Monday, August 11, 2025

That Afghan Again?

 

I've been working pretty steadily on that afghan, and making good progress. I think I'm more than a third of the way through the main pattern (and then there's a border). 

Making progress

I feel like my later rows (on the edges)  look better than the starter rows (in the middle). I guess I'm getting the hang of the pattern. I remember to do the back loops only on the edging rows, for instance, which helps the pattern look more chain link-y. In some places, the variegated yarn has a stretch that matches the solid yarn, and muddles up the look a bit, but hey, that's why I thought the yarns went well together, so...

In other news, I harvested some of my tomatoes. They are not pretty. The rain we had was too much water, and then a couple hot dry days meant not quite enough. I couldn't win with the water, or not watering... any way, they still taste good, and I would be willing to plant the variety again. Better boys, I think.

Today's tomato harvest

 I guess they go well with my one bell pepper...

One teeny bell pepper (one inch squares there)

It's OK to laugh. I have. I still call it a gardening win, compared to other attempts. I'm still determined to do it again next year!

Oh, yeah, and I've already bought yarn for the other ripple afghan that was in that magazine, so I guess that is a success, too, even though this challenge isn't completed yet.


Monday, August 4, 2025

A Vintage Project Update _ Chain Link Afghan

 

I've been working on the Chain Link Afghan as my first in the Craft Book series. Here it is, so far:

The Chain Link Afghan

Things I'm liking so far... I found some beautiful yarn to work with. The picture doesn't do it justice, really. I'm sure that is a reflection of my phone photo skills (that I don't really have the interest in doing the work to improve much). This afghan is coming together pretty quickly, too, actually. It is worked in columns (up and down) instead of rows, If that matters, but they go pretty quickly. Mostly single crochet, which is an easy stitch, and pretty basic for anyone interested in trying it out for themselves.

Here are the yarns I'm using


There are also some changes that I've made, the most important of which has to do with chains of diamonds that you can see here. They are basically four rows of four single crochet, only I didn't like how the pattern built them into the blanket. So - of course - I changed it. I'm adding an extra row of single crochet to the diamonds so that I can connect them to the work in progress more securely. That makes me happier than having it full of "holes," or basically only connecting the diamonds at the corners. (OK, I just thought of this, that those connection points may make it more like the fencing) When the pattern calls for two rows of ripple between the diamond "rows" the connections seem to me more consistent. So, yeah, mine may not lie as flat as the original, but also, it may be a matter of blocking. IF I bother to do that.

Over all, I am really happy with the project so far. I feel like it won't take a super long time, even though I'm making a fairly large piece. The border rows around the outside of the piece will take longer to crochet, and I may have something to say about that before I'm done...

Here's their version