Year of Projects, Year 2: Decisions
This week, I auditioned six more motifs for my mom’s milestone birthday blanket. I made each sample with stash yarn, and I’m happy to report that I’m almost to the bottom of one of my plastic yarn tubs!
This is my version of Duckbill Dalliance by Margaret MacInnis. I like this motif a lot, but I don’t think I will be using it for my mom’s bedspread.
I found this great motif, M-6, in a vintage crochet book I have, Crochet and Creative Design
Then I moved on to Afghan #9 by Valerie Vandergriff from Contest Favorites Afghan Squares
And finally, I had to try out the Monet Pineapple, one of my all-time favorite motifs. This was designed by Janie Herrin and appears in 100 Afghans to Knit & Crochet
At this point, I was ready to make a decision. (Ok, I wasn’t actually ready to make the decision, but I was ready to stop making more samples!) But then, I got an email from my sister. You see, I had sent her the link to the Pinterest board of patterns I set up a few weeks ago, and she just got around to reading it this week. Naturally, she thought two patterns that I hadn’t even tried yet were the perfect choices for my mom’s bedspread, so I made samples of those, too!
This is the Lacy Square Motif by Crochet Atelier. (Side note: This is the first time I followed an entire pattern on my Kindle Fire
This is the Super Cable Aran Spiral Bedspread by Flora Yang. This pattern might also need a little adjustment if I were to use it for the final project.
My plan now is to send pictures of all the possible motifs to my sister for a final decision. Then I will purchase the yarn and get started.
And that brings me to my next set of decisions. You may recall that one of my YOP2 goals is to participate in the 2012 Ravellenic Games. The kick off is the opening ceremony of the Olympics on Friday at 4 p.m. Eastern time. There are a few things that I need to do before then:
- Choose a sock pattern. My main goal is to complete my first pair of knit socks during the Ravellenic Games. I think I’ll be using the Austermann Step Sock yarn I received in the July Goodie Box Swap. These will be entered in the sock put event.
The yarn, along with DPNs and patterns that were included in the swap.
- Make (at least one) gauge swatch. I want to make sure I have the right needles available before casting on Friday.
- Decide if I’ll be entering the modular relay. If so, I’ll need to decide whether I’ll be competing with charity squares or motifs for my mom’s bedspread or motifs for a scrap blanket for me. (That’s right, I want to make even more blankets!) I will need to declare a number of motifs, which will naturally be based on the project I’m working on for this competition.
- Choose a team (or teams). This has been the toughest part for me. Normally, I would enter a crochet-focused team, like Team Crochet, but that seems strange if my main project is knitting. (Although, apparently, I can enter more than one team.) If anyone reading is also participating in the Ravellenic Games, do you have any team suggestions for me?
. I may also try and make another stash yarn hat to cross-compete in the Hat Dash, Holiday Hurdles, and Synchronized Stash Busting events. I can just decide to do this as I go along, so there is no stress about this possibility. I should hopefully have some great updates for next week’s post!
This weeks samples are looking great, I think the last two are my favourite although Afghan 9 is in there as well. I’m not taking part in the Ravellenic’s but I will be tuning in to as much of the olympics as I can, with it being in the same time zone as me I’m hoping to see lots.
I think when the Olympics are in your own time zone, it is definitely easier to watch. Thanks for your votes on the motifs!
I’ve been itching to cast on something new but I also want to participate in the games so I don’t know what to do!
I think I might cast on something now and then look at my YOP list and start that on Friday.
It is odd, isn’t it Vanessa? I’m hoping to keep myself content with gauge swatching for the next few days…
The Afghan #9 is simply stunning, as are all of your samples. I’m new to reading, but where do you donate your sample blocks?
As far as the Ravellenic Games Team goes, perhaps you should look at Team Hopelessly Overcommitted? There are lots of people there who have a full plate of projects, myself included!
Welcome, Claire. I plan to donate these blocks to a charity through Crochetlist. Thanks for suggesting the team – I will look in to it!
I love the 1st square, Duckbill Daliance..what a name! The color is wonderful also.. Out of the 2 your sister sent…I’m in favor of the spiral, as I’m a fan of flag bedspreads…
have fun in the games!
Thanks, mary! I like the name, too.
so, what do you do with all your samples?
what about the stashdown team? they’re a very friendly bunch and it seems like that’s a focus for you…
Thanks for the team recommendation, cleancup! I will look into the stashdown team! I plan to donate most of them to charity via Crochelist.
