It's the end of yet another crochet along here on Moogly! This has certainly been an interesting year in many ways, and I'm so glad all of your chose to CAL with me - and now it's time to bring MooglyCAL2017 to a close... and get ready for MooglyCAL2018!
Disclaimer: Yarn provided by Lion Brand; Hook provided by Furls; this post includes affiliate links.
First, my finished MooglyCAL2017 blanket!
Okay, so full disclosure - there are still some ends on the back that I'll be weaving in over the holidays. I had ordered extra yarn last year, but found that the previous year's total still worked - so unless you used a crazy join or border, we've got it nailed down at this point! (More on that in the info for 2018 below!)
I created a new border pattern for this year's blanket as well, using my joining color (Lion Brand Vanna's Choice in Silver Grey), and the leftover bits of the other colors. CLICK HERE for the pattern for the Windows Border - fresh on Moogly!
For the joining, I used a modified version of my Tight Braid Join. I worked 12 "sc, ch-3" loops on the side of each square, and a "sc, ch-3, sc" loop in each corner. The number of stitches skipped between each sc varied a bit since all the squares had different stitch final counts, but the "standard" was a skip 2, and I adjusted from there. The following squares were joined on the 2nd chain of each ch-3 loop (see the Tight Braid Join tutorial for more details).
Before we move on to 2018, I want to take a moment to thank all the designers from 2017! They have all worked super hard to bring you original designs all year long - and this Crochet Along could never happen without them! They all have tons of fantastic patterns to check out, so be sure to give them a visit and see what else they have to offer!
Let's give them a round of virtual applause! You can see all the patterns used in the 2017 CAL here on Moogly or on the MooglyCAL2017 Pinterest board.
Now for what you've been waiting for - the MooglyCAL2018!
WHAT ARE WE MAKING:
Over the course of 2018, we'll make twenty-four 12" crochet squares or blocks together. Then, at the end of the year, you can join them up to make a 4' x 6' blanket, or make two 3' x 4' baby blankets - or add more squares to make an even bigger afghan! Each block will have its own post here on Moogly, with my version, my notes and helpful hints for that square, and the schedule of blocks with all the previous blocks linked. The actual patterns will be on the designer's blogs.
WHO IS DESIGNING THEM:
I've got a great list of designers again this year - some who have contributed to Moogly CALs before, as well as a few new names to mix it up! I'm so excited to see what they come up with! Each designer will be "revealed" along with their square.
WHAT DO YOU NEED:
The main details for 2018 will be the same as 2017, with the list of supplies shown in the graphic below. I can't tell you *what* yarn I'm using yet - but I will share it as soon as I can! I've listed total yardage here - divide it by the number of colors you want to use, and then divide that by the yardage given for your yarn choice to see how many balls of yarn you will need.
WHEN DOES IT RUN:
The first square of MooglyCAL2018 will debut on Thursday, January 18th, 2018. (I had a type here earlier - my apologies!) For those who made the previous year's afghans, you might notice that this is a two week later start than previous years - this is for a whole host of reasons, but it also gives a little rest and a chance for the designers to catch their breath over the holidays!
A new square will debut every two weeks, on Thursdays - except for Thanksgiving week, when it will debut on a Wednesday. The last square will debut December 6th, 2018. Then you can join them up and add a border et voila! That's MooglyCAL2018!
I hope you'll join us in 2018 - and if you decide to add extra squares, be sure to check out this year's designs - they are great to mix and match! Thank you all so much, again, for CAL with me!
You can follow Moogly on Facebook, Twitter, G+, Pinterest, Instagram, and Tumblr, and don’t forget to sign up for the free newsletter at the top of the page! Thank you to Lion Brand Yarn for providing the yarn for the 2017 crochet along.
Adrienne McCarthy
Thanks, Tamara! I LOVE that border, and your afghan is amazing as usual! It was a very wonderful year, full disclosure = I was not able to keep up with my squares due to other commitments ... awful, I know! But our FB group was absolutely rocking it this year and we've already had many new members joining us for next year! We are well over 11,000 members and counting. All three of us will be back to admin, and I WILL be CAL-ing along!
Tamara Kelly
Thank you so much Adrienne! The Facebook group has been amazing, and I will definitely be linking it again when I announce my colors next month! 😀 I'm so glad to hear you're all coming back - thank you all SO MUCH for all the hard work I know you do. ♥
Julie
I didn’t quite make it this year - life got in the way.. But together with my 2016 squares I think some time in 2018 my Moogly Cal Blanket will be finished.
It’s been great fun to ‘meet’ the different designers and their take on the squares.
Happy holidays from Denmark.
Love from Julie.
Tamara Kelly
😀 I'm glad you enjoyed it! Thank you Julie, and Happy Holidays to you as well! 😀
Rose
What do you do with your blankets? I have five or so and I live in Texas. Do you display them? If so how?
Tamara Kelly
We use them like regular blankets here in Iowa! 🙂 I try to keep one on the guest bed nice - though the kids tend to take them!
Jennifer skasko
Please reconsider the start date! For the last three years I've made amazing afghans and it's been wonderful to finish in time for Christmas. I worry that December 13th is too late for me to be able to have time to join and border in the height of the season. The old schedule was better! Just my opinion....
Tamara Kelly
I understand Jennifer, hopefully we'll be able to move it back up for 2019.
Kellie Winegar
I didn't make it this year because I had a million and one WIP's I was trying to get caught up on but I'm excited to get started on 2018's cal. I love all your work!!
Tamara Kelly
😀 Thank you so much Kellie! It's a crazy time of year for sure!
