More of The Bridge, and Blobs and Holes

The first fifteen. They're eight inches square, arranged "randomly" but mostly not sewn together yet. I'm using all the same yarns that I used for rippling — mostly Baby Cashmerino with other sport- and DK-weight yarns mixed in, chosen for color more than anything else. Most of the yarns are still from the stash, but I've spent a few bucks at Close Knit supplementing what I had with a few more-neutral colors — grays, olives, an aqua. I need some mustard, but otherwise, I'm happy. The mint green — it's okay. It works for me, in a weird way. It reminds me of that color they painted old garden tools, and shed doors. If I'd had my druthers I would've gone with gray, but it's a LOT of yarn. I had ten skeins of the mint but I'm pretty sure I'll only be able to finish the square-y top part with that, and I'll have to get more for the side part (all mint).

Kim's seriously got the fever. She's organizing the 'ghan Olympics, I think, with events for everyone: today, the Granny-Along. (There is also a companion Flickr group and I forgot I was a member of the Grannysquares group, and there is also this granny-along group. I know that a few people mentioned that they'd started some other groups, too — there is a lot of super-cool granny-squaring going on out there!) I'm a terrible and unreliable joiner, historically, but I'm going to join the -along, my very first -along. I like seeing how everyone interprets these classics in their own ways. The variations on theme are infinite. It's wonderful.   

For anyone who has written and asked me questions about the 'ghans, please read backwards through the posts here on the blog — I've tracked my sources and progress as thoroughly as I am able to, and any answers I have are already here. I made a decision early on with this to crochet on top of all the ends as I made color changes. I don't tie knots, I don't weave anything in — I am just holding the ends of the previous yarn on top of the previous row and going right over for several inches, and then leaving about a half-inch sticking out the back. I suspect this is not a very hardy way to handle ends — that is, they will most likely start snaking out, eventually, or after washing (though this will be hand-washed when necessary). But, knowing myself as I do, if I had to stop and weave in all these ends this thing would never get done. It just wouldn't. So I'm going with this method and we'll see what happens. I actually have no idea if it's the best thing to do, you know, for the health of the 'ghan — but at this point, for me, if there is to be a 'ghan at all, it'll be a 'ghan with its ends tucked uncomplicatedly into its rows. So it's the right thing to do to ensure the mere existence of the 'ghan. There could be a better way I don't know about, so I'm not necessarily recommending it, mind you — I'm just saying, this is what I'm doing.

I do very much hope that approach meets with Bridget's approval. As ever.

Yeah. She's not buying it.

Comments

[Beth]

It's looking beautiful (under Bridget's watchful guidance, of course)!

[Lilli]

We have that same mint green in our basement hall.

Ah yes, those pesky ends.

It looks absolutely Gorgeous :)

[Alicia G.]

Goodness. That's purdy.

[jeanne-marie]

Oh my god. I think I am actually going to go out and buy a book and a crochet hook and some yarn. I don't know what's come over me. Maybe it's this god-awful weather here in Chicago.

The last thing I crocheted was a potholder when I was 8. It was one of those multicolored yarns: green, orange, white. Ugly as hell. (But when rearranged more artistically, it's the Irish flag!)

[stickchick]

ooooh, I just wanna drool all over your 'ghan and start buying up cashmarino by the truck load!! I love the mint, grey would've been well, um, grey (blaaah).

Bee seems to be approving, sticking around for 3 photos!!

[Colleen]

I love it, love it, love it. I want to make one EXACTLY like this.

[Sarah]

I love the way the colors you chose make the squares different sizes.

I think I'm going to have to learn how to crochet a granny square and join an -along myself.

[Natalea]

Beautiful work!!

[Karin]

I love the mint green. It's beautiful!

[Chris Howard]

For better or worse, I will always think of that color as "Martha Stewart Green". The afghan looks very lovely, and very you. When it's all done, you'll have to show us a pic of it in the room where it will "live".

[Lisa H.]

You're inspiring me to want to take up crocheting. The granny squares just seem so...I don't know...homey? to me. And I'm not usually much of a grey person, but I really like it with the other colors you've chosen. It's looking very pretty!

[sue]

Granny looks good I'm anxious to start mine but I'm still rippling along. I'm jealous looking out your window and seeing green bushes we got more snow. Can you say The Shining? It's gotta end soon.

[Robyn]

It all looks beautiful! I have a similar green in my granny square afghan I'm working on. I think I might join the -along, or I might not. I'm not much of a joiner, but I do enjoy what you're doing with yours.

[Erin D.]

OMG is that Gorgeous!!! The mint green is perfect with all those colors just lovely!
Great, I have hardly got any of my stripey afghan done and now I want to do a granny afghan too! But I need to finish the stripe to get practice, I only know the simple crochet, like dc and such, I just taught myself from a book. But next I will do a granny! And it is all your fault! :O) hee

You use colors together so beautifully! I am just mesmerized.

[Vallen Queen]

Gosh I like you more everyday. When I read that a woman who is so admired and has so many fans and makes such great stuff just tucks in the ends of the yarn when she crochets, well I can't tell you how good it makes me feel. I do stuff like that all the time and feel like a bandit about it so it's very reassuring to know that someone else does it, too, and talks about it to hundreds of people. You AND your afghan rock!

[patty]

"WHAT'S THIS?? Still the embroidered pastries and not my beautiful whiskered face??? harumph!" (Bridget stalks off..)
I stupidly got a book out of the library called 200 Crochet blocks for blankets, afghans and throws - what a mistake! Too many choices! The granny square is in there of course, with tons of other cute patterned blocks - I see myself in debt to the yarn store already as my stash is so small right now... it may be a 'ghan-o-rama coming soon!

[KsMaryLou]

Alright already, enough of the cats! Where's that hot pup Audrey?..............Crockett

[KsMaryLou]

Oh dear I'm sorry about Crockett, the poor boy just can't help himself.

Your afghan is coming along beautifully. I haven't crocheted since I cut my finger bad enough to land in the ER quite a number of years ago. I tried to crochet after that but the yarn going across my finger just sent the nerve into a fit. Don't know if I could crochet again, but heck I gave all that yarn away and just don't really need anymore of any kind of stash.............it's tempting though.

[daria]

I can't even express how much I love that you're working under such stern kitty scrutiny. the mint adds freshness that grey wouldn't, I like it!

[Amy G.]

Bridget is actually *glaring* into the camera in the second pic! You've got a demanding Quality Control department there. The afghan is seriously beautiful already, and you are a fast crocheter!

[laura]

Love watching your progress on this. Have you seen the afgan tote at Anthropologie? Let me try to link it: http://www.anthropologie.com/jump.jsp?itemID=15226&itemType=PRODUCT&iSubCat=327&iMainCat=325

[Lily]

Oh it's perfect! It should be called the Bee Blanket! She sure does love it! I'm still in the early stages of crochet-knowledge...currently making a simple cover for my ipod. Sounds quite good, but is actually just a long strip folded up and stitched to make a pocket! x

[Carrie]

It seems to me that, if individual ends work free during the use of the blanket, you can weave those in, individually. I suspect that crocheting over the ends would be more than adequate for most of them.

[kelpkim]

i wonder what it is about the 'ghan that attracts The Bee and captures her attention so much? she's definitely a cutie. have you every been able to take a picture of the 3 kids together? i doubt it, huh? :o)

[annie]

I love the way your cat is so nosy about this blanket. Beautiful colours, too!