Summer 2012 Granny "Square" Swap (sign ups closed)

[Smitty's Farm]

I think I'm on square number 8. When I get 10 done (that's a set for now, isn't it?) I'll post a picture and start on a 12" square. I have a pattern for a 14" square and am going to see whether it can stop at 12". I'm not sure because it is circular until the last couple of rounds. It's worth a try one way or another because I still have difficulty with patterns and it's a way to learn. Usually I use a pattern until I get confused, then bail out and improvise. Don't put me into the cockpit of a 747.

Good for you having 8 completed already! That's awesome! Yep as of now we only have 10 participants signed up, but of course that could change before the sign up dead line. I hope I can at least get the 10 for one set complete before more people sign up to stay on top of things. I have a heck of a time following the pattern directions as well. Some of them come so much easier than others. I bailed out on the rectangle one I was tying, but couldn't improvise.

Oh well the center part makes a really nice book mark.

 

[BtownChickMom]

I think I'm on square number 8. When I get 10 done (that's a set for now, isn't it?) I'll post a picture and start on a 12" square. I have a pattern for a 14" square and am going to see whether it can stop at 12". I'm not sure because it is circular until the last couple of rounds. It's worth a try one way or another because I still have difficulty with patterns and it's a way to learn. Usually I use a pattern until I get confused, then bail out and improvise. Don't put me into the cockpit of a 747.

LOL!!!! That's funny

I think I have about 9 usable squares finished. There is one that is a tad too big

and a couple that really need an additional row in order to be 6 inches. I'm wanting to try a different rectangle pattern next, using the green and brown. I bought a foam board today so I can start blocking the ones that are finished.

I've taken a couple days off work so that I can do a few things in the yard, including paint the trim on the coop. We installed the nest boxes yesterday. Our older chickens ("Bigs") are 15 weeks and our younger chickens ("Littles") are about 8.5 weeks. We've never had chickens before and the anticipation for the first egg is almost too much.

 

[baustin]

I'm still here, checking in every so often. I'm waiting for my yarn to come in. I hope it's soon. I'm almost finished with the runner I'm doing in blue which is good. I have lots of 6" block patterns and I've downloaded a bunch of 12" but haven't looked for any rectangle ones yet.

I'm getting all kinds of veggies right now. I picked okra and hope to fry it up tonight or tomorrow. I put shade cloth over my tomatoes in the raised beds since it's so hot and they won't produce if it gets too bad. The weather people said 107 today. I'm getting a steady crop of squash now and I noticed two watermelon this morning that are quite large for now. They are the small sugar babies. I didn't know how the larger ones would do here. I also have blackberries but not enough to do much with since this is the first year. I think I'll have a half dozen to share with DH.

I was given about 50 granny squares by a lady that called to have her sisters name taken off the Lodge mailing list since she moved to Alaska. It's strange how you meet fellow crocheters. There are about six colors and the squares are about 5 inches as she crochets tighter than I do but I can add a border around to join them for whatever I plan to make from them.

It sounds like everyone is busy. Hope the move is over for you soon Sunny.

 

[Smitty's Farm]

Beth~ Woohooo!!!

9 complete!!! Yipee!!! You are doing great!!!! Oh la la, I bet the green & brown combo will be great together. Sounds like you are getting a lot accomplished on your days off from work. It won't be too much longer before your girls are popping breakfast out for you.

Betty~ No worries. I know once your yarn arrives that you'll have your squares complete in no time. You are a fast hooker, like Alethea!!!

I love hearing about all your projects and can't wait to see the table runner you've been working on. I'm so jealous of your garden. How wonderful to have all those fresh veggies. What do you think you will make with the squares that were donated to you? I've been wanting to make a granny square purse of tote bag. They are so cute!!! Whew... you & Writer are experiencing such high temps. Hope you two can stay cool.

I forgot to tell all of you that our bee friend came over yesterday to help me check our hive. Every frame in the 2 deep supers were totally filled with enough reserve for the bees to feed them through this next coming winter, so I added on a small honey super. So maybe, just maybe we will get to harvest some liquid gold after all. I'm so excited!!!

 

[Smitty's Farm]

I stumbled upon this article on spray blocking when I was looking up patterns and thought I'd share. I've never blocked anything before and would like to hear everyone's technique. It caught my attention since Beth mentioned she bought a foam board for blocking.

http://www.crochetme.com/blogs/kim_...w-to-spray-block-crochet-or-knit-squares.aspx

 

[BtownChickMom]

Kim ~ That's the same article I read! How funny! That's why I bought the foam board (with grid lines) and rust resistant pins. I've never blocked anything before either, so keep your fingers crossed I checked online for blocking boards and they are expensive! This seemed like a more feasible option (especially since I don't know what I'm doing! lol).

Betty ~ Our okra is far from being big enough to produce yet. I do have some zucchini and yellow squash about an inch long, though.

 

[SunnyDawn]

103 here today with hot wind.

Jeepers!!! It doesn't get that hot here til mid summer.

Smitty-cute caps. Are they the kind that got auctioned for the fundraiser?

