December 24, 2023

Received my 1st kit yesterday, and did start it using the recommended H hook, but ended up frogging it all for a few reasons.
1- I did Rnd 1 with the method shown in the pattern, but it would not close very tightly at all. (Restarted today with a magic circle, much better) I didn’t like the way the join worked first time, so this time I did a needle join, also much better.
2- On Rnd 3 I quickly realized that doing a 4dc cluster was way, way too thick and didn’t really fit, so I did 3dc clusters instead. Here the pattern wanted a duplicate join, which I assume is what I know as a needle join but I do mine a bit differently. So on second attempt I did it the way I know and it looked better to me.

When I got to Rnd 5 the first time it was looking larger than it should be at that point. It measured out to be nearly 5 inches already. Per the pattern R1-7 should be 4.75 inches, so I knew I had to frog it and start with a G hook instead.
So Today…
On Rnd 7 the fptr2tog’s seem slightly askew to me, but it doesn’t look bad or anything. And even with the G hook I’m measuring it at a smidge over 5 inches. There’s no way I’m trying to do this afghan using an F hook! That’s way to small for this yarn.
Also on this round the pattern called for joining to the top of beginning ch 2… Nope, Nope, NOPE. Looked terrible, and made it seemingly have an extra stitch in there - so I instead joined to the top of the first fptr2tog. Looks good and more to the point, the stitch count is correct.

ACK! I’ve got a new phone and updated my computer recently to Windows 11… I can’t figure out to get pics from phone to computer correctly! I’ll get ahold of one of my daughters to help. I’ll post pics when I can.

December 25, 2023

Finally got the pics up, though not a fan of doing it this new way. But then I’m pretty set in my ways and change is always hard, lol.

Currently thru Rnd 13.

December 26, 2023

Kit 1 is complete. It does seem to want to turn up around the edge. However, after I gave it a good stretch it lays flat. I’m slightly concerned knowing I had to go down a hook size to try to get closer to gauge. But perhaps as more weight is added with the next kit it will help. If not, I will block it after Kit 2 is complete. (I did leave the ends unwoven for now, just in case. That leaves the option to redo in a larger hook if need be, it would be larger and may require more yarn than the kit will provide, but that can be handled)

January 20, 2024

Pattern for Kit 2 is available on the website today.

After I stretched it out, I sat my piece under a big book after the last kit, and it remains nice and flat, so I’m happy because others have had a lot of trouble with the center. So far so good, and I’ll start Kit 2 and go as far as I can with the remaining yarn I have, and hopefully the Kit 2 will be arriving soon.

R19 is supposed to use a ‘smaller hook’ but since I am already using a G, I’m sticking with it.

Rnd 19 - 23 Complete. Rnd 24 will be a new color.

January 30, 2024

Rec’d Kit 2 today, but without the pattern pamphlet which I do like to have.
Through rnd 31 is now completed. Rnd 32 has the spike stitches. I gave them several tries but it was fiddley and not uniform at all, I just didn’t like the way it looked. I did try a fpdc-fptr-fpdc together stitch, and it looked great but probably used far more yarn than I should use. I tried the spike stitch again after viewing the video, I had been doing it correctly though and they still didn’t look very good. So, I’m calling it a night and will give it another go with my coffee in the morning.

February 1, 2024

OK, so I just don’t think my tension or the way I do my stitches matches up well with the designer on this pattern. I tried doing the spike stitches repeatedly, and they just do NOT look good. No matter what else I tried, I’d end up using way more yarn than I should use. So I gave up and just did a straight sc round.
Rnd 34 - Doing the crossed triples in the back bump was horrible as well, it left each stitch on one strand of yarn that pulled up a bit, not sturdy enough at all. First I tried just doing back post triples, so I’d at least have the ‘braid’ but that made them a fair bit shorter than in the back bump. So, I decided to try them just in the stitch, like normal, and the stitches were only a hair taller than in the back bump.

I do realize this takes a bit of interest and texture away in this section of the pattern, but I would rather that than to have it look sloppy or like it would nearly come apart with a good tug.

~I may go back and add something to that band, perhaps a simple ss, ch 1 around. Or maybe just embroider those spike stitches there. We shall see.

February 25, 2024

Haven’t gotten the kit yet, but was able to access the pattern on the website. Was charged over a week ago, so hopefully will be here soon. But I’ve got lots of yarn left from previous kits, so starting the motifs.

This time we make 35 little round motifs that are joined together to go around the mandala, and with attaching to the mandala and edging they will look like little flowers.

To make mine look better, I did a needle join after the first round. I had to view the video to be sure I was clear on how to join them as I go. It’s a bit fiddly, but not difficult.

February 28, 2024

Kit arrived yesterday. Currently have 23 of the circle motifs complete and joined together. A little repetitive to do all at once, but doing 3-4 at a time; then I work a bit on another WIP. Will probably have these done and begin joining them to the central piece by tomorrow evening.

March 12, 2024

Totally forgot to update this! Kit 3 is complete. After I got all the motifs done and joined I was pretty sure it was too big. I put my center piece in the middle and wow, there was a huge difference. I knew I couldn’t remove any flowers as that would throw off the stitch counts - so I crossed my fingers, said a prayer and did a round of straight double crochet on the center piece first. I was even too afraid to recheck it again, I just immediately started joining the circle of motifs to the center piece. Much to my surprise it fit perfectly! Shoo! Crisis averted.
This may be because I had to go down to a g hook to meet gauge. Here’s to hoping if there are any further issues like this one, it can be as easily resolved.

March 20, 2024

I just looked and Kit 4 pattern is up online, and I think next kit will arrive today. So I have started in since I had enough of the colors remaining. I had to redo the last round of the previous kit as I discovered my count was off. Besides the odd way the pattern is written, which I’m slowly getting used to, my biggest issue is the lack of stitch counts for EVERY round. Sometimes I can see why one is not needed; however, there have been several times where the lack of one has been problematic for me leading to me having to frog back 1 - 3 rounds to fix something. I guess my brain doesn’t compute changes in round counts correctly when an end count isn’t provided.

April 28, 2024

Kits 4 & 5 Complete. Only have time to crochet here and there these days; this babysitting grandma forgot what it was like to have 3 little ones. Whew! Anyway, there’s been even less time to update here, lol.

May 26, 2024

Kit 6 has not yet arrived, I think there’s a problem as they said it was shipped on the 14th when I called on the 23rd, however, when I checked the website it did not indicate it was shipped or have a tracking #. When I checked it this morning it hadn’t shipped till the 24th.
Wish they had just told the truth.

At any rate, the pattern was up a couple weeks ago. I went ahead and started in with yarn I had leftover. Crazily I was able to finish Kit 6 without even having received it.

Also, for the first time, I had trouble smoothing out the center. It shouldn’t take that much to get a blanket to lay flat. I had read in other notes that others had trouble with the center ‘bowling’. Mine was laying flat so just considered myself lucky. Well, its NOT flat now. I can get it flat through quite a bit of smoothing though. Not sure what’s up.

did want to note that I ‘anchored’ some rounds that were in the back bar or back loop out of personal preference.

July 6, 2024

Kit 7 - All four Triangles are complete and attached. I’m currently in process of doing Round 1 of the border.

July 7, 2024

Kit 7 Complete

August 2, 2024

Kit 8 - On the 3rd Stripe of the second side. Will likely finish this Kit tonight. I lost some pictures due to a major malfunction with my phone. With a new motherboard now, but they weren’t able to backup my phone properly before replacing it. I’ll get an updated pic when finished with this kit, just sad I lost all the pics from the last ones.