Sampler CAL Week 6

We are on our final week for squares! It's flown by!  I have really enjoyed this one and hope everyone wants to do another!  

You should have 10 square complete!!  We are on our final 2 squares this week!

This week you will do 

# 5  Double O Double V

and 

#12  Lace Ripples

If you are making extra squares for your blanket you'll want to get those wrapped up soon too!  Next week we will start joining these bad boys!

Sampler CAL Week 5

Week FIVE!

You should have 8 squares completed!  (1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 10 & 11)

This week you will do 

Square #4  Wavy Rib

and

Square #6  Crochet Cable

One more week of squares after this!

Crochet Along Sampler Week 4

Another week, another 2 squares!  Can you believe we only have 2 more weeks of squares after this week?!?!  Then we will be onto joining and the border!  Anyone else already dreaming of the next one?  Overall I am really loving this CAL!  The Ravelry group is awesome and so involved and helpful!  What a great group!  If you haven't joined, you are really missing out on the community part of a CAL.

Quick recap:  You should have 6 squares completed (1, 2, 7, 8, 9 & 10)

This week's squares are

#3 Network

and

#11 Slipstream

I am one square behind last week after spending too much time wrapping up a new pattern.  That and my splotchy internet have made for a hectic few weeks!  I have been assured tomorrow everything should be back to normal!  I also need to get cracking on my extra squares!  Hopefully I'll post a few that I do this week!  To see the previous posts for this CAL go here.

Crochet Along Sampler Week 3

Is everyone keeping up?  Surging ahead?  I am proud to say I am keeping up!  I try to get the following week done ahead so I have an idea of how they work in case questions or anything come up.  I’d like to have more “extra” squares done than I do but o’well.  I think I overthink them too much.  There are so many pretty grannies out there it’s hard for me to pick!

So far you should have 4 squares done (#’s 1, 2, 8 & 10). 

This week we are going to do 

#7 Waves and Bobbles 

and 

#9 Radiant.

If you are just joining us you can see all of the crochet along posts HERE.

Sampler Crochet Along Week 2

I am blown away by how many people are participating in this crochet along! If you aren’t in the Ravelry group yet you are really missing out! It’s up to about 180 members! Lots of good sharing and helping going on there! 

A lot of people are working ahead since the squares work up so fast and some people are just making 2 blankets! I love that idea! Great way to get a head start on holiday gifts! While it’s no biggie to work ahead I have had some people ask to increase the weekly assignments. Since not everyone hooks at the same speed or has the same amount of crochet time each week I am going to stick with the 2 squares per week. I am going to share a few extra square patterns as well because I am making my blanket a little larger. These will be in addition to the weekly assignments and won’t have their own devoted weeks. Like I said though feel free to work ahead, make extras, etc…! I love seeing all the progress! 

This week’s squares will be

Square 2: Shell 

and 

 Square 10 Twinkle, Twinkle 

Don’t forget to join in on Facebook and Ravelry! If you missed the extra pattern post earlier this week you can find it here. You can find all of the CAL posts here.

Extra Square #1 Crochet Pattern

When I saw this Blackberry Salad blanket I fell in love!  The lusting side of me wanted to immediately make this lovely nubby blanket.  The rationale side of me knew I may lose lose my mind if I attempted said lusty blanket.  When the sampler won the CAL I was a little sad I wasn't going to be forced into that nubby love of mine.  After deciding to add a few extra squares to the CAL I knew I'd add a nubby square!  Perfect solution right?!?!  

I have to confess.  I briefly looked at the pattern and thought no biggie and never referenced it again!  Well I just went to link to it and realized I did it wrong!  I used a popcorn stitch, she used bobbles.  Not a big deal but I thought I should let you know!  Bobbles are faster which is probably why I would choose popcorns.  Apparently I love to torture myself!

I do love this square.  I rub it all the time.  It feels lovely. 

