WBS Blanket Progress: Repeating Colors

Blanket One: Burgundy and Cherry again

You'll find a bonus tip included in this tutorial... It's a bit out of order because I'm beginning with the darker color Burgundy, and that doesn't make for such great photos. Follow along to learn how to begin a new color without a slip knot, and make your beginning chain look like a regular stitch!

And of course, I can't forget the important stuff: If you need them, download the patterns for the World's Biggest Stocking blankets here. You don't have to make the blankets in the colors specified, but try to keep them bright and cheery. And you don't have to use Caron United, as long as your finished blanket measures 36" (91.5 cm) square. Remember that the patterns for the World's Biggest Stocking Blankets aren't mine! Hmm... Maybe I'll have to design one in honor of the project. New to making the Big Granny Square Blanket? Click here to start at the beginning.

We ended the last post with the last two colors to be used. Now we'll begin to repeat the pattern with the same colors!

But first, this guy has to go! Little Gilly is so lovey, and loves to "make bread", talk, and drool all over anybody. He also likes to snatch yarn, and I think that his affection towards me is purely a ploy so that he can distract me and ruin projects. He wouldn't leave me alone this day, so I thought he'd like to be part of the post. But sorry, I'm no fool Gilligan; once work begins, it's outside for you!

Don't feel bad! He likes to be outside, where he can stalk stationary blades of grass. Not birds, bugs, or anything else a normal cat would chase. Grass. He stares at the same blade of grass for 5 minutes before pouncing on it in triumph. Eh, give him a break, he's blind in one eye!

So, now that Gilly's gone, the round begins the same, starting over with Burgundy if you're following the pattern colors. Remember to scroll ahead for that knot-less join. (Did you think I was going to remind you to chain (ch) one after the corner? Ha! You should know that by now!

You will make (3 dc, ch 1) in each chain-1 space nine times in the 11th round, and ten times in the 12th round. Each corner is made with (3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc, ch 1). Both rounds end with 2 double crochet (dc) in the beginning corner space, and join with a slip stitch (sl st) to the third chain of the beginning ch-6. Bind off and weave in the ends.

Now, for that little mini-tutorial as I begin with Cherry! When you begin a new color with a slip knot on your hook, does the back of the stitch look like this? Does it bother you as much as it used to bother me when I was learning to crochet?

Don't start with a slip knot! Begin with the tail of the yarn to the front of the hook.

Insert your hook. Grab the yarn so that the working end is behind the hook, and the tail is in the front.

Pull the yarn through.

Cross the working yarn over the tail end.

Yarn over from back to front with the tail.

Yarn over with the working yarn in the same manner. Pull the working yarn under the tail and through the stitch to complete your slip stitch.

The tail will still be loose over the working yarn until you make your next chain. Hold the tail to the front of the work. When you yarn over to make your chain, the tail should be below the hook.

Now, the back of your beginning slip stitch will have two vertical loops, making the beginning chain look like a regular stitch at the base.

When working over a chain as for this corner, I like to work over the tail with a few stitches. When beginning this way in the loops of a stitch, I leave the tail loose to weave in later.

In round 13, you will make (3 dc, ch 1) in each ch-1 space eleven times between each corner; twelve times for round 14. Each corner is made the same with (3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc), and the beginning corner is finished with 2 dc. Join to the third chain of the beginning ch-6.

And, as always, here's the version that's worked completely in the round. Remember, the working version is turned every color change. This one has inspired me to make a new tutorial... One that I should follow myself. I have a bad habit of making this mistake: Can you spot it? If not, pretend it's perfect for now, and wait for the tutorial.