002/365 Ring Around a New Year

This square by Aurora Suominen was selected as the 6" square for December in the 2011 Crochet-Along Block-A-Month group on Ravelry. It took me a bit to figure out that I needed to work my DC's into, not the round prior, but the one under that; however, once I did, it went swimmingly. I decided to do this one using Aaron's colors, and I think it worked out quite well. I hope he likes it as much as I do. (=

Pattern link on Ravelry.

Yarns used:
Herrschner's Worsted 8: Frost Heather
Herrschner's Worsted 8: Mist
Herrschner's Worsted 8: Midnight

Hook used: I

Updated 2011-12-10 at 6:24 pm to add better pictures.

001/365 Homecoming Queen of Bullions

I had this square by Margaret MacInnis in my queue on Ravelry already, and then it was announced as the 12" square for the 2011 Crochet-Along Block-A-Month. I figured I should go ahead and do it. (=

The bullions were time consuming, but they weren't nearly as treacherous as they could have been thanks to someone's suggestion of using a piece of drinking straw slipped over my hook to work them. Brilliant!

Pattern link on Ravelry.

Yarns used:
Herrschner's Worsted 8: Sunshine
Red Heart Super Saver: E300-311 White
Red Heart Super Saver: E300-390 Hot Red

Hook used: I

Edited 2011-12-10 at 6:19 pm to add better photos.

Planning for December 2011

So, today I planned out most of my squares for next month.  I left a few openings for the Block-A-Month Crochet-Along in which I'll be participating.  Here's what I have planned for the month:

• From 50 Fabulous Crochet Squares:
• Moody Blues by Jean Leinhauser (7.5" x 7.5")
• Cluster Blossoms by Jean Leinhauser & Rita Weiss (7" x 7")
• Whirligig by Jean Leinhauser, Rita Weiss, & Kathy Wesley (8" x 8")
• Lavender Blossom by Jean Leinhauser (8" x 8")
• Purple Passion by Jean Leinhauser (9" x 9")
• Coral Rose by Jean Leinhauser (10" x 10")
• From 99 Granny Squares to Crochet:
• Square 1 of 99 by Leisure Arts
• Square 2 of 99 by Nair Carswell
• Square 3 of 99 by Carole Prior
• Square 47 of 99 by Tammy Kreimeyer
• Square 59 of 99 by Martha Brooks Stein
• Square 60 of 99 by Martha Brooks Stein
• Square 61 of 99 by Carole Prior
• Square 62 of 99 by Melissa Leapman
• Square 63 of 99 by Cynthia Lark
• Square 64 of 99 by Carole Pfeifer
• Square 65 of 99 by Maggie Weldon
• Square 66 of 99 by Patricia Kristofferson
• Square 67 of 99 by Martha Brooks Stein
• From 200 Crochet Blocks for Blankets, Throws, and Afghans by Jan Eaton:
• Square 15 of 200 - Corner Square
• Square 16 of 200 - Waterlily
• Square 35 of 200 - Tricolor Square
• Square 47 of 200 - Queen Anne's Lace
• Square 48 of 200 - Danish Square
• Square 58 of 200 - Peach Rose
• Square 79 of 200 - Baltic Square
• Square 100 of 200 - Pastel Delight

I've gone through and looked at each of these to decide whether any felt feminine to me.  I want to keep a balance between distinctly feminine squares and unisex squares as I go if I can.  To my knowledge, all the squares in 200 Crochet Blocks are 6" x 6", but we'll see when I work them up.  The ones in 99 Granny Squares to Crochet are all different shapes and sizes (with none actually listed in the booklet), so they'll be a surprise as well.

Anticipation ...

In just under two weeks, I'll begin a very ambitious project: crocheting a granny square each day for 365 days.  My intention is to use those squares (and possibly other granny-style shapes) to get a jump start on my Christmas gifts for 2012.  Feel free to follow along with my journey, or jump in with me!  Either way, I hope you'll enjoy the ride.