Janet Powell
Hello, I'm really excited about this, I've never done a crochet along and I've been feeling somewhat dead in the water with my inspiration, I tried to make a business of my work but I'm not doing very well at all so I'm hoping this will help keep my interest piqued as the year goes on, thanks for letting me join in, love Janet (UK)
Tamara Kelly
🙂 I hope you enjoy it!
Lisa
Thank you so much for all the work you have shared this past year. I've loved all the blocks, and your final afghan is great. Looking forward to next year.
Thanks again, and Happy New Year,
Lisa, in Alabama, USA
Tamara Kelly
😀 Thank you so much Lisa! Happy New Year!
Jackie
Do you know yet how manny colors you’ll be doing for the 2018 CAL?
I really liked how your 4 color blocks came out for the 2017 one.
Jackie
I meant that to be 6 colors for 2017 not 4.
Tamara Kelly
Thank you! I still plan on using 6 colors. 😀 I'll be sharing my color choices on the 17th, the day before the first block. 🙂
Dan
I've never done a CAL before, so I want to be sure I understand the yarn requirements: all 6 colors are used equally across the 24 blocks? I don't need more of one color as a background color? And does the 4420 yards include the yarn to join the squares and make the border?
And another related question: do you have any suggestions (or posts) for developing an afghan color scheme other than copying what others have used? In the web design world, there are a lot of resources for developing and sharing color schemes, but I haven't discovered anything like that for crochet.
Finally, your videos have been invaluable as I have learned to crochet over the last several months. Thank you for all that work you put into tutorials and patterns!
Tamara Kelly
Hello Dan!
I use 6 colors, but you can use however many you like! It's totally up to you how you do your colors - how many, how to place them, etc. Personally I do try to use an even amount of six colors, using 5 of them for the main portion of each square, with the 6th for the last round of each square and the joining and bordering. The 4420 yards includes all the yarn for joining and a small-medium border. If you made a very large elaborate border then you might need more. All the patterns will be written for 2 or more colors, but the individual designers have creative freedom after that - and you're free to get creative with the colors when you make yours. I'll share both the link (and a photo) of the designer's square, as well as a photo of mine and the colors I used for each round, in each of the CAL posts.
The choosing of a color scheme is pretty much the same as picking colors for anything else - you can start with your yarn choice and pick the colors you like from their selection, or decide on a palette and then find the yarn to match. I don't know of any crochet specific color tools.
Thank you so much! 🙂 I hope you enjoy the Crochet Along!
Kim
These squares are beautiful! I've not done a CAL before and I'm wondering if I'll have any chance of keeping up. Can someone share the average stitching time it takes them to complete a square? I know everyone crochets at their own pace, but I'm just looking for some kind if ballpark before I (gulp) invest in 4000 yards of yarn. 🙂
Tamara Kelly
I can usually finish a square in an evening - maybe two if it's particularly intense. 🙂
Kimberly L Kerry
Thank you! That's very helpful!
Jacque Dooley
I am very excited to participate in 2018 crochet--along. I have never participated in a crochet along before. Must I register? Also, I am a couple of steps above a beginner. Can I still participate? I know there are tutorials on Utube if I have a problem. I am so excited! Any words of advice?? Thank you. Jacque Dooley
Tamara Kelly
There's no where to register, and everyone is welcome! The Facebook group is a great place to go for pattern help if you need it. 🙂 I'm so glad you've decided to join, I hope you enjoy it!
Joan LoBrutto
I can't wait for the 2018 CAL. I finally picked my 6 colors, boy was that hard. I have a question about blocking since I have never done it before, do you use a blocking board? I was looking at Chetnanigans for a board. Do you know if this is a good choice? They are pricey so I want to make sure. Hopefully they will go on sale when I need to buy one. Thank you for your help.
Tamara Kelly
I do - and I love love love my Chetnanigans blocking board!
Cathy Kenny
THanks for another great CAL,Tamara! 2017 was my 4th year & the first time I didn’t get finished. I’ll be finishing up this year as I watch & save the 2018 squares. I sure appreciate all the designers who give of their time and talent!
Tamara Kelly
Thank you so much for being part of it! 😀
Madelyn Gaddis
So excited about following along. Done with my first block. Thanks for your time that you put in to bring this to us.
Tamara Kelly
😀 I'm so glad you are enjoying it!
Tracy McDonald
I'M USING ALL CAPS SO I can see! I'M LOST. COULD YOU EMAIL ME A LINK WHERE TO START? THE CAL 2018 SEEMS TO HAVE 2 LINKS. YOU HAVE A LOT ON THIS SITE. BESY WISHES , TRACY
Tamara Kelly
Hi Tracy! The first square for this year is at https://www.mooglyblog.com/cal-2018-1/ and the second square is at https://www.mooglyblog.com/cal-2018-2/
Karen Bollard
Hi Tamara,
Square 6 is out now so 1/4 done. Is it too late to start do you think?
I'm not the speedier nor the slowest of cricketers...
Karen.
Tamara Kelly
I think you've got plenty of time! The squares are only 12" x 12", and they only come out every two weeks. Even if you only get half of them made, that's still a baby blanket! And lots of people do them on their own time too - you don't have to "keep up." 🙂
Cecelia Remedios
Hoping you will do a 2019 CAL!!!
LOOKING FORWARD TO IT
Tamara Kelly
Yes, absolutely! Trying to make it better and better every year! 😀
Jackie
Where is square 1 for 2018?
Tamara Kelly
Hi Jackie! Here is the most recent CAL post for 2018, with all the squares so far linked in the schedule: https://www.mooglyblog.com/cal-2018-23/ 🙂