I’ve finished my first afghan of the CAL – twelve blocks in blue and green shades of River Washed XL and Stone Washed XL, an aran weight yarn. Each block measures about 14″ and my finished blanket is about 45″ x 60.”
I love my collaborative work of art! Thank you to @shelby_sheas_stitches , mugginsquilts , @JessieAtHome , @HelenShrimpton , @CypressTextiles , @mooglyblog , @ALoopOfSunshine , @Lmauser , @cheryldeecrochet , and @tiggerbee for your generous contributions to the crochet community. Looking forward to the next 36 weeks.
Welcome to Week 11 of our 2019 Block of the Week Crochet Along. I am pleased to see so many of you chatting and sharing photos on my Ravelry board and my Facebook Crochet-A-Long group. Feel free to jump in any time. Please use hashtags #BAWJ2019 and #crochetalongwithJulieanny.
This week we have a fast and easy square from Jacqui Goulbourn named Mistley Square. Mistley has some of the things I love most – a floral center and lots of popcorns. These are nice fat 5 stitch popcorns, too. Love ‘em. Jacqui (tiggerbee) is a long-time promoter of afghan squares as the moderator of Ravelry’s Block a Month (BAMCAL) board for many years, and is a prolific crocheter and designer of such unique and compelling squares as On the Huh and Alter Ego. I love the way her mind works! Jacqui is offering Mistley as a free Ravelry download. Thank you, Jacqui, for this fun addition to our crochet-along! Be sure to check out Jacqui’s website, catkitbob.com.
Have you purchased your CAL bag yet? Mailing out almost every day – my custom heavy-duty canvas tote bag. NEW: For the bag alone without included patterns, see this Etsy listing. For a free bag with pattern purchase see here for more information.
Welcome to Week 10 of our 2019 Block of the Week Crochet Along. I am pleased to see so many of you chatting and sharing photos on my Ravelry board and my Facebook Crochet-A-Long group. Feel free to jump in any time. Please use hashtags #BAWJ2019 and #crochetalongwithJulieanny.
This week we have a fun and thoroughly tested design called Rosebud Afghan Square by Cheryl Dee Floyd of Cheryl Dee Crochet. Cheryl Dee has been designing afghan squares for a few years now and I love how her designs are easy to stitch but look more difficult. Reminds me a little of me! Cheryl has been delving into rainbow themes lately, and Rosebud Afghan Square lends itself to a beautiful rainbow colorway. The flower is pretty and I just love that little rosebud in the corner. Helpful photo tutorial included. I first noticed Cheryl’s designs with the lovely Arctic Whisper Snowflake Hexagon but I also love Tunisian Pinwheel Square and Four Diamonds Granny Square. Grab Rosebud Afghan Square now free for a limited time on Ravelry with Coupon Code rosebud. See Cheryl’s other patterns and chat with her testing group – on Ravelry.
Have you purchased your CAL bag yet? Mailing out almost every day – my custom heavy-duty canvas tote bag. NEW: For the bag alone without included patterns, see this Etsy listing. For a free bag with pattern purchase see here for more information.
Welcome to Week 9 of our 2019 Block of the Week Crochet Along. I am pleased to see so many of you chatting and sharing photos on my Ravelry board and my Facebook Crochet-A-Long group. Feel free to jump in any time. Please use hashtags #BAWJ2019 and #crochetalongwithJulieanny.
This week we have a lovely square designed by the very creative crochet designer Lisa Mauser of This Little Hook of Mine. Lisa is Lmauser on Ravelry and after I saw all of her unique designs popping up on Ravelry, I had to have her in this CAL! She did not disappoint, with this beautiful square called Quatrefoil Rosette. Go to Lisa’s blog for the link today. The square is detailed and complex, but Lisa’s well-written instructions accompanied by a photo-tutorial will lead your way to success. See Lisa’s other beautiful blocks such as Window Box Granny, and Hope Still, and see her blog for her current CAL. You can also find her on her Ravelry board.
