WIP Weds: More Granny Squares and More Mario

This might be the post that proves I'm mad! Having just finished making 252 granny squares for the mario blanket, I've started more granny squares for another blanket. Luckily I only need 84 this time and I've done the main section of them all (4 rounds in one colour). I'm planning to add a final round of white to each one and then join them using single crochet. It's been a bit of a stash-busting project, using up lots of leftovers and basically tidying up my yarn stash.

What's that on top of those granny squares? Well that's a granny stripe blanket in progress! The plan for these two blankets is that there will be one for each of the kids for Christmas.

On top of those two blankets I'm waiting on some yarn and fabric for some charity blankets I've offered to make. They'll be fairly quick I hope because they don't need to be very big. More on that next week perhaps.

Onto the next Christmas present...

My husband really liked the mario blanket and mentioned he'd quite like a Mario coaster for work. So I used the pattern to do a cross-stitch mario (basically I did a block of 4 stitches for each 'granny square' on the pattern). It's still in progress because I had no flesh colour thread so will be buying some tomorrow to finish it off and then needs to turn it into a coaster but here it is so far:

For more WIP projects check out Tami's blog

Pretty Much Finished: Mario!!!

It's finished, apart from the last two ends to weave in. I am pondering doing a second round of the black but I quite liked it with just the one round so I'll probably think on it a bit.

It's from this pattern by Russ McAllister.

WIP Weds: Mario continues....

I'd love to say I am now relaxing because I finished all 252 granny squares needed for the mario blanket yesterday morning but unfortunatley there were lots of ends to sew in. OTOH I took a load of the squares to sewing group on Monday evening and worked on them there, which gave me the kick start I needed. I managed to get all the ends sewn in yesterday before having to pick Erin up from school.

The kids then sat and watched a film as we were having tea late (friend was visiting) so I started putting the squares together.

There are so many ways of joining granny squares but the one I use most often is to hold the squares right sides together and then slip stitch in the closest and furthest loops (i.e. the back loops only). I like this one as I can do it with my hook and it gives a neat finish to the front.

I considered the join as you go method but decided it wouldn't look quite right for a pixelated picture. I tend to stick to using join as you go for joining squares that have the same colour for the outer round as then the 'join' isn't very noticable.

I tend not to sew together at all. I find this a little strange because I sew & quilt as well as crochet. I think it's perhaps because it is so different to sewing fabric.

Anyway, the first 4 rows are done (that's 56 squares joined)

Please excuse the mess!

There's another 14 rows to go, then I need to go down all the vertical lines so still quite a lot of work. I'm then going to put a couple of rounds of black as a border.

For more WIP Weds posts check out:
Tami's Amis
Ambassador Crochet

WIP Weds: Yes, it's another blanket!

Hello, my name is Hazel and I'm a blanket-holic. I feel like I'm making loads of blankets and quilts. This one is a little bit of a love/hate project. It's incredibly dull making so many granny squares (252) in so few colours (5 colours in total and the yellow is only used for two squares!). I started it just over 8 days ago and I'm up to 130 squares. Pretty impressive for me, especially as I had an assignment due today!

130 granny squares

I have to admit I'm not loving crocheting the brown. I thoguht I would get very bored with the blue but I actually didn't. There seemed to be a 'milestone' to aim for and everytime I hit one, another wasn't far away so it was easy to keep going. The brown though is another story, so I might break it up and do a bunch of reds after I finish my current ball.

Wondering what it is? Well, it's going to be this Mario Blanket by RussMcAllister.

And I couldn't finish this post without mentioning that Orla had a settling in session at nursery today for 1 hour. She insisted on wearing her uniform, which is a little long on her!

For more WIP Weds news see Tami's Amis.