Crochet-Along Week 7

[labrige]

For those of you complaining about the "break" - shame on you for not paying attention at the beginning. It was quite clear that there would be at least one of these catch-up weeks for those of us who just can't spend our entire day crocheting. And this break is much appreciated by me so that I can get caught up like the rest of you.
Now I'll step off my soap-box.

Of course, a pause is necessary, but I remember the 2010 CAL .... and I think the week "break" was for the sewing ... In fact, I'm not so sure, because I was really very busy with the class councils in my high school, and I finished just in time the clues .... Now, I'm retired, and it's not the same rush ....

[JazzHooked]

For those of you complaining about the "break" - shame on you for not paying attention at the beginning. It was quite clear that there would be at least one of these catch-up weeks for those of us who just can't spend our entire day crocheting. And this break is much appreciated by me so that I can get caught up like the rest of you.
Now I'll step off my soap-box.

oh I didn't say I didn't understand, nor was I complaining. I'm just disappointed! I figured it might be a catch-up week, and was sort of expecting it, but I AM disappointed I won't get to do something new!

jaz.

[joroo]

Totally bummed out!!!! I was hoping to complete this afghan for a wedding gift Apr. 7th. I may be hard pressed to get it done between Wed. and Sat.

[craftycreoleJenn]

I was anticipating a break week but I was hoping it would show up after some of the layout was revealed, its the sewing together of things that usually slows me down. Oh well, I can finish up that test pattern, and those bathtime scrubbies, and help DD with her stuffed owl, and start that baby blanket...I guess I'll be ok after all!

[JLoriR]

Yay - a catch up week I am so behind from trying to stay caught up on the KAL - still behind in both.

[Jen]

Totally bummed out!!!! I was hoping to complete this afghan for a wedding gift Apr. 7th. I may be hard pressed to get it done between Wed. and Sat.

Sorry Joroo, we won't have all the clues released in time for that. We still have to seam and do a border... and have show and tell!

[Kaleigh]

Hi everybody!

We know a lot of people have finished their motifs, and that's great! Not everybody crochets at the same pace, however, and because this was a CAL geared at everybody from new crocheters to experienced, everybody works at a different pace. We've been mentioning since the beginning that there will be a catch-up week, and we know many members have been depending on using that to complete their motifs. Plus, everybody works differently - some people block as they go, while others wait until the end and have a blocking bonanza.

When planning the CAL we knew it was important to have a rest week so newer crocheters (and those with less time to crochet, or those who simply don't crochet as quickly as others) have a chance to get caught up before the seaming week.

If you're done your motifs, this week take time to block (we promise it's worth it!) and come up with your own ideas for motif arrangements, which you can share on the Blanket Possibilities post. Since a lot of members aren't considering blocking, I thought I'd explain why it's wise to block your motifs. The CAL motifs involve a lot of open, almost lacy, spaces, but they show up best when the fabric has blocked because it allows everything to lay uniformly flat, and many of the stitches to open up to their full potential. Check out the Ravelry discussion on the befores and afters of blocking to see how amazingly blocking can help a project.

[lambdamuepsilon]

same here, stitchychic. Well, i do block for certain things, like clothes, especially if they're curling, but these I haven't.

anyone ever blocked a large one-piece blanket? I'm going to HAVE to block the orange mandala blanket i'm working on in order to get it to lie properly. but it's big (about 5' diameter), i have to use steam, and I dont' have a non-wooden surface anywhere handy I can do that one...can't use carpeted floors, can't use hardwood floors, can't use wooden kitchen table. suggestions? weather's not nice enough to do it outside on the deck..and that's wood too! when i was a teenager I once put a towel down on my mom's good antique mahogany dining room table and did my ironing on that cuz I was too lazy to get out the ironing board.....boy did i catch hell for THAT, and for good reason. I put a permanent white spot on the table which is still there (it's my table now).

jaz

I've seen photos where people have used a bed to block on but I've never done that myself. I use the kids' play mat squares that fit together and I lay them on the floor (we have hardwood everywhere too). They're cheap to buy and you can store them easily as each square is only about 2 ft in size.

[dkcrocheter]

Oh good I have time to go check out the ideas now

[Laina]

I am so amazed at many of the negative comments.

For many here, they need the catch-up time. I think it's very reasonable, and I'm happy to give them a week to do that.

I have so much I can do to fill in the week like work on gifts I'm making for friends or family. I also looked through all my motifs and a couple from clue 3 are a tad bigger than their sisters, so I'm going to do some frogging this week.

I wasn't going to block either, but since we have a break, I think I'll give it a go. I think I'll be happy if I do.

I also love doing puzzles, so it will be fun to move the motifs around on the carpet. I think I'll vacuum first.


I love this mystery Cal and will want to do the next one.
I so appreciate the Bernat ladies and designers for their time and effort for putting this all together for us. Thank you!
I have loved meeting fellow crocheters and being able to chat via the forum.
I love all the photos.
I love the other forums like what are you working on, recipes, other Cal's, etc.
I love learning new tips, techniques.
I love the waverly yarn colors.

I have blocked before, but they were doilies. Look forward to learning how to block other things. For blocking doilies, I use the bottom of the bed in the guest bedroom. I pull up the sheets and covers from the bottom to only the part of the bed I'm using.

I lay a towel down and block on top of that to protect the mattress. I use rustproof pins.

Have fun this week everyone.

Laina