Have you purchased your CAL bag yet? Mailing out almost every day – my custom heavy-duty canvas tote bag. NEW: For the bag alone without included patterns, see this Etsy listing. For a free bag with pattern purchase see here for more information.
Welcome to Week 8 of our 2019 Block of the Week Crochet Along. I am pleased to see so many of you chatting and sharing photos on my Ravelry board and my Facebook Crochet-A-Long group. Feel free to jump in any time. Tag your Ravelry project pages with #BAWJ2019 and social media posting with the same or with #crochetalongwithJulieAnny.
Have you purchased your CAL bag yet? Mailing out almost every day – my custom heavy-duty canvas tote bag, see here for more information. If you spend $25 in one day on my patterns, send me your address and I will send out the bag to your U.S. address. For International addresses, postage is at cost and can be calculated on my Etsy listing.
This week we have a lovely square designed by the prolific Tamara Kelly of Moogly.com. Tamara has done so much to popularize the crochet blogging world over the past few years. She is a tireless representative of our craft and I am amazed at her designs, her innovative ideas, and her work ethic. I have had the pleasure of participating with her Moogly Block of the Month project over the past several years. Joyful Afghan Square is a fun mandala with opportunities for color play in a soothing and fun design. The pattern is posted in full on the Moogly blog, and while you are there, check out some of my other favorites, like Greyson Baby Blanket, Blackberry Salad Striped Baby Blanket, and Moroccan Market Tote. The Ravelry listing is here if you would like to see what other people have done with it. Make a project page!
Have you purchased your CAL bag yet? Mailing out almost every day – my custom heavy-duty canvas tote bag, see here for more information. If you spend $25 in one day on my patterns, send me your address and I will send out the bag to your U.S. address. For International addresses, postage is at cost and can be calculated on my Etsy listing.
Welcome to Week 6 of our 2019 Block of the Week Crochet Along. I am pleased to see so many of you chatting and sharing photos on my Ravelry board and my Facebook Crochet-A-Long group.
One Love II is a beautiful textured block available free on Rachele’s website.
Some of Rachele’s other standout designs are Happy Little Tree Blanket , and Dutch Rose, and I really love Trellis and Chevron. Rachele is a mom of four little ones; I don’t know how she has the time to produce so many beautiful designs, but like they say, if you want something done, ask a busy person.
Have you purchased your CAL bag yet? Mailing out almost every day – my custom heavy-duty canvas tote bag, see here for more information. If you spend $25 in one day on my patterns, send me your address and I will send out the bag to your U.S. address. For International addresses, postage is at cost and can be calculated on my Etsy listing.
Welcome to Week 5 of our 2019 Block of the Week Crochet Along. I am pleased to see so many of you chatting and sharing photos on my Ravelry board and my Facebook Crochet-A-Long group.
Please post project photos on Ravelry and use hashtags #BAWJ2019 and #crochetalongwithJulieAnny on social media.
This week I have the pleasure of featuring the work of one of the shining stars of the crochet world, Helen Shrimpton of www.crystalsandcrochet.com. Helen has come up with another “perfect” design, perfectly balanced and perfectly written, called Clarissa for the bright and clear sun in the center mandala. The pattern has a photo tutorial with each round for the visual learners. I really enjoyed stitching this block, and learned a thing or two along the way.
Helen has only been designing in earnest for a few years, but is a true professional. You cannot have missed Helen’s beautiful blankets Mandala Madness and Cosmic CAL, and check out her latest design, The Lost Garden. So beautiful! If you’d like to try another of her afghan blocks, you cannot go wrong with Spiro Star. Check out Helen’s Deramores shop for yarn packs to go with her designs. Thank you, Helen, and here is my version of Clarissa:
Have you purchased your CAL bag yet? Mailing out almost every day – my custom heavy-duty canvas tote bag, see here for more information. If you spend $25 in one day on my patterns, send me your address and I will send out the bag to your U.S. address. For International addresses, postage is at cost and can be calculated on my Etsy listing.
