Granny 160, 161, 162, 163; Welcome Dominican Republic and Estonia

161

162

163

When I first challenged myself to 365 (366 really, it's a leap year) different and individual grannies in a year, I got quite a few designs from 200 Crochet Blocks for Blankets, Throws and Afghans by Jan Eaton.  This is mainly because it's the book that I had taken out of the library the most often.

As I did more and more design research, I discovered a few more books, and began working through them.  (the list of books I use is in the Amazon box at left.).  I've done a lot of browsing on the internet and on Ravelry.com, as well.

But at the moment, I've come back to 200 Crochet Blocks, and have decided to work right through it, but in reverse.  And, I won't do any that are squares of straight across crochet, at least not on this swing through.  I just don't enjoy those as much (for now).

I'm at One Hundred Sixty Four grannies now, and have slowed down a bit at times.  As for the days I don't post, I'm putting extra in the next day so I don't fall behind.  I started this challenge in mid February and at this point, don't think I'll catch up to finish within this calendar year.  If I don't finish until February 2013, that's ok with me!  A little part of me just wants to keep doing it after than...but we'll see what I say when the time comes!

I may be having my knee replaced at some point this year, and that will slow me down, too (but will feel a whole lot better after it is done!)

Welcome to Estonia and the Dominican Republic, recent visitors to this blog.  Glad to see you here, and do come back again :)

164

Grannies 159, 160; Secret Beach; welcome to Cape Verde and Albania

159

160

I've become disciplined enough to weave in all ends immediately, but not enough to get them blocked.  Tut, tut.

Baby steps.

The center of 159 is from 200 Crochet Blocks, until the dark brown.  Then I free crocheted the rest.  I find I am enamored of those little arches covered smoothly with silky yarn.  I just love it.








160 is also from 200 Crochet Blocks, and I actually did this one a week or two ago when I was doing a block each out of variegated yarns.  It fell out of the bag in the back seat of the car and I found it when I cleaned the car out today.  It's all one skein of Debra Norville Every Day 'Red Rocks'.  I like it, but maybe not for a square, in future.  I could see a big, swingy shawl, something that one could twirl in while dancing to the Grateful Dead.  Who often played at Red Rocks Ampitheater in Colorado, and we've come full circle.

My newly discovered unknown (to most) beach.  I'm in love.

Blackberry Blossom

Welcome to Cape Verde, which is a group of islands west of Senegal in the Atlantic Ocean.  I knew nothing about Cape Verde until someone who lives there visited my blog, and I did a little research.  Very fascinating!  I like it when I learn something new.

Welcome also to Albania, which is on the Adriatic Sea right next to Macedonia and Montenegro (two of my favorite country names).  Albania, you have been through a lot and I dearly hope that things are looking up.  Welcome again.

Ornamental Poppy

California Poppy

View of Mount Rainier from the Beach with No Name.

Grannies 156, 157, 158; Welcome to Kuwait and Malaysia~

A picture of a rosa rugosa that I took on a cloudy day at a lakeside beach.  It has nothing to do with crochet, except that I love this photo and love to crochet.  :)

156

This square, #156, is based on 'Autumn Leaves' from 50 Fabulous Crochet Squares.

Any book that I name as a resource can be looked at by finding it in the Amazon.com box on the left.  You can click on the book and have a look at it, usually several pages worth.  Check them out before you buy them! 

157

158

#157 is also from 50 Fabulous Crochet Squares, and in this one, instead of using three rows of singles on the outside, I used one row of half doubles, and one row of singles.

















#198 is also from 50 Frabulous Crochet squares.  There are two extra rows of single crochet added, in order to bring this square to the same size as the first two.

The three brown yarns are Bernat Satin (my favorite for squares), and the variegated yarn used in 156 and in the edge of 158 is Bernat Mosaic.

A big welcome to Malaysia and Kuwait, the two latest new visitors to this blog.  Note to self:  Research how many countries exist now, and I wonder how often that master list changes..  More on that tomorrow, because I care.

