Moving right along, it's time for Block #2! If this is the first you've heard of the 2015 Moogly Afghan CAL, please CLICK HERE to read how it works! In summary, every 2 weeks I'll share a new free 12" crochet block pattern, and we'll all make them together. All the patterns will be free all year long, and we'll get to visit a variety of fantastic crochet blogs along the way!
Once again, I'd like to thank Elke Wellens who is providing Dutch translations to all the designers - she's even got a Dutch speaking Moogly CAL Facebook group going! And a big thank you to allatti2d, Angela2011, HelenJE, and Patricia-R-S, who are moderating the Ravelry group for the 2015 Moogly CAL! You all make this so much better - click either of those links to check the groups out!
There will be 24 blocks total, and each of the posts will go live here on Moogly at 10am Central time on their specified date. Click the links in the schedule to catch up on past blocks!
The 2015 Moogly CAL Schedule
January 8 - Tamara's Kismet Square
January 22 - THIS POST
February 5 & 19
March 5 & 19
April 2 & 16 & 30
May 14 & 28
June 11 & 25
July 9 & 23
August 6 & 20
September 3 & 17
October 1 & 15 & 29
November 12 & 25
*****
Above is the original, made with 4 colors. This square has a ton of visual interest, and some texture to boot! Here's the one I made, using all 6 of my colors:
Now for my notes!
- Don't be scared! I know this one looks tough, but there are photos and the Ravelry group to help you along if you get stuck. I've tested this pattern myself, and with the help of the photos in the pattern, it's a fun square to make! If this one is just too much, you can find a list of free alternatives HERE.
- I came up just a bit short of 12" as written, so I added an extra round of single crochet, which gave it a nice firm edge too. Learn more about adjusting for size HERE. Remember that the 12" is measured across and up and down - not diagonally corner to corner.
- I used Lion Brand Vanna's Choice, and my color order was as follows: Rnd 1-2: White, Rnd 3-4: Eggplant, Rnd 5-6: Aqua, Rnd 7-8: Kelly Green, Rnd 9-10: Mustard, Rnd 11-12: Raspberry, Rnd 13: Eggplant, Rnd 14-15: White.
Thanks so much for crocheting-along with me!
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Tovah
In the second to last bullet point, you write: "Remember that the 12″ is measured across and up and down – not horizontally corner to corner." I think you meant diagonally, as horizontally is the same as measuring across the square.
Tamara Kelly
Oh my, right you are! Thank you Tovah!
Rita Zimmerman
Love it! Can't wait to get started!!
Linda d.
Love it Tamara!!! Will be working on it this weekend along with Block #1. Snowstorm heading this way so nothing else to do but snuggle up by the fireplace and crochet. Looks challenging but I am up for it. Thank you for all your support and encouragement.
Tamara Kelly
Sounds super cozy! 😀 So glad you like it!
Rachael
On round 2 my stitch count is much higher than 30. Do you make the hdc in the next stitch after each front post, or in the stitch behind? If you make a hdc and then a fpdc wouldn't you increase by a lot more stitches than 10? To only increase by 10 doesn't the pattern have increase every other stitch. It feels like with a fpdc before the previous rows stitch and then a half on top that you are doubling. Am I totally confused?
Tamara Kelly
Hi Rachel! I do think you're a little confused, but I'll try to help! There are 20 sts in Round 2, and it sounds like you're working on Round 3. So to get 30 sts on Round 3, you do indeed increase on every other st. So on one st you work a fpdc and hdc, and in the next st you just work an hdc, then repeat around. Does that help? 🙂
Rachael
I did mean round 3---sorry!! Your comment did help--my aha was that it is a hdc, hdc, fpdc pattern. Don't know why having them separated kept me from realizing that. It's crazy how you can read something wrong. Despite my confusion I'm having lots of fun figuring out these mini puzzles. Thanks for your help!
Tamara Kelly
I'm so glad I was able to help! Thanks Rachel!
Lett
Is there video available to help with the first few rounds? The pictures aren't helping me as they are very small. Thanks in advance.
Tamara Kelly
You would need to ask the designer, I'm afraid!
Erin
Can't wait to give this one a shot! Funnily enough, it looks like we have a very similar color sense! I picked Fern instead of Kelly Green, but otherwise, identical. It'll be fun moving through this and seeing how the same colors work in different ways.
Tamara Kelly
How fun! I did Fern last year! 😀
Sherika
I am officially behind now. Guess I'll be crocheting up a storm this weekend!!! Lol
Tamara Kelly
Looks like this one goes pretty fast - people are posting them on the Facebook page already! I'm always amazed at how speedy people are! 😀
Lourdes Manners
Great square. I can't wait to get started. You mention in bullet 2 that you added an extra row of sc. Where did you add them, after which row?
