like to cut down on my active blanket projects. Making the blanket smaller would make it more appropriate for donation and would give me one less to do.

My squares are about 8”, so a 5x5 blanket would work or I could do 4x4 with the wide lace border from the CAL.

November 11, 2019

I did the join this morning and it was easy and quick. (I decided to go with 4x4.) Blocking really makes joins enjoyable and these squares were all the same stitch count so everything matched up great. I’ll do the border set-up rows this evening so I’ll be ready for the border pattern release tomorrow. Since I’m doing fewer squares than the pattern calls for, here is the round 1 stitch count calculation.

Stitch Counts:
4 squares x 33 stitches = 132
3 x stitches in joins
2 corner chains
Total for each side: 137

November 16, 2019

All done! Lots of rounds to the border, but since I’m only doing a 1/3 size blanket, it went pretty fast. The border is really lovely. Pitch black out right now but I’ll add some pictures in the morning.

April 16, 2022

Given to Sue to gift to her friend who is going through cancer treatment. Happy it has found a good home, and I think the hearts in the border make it perfect for that.