I don't mind a mild sunburn after a cold Winter. Being warm is much more comfortable for me. There's a chance I'll be in the desert sometime this Summer. I don't require that kind of heat, but living in alpine Mt. Shasta for seventeen and a half years, then in rainy Oregon, I'm glad to be in the Bay area where it is at least warmish and sunnyish. I miss the chickens, though.

That's where DH and I are from!!! Well I was born in So Cal but we moved to the Bay Area right before my 9th b-day. I loved gardening there and really miss that! It's terribly hard being this far from the kids and grandkids! Enjoy!

Thank you everyone for the compliment on the hats. I really enjoy making them. They work up pretty fast. I know the logo needs work, but it's getting a wee bit better. I posted a pic of them to my crochet album on FB and a friend from my home town wants me to make her 2 sets of beanie head huggers w/ matching wrist warmers out of the warm Lion's Brand Home Spun yarn.

Sunny~ Hang in there with the moving. I know it takes a while to get the job done esp when several coops and live stock is involved. Been thinking of you. I hope all is going well.

Well it's going anyway...

Quote: LOL! We all know that feeling! Wow you all are really cooking on these squares! I still don't have a whole one done but I usually just play around with patterns til the swap has officially begun. Once the move is done I will be busy for awhile unpacking and arranging the new house. So far I like this new house much better than the old one.

I'm still here, checking in every so often. I'm waiting for my yarn to come in. I hope it's soon. I'm almost finished with the runner I'm doing in blue which is good. I have lots of 6" block patterns and I've downloaded a bunch of 12" but haven't looked for any rectangle ones yet.

I'm getting all kinds of veggies right now. I picked okra and hope to fry it up tonight or tomorrow. I put shade cloth over my tomatoes in the raised beds since it's so hot and they won't produce if it gets too bad. The weather people said 107 today. I'm getting a steady crop of squash now and I noticed two watermelon this morning that are quite large for now. They are the small sugar babies. I didn't know how the larger ones would do here. I also have blackberries but not enough to do much with since this is the first year. I think I'll have a half dozen to share with DH.

I was given about 50 granny squares by a lady that called to have her sisters name taken off the Lodge mailing list since she moved to Alaska. It's strange how you meet fellow crocheters. There are about six colors and the squares are about 5 inches as she crochets tighter than I do but I can add a border around to join them for whatever I plan to make from them.

It sounds like everyone is busy. Hope the move is over for you soon Sunny.

Thank you Betty! I have help coming over next Wednesday to try and help me salvage what I can from my starts (some of which are 2' tall). I know it's a terrible time to plant with the heat coming on and all but it's still not too hot here. Hopefully luck will hold and I will get some plants to survive!!!

107?!! Yowza! I dealt with heat like yours for a few years and it is very hard on the tomatoes!!! They don't like it that hot but melons and squash do. Hope the heat eases up for you very soon!

I forgot to tell all of you that our bee friend came over yesterday to help me check our hive. Every frame in the 2 deep supers were totally filled with enough reserve for the bees to feed them through this next coming winter, so I added on a small honey super. So maybe, just maybe we will get to harvest some liquid gold after all. I'm so excited!!!

That is super exciting!!!!!

 

[baustin]

I have never blocked granny squares or anything using yarn except sweaters. I do block doilies and lace, etc. I wash the piece and then lay it on a towel and pin it with straight pins. It evens it out as the article said and stretches it out. If I use spray starch and I do with doilies I spray after it's blocked and pinned. Way back when I'd mix up Argo starch and soak a piece in it and then block. A styrofoam piece sounds good. When my middle daughter got married I had crocheted some baskets for the flower girl and one for the table with the guest book. I soaked them in Elmers Glue and formed them around balloons until they dried then popped the balloons. One basket was given to my daughters mother in law and my daughter has the flower girl basket and they are just as stiff today as the day I did them. They're under glass so they don't get dirty.

It's cooled off nice this evening but it did go to 107. I got my outside work done early this morning and stayed inside for the rest of the day until we went out for dinner this evening. I'll be going to Joann's on Saturday so I can buy quilt batting. I have the other grandsons top done and matching pillow cases to go with their quilts. I'll take pictures and post as soon as I can.

 

[Smitty's Farm]

Ok Stop the presses!!! Guess what! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I actually made a 6" square for the swap tonight.

Ok now, everyone don't faint.

Well it's a pattern I've done before so I didn't have to concentrate too hard to refigure it out so I could watch a little TV at the same time. I was feeling like a slacker and needed to do at least one.

I still want to try some new patterns, but nothing has jumped out and grabbed me just yet.

Beth~ Oh that is too funny that I stumbled upon the exact same blocking article you had read. That's cool the foam board you found has grids. Keep us posted. So cool!!!

Sunny~ Glad you are liking the new house!

That's fantastic you have some help getting your garden in. I'm sure they will do just fine. I really miss my garden. DH has been helping his brother get his in, so I hope they will share the joy.

Betty~ I wish I could crank projects out as fast as you do. Very cool about the crocheted baskets. Brilliant!!!

 

[Smitty's Farm]

Here's the first square I've made for the swap. It's 6" made w/ Cafe' Latte, Cranberry & Bone.
I think I'l make another one later tonight, but incorporate the Plum Perfect in there some how.



Here's the pic of the beanie I made the other night out of Lily's cotton yarn just for fun.