Lion Brand Crochet Along - Part 3: Finished!

So I finally finished my afghan...

I'm pretty satisfied with how it turned out. It's nice and warm and will be a nice addition to my future nursery. I had a lot of fun doing this project and it was neat connecting with other crocheters and seeing their progress. This was my first CAL and I really enjoyed it. I specifically liked the interaction with the other crocheters. This project also helped me to get into the world of crochet, because I am now on ravelry and etsy and am learning more about the crochet world every day.

I think the pattern is worth doing again, however I will definitely add different blocks next time. I'm actually tossing around ideas in my head for my own sampler afghan and the ideas that others gave for this project will help me develop that design. I'm excited about crochet again and I'm going to try my hand as a designer. I'm hoping that I can be successful with the ideas I have. Later on, I'll post some more about some of the designs that I am working with.

On the Hooks: New scarf design I am working out with Lion Brand Color Waves.

Lion Brand Crochet Along part 2

As an update on how the afghan is doing, I've gotten 4 panels down now and only have 1 more panel plus the border to do. It is turning out to be a pretty blanket. I think it will be great to have for future little ones. I think if I do this pattern again, I will incorporate a few more different types of blocks just to break up the monotony of it all. I may replace Block 1 entirely because I think there are a lot more exciting and better looking stitches than just the single crochet ribbing. I am crocheting the blocks together which I like better than the whipstitch method (it's much faster for one reason), but the way I am doing it it leaves a seam on the backside of the work that doesn't look real nice. I'll have to see if there is a way to join the blocks by crochet and NOT have that seam. All in all though, I think this is a project worth repeating. It is fast, simple, and would make a great last minute gift.

In other news, I just received a box full of nifty new yarns for me to try. I've ordered a few different ones that I have not had the chance to try yet to expand my knowledge of yarn. I'm excited to get to play with these new types of yarn.

I think the next few projects that I tackle will be a couple of cute amigurumi animals (because I have recently been sucked into the world of amigurumi) and I also have a few patterns that I have scrabbling around in my head that are just dying to get out on paper and into yarn. There are also various Christmas presents that are crying for attention. I'm so excited to be graduating in December because this means that I will have all this extra time to work on all these nifty projects.

Lion Brand Crochet Along

About a week back, I joined a crochet along hosted by Lion Brand. We are doing a sampler afghan. So far I've had fun doing it. I have three and one half columns done for a total of 20 blocks. I spent the last couple days in Maine as a chaperone for a church teen retreat and that gave me a lot of time to work on my squares.
I'm not following the pattern to the letter (but what type of crocheter would I be if I did?).  I'm using a K hook as opposed to the P called for in the pattern.  I am also using Bernat Softee Baby yarn in Mint.  I love the softness of this yarn.  I've used it in a few different colors to make me a couple pairs of warm socks to wear in the winter.  I'm enjoying the project so far and am anxious to see what the afghan will look like when it is finished.  You can check out my progress on my new ravelry account under the name WenP.