05-10-2020

For my second ever crochet project I wanted something that continued to reinforce my skills. Working the flower motifs will give me practice in the round and with new stitch types.

Finished two large motifs, pattern calls for 5. Doing each size in a mix of the two colors and then will lay them out in a scatter pattern. If that doesn’t work I can always pull out motifs and change their size or color. I have plenty of this yarn to work with.

05-12-2020

Made 6 total large size motifs to start - pattern calls for 5, but it took me 4 to really understand the placement of the clusters and firm up my tension to a more even balance. In the photo with six motifs, I started with the one on the top left and then they went clockwise until the last one on the bottom left. The 2 most recent ones are keepers, so I need 3 more to finish up the large size. I have plenty of yarn, but if need be I can always pull back the practice runs and make them a medium or small motif - so it was worth the extra time.

I’m getting faster with the actual stitches, and things are starting to fall into place in my head as I translate directions to execution of the work. The first few attempts weren’t bad, but my steps from one round to the next were wonky and I wasn’t making the clusters even enough. None of them are blocked in the photos - with proper blocking they’d probably all look ok, but I’d know they weren’t.

05-16-2020

Did a few more large motifs so that I have 5 made post “lightbulb” moment. Have a third of the medium motifs complete now, and did one small motif for fun.

I’m thrilled to have found this pattern, making the motifs, while repetitive is progressing my skills a whole lot faster. I’m finding that I can read my crochet now - and not having to count stitches as often, and I’m able to spot mistakes faster. Also getting much more comfortable with the technique of hooking, and the placement of stitches at different parts of the work. Makes it fun for now!

05-18-2020

Only 5 more medium motifs and then the handful of smalls and I’m ready to block and then figure out how to assemble and connect them!

05-19-2020

All motifs complete. Next step is to block the motifs and then join them.

Researched the joining process - for this project, it’s pretty straight forward, just use a loose end and crochet a few stitches over the edges to be connected.

I think if I were to do this again I would leverage a “join while you go” process which makes the motif edges flow together a bit more, but for the first project of this type I’m not upset.

05-22-2020

Soaked and laid out all the motifs - decided not to pin out as I like the round shape better, but am glad I’m “blocking” before joining so that they are flat and I can identify the motifs that look best together.

05-25-2020

Started piecing the motifs together today. Note that the schematic calls for 36 medium motifs, but the written pattern says 35. I have 35 - and since the last one is an add on at the end, and I have plenty of yarn left, I’m going to wait until I have them all together before I decide if I need it or not.

Started by attaching the five large motifs. Then thought I would do the next row of medium motifs, but it’s too difficult to judge the attachment points on the fly. Ended up attaching the first column in full, and then all the rows are built, but I have not attached the rows to each other except in that first column. Next I’ll lay it on the floor in position and work the row attachments with the whole thing laid out.

I think the small motifs will get fit in after that - they are sort of filler pieces on the edges, and I may end up wanting more of them as well. Probably the last time I’ll do a project like this, I loved making the motifs, I am not enjoying the attaching process.

06-28-2020

Finally got this all pinned together for finishing up the joins. Now I just need to get them stitched together and then re-block.

12-31-2020

Pulled this out to finish just in time for the end of the year, and realized that I had absolutely no desire to stitch all these motifs together for a garment that would never see the light of day. It was a great learning project, but it ended up in the frog pond - just not worth the time to finish now that I look at it with a more experienced eye and see all the issues with it.