 In fact I love it so much I may torture myself and make a blanket full of the nubby goodness.  Want to make a square for your CAL?  Here's how I did it. Remember all of our squares are different sizes it seems!  I am making mine 12X12 so adjust accordingly!  A & B in the pattern refer to color changes.  Carry your color up the side for color change

Popcorn Square

A) Row 1:  chain 37

A)Row 2:  skip 2 chain closest to hook, dc in each chain, ch 1, turn {34 dc}

A) Row 3:  sc in next 2, (popcorn in next space, sc in next 3) row will end with sc in last 2, ch 3 turn  {8 popcorn}

B) Row 4:  (dc), ch 3, turn  {34 dc}

B) Row 5:  (ch 3 counts as first dc in pop), popcorn in first space, (sc in next 3, popcorn) ch 3, turn {9 popcorn}

A) Row 6:  (dc) ch 1, turn {34 dc}

A) Row 7:  repeat Row 3

B) Row 8:  repeat Row 4

B) Row 9:  repeat Row 5

A) Row 10:  repeat Row 6

continue until you reach your desired size.  Finish off with a row of dc.  

Crochet Sampler CAL - Week 1

Let's get started!  I know many of you have been anxiously awaiting this post so I hope I don't let you down!  If you are just joining us and would like more info or need the pattern check out this post.  

Some weeks we will have one square and some weeks we will have two.  The weeks we have two squares they will both be easier and less time consuming.  If we only did one a week it would take us 3-4 months which is kind of long!  

Let's get started!!  

This week you will need to complete 

square #1: Checkerboard 

and 

square #8: Wagon Wheel

remember these squares are all the same size in the finished blanket!  

My gauge is way different than the one on the pattern so you may want to check yours too.  If you are a rebel and don't check your gauge be sure to match up your squares so they are the same size!  

Let's get hooking!!

If you aren't in the Ravelry group hurry up and join!  Lots of good convo going on!

Inner Hooker's SECOND Crochet Along!

The votes have spoken!

The 2 samplers were neck and neck but #2 pulled through by 1%  I loved them both so I'm a happy hooker!  I also heard #1's pattern was a hot mess so I was a little nervous about it.  

Look at the breakdown!

Votes came in from all but 5ish states in the country!  Pretty awesome huh!?!?

and here is the winner!!!

Red Heart's Crochet Sampler

be sure to download the pattern and look it over a little, pick up your colors this week and we will get started Friday!  

I also started a group on Ravelry for this CAL.  I'll post our weekly goals here on the blog and also in the group.  The group just allows us to chat easier, ask questions, share pictures, etc...  

Inner Hooker's RH Sampler Crochet Along Group

Please also feel free to share this with your friends and take a blog button!

Pick the next Crochet Along...VOTE NOW!

Let the voting begin!!  I tried to pick the ones that had the highest comments, likes, and repins.  I'm sorry if your favorite isn't here!


Please only cast a vote if you intend to partipate in the crochet along.

Please look at the pattern before voting to be sure it's something you are interested in.

The samplers were very popular.  I think they would be good practice to learn new stitches and not quite as boring since each square is different.

#1   Chain Reaction Afghan Project

- this project is classified as an intermediate project.  I love, love the finished look.  Please peek at the pattern to be sure you are up for it!

#2  Crochet Sampler Afghan Project by Redheart

-this project is also classified as an intermediate project but does look easier than the one above.  Please check out the pattern to be sure you are up for it.

#3  Zoe's Daisy Afghan 

- pattern from the squares can be found here:  Daisy Flower Charity Square.  Pictures of final blanket here:  Zoe's Daisy Afghan.  These are individual squares joined at the end.

#4  Rainbow Stripe Blanket

-simple pattern

#5  YarnRoundHook's bolster pattern

-simple pattern 

#6  Cozy Thing's Linen Stitch blanket

-simple pattern  

(side note:  if you've never checked out this blog DO IT!  I am so in love with her projects)

#7  Catherine's Wheel Stitch

-easy enough once you get the hang of it.  I made a cowl on her site with the same stitch, was sort of a pain at first but lovely in the end.

