Pandemic Crochet Project #3 - Montana Wrap - Backing up a bit

 I put this project down for maybe 10 months ago . . .  or could it be a year??  Oh, my!! 

I got a wee bit frustrated when I started to struggle due to my counts being off and my efforts to correct as I went along weren't working.  So into the project bin it went where it was pushed to the bottom. 

I have other WIP projects too and maybe I should keep more going as I get bored easily with the same pattern.  Love the final results but sometimes it isn't enough to drive me to finish.  Squares can be difficult with the same thing over and over even with the different colors.  My current one is black and white squares, lol.  It will be beautiful when I finish.  That is my previous post.

I pulled out Montana on Friday and started counting stitches at the beginning of the last row.  I put in some stitch markers every 12 stitches . . I just picked that out of my hat but it was very helpful to stay on target for the section where I think I really screwed up.  I worked my way down several rows.  It turns out it is going to mean pulling out several rows, sigh, about 12 rows!

This mosaic crochet pattern is done in rows with the yarn cut at the end of the row.  I have a color scheme that I am following and I want an easier way to organize the yarn.  So I didn't remove the whole row but took it back as far as I needed.   I rolled into a small ball which I then put into a plastic bag.

After a few hours of pulling and rolling I was ready to start again.

Yesterday I did a few rows and I marked the pattern with the remaining missing stitches or extra stitches.  I would have to pull the whole thing apart to get rid of all mistakes , , at least the last ones are consistent.

AMMA Cal Black and White Viking Version - Pandemic Project #5?

I keep finding more mosaic crochet projects to create.  This is another one from Tinna Thorudottir Thorvaldar ( Tinnacrochet.com ).   I bought the kit for the Viking Granny two-color version from her with the Icelandic wool, Lopi Lettlopi.  Shipping from Iceland was not cheap but the kit includes a written version of the pattern with charts.  

There are videos available on YouTube for assistance.  https://www.youtube.com/c/TinnaThorudottirThorvaldar    

I have a part time assistant like many others . . . Bart makes a good model/prop for photos.

I started very ambitiously . . .  planned to make 2 squares a week.  That went well for 1 week.  

The LOLA square.

I decided to make the tiny versions in the opposite order of the colors for a pillow.

The SAGA square.

The first two tiny squares!

Then I went off on a tangent as I decided to buy some other colors to make tiny squares . . .  I got frustrated with the magic circle.  Imagine that.  I think I might need to buy more of that white/cream.  Thankfully I found a source in California that is importing this wool.

I got back to it and slowly worked up the last 3 of the designs.  

Up to 4 squares here with 2 of the first one made (SAGA).

The Maria Square

The Dora (or is that Pora?) Square

 

                                                

                        The Tinna Square

I now have 6 squares completed with 6 more to go for the small, 3 x 4 squares  But maybe I can slowly do enough squares for a medium, 4 x 5 squares, and make pillows from the tiny squares in multiple colors.

Crochet pillow cover using Viking Knot mosaic crochet pattern

 Most recent crochet creation using Paintbox DK cotton  in 4 colors: Racing Green, Pistachio Green, Banana Cream and Melon Sorbet.  The pattern used is available on Ravelry : Viking Knot

This is an easy pattern to work in the round.  I had some problems getting the join even,  so I did some sewing at the seam once I was done.   I made a bolster size of 28" x 14" as that suits my needs and the yarn I have available.

Now I really need to finish up another project that has been sitting idle for about 1 year.   So many squares!!!

Pandemic Crochet Project #3 - Montana Scarf/Wrap More Planning and the start!

These two yarns look so good together.  A mix of Aran and Bulky is doable but I am trying to make the stitches with the Aran looser  so Bulky doesn't get pulled too much.   It is noticeably puffier as the yarn is a bit squiggly . . .  not sure that is a proper yarn term . . . maybe I should say it is curlier.  It is a bit trickier to work with due to the curly fuzziness.  I was missing stitches but it is better now.  I did use the Homespun to make some scarves last year so it was not totally unfamiliar.