Grannies 154 and 155; Welcome Philippines and Saudi Arabia

154

155

I've been playing with incorporating a new yarn into designs.  The yarn is Bernat Mosaic acrylic, color 'Envy'.  I ordered it thinking that it would be a very soft yarn, because I'm goign to be making a shawl for a daughter who is very sensitive to how things feel on her skin.  When I first tried this yarn I was thinking it would be rough when worked up, but it is not at all.  In these the squares, it is used in both of the second to outermost colors.  I have it in a third square that will be finished for tomorrow, as well.  I think it will work well for the shawl, now that I've used it.  I guess it would be termed a 'self striping' yarn, with enough of each color for a good block of color.  In 154, both the row of bright green and the next row of a sort of olive green mix are the same yarn.  Only quibble so far:  the spinning process approximates hand spun yarn to a point, but sometimes the yarn is too thin.  Also, in one place the yarn is fluffed out and loose enough that the yarn pulled apart and I had to cut the yarn and have a knot where one was not planned.

***The basic design for both squares can be found in 50 Fabulous Crochet Squares.  I slightly changed the outside edging for the sake of size.***

You would think I wouldn't like this yarn, with my liking for even, shiny type yarns, but I really do.  And it works well with the other colors used.

I'll be sticking with this color scheme for a bit.  I have an afghan that I've offered to donate for a silent auction, and am thinking about making it these colors.  Or not!

Welcome to Saudi Arabia and the Philippines!  Two countries that are so different and so many miles apart...both visited here yesterday.

Granny 153; Welcome Barbados and Luxembourg

153

This square is from 50 Fabulous Crochet Squares, still my far and away favorite granny square book.  A bit on the fence about all the pink here, because it's not a color I use much.  Therefore, I'm trying to use it (and some other colors, like bright yellow).  Broaden my own horizons a bit :)

And a big welcome to Barbados and Luxembourg, both of which visited this blog for what I think is the first time recently.

I wish my flags of the world gadget broke things down further.  For instance, everything in the British Isles comes through as Britain.  I'd like to know when Scotland visits here, being quite a bit of Scottish myself.  Apparently there is a paid version of the program that does do this...but again, I'm Scottish and can't bring myself to pay for what I clearly don't need.  It goes on the list of things to do when I win the lottery...

Grannies 151 and 152; Caturday; welcome to Netherland Antilles and Uruguay!

151

152

Square 151 is from 50 Fabulous Crochet Squares.  The interesting thing is that the dark yarn and the outer yarn are the same variegated yarn.  Very interesting yarn.


















This square started off being from 50 Fabulous Crochet squares, and then I started messing with it.    The turquoise yarn is really green, a sort of emerald green.  No idea why it photographed so very differently.

A very solemn Mr. Bernard greets us on this, our day of Caturday.  We're working with him to end some of his slightly aggressive behaviors.  After a lot of behavior modification, he's a bit better, but still exhibits a lot of anxious sorts of behavior.  I guess if he were a person,  what he has been through for the last few months before he came here would be enough to make anyone anxious and maybe even depressed.  I'm feeling a little conflicted about putting Mr. Bernard on Prozac, it just seems strange.  He is on a trial of Prozac, though, and so far I can tell you what it is doing:  he's less hungry (which is probably good since he needs to shed some weight._); he's hanging out under the bed a lot, when he used to be on the top of the bed;  and otherwise, is still biting me.  There are other behaviors taht I have not seen even once, though, so maybe....

Welcome to the Netherland Antilles and Uruguay!  Glad to have you visit here!

Now, if only feedjit would work properly....

Grannies #149 and 150; Welcome to United Arab Emirates.

149

150

Both of these square designs are from Priscilla's Crochet and are the creations of Priscilla Hewitt..  #149 is called 'Nordic Star', and here I really should have heeded the advice to use a smaller hook than my usual H.  It is rather large, about 12 inches.  I have made others that size, and it will be used with them.  #150 is called 'Spanish Tile', and came out the size I was expecting.  Sometimes you just don't know how something is going to work up...that's why it's called a Learning Experience.

Welcome to the United Arab Emirates, which is my new country of the day.  I look forward every day to discovering which new country has visited the blog.  Fun and enlightening!