Knit, Crochet and Natter into 2021

[lazylinguist]

A thread for chat about woolly crafts. All welcome, including complete beginners.

Previous thread here

A KAL/CAL (sounds like it'll be a CAL) could be good but sometimes squares make a better stash buster project, despite the dreary sewing up, because it is simple enough to make squares from different yarn weights then border up to the right size where needed. I've done knitted blankets from multiple weights and it looks good at the end.

I really want to join in but I also just bought some new big projects so maybe I will just have to watch along. Or I could do a few squares at the same time you do whatever you're doing, my yarn stash is a bit in the way tbh.

All those blankets for the CAL look good to me, I actually learnt to crochet using US terms so now I just follow US terminology haha but could easily adapt to UK I'm sure!
I'm the same as some others regarding my stash isn't huge but my sister just found out she's having a baby boy so I could always use blues etc and that will get two jobs done at the same time! a CAL and a blanket for my sisters baby!
I find blankets so dull to crochet normally so the ones where each row is different definitely looks up my street!

I love that cushion, Myshitisreal! I've noticed a few patterns on Ravelry lately for mosaic crochet - is it difficult?

Ok I know I said I'd prefer a non-squares CAL, but I loooove this one! It's great texture-wise and is unusually adaptable in that it's designed to be made in all one colour (like I'd probably do) or in different colours. It also has options for making it out of all big squares or all smaller squares or a combo of both. What do you think?

Thanks lazylinquist.

Honestly, not really. It's all crocheted in the back loop of the stitch. Each row starts and ends with a double crochet. The ridges or shapes are drop down treble crochet (which go into the front post of the stitch) . It's a 7 row sequence which I've written out for myself in plain English.

I learnt from a YouTube video ill link.

There's also this wonderful lady who teaches it.

I love that @lazylinguist but that's a lot of yarn needed but I suppose we could just make it to the size that suits us?
If I make a baby blanket with it, I personally find smaller blankets are more useful so I'd just make it to the size suitable!

This is where I got the pattern and skills from

The Queen of mosaic crochet (and a photo of the swatch I did yesterday while watching along. A 1 row pattern very very simple!)

but I suppose we could just make it to the size that suits us?

Yes, I guess the good thing about the flexible squares thing is that you can choose size and layout. I'm still happy to do a rows one if that's what people prefer though. I want big,because I fancy using it as a throw on a double bed, but I can make mine bigger if we do a smaller pattern.

Phew! Just caught up on the whole thread - you've all been so busy. I'm still assembling my 2020 temperature blanket, and can heartily agree with the idea of not doing something that means attaching squares together at the end! I'm having to force myself to do a row every evening as it's just a bit tedious. Plus the blanket is so ridiculously huge and heavy, I'm beginning to wonder why I'm bothering as it will never get used!

So many other projects I want to start/finish, but I'm committing to only doing one at a time this year. We'll see how long that lasts!

Yes @lazylinguist I wish I had the patience to do a massive one! I just find blankets so repetitive and boring!
Even my first crochet projects were quite advanced as I need to challenge myself or I lose interest!
The texture of the blanket on that last link you sent is lovely!
I'm happy with either project (squares or rows) I'll just need time to order some yarn for it any excuse

Ok... I'm going to stop dithering! I propose the 'Spicier Life' blanket I linked upthread, which CrochetBug had previously found, then lost!

Who's in? No hurry to start- I will need to order yarn (and decide on colour).

Also... I'm not sure whether we should have a separate thread for it or not. We don't want to swamp the thread with CAL posts, but neither do we want to cause a mini exodus from this thread in favour of another one!

I'm in @lazylinguist even more so that I can download it in US terms just to make my life that but easier
I will also need to order yarn, once I work out how much will actually be needed and a nice colour scheme for a baby boy! I'm not keen on the typical 'baby blue' I like denim blues etc!

I'm thinking I'll make it a bit longer by repeating some bits - I want to put it over the end of my bed. I might go for mostly off-white with some rows in a light grey or stone colour. My bedroom is kind of Scandi-neutral-ish with pale wood floor and white walls.

