Well, I finally finished and photographed the afghan! I haven’t yet blocked it, though.

I used the pattern for the Yarn Clouds Square (find it here), however I only went through 11 rounds.

I made 8 full squares and 6 half squares. I had intended to make 4 quarter squares for the corners, but I ran out of the purple yarn. Therefore, my corners aren’t pointed.

I turned the squares on point (with a column of 3 diamonds on the right and left and a column of 2 diamonds in the middle) and used the half squares around the outside to make the edges straight.

I used the Flat Braid Join (instructions here). For instruction on how to join the squares, halves and quarters, refer to this page at the same site (it’s a different afghan and a more elaborate join, but you’ll be able to see what order to do things). Also, at that site, you will see a placement diagram, my blanket basically consists of squares 1-8. My chain length for the braid was 7. For the corners, I put the join in between dc 4 and 5. On the sides, I put the joins in the 3rd dc of each cluster.

I finished with a simple single-crochet border. Again, this was practical, as I was almost out of the white yarn.

Unblocked, the blanket measures 3-feet wide and 5-feet, 1-inch long. Each square measures a little over 16 inches, point to point.

I used Red Heart Super Saver yarn in the colorways: Soft White and Wildflowers. My hook size was K-6.5mm.Half-square and quarter-square guidelines can be found below the photos.I couldn’t get the whole thing in the picture. The felines were bristling at the thought of being displaced. At the very bottom is a half square:Half-square:55mm lens cap for perspective:This one was taken at my desk, in horrible lighting, with my phone. The colors are absolutely not correct. But, it gives you an idea of the construction for the quarter square.

Since I have not obtained permission to recreate the Yarn Clouds pattern, I am just going to post my notes on how to alter the pattern to make half and quarter squares. You will need to refer to the original pattern to know how to work the stitches.

Half Square:

You will be changing colors with each row and you will not turn your work – keep the right side facing.

With purple, chain 5 and join to form a loop. Chain 4. In loop: 3dc, ch3, 3dc, ch1, dc. Fasten off. What you have here are two groups of 3dc, flanked by a ch1 space and 1dc on each end.

Join white, working into the ch1 space on the end, ch4 and then work 3dc into the same ch1 space. Chain 2 and skip the next 3dc. Working into the chain-3 space, 3dc, ch3, 3dc. Chain 2 and skip the next 3dc. In final ch1 space, 3dc, ch1, 1dc. Fasten off.

For the next 9 rows, you will be working the same way you do for the squares. The purple shells will be worked into the chain spaces (with the center ch3 space being treated as a corner). And the white will be worked as bpdc, with the same spacing as the original pattern. Again, as in the original pattern, you will work the apex the same as you would the corner.

The only difference, is in how you will handle each end.

At the beginning of each purple row, you will ch3 (1st dc) and then 3dc into the ch1 space left by the white. At the end of the purple row, you will work 4dc in that chain space.

At the beginning of each white row, you will join the yarn between the 1st and 2nd dc and then ch4 (this counts as dc and ch1 space). You will then work across the next purple 3dc, as in the pattern. To end the white row, you will work through the purples like you did at the beginning, ch1 and then dc between the last two dc.

Quarter Square:

Things are done much the same way. Working in rows, change color after each row, do not turn your work – right sides facing all the time.

With white: Chain 38, dc in 6th ch from hook and in the next 2ch. Chain 2, skip 2 chains, dc in the next 3 chains. Chain 2, skip 2 chains, dc in the next 3 chains. Continue this until you have 6 groups of dc. Join to end. The end loops constitute your dc and ch1 space.

Again, really, the only deviation from the original pattern is that you have ends that you are working (just like with the half square).

The purple ends consist of 4dc (ch3 and 3dc at the beginning) in each of the white ch1 spaces.

At the beginning of the white rows, you will join with back post stitch to the 3rd dc and ch4 (counts as dc and ch1). At the end of the white row, chain 1 and join with a bpdc to the 2nd dc.

You will do this until you have 5 rows of white and 5 rows of purple. One exception: on the top row of purple, you will work 8 dc into that center “corner” space, still putting 4 on each end. I did not make that white chain space bigger, you can if you’d like.

Now, you’re going to turn the whole thing 180-degrees. You will now be working over the original foundation chain. Keep it right side facing!

Join purple. You will be working similarly to the pattern, again. The only difference being the ends. Work 8dc into each end. Treat the rest of the row as you would any other in this pattern.

You will end up with a triangle with 8dc at each point. You should now have a total of 11 rows, 6 purples and 5 whites.

I’m really not a pattern writer, I’m afraid. And I hated having to be so vague. Hopefully these instructions make sense. If you have any questions, I’m happy to help.

Well, there’s not much news from around here.

My middle son (the one whose baby passed away) got married in August. I don’t yet have any pictures to share, at this point. It was a fun wedding and reception.

Also in August, my friend, P., had a birthday. I didn’t have her birthday written on my calendar, so I didn’t realize that it was her birthday until I logged on to facebook.

I had to scramble to find a pattern and make her a gift – quickly. I found the pattern for the Karmic Kitty and I thought it was very cute.

I used stash yarn to make it; he’s even stuffed with stash yarn! It took me about 7 hours to make the whole thing.

P. absolutely loves him and said that he will accompany her on all of her road trips, as he’s the perfect size for sleeping in the car.

The OCD part of me does not like that the mandala isn’t lined up symmetrically. But, that’s just how the pattern worked out. But, my friend loves him and really that’s all that counts. Both sides are the same.

Another friend, B., wanted me to make her a pair of kitties, but she didn’t want them to be sewn together. She wants to use them as appliques. I made the first one, just like the guy you see above, but I used yellow for the eyes instead.

This little guy was made because B. loved a crochet afghan square that I made. Please excuse the poor photo, I took the picture at night – with my phone. Yeah, not the best conditions…

I had tried to fiddle with the pattern to make the circles line up with the ears better, but it didn’t work. There’s some math involved, I’m sure, and I just wasn’t up to the task.

Here is the afghan square that I based the above kitty on (the colors are much more accurate in this photo):

I believe I posted this photo in my last entry Hungry for Color.

We have a little elderly gal, J., that we help out. She doesn’t drive, so we take her to do her shopping. My sweetie and I both call her our mother in law. She is the sweetest little thing.

J.’s birthday is coming up in a few weeks and it occurred to me that I’ve made gifts for so many people, but I haven’t made anything for her! That oversight breaks my heart.

So, I decided to make her a hat and scarf set. I chose the Stonehill Cable hat and scarf pattern. They can be found here and here In the photo on the etsy page, it is the bottom left hat. I’m seriously considering buying her Mountain Range scarf patterns, too. There are no matching hat patterns though. Hopefully she’ll write some soon.

The Stonehill hat is finished, but not yet blocked and photographed. I’m working on the scarf now and have roughly a foot to go. I’m not going to make it the full 6-feet long, as the pattern calls for. She’s petite and won’t need something that long. I’m thinking 5 feet should be fine.

This is my first crochet cables (actual crossed cables) project. I’ve done some things with post stitches, but nothing like this and not a whole project. It’s been a fun experience for me. They eat a LOT of yarn.

I’ll post pictures once those items are finished.