Crochet-Along Week 7

[Shandeh]

You both will definitely need more of the MC yarn. Just one skein should do it.

crap I am notoriously a tight crocheter and usually have tons left over when I am done a project. I am struggling to get enuf MC colour to finish the last motif of Clue 6.

However......another trip to the store is not necessarily a bad thing.......

I wonder if maybe you made an extra motif in the MC color? Maybe you could lay out your squares, and double check the quantities for each clue.

[Type1Mom]

I was going to block mine this weekend, but with my daughter coming home from college for spring break and trying to restore her laptop (new hard drive. Warranty covered hard drive, but they didn't even put an operating system back on it, so I spent all weekend working in it)... I didn't even break out the CAL stuff. I think I will wait and see how they are joined together and then decide if I'm going to block them or not.

I got my mats at Toys 'R' Us. Granted, they are the ones with the letters in the middle, but they were cheaper than getting them online.

[Laina]

For those who haven't blocked yet, I'd like to recommend using quilting pins instead of the t- pins. I started with the T's and thanks to one of the members (PICTURE AVATAR IS A DOG) I began using my quilt pins. Much less painful and they go in easier.

Also, if you find a pin that won't go in easily, I'd recommend throwing it away. There's something wrong with the head. It's not you not pushing hard enough.

Also next time I'm blocking after each clue instead of waiting till the end.If you have OA or FM, it's really too much all at one time.

Also, I assumed all my clue 1 motifs were the right size because I checked one, and it was right on. But, it's that yarn color thing and I had to redo all but three. One is still a little too small but I think I'll add a single crochet row and that should help.

Hope everyone's caught up. I'm really glad we had an off week!

Laina

[mommom]

I was finally getting caught up! Finished clue #6 and started blocking the other motifs. Now I've had to make an emergency run to Florida. My mother-in-law went to the emergency room and has been hospitalized with heart problems. They're going to tests on her tomorrow, so we don't know yet if she will just have stints put in or if there open heart surgery. She's already had a triple by-pass 7 or 8 years ago. Hopefully it's not that bad.

Drive safely, Mommom! Praying for you and your family. I will be heading back to Kentucky Monday week, to help care for my mom and take some stress off my sister.

Both of you be careful on your travels and I'll be praying for both of your families. Don't forget to pack the yarn and hooks...

Thanks guys. I've been house and dog (her 2 shih tzus and my 2 shih tzus) sitting while she's in the hospital. Just got good news that her heart is fine and her pain was another problem. So she's being discharged tonight and will be back home tomorrow. She lives outside of Lake City, FL and they had transferred to a hospital in Jacksonville, FL so she's staying with one of her other children in Jacksonville tonight and they're bringing her home tomorrow. I know she'll be glad to get home!

I don't know yet how much longer I'll be here. But I did bring stuff to work on while I'm here. I'm trying that mermaid tears purse (I LOVE that crocodile stitch!!) and I've got a curtain I've been working on and a counted cross-stitch too. So I've got plenty to do if I have time for it.

[AlleyTalley]

Both of you be careful on your travels and I'll be praying for both of your families. Don't forget to pack the yarn and hooks...

Thanks guys. I've been house and dog (her 2 shih tzus and my 2 shih tzus) sitting while she's in the hospital. Just got good news that her heart is fine and her pain was another problem. So she's being discharged tonight and will be back home tomorrow. She lives outside of Lake City, FL and they had transferred to a hospital in Jacksonville, FL so she's staying with one of her other children in Jacksonville tonight and they're bringing her home tomorrow. I know she'll be glad to get home!

I don't know yet how much longer I'll be here. But I did bring stuff to work on while I'm here. I'm trying that mermaid tears purse (I LOVE that crocodile stitch!!) and I've got a curtain I've been working on and a counted cross-stitch too. So I've got plenty to do if I have time for it.

Always pack my yarn and hooks..... usually take more with me than I need to, but it beats running out of things to do while traveling!

[dcrozier]

For those who haven't blocked yet, I'd like to recommend using quilting pins instead of the t- pins. I started with the T's and thanks to one of the members (PICTURE AVATAR IS A DOG) I began using my quilt pins. Much less painful and they go in easier.

Also, if you find a pin that won't go in easily, I'd recommend throwing it away. There's something wrong with the head. It's not you not pushing hard enough.

Also next time I'm blocking after each clue instead of waiting till the end.If you have OA or FM, it's really too much all at one time.

Also, I assumed all my clue 1 motifs were the right size because I checked one, and it was right on. But, it's that yarn color thing and I had to redo all but three. One is still a little too small but I think I'll add a single crochet row and that should help.

Hope everyone's caught up. I'm really glad we had an off week!

Laina

Glad you found the quilting pins helpful--I know they are easier on my fingers and sooo much cheaper which is why I tried them in the first place. I have added a row of single crochet around the outside of all my motifs because joining is easier for me when I have the same nice two little threads to watch for when joining. I tried this with the last CAL and found it especially helpful with the mitred squares--no raw sides and an interesting + in the middle. Adding a row or two sure beats frogging and redoing. I also like the stability ithe SC row gives to some motifs that might be a little too floppy. Good luck with yours--know your CAL will be beautiful when it is finished!!!

[crochet67]

Quilting pins? What is the differnence in these from regular pins that I use for sewing? Several of you say that you like to use them for blocking. Are the heads going to be OK if I used my steam iron in blocking? I have seen packages at Michael's for quilting; some have round heads and others have a 'flower' looking head. Any reason to choose one over the other? Are there different lengths...any suggestions? I appreciate the input.

[AlleyTalley]

Quilting pins? What is the differnence in these from regular pins that I use for sewing? Several of you say that you like to use them for blocking. Are the heads going to be OK if I used my steam iron in blocking? I have seen packages at Michael's for quilting; some have round heads and others have a 'flower' looking head. Any reason to choose one over the other? Are there different lengths...any suggestions? I appreciate the input.

Crochet67, quilt pins are usually non-rusting and longer than sewing pins. I use T-pins for my blocking and yes, they will stand up to your steam iron. If you want quilt pins to steam with, get the glass head ones or use T-pins, either are great.

[Wingbug]

Quilting pins? What is the differnence in these from regular pins that I use for sewing? Several of you say that you like to use them for blocking. Are the heads going to be OK if I used my steam iron in blocking? I have seen packages at Michael's for quilting; some have round heads and others have a 'flower' looking head. Any reason to choose one over the other? Are there different lengths...any suggestions? I appreciate the input.

I use the quilting pins with butterfly heads because they are flat and easier to handle than the pins will balls on the end. My hands don't get quite so tired and sore when I pin things together for sew. They work very well for blocking too. That is what I have been using.

[MissMylin]

I have never blocked anything before, and I wasn't really planning on blocking for this project either. But, since we have the time, I figured I'll give it a try. Wow, am I ever convinced now. I just need to decide if I want to block everything now or just clue #6 which was my original plan.