Blooming Lace by Melinda Miller (CAL Week 6)

Eight Pointed Flower by Julie Yaeger (CAL Week 7)

This is probably my favorite CAL block so far. The flower is quite striking and has the potential for a lot of detail with frequent color changes as I’ve done. The block features some nice relief, with two raised backpost-stitched edges to create a frame (in violet) and the background worked behind four of the petals, making them stand out a bit. The backpost stitches are a bit tedious in the fine, laceweight yarn I’m using, so I may experiment with doing surface crochet in place of the backpost stitching in the future.

I plan to do this one again in perle cotton. I think a combo of rich colors with a conservative amount of black would be very striking. I’m bookmarking this one to go along with Edwardian Fantasy for some future project.

The first three blocks are from the Crafty Crochet Community Block a week 2014 CAL. Most folks are using DK weight, resulting in 12″ blocks. I’m using lace weight acrylic-wool blend, resulting in 3.5″ blocks.

Starfire by Melinda Miller (CAL Week 5) 

Basket of Berries by Melinda Miller (CAL Week 4)

Unfortunately, while trying to work the reverse popcorn stitches to the front I pulled too hard and broke a join, so this one is beginning to unravel. This is a beautiful block, so I will redo it at some point. The reverse popcorn is a bit challenging with this fine yarn, so I may do the “berries” with a regular popcorn the next time.

SmoothFox’s Starburst Flower Square (CAL Week 3)

Chocolate Box (#145 – 200 Crochet Blocks)

This square is from 200 Crochet Blocks for Blankets, Throws, and Afghans: Crochet Squares to Mix and Match (I’m using the 2005 edition with the red color scheme on the cover). The pattern is named for the color scheme in the book. I’m using different colors, so maybe I should call them “White Chocolate Box” and “Moldy Chocolate Box,”

These were all done with the lace weight acrylic-wool blend I’ve been working with for this project.

Odyssey by Letitia Sherriff

Popcorn Parade by Melinda Miller

I was really happy with out these motifs turned out. Cotton makes for nice, sharp stitching, and the colors are available are simply delicious. I purchased these from Joggles.

Edwardian Fantasy (#88 – 200 Crochet Blocks)

Fudge (#69 – 200 Crochet Blocks)

Willow (#189 – 200 Crochet Blocks)

Catherine Wheel (#73 – 200 Crochet Blocks)

Big Round (#173 – 200 Crochet Blocks)

Peach Rose (#58 – 200 Crochet Blocks)

While this isn’t technically a granny square, it’s a motif block I plan to incorporate into the final project. I’ve posted the free pattern for the Field of Rosebuds stitch. I’m working with a lace weight wool-acrylic-cashmere blend. I’m wet blocking, which doesn’t work well on this yarn so the pieces tend to still be curled and warped. When I assemble the final project, I plan to steam block the pieces.

Rosebud Wreath

This is a pattern of my own design. I am currently finalizing the design and working on a photo tutorial. It uses the same general rosebud and leaf stitches as the Field of Rosebuds block.

Tricolour Square (#35 – 200 Crochet Blocks)

Granny in the Middle (#117 – 200 Crochet Blocks)

I really wanted to experiment with color combos on this one, so I spent a couple days stitching these up.

The first pattern is the African Flower motif square. Made in K-town has an excellent tutorial on making an African Flower Square.

The rest are from 200 Crochet Blocks for Blankets, Throws, and Afghans: Crochet Squares to Mix and Match (I’m using the 2005 edition with the red color scheme on the color).

Primrose Square (#31 – 200 Crochet Blocks)

The flower petals are double crochet clusters, which are “puffed” on the back. I recommend turning your work after finishing the petals (i.e., when changing to yarn B) so the “puffed” side of the clusters are on the front of your work.

Gothic Square (#94 – 200 Crochet Blocks)

I don’t have words for how beautifully these turned out. As you can see from this set, color C (the center square) should be a color that contrasts strongly against the background and center flower colors. By the way, I took these shots right after blocking them, so they’re still damp, making the yarn colors appear uneven.

Traditional Granny (#18 – 200 Crochet Blocks)

I just received a few more colors in the mail, so I have a batch of traditional Granny Square type patterns queued up to experiment with color combinations.

I’m not sure why all of my squares are coming out distorted (the pattern appears to spiral to the left as it progresses).

For the first one (red flower, olive green background): after finishing the flower, I did a CH 3 from petal to petal for a total of twelve 3-CH behind the petals. I connected each 3-CH with an SC stitch, inserting my hook from the back between the last DC in one petal and the first DC in the next, inserting my hook from the front through the same spot as one of the petal slip stitches, and pulling the yarn completely through, then completing the SC stitch. For the next round, I did [DC 3 in a 3-CH twice, then DC 3, CH 3, DC 3 to form a corner], repeating this sequence three more times around the flower. From there, I simply continued adding to the square, putting a DC in each DC of the previous row, and DC 2, CH 2, DC 2 in the chain spaces at the corners.

For the second one (violet flower, beige background) I did something similar to the first, but working granny square DC/CH sequences instead of straight DC stitches.

Japanese Flower Motif Square

The next two are from 200 Crochet Blocks for Blankets, Throws, and Afghans: Crochet Squares to Mix and Match (I’m using the 2005 edition with the red color scheme on the color).

Four Patch Granny (#43 – 200 Crochet Blocks)

Slip stitching the squares together was a bit tedious, so I only made one of these.

Water Lily (#16 – 200 Crochet Blocks)

This was a pretty and fun pattern to work, but I don’t quite have the hang of working behind the petals, so my petals want to slip into the back of the square. The dark flower (nearly black) is done in a color called “Dark Navy” (or “Blue Black”). It looks nearly black to the eye, so I’m not sure I’ll be using much more of it. I’ll probably see if I can get some of the Navy Blue and Sky Blue to use.

This first “Square Lace Motif” pattern is from a Russian site. However, the photos and chart are so well done, I had no problem following the pattern.

Square Lace Motif

The next three are from 200 Crochet Blocks for Blankets, Throws, and Afghans: Crochet Squares to Mix and Match (I’m using the 2005 edition with the red color scheme on the color).

Queen Ann’s Lace (#47 – 200 Crochet Blocks)

Seville (#74 – 200 Crochet Blocks)

Sunshine Lace (#64 – 200 Crochet Blocks)