Time for lucky #7! 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 - if you speak Dutch, check out the Dutch speaking Moogly CAL Facebook group! And a big thank you to allatti2d, Angela2011, HelenJE, and Patricia-R-S, who are moderating the Ravelry group for the 2015 Moogly CAL! Click either of those links to check the groups out! The Ravelry group is a BIG source of help if you need it!
The post for each of the blocks 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 - Starburst Square
February 5 - Windmill Square
February 19 - Family Square
March 5 - Unbroken Hearts
March 19 - Solstice Sun Rising
April 2 - THIS POST
April 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 originals, made in 3 colors! This square has a unique construction, and a fab result! Here's the one I made, using all 6 of my colors (I ran out of time and it isn't blocked yet!):
Now for my notes!
- This square is 4 small squares, seamed together and then edged. There are lots and lots of ends involved - some suggestions to get around this would be to work every other round backwards, or using Magic Knot Join (click for tutorial) and then crocheting over the ends. Personally I went with the Magic Knot method, which is the first time I've used this technique in this way, but if it hold up over time I think I'm in love!
- Each small square is supposed to be 5" after Round 5, but I was at 5" after Round 4, so I stopped there. Then when I added the edgings, I ended up a half inch short, so I added one more round of sc. But everyone is different so be sure to measure as you go! 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: Square 1: CA: Raspberry, CB: Mustard, CC: Kelly Green; Square 2: CA: Raspberry, CB: Kelly Green, CC: Aqua; Square 3: CA: Raspberry, CB: Aqua, CC: Eggplant; Square 4: CA: Raspberry, CB: Eggplant, CC: Mustard; and then the edging was done in Raspberry followed by White. The blocks were seamed with Raspberry sc sts.
- If this one isn't to your taste, you can find a list of alternatives HERE.
Thanks so much for crocheting-along with me!
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Sherika
This is pretty and will certainly be a challenge. I have some catching up to do, but I think I'll certainly attempt this one. If it's too difficult I have a pattern that's similar.
Kathleen Bruner
I didn't know what it was called but I use that Magic Knot Join all the time when adding a new skein of the same color yarn. Never thought about using it to change colors. I have never had a problem with it coming loose. Will give it a try as I hate weaving in ends! 🙂
Tamara Kelly
Good to hear Kathleen! I've always been suspicious of knots, but these do seem super secure!
Karen
Thanks for the link to the magic knot join tutorial. I learned something new today! Did you have any trouble getting the color change to happen where you needed it to? And you crocheted over the ends instead of cutting them close like in the video?
Tamara Kelly
What I did was when I had finished the last set of 3 dc for that color, I would stop and add the knot close to the hook, which had the active loop still on it. Then I did the ch 2 - this encompassed the knot, so I was able to hide it in the next round with the new 6 sts in that corner space. And when crocheting the next round I did crochet over them a bit, and then cut the rest off. 🙂
Karen
Thanks for the added info. Looking forward to trying this out!
cookiecsv
I used the magic knot for knitting but never for crochet until I found Tw-in Stitches's blog. It took me a few tries but I can hide the knot nearly every time. Got to admit cutting my yarn had me pretty nervous at first. 🙂 Here's a link to her tutorial. http://www.twinstitches.com/2014/06/changing-colors-with-double-knot.html
Odalys
Awesome. I was wondering same thing.
Christine
So glad you asked that question! I was not sure when to start the knot so skipped it on the 1 st pinwheel. I will be doing it for the remaining three, way too many ends to weave in! Thank you Tamera for the great explanation!
Tamara Kelly
You're very welcome! It's a new technique to me too, but I really do like it! 🙂
Joslin
Hi, Tamara. As always thanks for the great posts!
The "magic knot join" was taught to me as a "cinch knot" and yes, it will hold just dandy so long as it's used with a material that *will hold* a knot - nylon rope, for example, don't always like to be knotted easily. If you use this same knot for another purpose, say joining two ropes, you can then pull on the free ends (the ends we will cut off for joining yarns like this) to loosen the joining so it can be untied. This type of knot is definitely most stable when the knots are cinched tight together as for this joining because the ties actually help hold each other in place. But when I was a kid, I was taught to use a cinch knot on shoe string for a simple bracelet - cinch the string (pull the ties apart by the free ends) to tighten it on the wrist or ankle, or cinch the knot tight (pull either side of the main string) to loosen it so you can pull it off. Funny how things have different names when used for a different purpose, or sometimes folk names from different areas.
Tamara Kelly
Oh how interesting! Thank you Joslin! This is the first knot I feel like I can trust!
Patricia
I really like this square and have already finished! But it looks like the ads on the page have been hacked, so anyone looking at the page using their mobile phone or tablet are redirected to the App Store to purchase an app. I had this issue with the page of the very first square we did. I was unable to leave a comment on the page because I kept being redirected. Maybe you can let them know?
Nikki
I'm trying to do the magic knot join and every time I pull the ends, the knot moves away from the stitches... I've tried pulling different ends (which just results in 2 ridiculous knots spread way far apart) and I've tried switching which yarn I use to make the knots (working yarn versus new yarn) and still the knot moves away... Somebody help me! What am I doing wrong? I really love this square, but I refuse to have a million ends to weave in.
Tamara Kelly
Hi Nikki! If you're having trouble getting the knot close to the stitches, it might help to actually work a stitch short and then tie the knot, and then make the stitches, so you use up that yarn in between.
Keith
Hi Tamara
Really loving this pattern, it's great. As for the Magic Knot, I've been using this knot for years both in crochet and fishing. It is a well known knot used by fishermen and very very reliable.
Hugz
Keith xxx
Tamara Kelly
😀 Thanks for the reassurance Keith! It's hard to overcome an anti-knot bias, but I think this might be the one to do it!
Sherika
YAY! This was an alternative choice for me if I ever needed one. Glad it's a main choice! LOL