Blogiversary week of giveaways, Day 2: Projects everywhere!
I had a very productive crocheting and knitting weekend.
First, I picked up my sister’s blanket for the first time in weeks. I finished all of the borders and the edging. All told, the blanket has 375 granny squares (3 rounds each), four rounds of gold granny borders, one round of black granny borders, and seven rows of granny stripes on both the right and left side in black. I finished the entire blanket with a plain black single crochet edging.
This picture is a few weeks old, but you can see the sides are a bit narrow, which is why I added the extra black borders on the right and left.
I estimate that it took me 56 hours to crochet the granny squares (based on timing myself and averaging 9 minutes per square) and about seven hours to finish the borders and edging. But here’s the scary part. I timed myself weaving in the ends one row at a time. Any guesses on how long it takes per row? (Insert dramatic pause while you guess.)
FORTY FIVE MINUTES. Yep. One full episode of The X-Files
My little broomstick lace project from last week now has the ends woven in but I haven’t made a decision about which buttons to add yet. I have such a large button collection (inherited from my grandma) that I sometimes get overwhelmed by choice!
I am almost finished with the knit beanie I started during Knit and Crochet Design Week.
I've started decreasing. I've been trying it on and I may have to keep this one for me.
This has been a fun project because I’m working on it along with the students in my Saturday knitting classes. I will probably wait until Saturday to pick it up again.
As for reading, I’ve only finished one more chapter in The Girl Who Played with Fire. I’ve been at work late a lot this week so I haven’t had as much reading time as I would like. I definitely need to finish it soon because my loan from the library ends on Sunday, and it will magically disappear from my Kindle Fire whether or not I’ve read it!
For more WIP Wednesday posts, visit Tami’s Amis. For more Yarn Along posts, visit Small Things.
And now, on to today’s giveaway…
If you’ve been reading my blog for a while, you may know that I live in a New York City sized apartment and have pretty substantial collections of yarn and needlecraft books. Every time I find a super awesome book, I have to get rid of another slightly less awesome book to create space on my bookshelf. Since one of my WIPs today is the beanie I designed, I thought this would be a good time to give away my gently used copy of Design Your Own Knits in 5 Easy Steps
This giveaway is open to all readers who enter by 11:59 p.m. Eastern on Monday, April 2. To enter:
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eave a comment telling me about your design process. Have you ever designed your own project or have you been following patterns faithfully? (Please, do answer this question. Otherwise I won’t know if you are just stopping by to talk about my current projects without entering the giveaway.) For additional entries, like Underground Crafter on Facebook, join the Underground Crafter group on Ravelry, and/or share a link to this giveaway on Facebook, Twitter, or your blog. (And then, leave a comment here, on Facebook, or in the Ravelry group letting me know what you did!)
The winner will be chosen at random.
Good luck!
Well, well, well… I am really (REALLY) impressed by your blanket out of 375 granny squares! Honestly! And it looks splendid.
At the moment I am working on a pattern for arm warmers in a textured stitch I designed myself. I love designing things by myself and most of the patterns are for free. But a book for designers would not be unused, I can tell you!
Ciao, Fleur
Hi, I design my project quite often as I happen to be lazy to follow the patterns sometimes – scarfs, toys – and right know, I am crocheting a sunny hat, which I design “on the way”…I am so much keen on whether it will work or not…
Love the blanket! I am in the process of deciding whether or not to do something along these lines: and the main con I am finding is the weaving. Love to crochet in blocks, hate the weaving!
Lovely design.
I am in awe of the knit! Beautiful color.
I bopped over from Ginny’s – am looking forward to visiting again when I have more time to get lost, ah – see what else you have done.
blessings
Karen
sorry, actually had a typo in the website part and couldn’t edit my previous comment – obviously not enough coffee this morning
Welcome, Karen! I need my morning caffeine, too! I find that when I weave in the ends as I crochet, it is much easier/better.
I’ve put out a couple of designs, but I would love a chance to check out this book! I’m sure it would help me A LOT.
I would love to design my own things! It will tka time though
Thanks for entering the giveaway, Ana, Michelle, Kimberly, and Marie Ha!
Ugh. I HATE weaving in ends! It’s totally worth it though. The blanket looks incredible!
Thanks, Michelle! Is there anyone who actually likes weaving in ends? (And if so, can you direct him or her to my house??)
happy blogiversary! i love designing my own projects..its fun to find a stitch pattern that you really love and translating that into a scarf or hat..id love to design my own sweaters but im stuck on the process so this book would be perfect!
Thanks, lorraine! It sounds like your designing is off to a good start.
following on fb
im in your rav group
I only ever “designed” a simple blanket, so I don’t have s process. I would be interested in learning more.
That sounds like a good start, Gwendolyn T!
Congratulations on your blanket!! Weaving in the ends can so long! I’m trying to finish a granny square blanket with over 2500 ends. It is a bit overwhelming, but I’m trying to tackle it one row at a time. There are also some ladies in my sit n stitch group that have been so generous and help me put in the ends
I would like to enter the giveaway. I have never actually designed my own piece, but I very routinely modify patterns. It is usually to adapt it to my needs, but sometimes it’s merely because I can’t figure out what the designer meant and so I just do the best I can and get something reasonably close. I just started to learn how to knit a couple weeks ago and am really excited to start designing my own projects (I am also in your ravelry group and “like” you on Facebook)
I know, Erin, the ends can be torturous. I usually weave them in as I go, to prevent just this sort of problem. Somehow, with this blanket, I convinced myself it would be faster if I wove in all the ends once I finished it.