Tamara Kelly
Hi Lourdes! Thank you! I added the sc row last, after I had finished the pattern as written. 🙂 The pattern itself only goes to Row 14, so I added a Row 15.
Jessica
I was wondering this as well - so your row 15 is just sc all around?
Tamara Kelly
Yes, though I did ch 2 in the corners. 🙂
Karen
Saw this on your Hookin' on Hump Day yesterday, and thought, "Man, I love that! But, I've got too many projects started already." Needless to say, I was thrilled to see it come up as the next square today. Now I have a reason to make it!
Tamara Kelly
Meant to be! 😀 So glad to hear it Karen!
Kathleen Bruner
Thanks! Can't wait to get started on this beautiful square!
Jeanne B.
Just a note so others don't freak out--there is a slight problem with how Print Friendly displays the page right before saving it to PDF. On the actual web page, it shows the two finished options side by side.
On the Print Friendly version, it's making the A version huge, and that shoves the B version (also huge) off of the page.
Thankfully, the PDF came out perfectly.
Tamara Kelly
Good to know! Thank you Jeanne!
Ann
ALL DONE. NOW I HAVE TO WAIT ANOTHER TWO WEEKS FOR THE NEXT ONE!!!
zahra
OMG ! this is really amazing
i wil ofcourse try it soon
thank you so much tamara your blog helped me alot
i already did many of your amazing patterns
warm greetings from egypt 🙂
Tamara Kelly
Thank you Zahra! 😀 I'm so glad to hear it!
Carmen
Are we supposed to turn our work at the end of each row? Sorry, this is my first CAL and Square. I am learning lots already and loving it. Thank you.
Tamara Kelly
Hi Carmen! Squares like this are worked "in the round", with no turning - unless you're specifically told to turn! 🙂 So no turning for this one.
Carmen
I thought this was the case and then started questioning myself. I truly appreciate what you are doing and I am so glad I am doing this. Thanks again.
Tamara Kelly
😀 Thank you so much Carmen!
Wendy @ Ladybug Daydreams
I'm new to your blog, so I didn't hear about the Crochet Along two weeks ago when you started. I have quite a few yarn remnants from making so many hats for people for Christmas, so I'm super excited to do this with you. I'll likely do the first two over the next few weeks and post about them on my blog when I'm done. 🙂
Tamara Kelly
Fantastic! I'm so glad you're here Wendy!
CJ
Got the first one done even with all those quadtrebles that I dislike but they went better this time and I like the square a lot. Also just barely finished #2. It gave me some ribbit ribbit time because I didn't watch my counts on row 4,5, &6 but it pretty as well. Came out as 12 inches exact on #1 and just a tiny bit over on #2 so I am blocking both then will share pics. This is quite fun so far.
Tamara Kelly
😀 So glad to hear you're enjoying it!
Stacy McDonald
HELP!!! After reading that you added a row of sc to make it 12", I'm panicking. I measured my first block and from corner to corner it's only 11.5". I used RedHeart Super Saver along with Caron Simply Soft. The difference in weights never crossed my mind. Do I need to go back and add rows til it measures a full 12"? I'M FREAKING OUT!!!!
Jess
I typically will wait until I have a few squares done, to see if they will all be running big or small, then I can decide if I need to add rows to some squares, or if they are all similar sizes just join them as is.
If you are always using the same combination of yarn you might notice that they are all a little smaller than 12"
Tamara Kelly
Don't freak out! You can ALWAYS add more rounds if you need to. 🙂 You have a couple options - you can see if the rest of the squares start coming in at 11.5" for you, and if so, just plan on making 11.5" squares, OR you can add a row when needed to get them all to 12". It's not so much important to get each square to a specific size as to get them all to the SAME size for each person. 🙂
Liona Rowan
the printfriendly.com is magic! Thanks to who ever posted the link.
Louise Fischer
My first square is about two rows smaller than my second square...how will I manage joining? Should I just add a sc row or two to the smaller square? Does the stitch count matter?
Tamara Kelly
It depends on your joining technique - some are more forgiving than others. Essentially, you'll want to either use a lacey technique and fudge the spacing so you get the same number of loops to connect with on each side, or you can do a row before joining where you add or decrease so that all the squares end up with the same st count. I talk about how I handled this in 2014 here: https://www.mooglyblog.com/finishing-2014-moogly-afghan-crochet-long/
sharyn
I found I had to figure out some of the rounds on my own following the end stitch count and not so much the directions which seemed too vague at times.
Also, in the wave rows (the last 2 rows) I did the stitches in the back loops only which gave the waves a bit more definition and that was nice.
My end square does puff out a bit on the middles of the edges, I think owing to the ripples not being straightened out at the end.
All in all, a very challenging (and a wee frustrating, but do-able) square. And it has a nice textured and creative look to it.