I am having some challenges in other areas.  Like how much yarn I will really need.   My start had me using the length as designated by the wrap dimensions.  That was 311 stitches which seem like a lot but using only DK or fingerling yarn would make it a good length.  I ended up with a length of NINE feet!!!  oh, my!!  A yarn eater too!!  I was half way through the first pattern row when I had to make a decision.  After counting triangles and stitches, I decided to skip the 2 repeats of the stars.  That caused much tearing out of yarn back to almost the point where I had stopped the first pattern row.  The end is a bit of a mess which means I have more cleanup when I do the border work.

I am also having to recalculate what color Homespun yarn I am using.  One skein is 185 yards.  It doesn't go very far.   I wanted to use the Montana Sky shade but only have 2 skeins.  I managed to get 9 rows from 1 skein.  I have a total of 90 rows of which 45 will be from the Homespun yarn.   I need a plan, right?  And more yarn.  Luckily, my stash does have more of the Homespun which can be used.  I just need to figure out what to use where.

I started a spreadsheet!!  First time I am actually doing this.

I have to make a decision about what colors to use now.   I have 2 skeins of the Montana Sky.  I have used one skein so far  and the second one needs to be used at the end.

My candidates for other colors are Painted Desert, Celestial Stripes, Tourmaline, Colonial . . . all rather matching but with a bit of different color.

One of my helpers, Ozzy

Pandemic Project #2 - Queen CAL Part 4

 I feel like I am so slow but I have steadily been moving forward.   I finished Part 4 yesterday.   It has become more adventurous in this part.   I really confused myself at times but I think I pulled it out at the end.

Now on to Part 5 . . . 

Pandemic Project #2 - Queen CAL - Part #3

 The Simple Adventurous Queen has progressed to Part 3 and diamond variables are increasing . . .  because I can't help myself.

This is just the first third of Part 3.

I was busy this morning marking my charts with the additional adventurous pattern designs.   I have so many designs (provided by Tinna in the purchased pattern) to choose from and I am marking on the printed out charts.  All those colored markers I have hoarded over the years are coming in handy.

AND . . .

Final photos for Part 3

Pandemic Crochet Project#2 - Queen CAL - Part #2

 A small sneak peek.   I am slowly getting there between other things I am doing.   I am going to work on making "Pain au Chocolate" for the first time.   I already have the first rise of the dough in the fridge.

Update! Update! Update!   I finished part 2!!!!  Trying to decide colors for Part 3 and the patterns to use in the big diamonds.  My simple Queen is getting a bit adventurous!  Just look at those stripes in the last bit of Part 2.

Working on the Queen Cal - Pandemic Crochet Project #2 - Part 1

 I dithered around  looking at colors and couldn't make up my mind.   Meanwhile I ordered some more colors to expand my selections and make it even harder to decide.

Soooooooo, I decided to make a start on the small simple version to get some practice.

This is partway though Part One.  Part One is 47 rows.

Updated with the finished Part 1

 

Big Test Swatch for Mosaic Crochet Using Havana Pattern

 Havana Mosaic Sampler

This is what I am currently working on to get ready for the Queen CAL.

UPDATE:  Adding the more or less finished  product so I can move on to the Queen Cal.   Maybe later I will return to to turn this in to something useful like a pillow.

Mosaic Crochet - the Queen CAL

Tinna's Crochet Club Facebook

Tinna's Queen CAL Ravelry

I am notorious about not finishing projects. I did manage to get a few things finished during this pandemic while starting up new ones. I spotted a post on Facebook regarding a group to join and found the woman who had created a few videos on mosaic crochet that I watched awhile back. 

I decided on a scheme based on photos I took while in Morroco. I started digging through my stash and found so much yarn that needs to be used. But which colors?? Some shades are missing from my stash which I need to fill in. I will have to narrow down to specific colors at some point. Eight? Nine? Ten?   Yikes!! 

I guess I am making a Moroccan Queen!!