#8  Star Shell Afghan

-similar to the one above.  Looks like it's easy enough, I'd classify as a brave beginner 

#9  Blackberry Salad Striped Afghan

-I love this blanket.  The thought of all of those bobbles does make me shudder a wee bit ;)

#10  Ripple Afghan

-easy enough for brand new beginners.  Uses super bulky yarn which goes fast but can be more expensive.

#11  Ruffles and Dots Baby Blanket

-another pretty easy pattern

Now VOTE!  Voting will close Saturday May 19 at 11:59p
Winner will be posted Sunday and the first goal will be posted Friday

Week 10

Ready for week 10??

This week you'll need to finish 15 of your squares if you are doing them a round at a time. You should have about 75 done at the end of this week. 

 If you've been making a single granny at a time you will shoot for 10 this week. If you've been doing them this way you should have around 70 by the end of this week. 

88 squares and we are done!  

That means just a few more weeks and we'll be sewing them together!!!

Here are mine so far!

 Yep if you are counting I am about 15 behind!  Yikes!  Ran out of yarn and finally got some today so I'll be hooking lots this weekend to catch up!  

Don't forget to post your progress pics on Inner Hooker on facebook!

Week 9 Crochet Along

Week 9 

 How's everyone doing? Making lots of progress?? 

This week you'll need to finish 15 of your squares if you are doing them a round at a time. You should have about 60 done at the end of this week. 

 If you've been making a single granny at a time you will shoot for 8-10 this week. If you've been doing them this way you should have at least 60 by the end of this week. 

We are going to pick up the pace a little and finish this blanket! I think about 3-4 more weeks and we will be done! ..... just in time to start a new one ;)  Soooo when you have some spare time or finish your goal early keep on working!  We are getting to the end!

Don't forget to share your progress pics on Inner Hooker's facebook page!

Crochet Along Week 7

So.... our first week back how did everyone do??

I actually kicked butt this week and even managed to work ahead a little.  That is a good thing because from here on I will be playing catch up (in addition to the weekly goal) on the rest of the assignments.  I am actually behind having many of my circles only done through the 2nd or 3rd rounds.  That makes quite a bit more work for me from here forward but seeing this come together is pretty motivating so I am hoping it'll keep me going!

Oh how I love stacks of grannies!

Oh how I don't love tails.  

I have weaved in some but clearly not all of them.  You may want to start working on your tails while watching shows or with a glass of wine ;)

and the motivator shot

Sorry for the dark pic!  I didn't want to spread them out on the grass and the sun was already down leaving my house dark.

Again, this week you'll want to complete 44 rounds in some way, shape or form. If you are working complete grannies you'll want to make 6 grannies. If you are working a round at a time you'll want to 44 squares completed through round 6 I am going to be wrapping up my grannies so my goal is get 14-15 grannies completed through round 6 (complete through 7 if doing 7 rounds total on your grannies).  I originally was going to have 7 rounds but am fairly certain that I will be using this joining method which pretty much adds an extra round.  

Have you started thinking about how you are going to join your squares? Here are a few tutorials I found online that look good!

1.  Attic 21's join as you go

2.  Attic 21's crochet together

3.  Grumpy Girl's flat seam crochet

4.  Bethintxl's whip stitch (video) she also has a few other videos for joining if you prefer videos

5.  Gourmet Crochet has a few really pretty and interesting joining methods

6.  Carina's Craftblog joining method (this is the one I am using)

These are just a few of the joining methods and tutorials out there.  If you don't care for any of them google away, I promise you'll find others!

Don't forget to share your pictures on Inner Hooker's facebook page so we can all OOOH and AAHHH over them!!  

