Spiral Hexaround CAL – Nov/Dec 2016

The election results are in!  Our winner is:

SPIRAL HEXAROUND

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So we will CAL to Spiral Hexaround for the next couple of months.  Please follow along on my Ravelry board and Facebook CAL group for like-minded stitchers.  (Facebook search “Crochet Along with JulieAnny.” )

This is a fun and addictive hexagon worked in the round without joining after each round to keep the integrity of the long gradients in the color-changing yarn.  I used Lion Brand Landscapes with a K hook, but you can use your favorite yarn.  Other suggestions are Lion Brand Amazing, Red Heart Boutique Unforgettable, Red Heart Boutique Treasures, Noro Silk Garden, Noro Kureyon, Knitpicks Chroma.  Please let me know your favorites.  For a good price on Landscapes, I found Walmart’s regular price of $4.47 often beats sale prices elsewhere.  Joann.com has frequent sales, Amazon has everything, and please check out all my affiliate links to make your online purchase, and I will get a small commission.

To download the pattern, go to the pattern page on Ravelry, hit Buy it Now, and input the following Coupon Code where indicated.  Hit apply, and the price will come down to zero.  The pattern will be stored in your Ravelry library, and you will receive any updates.  The coupon code is good from now until Nov. 6, 2016, and is HEXAROUND.  Please make a Ravelry project page, and share progress and photos with the group.  If you post a finished photo of your afghan to your Ravelry project page I will give you a coupon for any other single pattern from my Ravelry Store.

Can’t wait to see what you all come up with!

 

 

 

 

Sweet Pea Hex – Clue 5 – Round by Round photos

Leave all ends of Color B dangling until the end, your starting strand and ending strand.  “Join with FPtr” is called a standing stitch and there are YouTube videos.

Row 1:

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Row 2:

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Row 3:

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Row 4 Back and Front:

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Row 5:

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Row 6:

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Row 7:

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Row 8 Front and back: (Row 8, the x 3 after the bracket should be x 4)

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Row 9:

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Row 10:

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Row 11:

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Row 11 with leaves snugged up to stalk using the loose ends of your color B.  Take your darning needle and as you bury your ends bring the leaves snug with the stalk.  You want it to mimic the long stalks with leaves in the rest of the design.

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Row/Round 12 with sc worked around 3 sides and then into raw edge.

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New Affiliate – (Bargains) – Fabric.com

I have a new affiliate online seller – Fabric.com – and they have a nice selection of yarn and crochet tools.  I found my favorite Susan Bates Bamboo Handle hook in size D (the size I was looking for) for only $1.78!  It is just the D size at this price but I’m buying 2!  Lots of nice random bargains on Fabric.com. (Look carefully at the prices!)   I bought a bunch of Berroco Comfort for my next design, yum.  If you get to the site through my links or banners and buy something,  I get a commission, and you get your same prices, thanks!

MysteryGhan 2016 Yarn Requirements and Palette Suggestions

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For my sample I used 21 skeins of Vanna’s Choice to complete an approximately 46″ x 72″ afghan.  (116 x 180 cm)  The recommended hook with Vanna’s Choice is a “J” (6.00 mm) but sometimes I waver between an “I”( 5.5 mm) and a “J” for this yarn.  I am also a loose crocheter.  I used a “J”, but I suggest you can go up to a “K”(6.5 mm), because the post stitches and clusters make a very thick dense fabric, and a too small hook will make it very stiff.  Use your judgement after the first clue as to which size hook you’d like to use.

I have made some palette suggestions with Vanna’s Choice.  I have no affiliation with Lion Brand, but I do love working with Vanna’s Choice, an aran-weight acrylic with a nice balance between softness and sturdiness, and a great feel between the  fingers as you work.  If you use a thinner yarn, your afghan will be smaller, but you can easily add to the size with additional motifs.

For this color scheme that I call Bright and Beachy, I used 7 skeins Beige (B), 5 skeins Aqua (E), 3 skeins Honey (F), 2 skeins Baby Aqua (A), 2 skeins Lamb (D), and 2 skeins Chocolate (C).  Baby Aqua and Lamb are discontinued, sadly, but can still be found in some stores.  You can also substitute Fisherman and Aquamarine.   Keep your eye out for coupons and free shipping deals.  $3.00 per skein is a good price.  If you get to the  joann.com.  Deramores.   Annies.  Amazon. Craftsy.   Patternworks  or Michaels  websites through any of my links, buttons, or banners, I get a small commission.

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Here is a Lavender Heather color scheme.  For this you can use 7 skeins Silver Heather (B), 5 skeins Eggplant (E), 3 skeins Charcoal Grey (F), 2 skeins Purple (C), 2 skeins Dusty Purple (A), and 2 skeins Grey Marble (D).   joann.com.  Deramores.  .  Annies.  Amazon. Craftsy.   PatternworksMichaels

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Here is Sweet Peas in the Morning Rain – You’ll need 7 skeins  Silver Grey (B), 5 skeins Dusty Green (E), 3 skeins Silver Heather (F), 2 skeins Wheat (D), 2 skeins Charcoal Grey (C) and 2 skeins Olive (A).  Joann.com .  Deramores.  .  Annies.  Amazon. Craftsy.   PatternworksMichaels

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I call this one Soft Adobe; you’ll need 7 skeins Beige (B), 5 skeins Terracotta (E), 3 skeins Honey (F), 2 skeins Brick (C), 2 skeins Mustard (A), 2 skeins Dusty Green (D).  joann.com.  Deramores.  .  Annies.  Amazon. Crafts.   PatternworksMichaels

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This one is called Comfort – 7 skeins Taupe (B), 5 skeins Dusty Green (E), 3 skeins Linen (F), 2 skeins Silver Blue (A), 2 skeins Grey Marble (D), 2 skeins Barley (C). Joann.com.  Deramores.  .  Annie’s.  Amazon. Craftsy.   PatternworksMichaels

If you would like to pick your own colors that is fine of course, but keep in mind that Color A ( 7 skeins) and Color B (5 skeins) should have good contrast.