Well, I totally forgot about your sisters blanket but now that I am seeing it again, I remember why I fell in love with it first time
And your new WIP looks fantastic too
Wow, that means it has been out of the picture for way too long, Kim S! But thanks for the kind words.
Your blanket really does look amazing! But I’m sure you ready to have it finished.
As for designing, I usually take a basic pattern, and add my own flair to it such as colorwork, cables, or something from a stitch dictionary. I have no idea how shaping works in the design process, though I can get shaping right when following a pattern.
*you WERE ready to have it finished* Grrr, I need to learn to proofread comments before publishing them.
Hahaha, thanks Kacy! I love the idea of adding flair to existing patterns.
Your blanket is really lovely and such a wonderful labor of love to gift to your sister.
I would like to try creating some designs of my own some day.
Thanks so much, Rose!
Your sister’s blanket is stunning … what an accomplishment! I’ve only designed very simple hats and one shawl and I find that the simpler the design and pattern, the better. I love to think about how a knitter would enjoy knitting the pattern and then, of course, how the FO will feel worn. Thanks for the giveaway!
Thanks, Evelyn! I think simple designs are fun and a great start to designing your own patterns.
I love your sister’s blanket. Does she understand how much work went into it? DH always asks me if I know that I can buy socks cheaper and faster than I can make them LOL
Not yet she doesn’t, Minding My Own Stitches. But once I include the tag, she will!
I’ve designed lots of smallish accessories (hats and baby booties especially) based on stitch dictionaries and stitch counts from other patterns. I’ve never done something big like a sweater without a pattern, although I always change something in a pattern, even if it’s very simple! I’d love to read this book, it looks like a great reference.
I also “like” you on facebook (Kara Hobbs), am in your Ravelry group (MrsCollinHobbs), and I just tweeted about this giveaway! https://twitter.com/#!/MamaHobbit/status/185111345144934401
Thanks for spreading the word, Kara! I think that is how many designers get their start – modifying someone else’s patterns.
Yay for sister’s blanket! Now on to your question: I’ve been hesitant to deviate from a pattern because I’m not quite sure what to do. Though I am happy that I made up my Adventure Time hat all on my own. I want to get into designing but I don’t know where to start, if that makes sense.
That totally makes sense, Vanessa! This book might be helpful but also joining the Designers group on Ravelry and reading the various threads is helpful, too!
The blanket looks fantastic! Good luck with all the ends – I’m sure your sister will appreciate it
Thanks, Liz! It kind of grew on me – at first, I wasn’t that fond of the colors, but now I actually like them.
I’ve designed a number of small and/or simple things which are or will be (eventually) published on my website. Sometimes inspiration just strikes. Other times I look for a stitch pattern that catches my eye and develop a design around that. Depending on the stitch pattern, shaping can be easy or a bit of a challenge. I’m always interested in more information on the design process.
A friend of mine says, ” A pattern is just a suggestion.” That really describes how I use patterns designed by other people. I just joined your Ravelry group; I’m SusanBLuvsCrafts.
I often reach for my stitch guides for inspiration, too, SusanB!
I do quite like following patterns, but I have also tried my hand at designing my own items. Not sure about process, but I just think about what it needs to look like, and then try to find stitches and methods to match. I’ve really only done this with crochet amigurumi though!
These days, it seems like a lot of crocheters start out with amigurumi design.
I’ve made a few simple sewing patterns, like the tote bag I take everywhere, and some cute christmas decorations, but if it’s something I’ve never attemoted to make before then I follow a pattern and think about how I can personalise and adapt it next time.
I love the pattern on that beanie by the way, how is it done? It’s not cables is it?
Thanks, Rachel! Yes, the beanie pattern uses cables. I hope to finish it someday soon and then share the pattern
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You definitely need to add a priceless parody card to that blanket. People often have no idea how long things take. My sister wanted an elmo blanket that had just over 1500 squares! 10 minutes per square, plus sewing together and ends, NO WAY! And I know it wouldn’t have been taken care of. I need to start adding these cards to my handmade items.
Please do, Simone! That’s why I made them
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I follow patterns but unfortunately not faithfully. I belong to the impatient knitter variety and tend to always do projects that slightly exceed my grasp including trying to modify them without truly understanding the basics. opps. needless to say they don’t always look like those gorgeous knit pictures that lure one into starting…
As long as you are satisfied with the outcome, cguard, then it doesn’t matter if you followed the pattern or not
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I’m no designer…I ‘try’ to follow patterns faithfully. Of course, somehow things go off track and they always up with a little of ‘me’ in there.
Thanks!
It’s great that you add your own personal touches, Beth W.
Only 45 mins? That’s some speedy weaving!
Thanks, Nat! (That’s 45 minutes per row.)
I can’t recall designing my own yarn project from scratch (sewing yes, knit/crochet no), but I often alter patterns to better suit my purposes, sometimes dramatically.
I make a lot of amigurumi and have aded/changed the markings on dogs to match specific pets. Added breed-specific markings to solid coloured bunny patterns. Altered an Akita pattern & colourings to replicate a Samoyed.
I have created a furry Silverback Gorilla from a plain baby gorilla pattern and I have plans to create more apes and monkeys from modified patterns and custom designs.
I do less flat knitting, but occasionally alter patterns to use only a favourite part of the pattern, say a border, while simplifying the remainder of the project.
I’m sure your sewing design skills will be helpful in terms of knit and crochet designing, K.
I also “liked” you on facebook for an entry.
I knit and crochet, I have been dabbling with my own simple crochet designs, but could really do with some help/experience with knitting. I like sharing patterns that I have created.
Welcome Lucy. This book is geared more towards knitting, but of course the design skills could be used for crochet as well.