Week 6 - Sunburst CAL

Hi and welcome back!  Glad to have you!  We had some pretty hefty goals when we started which I think was fairly overwhelming to a lot of people...myself included!!  We are going to slow the goals down a bit so we can hopefully stay on track.  Yesterday I posted what you should have completed so far.  If you missed that post you can find it here.  This week you'll want to complete 44 rounds in some way, shape or form :)  

If you are working complete grannies you'll want to make 6 grannies. 

If you are working a round at a time you'll want to 44 squares completed through round 5

I am going to be wrapping up my grannies from round 4 so my goal is get 14-15 grannies completed through round 7 (I am doing this because I am doing the same color for all of them)

updated:  I am only completing my grannies through round 6 because of the joining method I'll be using adding what is like an extra round.  You may want to start looking into joining methods if you haven't chosen one yet.  I'll post a few tutorials next week.

Let's get hooking!!!  

6 months later....

So 6 months later I am FINALLY done sucking at this crochet along!  You ready to join me?  Let's wrap these lovelies up!  I am totally re-motivated and can't wait to finish this one and even start another!

If you need a refresher you can see the CAL links here.

If you are caught up with the weekly goals you should have either 

88 squares that are finished through round 4 

-OR-

36 completed squares

depending on how you are choosing to work them. So far I have been doing a round on each but will start doing the rest of the rows because I am not changing colors anymore.  I'll still give goals for each though.

New goals will be posted Friday mornings so get your hook and string ready!

Week 4 & Week 5

How's everyone doing so far??  My apologies for not getting a goal up last week.  

I was dealing with this

Poor sick Dex

Poor sick baby :(  After a week he is finally back to normal...or close to it anyways.

So with a freebie week did you catch up?  did you slack?  I wish I could say I got all the way caught up but like I said I did a lot of baby holding!  I am close to caught up and after this week (another half assignment) I have high hopes I'll be caught up.

Here are my happy little stacks

I currently have:  

25 through round 2

41 through round 4

and 22 though round 4

We are going to pick up the second half of the last assignment.

Here are your recommendations for goals this week, pick whichever you want:

1) work 44 squares through round 4 

2) if you worked half of your squares through round 4 last week. Work 22 more.

If doing #1 or #2 you should have all 88 through round 4 at the end of this week

3) Work 6 full squares 

In addition, if you haven't been dealing with your tails now would be a good week to start weaving some in!

We will be back to a full assignment next week so try to catch up!

This is the second half assignment of last week. Remember these are just general ideas, if you are just cruising along doing your own thang keep on cruisin’!  Love, love, love the pictures you are sharing!

 If you are blogging your progress PLEASE link up below! 

Remember to also share your pictures on my facebook and our Flikr group.

Facebook

Flikr 

and if you are blogging your progress please link up! 

 Be sure to link your actual post not the blog, this makes it easier to find

Week 2 Crochet Along

Week 2

One week down!  How did you do??  Did you meet the goal??  Work beyond or perhaps you have a little catching up to do??  I have about 40 more round 2's to go but will finish them tomorrow.  I actually am typing this at 1:30am so I guess it would be today not tomorrow.

 My line up!  I plan on doing color through round 3 or 4 (probably 4) and then the last round and joining with a creamy ivory color.

lots of round 1's!!  Look at all those tails!  Yes, this is what I still had Wednesday!  

Someday I will stop procrastinating!

My little assistant eating a round 1

and as of 2am  :(  Still have quite a few to go but hopeful I'll wrap them up today!

Week 2 Assignment

there are a few options

1.  continue working 1 round per granny (complete through round 3 on all) **I will probably do this one

2.  work 10-12 complete grannies

3.  if you get bored working the same round work rounds 3 and 4 on 44 of them (you will do this again next week)

Feel free to share your pics on any or all of the sites below!  I can't wait to see them!