Welcome to Week 4 of our 2019 Block of the Week Crochet Along. I am pleased to see so many of you chatting and sharing photos on my Ravelry board and my Facebook Crochet-A-Long group.
Remember how I told you that some weeks will be more challenging than others? Well, welcome to your first challenge of 2019 – Iris Twins by my old friend Mugginsquilts – Margaret MacInnis! While Iris Twins is as well-written as all of Margaret’s work, each round will keep you on your toes. I found myself enjoying the ride as I tackled each twist and turn. Because I may have complained a little too much, Margaret has kindly given us another beautiful block this week called Bufflehead, which I have not tried yet as I was a little under the weather but I am looking forward to working it up this week. And thanks again for making them both free Ravelry downloads! And thanks for the very helpful included photo tutorial!
beautiful version by DakotaStamper
Margaret has been a good internet friend since we met on Ravelry exchanging afghan squares over ten years ago. It is amazing how crafting and the internet brings people together. Margaret is a busy woman these days, even busier than when she was a working nurse raising a family. Among her latest ventures is her burgeoning career as a vintner. Yes, she farms in the wilds of Saskatchewan and grows a very interesting fruit called a Haskap berry, and is almost ready to start producing wine. In fact, Margaret would like us to weigh in on the design of her wine label, so won’t you check it out and pick a favorite here. Margaret is a prolific knitter as well as a crochet and knit designer; some favorites are the very simple (for her) Cat’s Claw afghan block, and her geometric masterpieces, Deftly Delft and Ring Rosy. Margaret has been quiet on her blog recently, but you can always find her and keep up with new designs on her Ravelry board, More Muggins’ Marvels.
Have you purchased your CAL bag yet? Mailing out almost every day – my custom heavy-duty canvas tote bag, see here for more information. If you spend $25 in one day on my patterns, send me your address and I will send out the bag to your U.S. address. For International addresses, postage is at cost and can be calculated on my Etsy listing.
Do not miss the last few days of my BOGO sale in my entire Ravelry store until the end of January with Coupon Code BOGO18. Buy two patterns and the lower priced pattern is free.
Welcome to Week 3 of our 2019 Block of the Week Crochet Along. I am pleased to see so many of you chatting and sharing photos on my Ravelry board and my Facebook Crochet-A-Long group.
In the course of an afghan square crochet-along, some weeks will be more challenging than others. Some blocks will be at a beginner level, some intermediate, some experienced, but you will learn something and increase your skills with every block. I always pick up new little techniques. This week you will get plenty of experience with post stitches in the context of a relaxing square, Flame Square by Jessie Rayot. The square works up nice and square and I love the opportunity for a flame-like color progression, although mine is in blues and greens. Hmm, makes me think I used too much off-white in my other blocks.
Jessie has been stitching since childhood and is a formidable force in the crochet-blogging world, with daily posts on her blog Jessie at Home, featuring crochet and knit patterns, tutorials, and a very helpful “Stitchopedia.” If you are looking for another fun afghan block, try Tamara’s Kismet Square, and you can’t help being impressed by her CGOA Design Competition Winner, Fall Leaves Wrap. One of Jessie’s favorites is her beautiful Spring Shells wrap. You can follow Jessie on her blog, Jessie at Home, her Facebook page, and all social media. Thank you, Jessie, for these beautiful designs, and I’m sure we will enjoy making our Flame Square this week.
Have you purchased your CAL bag yet? Mailing out almost every day – my custom heavy-duty canvas tote bag, see here for more information. If you spend $25 in one day on my patterns, send me your address and I will send out the bag to your U.S. address. For International addresses, postage is at cost and can be calculated on my Etsy listing.
Do not miss the last few days of my BOGO sale in my entire Ravelry store until the end of January with Coupon Code BOGO18. Buy two patterns and the lower priced pattern is free.