That's sounds great @lazylinguist I read quickly in the pattern something about 14 balls of yarn?
I never seem to use as much yarn as a pattern states but want to make sure I order enough!

Hi, can I join? I've made quite a few knitted items, and I love cabling, I've just started my first crochet project - a bag, I've started the base with a magic circle.

I'm hoping for a bit of help as my DS has found a (knitted) jumper pattern he likes, but it's in Norwegian 🤦‍♀️. I've managed to use a couple of translate apps, but I'm still struggling with understanding some of the instructions.

Hi Bryna if you havent seen this glossary, I've used it before for translating a Norwegian mitten pattern and found it very useful
www.garnstudio.com/glossary.php?langf=en&langt=no

I picked up the back of the jumper I'm working on today only to realise I'd made a mistake in the brioche lace pattern about 6 rows back. I figured I'd only just started that piece and didn't have much to lose so I tried dropping down to the mistake over 4 stitches to knit it back up and it worked 🥳 it's saved me a first bit of ripping and reknitting.

Im. In for the CAL.

I don't think it is the one I found originally, another sleepless night led to me looking for more. I think I found the Spice of Life, which was made by the same person. I also found loads on Pinterest but it starting to get confusing and I couldn't work out which one was the nicest. So I took an extra sleeping tab and passed out

@FlaviaAlbiaWantsLangClegBack No I haven't seen it before, I'll have a look and see if it helps, thank you.

Yes, Sophs it says 14 balls I think, but it's got plenty of advice at the beginning of the pattern about how to make the blanket bigger or smaller if people want to.

Okay thank you @lazylinguist I'll have a proper look through it when I get a chance!

@lazylinguist

Ok... I'm going to stop dithering! I propose the 'Spicier Life' blanket I linked upthread, which CrochetBug had previously found, then lost!

Who's in? No hurry to start- I will need to order yarn (and decide on colour).

Also... I'm not sure whether we should have a separate thread for it or not. We don't want to swamp the thread with CAL posts, but neither do we want to cause a mini exodus from this thread in favour of another one!

Obvs I can’t crochet so can’t join in but I personally have no issues with it staying on this thread, especially as if you make a new thread just for that I’ll probably still follow out of interest to see everyone’s progress

@lazylinguist

Ok... I'm going to stop dithering! I propose the 'Spicier Life' blanket I linked upthread, which CrochetBug had previously found, then lost!

Who's in? No hurry to start- I will need to order yarn (and decide on colour).

Also... I'm not sure whether we should have a separate thread for it or not. We don't want to swamp the thread with CAL posts, but neither do we want to cause a mini exodus from this thread in favour of another one!

I need to order more yarn too! Despite being a new crocheter, I do have a pile for a stash buster as my mum knits and sent me some of her odd balls to practice on. But they’re earmarked for twiddle mitts (at some point after I’ve finished my scarf, DH’s scarf, done 3 hogwarts house scarves, restarted my botched blanket and the CAL - I think I need to take a week off work just to get on top of my ambitious crochet plans).

We’re finally decorating our living room, 4 years after moving in, and I think I’ll do the CAL in the new living room colours. Well, as much as you can when you’re ordering tester pots and yarn from the internet without seeing any in person. I’ve asked DH to buy me the yarn for the CAL as my birthday present next month.

Obvs I can’t crochet so can’t join in but I personally have no issues with it staying on this thread, especially as if you make a new thread just for that I’ll probably still follow out of interest to see everyone’s progress.

That's good. I doubt we'll be posting enough about the CAL to swamp the thread anyway! I wasn't sure which to start first, a CAL or a KAL. I hope the only-knitters don't mind, but I'm not sure I can cope with doing one of each both at once. Apart from anything else it would cost me a lot in yarn. I'd be interested to know if anyone has any great ideas for a future KAL pattern though.

Right - I'd better decide what yarn and colours I'm using for this blanket then!

Can one of you just check I'm not going nuts; round 6 should add up to 12 stitches, not 10?

@lucysmam I make it 12