Facebook

Flikr  (I am not very Flikr savvy so hopefully I did that correctly!)

someone also asked about a Ravelry group.  I'll look into it and try to have it together by next Friday.

and if you are blogging your progress please link up!  Be sure to link your actual post not the blog, this makes it easier to find

checking in!

So how is everyone coming along with their weekly goals??  Don't forget to snap a picture today or tomorrow of your progress!  We will have a few ways to share the pics with each other (blog, fb, and hopefully Flikr).  

Can't wait to see you tomorrow!

Crochet Along Week 1

Welcome to the FIRST (but hopefully not the last) Crochet Along!!!  

I am so super excited to get started on this!  We are going to start and complete an adult size afghan (approximately 50" by 70", 88 grannies total, 8 squares x 11 squares) in 8-10 weeks.  Hefty goal?  Maybe!  We will take it a week at a time and adjust if we need to!  This will put us completing this early November!  Just in time for things to get crazy for the holidays.  Perhaps this could be one of your handmade gifts!

I’d love for you to invite your friends and family to join along as well!  If you are participating and have a blog feel free to take a button!  You may also want to follow me on facebook!  I will check in with you all throughout the week to see how things are progressing (too slow/too fast, etc).  

I am so happy you are joining me on this.  Please know this is my first time hosting a crochet along and my first granny square afghan.  We may hit a few bumps along the way but I look forward to this being good!  Now, let’s grab a beverage, sit down and get started {you can pretend we are all chatting in cozy chairs at some totally groovy coffee shop, I totally am!}

I prefer to work my grannies in more of an assembly line.  You can choose to do them however you’d like but I’ll be doing mine a one round per week.  You may prefer to do your grannies start to finish, one at a time (you’ll need to complete about 11-12 a week)  {sidenote:  I love working them in groups so I have a handful at some stage or another {truly for no other reason than they look pretty all stacked up!} but being my first time it was confusing to figure a good schedule and keeping the week’s work pretty even throughout.  Maybe the next one we’ll do this way!  Again, if you prefer you could do it this way.}  Bottom line you want your granny to grow a round a week so if you want to do half your group at a time you’ll work 44 grannies and do twice as many rounds per week and start over with your next group of grannies half way through.  Confused yet???   I shouldn’t type my thoughts out loud I confuse myself!  

Back to what I was saying…we will do one round per week.  The first week we are going to work through Round 2 on as many as possible.  Whatever we don’t finish will carry over to week 2 and so on.  This predictable schedule makes it easy enough to catch up if you fall behind on a busy week or go ahead if you have more time one week than another.  We will check in once a week, if you blog I'll post an area here to link up.  If not we can post on Flikr, Facebook or whatever idea you may have.  Let me know your thoughts on this.

Oh and did I mention we are doing the Sunburst Granny??

{pics found via pinterest you can find original credits and links on this blog}

isn't she purdy!

Week 1:

 Download the pattern.  Gather your supplies.  Before getting started I recommend making 1 granny from start to finish.  Check your gauge!  {trust me on this, I have no clue what I was thinking and checked it after about 40 circles...yeah WAY TOO TINY}  The finished granny also serves as a good reference for color changes and such.

You are going to need yarn….lots of yarn!  You may choose to use all stash yarn or go out and buy all coordinating or your colors of choice.  If I have done my math right (and I like to think I have) this project will take just under 3,000 yards…YES INSANE RIGHT!?!?  NOT including the yarn for joining {because I honestly have no clue how much that will take}.  My practice granny took about 35 yards.

Week 1:  make 88 grannies through Round 2

Week 2:  work all through Round 3

Week 3:  work all through Round 4

Week 4:  work all through Round 5

Week 5:  work all through Round 6

Week 6:  work all through Round 7

Week 7:   Round 8 & 9 dependent on size
Weeks 8-9:  finish any squares not complete and join

Now go get busy!!!  You have 88 circles through round 2 to complete!  Please leave any questions or feedback in the comments here and I'll get back with you!