08-21-2017

I got through round 12 today. I was sure it was just too wobbly but Helen’s note said it would flatten itself out and it certainly did! I do love Helen’s patterns.

08-27-2017

I’ve finished round 29 and this has been a total pleasure. It is bigger than I expected it to be at this point.

09-02-2017

I have just finished round 37 which is 100 popcorn separated by chain 2 spaces. I am considering modifying the outer rounds of the blanket since I don’t like all the white and just the idea of doing all those flowers makes me tired. I am thinking of doing this to Helen’s baby blanket size, then to start with Part 14 - 16 of Sophie’s Universe, which is the butterfly band and rosebuds. I will need to work out the repeats and I’ll probably need to buy a bit more of the Wisteria (lightest purple).

If I do this, I may incorporate ideas from dmbonner’s Mama’s Garden afghan, including the roses from Part 7 of Sophie’s Universe.

09-03-2017

The Mandala is complete. It measures about 10cm (4 in) bigger than it should at this point -- I really crochet loosely. If I make this again I’ll use a 3.5 mm hook.

It is time to start squaring up but I’ll probably put this on hold for a bit to work on my Mom’s Delft blanket. It occurred to me that she is heading to Texas (her winter home) early this year because of my nephew’s wedding, and won’t return until next May. If I want to give her the blanket in person for her birthday in early December, I really need to finish her blanket by mid-November.

I can wait to give my older sister this Rosslyn until January when I should have my younger sister’s blanket done too. That will give me plenty of time to do the creative outer part, making this into Rosslyn Loves Sophie which I’m now pretty excited about.

09-14-2017

I am almost done with the baby blanket size square blanket, (I am on round 59 of 61) and I will add a picture tomorrow when I am done with that.

Michele E. from Helen’s Facebook group posted a gorgeous picture of her Rosslyn which she finished off with a band of dragonflies. I really like how she put the sc row of contrasting color on either side.

09-18-2017

I’ve decided I’m just going to start adding elements that I like until I am happy with the final size. (I ordered some more of the purples just to be sure I have enough.)

Next rows will be (roughly) the butterfly band from Sophie’s Universe Part 14, adjusted for my stitch count (see discussion below):

• 62: White. (2 dc, 2 ch, 2 dc) in corners, dc each stitch across. 152 stitches per side.
• 63: Pistachio. (3 sc) in corners, sc each stitch across. 154 stitches per side.
• 64: Wisteria. (2 dc, 2 ch, 2 dc) in the corners, skip the first hidden stitch, bpdc in each stitch across. 158 stitches per side.
• 65: Wisteria. On each side, (2 dc, 2 ch, 2 dc) in the corners, skip the first hidden stitch, 13 dc, *5 ch, skip 5 stitches, 13 dc*. Repeat from * to * 8 times. 13 dc to corner. On last side, omit final 2 dc and join with a slip stitch to dc. 161 stitches per side.
• 66: Wisteria. On each side, (2 dc, 2c h, 2 dc) in the corners, skip the first hidden stitch, 13 dc, *7 ch, skip 1 stitch, skip the 5 ch space, skip 1 stitch, 11 dc*. Repeat from * to * 7 times. Ch 7. Dc in the next 14 stitches. Repeat for each side. On last side, omit the last 4 stitches and sl st to the first dc.
• 67: Wisteria. On each side, (2 hdc, 2 ch, 2 hdc) in the corners,
• 68: Wisteria. sc 161 stitches per side
• 69: Wisteria. dc 163 stitches
• 70: Pistachio. Repeat row 63. 164 stitches
• 71: White. Repeat row 64. 166 stitches

Math for working out pattern for round 65
I’m going to walk through this laboriously in case other people find it helpful to see how to adapt someone else’s pattern to fit with your stitch count.

On the original pattern, Dedri has 167 stitches before starting the butterflies, compared to my 158. The pattern has butterflies made with chains that take up 5 stitches, plus 14 dc on either side to space them out. So she has:
167 = 8(14 + 5) + 14 + 1

Note that the + 14 is because you want the side to be a mirror image, so if you start with 14 dc, you need to end with 14 dc and not with a butterfly right up against the corner.

She tells us to skip the first (hidden) stitch because of that + 1 at the end, so we don’t have 14 dc at the beginning of the side and 15 at the end.

For my stitch count, n is the number of repeats, and x is the number of “left over stitches” that we’d have to divide between the two sides.

Closest to pattern:
158 = n(14 + 5) + 14 + x
158 = 7(19) + 14 + 11
158 = 133 + 14 + 2(5) + 1

So, if we followed the pattern the closest, we’d need 19 dc at either end of the side (and to skip the hidden stitch) which would push the first butterflies pretty far away from the corners.

Or, we could do the repeat as butterflies first, then dc stitches, like so:

158 = n(5 + 14) + 5 + x
158 = 8(19) + 5 + 1
158 = 152 + 5 + 1

The math works out perfectly (if we skip the hidden stitch), but I think that would look odd to have the butterflies crammed right against the corners.

But what if we only put 13 dc between the butterflies instead of 14?

158 = n(13 + 5) + 13 + x
158 = 8(18) + 13 + 1
158 = 144 + 13 + 1

So, it works perfectly if we start and end with 13 dc (and skip the hidden stitch), and put 13 stitches between butterflies. This way it is just like the original pattern except everywhere it had 14 dc, I’ll have 13.

10-09-2017

Rats! After finishing row 62, I uncovered a mistake on row 61 -- I put the corner around the wrong popcorn. So now one of my sides is 3 stitches over and other other is 3 stitches under (I put an orange stitch marker where the offense is). So, frog two rows (for which I’ve already woven in ends) or cut just after and pull out to just before mistake and redo? Cut it is!

All fixed. It was a pain because it was at the corner where the ends were woven in (sigh) but you can’t tell now.

10-16-2017

I just finished round 69, the last of the Wisteria part of the the butterfly band. Good thing I bought more Wisteria, I used a lot for these rows!

Next I will do the popcorn flowers from SU Part 15 (rows 99 - 101). Going into round 99, Dedri has 178 stitches and I have 166. The pattern repeat is a multiple of 6 + 3 (so n(6) + 3 + x from the discussion above). If I skip the hidden stitch, I can do 27 repeats exactly.

After that I’ll do another row of dc, a row of the fan flowers from the Rosslyn pattern. Lastly, I’ll probably just pick up Rosslyn from round 81 (the last round of fan flowers) right through the border. Here’s hoping I have enough of the Pistachio and don’t have to order more from England.

11-24-2017

Almost done! I finished the round of “leaves” for the last fan flowers with less than a yard of Pistachio to spare. Nine more rounds to go.

11-27-2017

I started Round 86 this morning and realized I had made a mistake way back on Round 82 (I missed a “petal” in one corner). After frogging back to there, I just finished Round 85 again. Remember Maria -- count after every side! Just as well since I hadn’t seen Helen’s note that round 86 should end with a multiple of 6 plus 3 stitches and this gives me a chance to make that happen without fudging.

Round 82: shell petals, Wisteria
Round 83: bpsc chains, White
Round 84: dc tr, White, 224 stitches
Round 85: dc, White, 228 stitches (2dc 2ch 2dc in corners)
Round 86: dc, White, 231 stitches (1dc 2ch 2dc in corners)
Round 87: dc, White
Round 88: Emperor
Round 89: Wisteria
Round 90: White

11-30-2017

Completed on the last day of the month! This is my 10th blanket of the year.