This is the scheduled three-weekly post for the SAL that I’m doing with several other crafty blogs. As I’m struggling to find time to do any cross stitch, plus keep up with all the crochet that I’m doing, I’m going to use these posts for the Last Dance on the beach blankets. That’ll make sure that I finish them, and then I can get back to some stitching.
Last time I finished the squares for the Rain blanket which was a huge milestone. This time I’ve finished the last squares for the Stars blanket! Whoo hoo.
That’s all the squares done for both blankets now. I am so chuffed!
As you can see, once again I decided not to go with the scheduled square and did one of the previous squares. I think this one, the corner to corner square, was probably my favourite to crochet. it’s so easy to do and works up so quickly.
The Stars blanket is definitely going to be colourful. This is all 48 squares, sitting in their piles.
Pretty, yes? So, while I’d got them all out, I got some paper out and labeled each square with its week number to make it easier to lay them out in the right order. The instructions come with a chart for how to do that and it’s very random so I needed to make it as easy as possible.
Once I’d done that, out of curiosity, I laid it all out on the floor. Just to see what it would look like.
And then, I somehow found myself with a crochet hook in hand, doing the zipper stitch to join the squares together. I haven’t finished the joining, but I have done all the vertical joins and two of the horizontal joins. It looks quite good.
It feels about three times larger than it actually is when you’re joining it as all the squares are on your lap at the same time but are all trying to go in different directions. I’ve been using stitch markers to hold the squares together, while doing the vertical joins, to stop them twisting as otherwise they flap about all over the place. The stitch itself is easy peasy, but wrangling the blanket is not. There’s not much more joining to do though so there’s every chance there’ll be a finish for the next update as I only have the border to whack on next.
For the stitch-a-long I’m linking up to these lovely blogs:
Avis, Claire, Gun, LucyAnn, Kate, Jess, Sue, Constanze, Debbierose, Christina, Susan,
Kathy, Margaret, Cindy, Helen, Steph, Linda, Catherine, Wendy
Not everyone does an update each time, but their blogs are always worth a visit.
February 22, 2017 at 3:35 PM
That is going to be an awesome blanket!! I love all the blocks you have done and it looks so colorful. You have done such a great job keeping up with all of those squares. Can’t wait to see it come together.
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February 24, 2017 at 8:37 PM
Thanks. It’s still not quite assembled. It’s slower going than I’d thought, but I’m persevering 🙂
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February 20, 2017 at 7:06 AM
Well done, great work!
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February 24, 2017 at 8:38 PM
Thanks 🙂
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February 19, 2017 at 10:43 PM
This is such a neat project! I love it
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February 24, 2017 at 8:38 PM
Thank you 🙂
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February 19, 2017 at 6:24 PM
Looks great, can’t wait to see it finished
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February 19, 2017 at 6:29 PM
Thanks. I’m quite looking forward to that myself 🙂
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February 19, 2017 at 6:08 PM
Woohoo! What great progress! It is funny how sometimes you pick up a needle or hook and suddenly you’ve done more than you thought you would. 😉
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February 19, 2017 at 6:29 PM
I know. You sort of get into that zone, don’t you 🙂
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February 19, 2017 at 4:55 PM
So pretty. Can’t wait to see the finished blanket’
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February 19, 2017 at 6:30 PM
Thanks. Almost there now 🙂
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February 19, 2017 at 3:29 PM
So many great crochet pattern! It´s gonna be a lovely blanket!
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February 19, 2017 at 6:30 PM
Thanks. It’s been great fun 🙂
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February 19, 2017 at 1:15 PM
Carole, these blankets make me want to try on crochet, they are very inspiring! The colors and textures are really quite amazing. Are you going keep them, or do you have other plans for them? Really beautiful work, you’ll be back stitching soon!😊
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February 19, 2017 at 2:04 PM
You should give it a try, it’s really quite easy and very relaxing. I’ve no idea what I’ll do with them once they’re done. I make them for the pleasure of crocheting rather than with any goal in mind. They’ll probably end up scattered around the house although I may reach saturation point soon LOL
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February 19, 2017 at 2:06 PM
You can always rotate them every few months…it would be like redecorating!😄
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February 19, 2017 at 2:11 PM
I like your thinking. That sounds like a plan 🙂
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February 19, 2017 at 12:31 PM
So many pretty square this will look stunning when its all stitched together
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February 19, 2017 at 2:05 PM
Thanks. It’s a lovely design and it’s been fun doing different stitches.
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February 19, 2017 at 11:41 AM
Well done! This looks fabulous! I can only imagine how difficult it is to stitch the squares up!
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February 19, 2017 at 2:06 PM
Thanks 🙂
It’s not so much difficult as it is awkward. It’s only using slip stitch but the squares seem to have a mind of their own and won’t hold still 🙂
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February 19, 2017 at 2:21 PM
Anything that involves crochet is amazing and difficult to me!
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February 19, 2017 at 11:38 AM
lovely blocks and so many bright colours and textures!
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February 19, 2017 at 2:06 PM
This one is quite bright. It’s Stephen’s choice. Mine is up next with the more subtle colours 🙂
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February 19, 2017 at 9:45 AM
Fantastic progress, looking fantastic
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February 19, 2017 at 2:06 PM
Thank you 🙂
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February 19, 2017 at 9:37 AM
Wow! What progress. As a very inadequate crocheter, I find all these beautiful and infinitely varied squares amazing…
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February 19, 2017 at 2:07 PM
Thank you. I feel the same way about your quilting 🙂
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February 19, 2017 at 4:14 PM
To each her own, then!
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February 19, 2017 at 9:33 AM
It’s gorgeous! I love all the textures and the bright colours you’ve chosen. It would be great to have another soon 🙂
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February 19, 2017 at 2:09 PM
Thanks 🙂
I can’t take credit for the colour choices though. Scheepjes put together three different yarn packs, Stars, Sea and Rain. Stephen picked Stars and I picked Rain. If I’d had to select colours to go together myself, I’d still be deliberating now LOL
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February 19, 2017 at 7:10 AM
Ooh, looking good 😀 I can’t wait to have the time to do the Stars one, it’s so pretty! (And I really need a blanket of my very own!)
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February 19, 2017 at 2:11 PM
Thank you 🙂
Hope you get the time soon. It’s nice that each square feels like a tiny finish so it’s quite satisfying to do. (and everyone needs a blanket of their own)
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