Lots of motifs I like there! I know I don’t get a vote, but I’m cheering for the Super Cable Aran Spiral Bedspread by Flora Yang. I love it as a square and I think it’d be gorgeous as a spread – just enough lace!
Good luck with the Ravellenic projects. If it’s really your first pair of socks then I’d consider a simple ribbed sock, like Mr. Pitt’s Socks – there’s enough rib there to be forgiving of any gauge issues, and it should play nicely with variegated yarn.
I like the lacy on that hexagon, too, Minding My Own Stitches. Thanks for the tip about ribbed socks!
Oh I love the Monet Pineapple one – but saying that they are all gorgeous – you sure do have a hard decision to make!
Welcome, Lucie. I love the Monet Pineapple, too – I’ve made several blankets with it. It is a really lovely motif.
Your motifs are all so lovely, I don’t envy you the decision!
Hahaha, I don’t either, HillyT – that’s why I have my sister deciding lol.
I like all of the squares this week, not even sure one sticks out as a favourite, I do like the pineapple one and the spiral one looks like a pinwheel….hmmm, can’t wait to see which you choose.
The Ravallenics sounds very interesting by the way you describe it, I have heard it mentioned lots of times, bu I can’t say I’ve looked at it properly…looking forward to seeing the socks….cool!
It will be my first time participating in the Ravellenic Games, Faith – I’m not sure if I’ll like it or not, but it seems worth a try!
the last square is my favorite, that’s my vote!
Welcome, DeliaKnits, and thanks for the vote!
Impressive progress again! And the first square is definitely my favourite!
Thanks for the vote, Emma!
Wow I love your first square, the Duckbill Dalliance, it look like the famouse embrodery of boutis. I am impress by the number of square you can do in one week and good luck for the Ravellenic.
Thanks, ptinutz. I was on jury duty at the beginning of the week, so I had some extra crochet time.
Oh my, you are talented! I thought I was a pretty good crocheter but nothing compared to you. Your patterns are all gorgeous but I’m partial to the first 2. I am a new knitter and I’m trying my first pair of socks too! I’m excited and scared at the same time! LOL! I didn’t join the Ravellenic Games as I’m a poor competitor anymore. Slow as a slug but I will be glued to the telly and my chair surrounded by all my YOP’s! You go girl! If I was to join one it would have to be the one called “hopelessly Overcommitted”! The name alone would draw me in. I’m SO excited about the games! I’ll be cheering you all on!
Oh, and congrats to you for your charity crochet. I need to look into that.
Thanks for the suggestion, Sandra! I’m a very slow knitter, too.
Team Leonidas & The Knitters of Doom is open for new members, too. And you don’t really have to hate the project you’re working on. We just like being silly and cheering each other on!
Welcome, Suzy, and thanks for the tip on a team!
OH MY you have made a lot of swatch squares, I don’t know how you are going to be able to choose, good idea to get your sister to choose for you.
I actually had a few other patterns I wanted to try out, Wool Diaries, but I knew it would just create more confusion.
Sounds like the Ravellenics are going to keep you busy, as if you weren’t already ;D Love the new motifs, especially the Afgan #9 one. Hope you and your sister can agree on the one you both like the best!
I hope so too, Laura! My sister is pretty good at making these types of decisions.
Wow so many great motifs to choose from! I think no matter which one you end up using it will be beautiful
I’ll be travelling during the first week of the Ravellenic Games so decided to make a hat. Have fun!
Welcome, Carolina22! I think a hat is reasonable for someone who isn’t available for the entire Olympics!
Love the first and 3rd motif, the others seem to odd in shape to work well in a blanket, they are true dollies. Reminds me of my Grandmothers house with all the pretty dollies on furniture.
Wow, that is a high compliment, Sandy! Thanks!
Blimey. It’s such a shame you can’t just join all those test squares together, they are all so lovely. Best of luck with the Ravellenic socks.
Aww, thanks, kate! (I am working on a scrappy sampler for myself, but I don’t expect to finish it for ages.)
Wow! You’ve made some beautiful squares this week. Does the charity that you send them to ultimately turn them into sample blankets? So kind of you to give to others while enjoying your craft. I’m looking forward to seeing what you and your sister decide on. Good luck in the games as well!
I am part of Crochetlist on Yahoo groups, Robin, and there are several charities I can donate to through them where squares are turned into blankets.
I like them all except perhaps for the second one, but I loved the first one and the second to the last one. If I were making a blanket for my mom, I would use either of those patterns.
Thanks for the suggestions, misty!