MIchelle Rouhier
Thanks to your FB page, I stumbled across the 2015 Afghan Crochet along! I just finished Square 1 last night and am prepping to start Square 2 right now. I didn't think things through too much and decided to use the same colors as you did for the most part, except in different order. This has been the most challenging crochet I have done so far! I'm so excited to participate! Thank you!
Tamara Kelly
😀 I'm so glad you've jumped in Michelle! It's great to have you!
Rebecca
This square was so much easier than the first.
Sherika
I think they are about the same, but then again that could be experience talking. The thing that threw me on the first were the rows after the horizontal ladders. After Tamera gave me the tip on looping the ladder after I did the next row I flew through the rest!
Tamara Kelly
It's been 2 years in a row now where the first square turned out the be harder than average - unintentionally both times! But now it'll all feel super easy.. 😉
Carmen
Loving the challenge! You are awesome!
Tamara Kelly
😀 I'm so glad you're enjoying it Carmen!
Carol
I love how this square looks - the colors! The texture! I'm just finishing an all white afghan so color is very inviting. It looks pretty challenging, but I really want to understand it. Thanks.
Sherika
So....I'm on row 5 and halfway through I'm thinking...this doesn't look right! So I read the instructions and realized I'm doing the fptrc on the fourth row instead if row 3. The struggles of a crochet addict!! Lol
Tamara Kelly
Ah! At least you were only on Row 5? I think we all know that feeling!
Nancy
I know there is a materials around here.I found a sale of Vanna's Choice and I need to know colors and quantities. Any help would be much appreciated
Tamara Kelly
About 4400 yds total should do. 🙂
SherIka
At what store did you find this sale?! I need more yarn! Lol
Donna Shea
So happy to see others have questions about the size. I have 2 more rounds to do on the second square and LOVE it but it seems like it will be bigger than my first one. I guess I will just wait it out and see how the next one turns out.
Tamara Kelly
It's not unusual to have different sizes with different designers. 🙂 As long as you get them all to the same size in the end, that's what matters!
Niko Niko
Hi Tamara,
Finally I was able to complete Block 2 yesterday night !
Phew !! I think I found this one a little difficult than the first block - Jacob's square....
But I have a question/doubt regarding the way in which the final round has turned out.My square looks wavy on the outer edge. I had a quick look at some of the others work in Ravelry, and I noticed that for some of them, the block has a proper square edge. I think even your block in this post. And for some of them its wavy like mine ! Is this how the pattern is supposed to be ? I am going to post the photo in my Ravelry page.
And the size of my squares (measured top to down - vertically) is nowhere close to 12 inches. Its just half the size. I have actually used a super fine yarn that I had in plenty, and the texture is very soft. So I chose to stick to that one as it would make a super soft afghan in the end ! Maybe if I add some edging of sc's before the final joining and maybe block each square it might add an inch or two. I am not sure if I have to try and bring the size to 12 inches ?
Tyrena
Just finish #2, I joined this project to test myself it's working.
Tamara Kelly
😀 Glad to hear it Tyrena!
jackie B
Finished last night! Ready for the next one 😀 Finally made a game plan for joining my 2014 squares (I did two of each so I get to join 48 squares!) so excited to finally make my blanket 😀 This years will be for my daughters bed, her Christmas present! Blanket like Mommy and Daddy 😀
Tamara Kelly
♥ I bet she'll love it! 😀
Linden
I am trying to get a print friendly version of the Starburst square and all it gives me is the replies to that post. Am I doing something wrong as everyone else's comments seems to be fine with the print friendly. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Tamara Kelly
Hi Linden! Sorry you're having trouble, that's very strange! In this case, the best option may be to copy and paste it into a word processing program.
Linden
Thanks Tamara - will do - didn't think of that!
BeV
Stumbled upon your website quite by accident and was immediately intrigued with the 2015 CAL. Took trips to 3 different stores to get the various colors of yarn I want to use. I excitedly began the first block thinking I would have it whipped out in no time. Boy was I wrong! This square really made me think. I finally got it-still need to finish the remaining 3 rows and hurry to catch up to Block 3. Thanks so much for organizing this forum. It's good for folks like me who have crocheted for many years (in my case, 45+ years) to be challenged!
Tamara Kelly
😀 I'm so glad you think so Bev! The blocks will all vary in difficulty, but I think learning new things is one of the best parts!
Montanamuse
I cannot download this to my iPad. I cannot download this to my Mac because I don't have windows. Putting Print Friendly on my iPad got me all the comments and adverts but nothing else. This makes me sad. I could do an incredible amount of time consuming cut and paste to get the pattern, but I would rather be actually working on something.
:'-(
Tamara Kelly
I'm sorry you're having trouble. I'm not sure what happened with Print Friendly, since it's a site, not an app. Since you have a tablet, working from the tablet itself, on the site, it probably the best option.