Alternating Shells Afghan!

My apologies in advance for rotten photo quality, the ceiling light when bad in my living room about 2 days ago and I haven't had the opportunity to replace it yet.

I made a great big snuggly afghan so that the munchkin can grow with it, and I made it in somewhat more grown-uppy colors for the same reason. I want this afghan to be used until it falls apart, not until she's too cool to like the colors I picked.

It's gotten the seal of "Snuggle Approval" from our official product tester. Honestly, it was getting hard to keep him off of it so I could finish the thing.
The pattern is simple alternating shells with a 4 round border.

if you are using multiple colors, choose an odd number of colors to reduce the number of ends you have to work in, with an odd number (I like 3) you can simply pick up the color you need next at the end of the row and carry your yarn along the outside edge. when you crochet the first row of the border, you'll be hiding all that yarn!

ch desired length, a multiple of 6 +2.

Row 1: sc in 2nd ch from hook, * sk 2 ch, work shell (3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc) in next ch, sk 2 ch, sc in next ch, rep from * across. turn

Row 2: ch 3, 2 dc in last sc of prev row, * sc in ch-sp, work shell (3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc) in sc, rep from * across, work 3 dc in last sc, turn

Row 3: ch 1, sc in first dc, * work shell in sc, sc in in ch-sp, rep from * across, sc in 3rd beg ch

if changing colors, change with the last yo of each row. rep rows 2 and 3 to desired size

Last Row: work across this row picking up pattern depending on which row you ended with - dc in sc, hdc in first dc, sc in next 4 dc, hdc in next dc, dc in sc and so on across.

Border:

Rnd 1: single crochet around placing 3 sc in the corners.

Rnd 2: half double crochet around, placing 3 hdc in the corners

Rnd 3: double crochet around, placing (2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in the corners

Rnd 4: single around, working between sts of prev row, placing 3 sc in the corner ch-sp.

Afghan is imminent!

So, with Dave and Julie's munchkin #2 on the way (due the first week of October!) I've been working like a madwoman to get this afghan done. It's been a chore the whole way because even though everyone who's seen it has loved it, I've never really been a huge fan of the pattern. I finally got far enough that I felt it was a good size and now I've been working on the border for a couple of days.

It looks good. I'm happy with the results. I'm just not that into making zillions of shells and nothing but, ya know? Once I have it finished I"ll post a couple of good pics and maybe if I ask nice I can get a pic of munchkin #1 with her afghan.

Can't take the heat!

I'm dying for the weather to take a turn towards fall! I can't wait to take the nephew apple picking again, I think this year he'll be able to help make applesauce! I love jack o'lanterns and colorful leaves and temperatures in my kitchen that allow for pots to bubble away without making the whole downstairs hot and gross!

Most of all, I look forward to actually being able to sit under an afghan or a quilt to work on it! I have a baby afghan to finish for Dave and Julie and the baby is coming up fast! She's due the beginning of October and I have almost half the afghan to finish, but without air conditioning in most of the house, I couldn't even consider working on it.

I have a quilt top that needs to be made into a quilt and I have a huge set of Dresden Plates that need to be made into a quilt top and then finished off. I have a few sewing projects I'd like to do for the nephew, too!

More than anything, I'm tired of making fabric yo-yo's because it's too hot to work on anything else. Not that I dislike making yo-yo's, I just like to have a choice.

I do love summer because of my garden, but I get very little done with yarn or any larger projects.

Been a while.

It's been a while since I posted anything on here and I wanted to show you all what I've been working on!

I've been spending more and more time outside. And getting the sunburn to show for it. (I've learned my lesson, and I've invested in both Aloe Gel and good Sunblock.)

Go easy on me, it was the first gorgeous day this spring and it wasn't hot. I bounced happily out the door wearing a tank top and never even realized I had sunburn until it started to itch later that night.

Some friends of ours adopted a little girl (I believe she's about 3 years old) so I made her a bear!

Friends of ours in Baltimore are expecting Baby #2 this fall, so I've been working on an afghan for them. Even when I have my nephew at McDonald's. I get the chance to work while he's playing, and sometimes I even get to share my web site or talk yarn with other parents!

Got up to Glen Onoko for the first time! We didn't go up the Falls this time because we actually had a project we wanted to sit and work on, but we did walk out the access road/bike trail quite a distance.

We climbed around at the base of the falls a bit, and it looks like my knee is going to hold up pretty well for me this summer, as long as I'm not stupid about the hiking and climbing.

I bought a bike last week and I've been riding to work as weather allows. I've walked for a little over a month now, and happily switched over to riding, it means I get a little extra time in my morning, and I don't need a ride home. Without losing anymore time out of my day to my commute than I did when I was walking one way and getting a ride the other.

A very full few days

So, it's only Wednesday, and I feel like I've already put in a weeks worth. I finished a pattern for the site, it just needs a photo and to be typed up. I have an afghan pattern a good portion of the way finished.

Sunday, I worked a half day to cover for someone who was sick, then finished the one pattern and big part of the other.

Monday morning, I went to the gym and then I worked a closing shift. At work, I finished up the last 13 pieces in a set of 71 that I had been working on.

Tuesday, I went to the gym with Liam, then worked another closing shift, this time with Liam.

Today, I worked another half day, because I had to leave early because apparently overtime is evil. I bought the stuff I need for a couple of Mother's Day gifts that I'm responsible for and the stuff to make the favors and start the centerpieces for my Mad Hatter's Tea Party. Then I came home and played on the internet for a while. Then I went for a sushi lunch, hit Walmart for some odds and ends and then went to Wegman's for the tea bags for my favors.

Then I called Dave and we went tromping around in the woods at the Mary Immaculate Center, and climbed a tree. Then we went out for dinner.

Now, I'm home, putting my favors together and playing on Facebook.
Whew.

Tomorrow plans are gym with Liam and then babysit and make a Mother's Day gift with Lyam. (No, that is right, there are 2 Lyam's and they spell their names differently. One is Scottish origin - Lyam, the other is short for William - Liam. Also, one of them is 2 1/2 and I babysit him, the other is a coworker and dear friend of mine.)

Friday - work, then Date night.

Saturday - another closing shift.

I hope you followed all of that, because I'm not sure that I didn't miss something.

Oh, also, I sold a coffee cup sleeve and pair of baby slippers this week.

Granny Square Guitar Afghan

Granny Square Guitar Afghan

(click here for plain English)

materials:
brown yarn
black yarn
white yarn (or background color of choice)
crochet hook
tapestry or yarn needle (only needed if you sew squares together or are embroidering the accents)

notes:
I have not actually made this afghan. The graph was designed at the request of a visitor to this website looking for a pattern to make a gift. Unfortunately, that also means that I don't know the yarn amounts.

Allow extra black yarn to either crochet or embroider the strings, bridge, and tuning pegs. Frets optional.

on layout "\" and "/" denote which way the diagonal split between colors will run

pattern:
complete all squares using the traditional granny square and diagonal 2-color granny patterns.

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guitar body is done in brown
music notes and sound hole in black
background in white (or other color of choice)

join squares with method of choice

notes stems, tuning pegs, bridge and strings should either be embroidered on the surface of the afghan, or crocheted and attached as appliqué.
frets are optional