I am excited to announce a crochet along (CAL) that will turn YOUR favorite square into an afghan! It will start on August 9, 2015. A new set of rounds will be released every Sunday at 8:30 am Central Time for 16 consecutive weeks. You can join the Facebook CAL – Crochet A Long group and Ravelry Around the Bases CAL group and crochet along with us or you can finish this project at your own pace. Each week’s clues will be released here on this blog.
What are we making? – We will start with a square block of your choice (more on this next week) and make it into an afghan. You can use any center square you like as you have {multiples of 6 minus 2} number of stitches per side. I’ll give more information on this next week.
Above is a sample project at half way (after 8 weeks). This pattern was worked up while I watched college baseball, thus the name “around-the-bases”. Just like baseball, you go around a base block. And just like baseball, each round (or set of rounds) is different and fun to go around!
Will it be a mystery CAL? – No. A picture of the final sample project will be posted next week on July 12, 2015.
Yarn & Hooks – You can use your favorite yarn and respective hook for this project. My sample is made with Scheepjeswol Cotton 8, which is a fingering/sock/#1/super fine yarn, with a 3.25 mm hook. The pattern also works well with DK and worsted weight yarn.
You can finish this CAL with just one hook but you may want to have a hook one size bigger to make single crochet (sc) stitch rows.
You can use as many or few colors as you would like.
Yardage – The yardage needed will depend on the size of your starting square, the type of yarn you use, and how tightly you crochet. My sample I will be using throughout this CAL was made with an 8-inch wide Tropical Delight in the center. I used 1 skein of 8 colors and a little over 1 skein of 4 colors, with a total of 16 balls with left ove yarn. The blanket weighs 525 g, which is approximately 1,785 m.
My very first sample incorporated Sophie’s Garden as the center block with permission from Dedri Uys of Look at What I Made and took 20 balls of Cotton 8 with some yarn left over. The total weight is 900 g (@3,060 m). Here is a picture of my prototype with Sophie’s Garden in the center but please note that the pattern for the CAL will be slightly different from this sample.
Finished Size – Again, it depends on the yarn and hook you use, how tightly you crochet, and the size of your center block. My sample with Tropical Delight in the center measures 35 inches when finished. My Sophie’s Garden center block measured 17 inches, so the total afghan finished at 45 inches across.
Difficulty – Easy to intermediate. More challenging stitches will have photo tutorials.
Video Tutorials – (drum roll, please!) Video tutorials will be provided each week by Esther of It’s All in a Nutshell. Woo hoo! She is the super video instructor on a variety of crochet CALs, including Sophie’s Universe, and you will absolutely love her tutorials!
Pattern – The pattern will be written in English using American crochet terms.
Schedule – All new info released on this blog at 8:30 am Central Time
Support Groups –
CAL – Crochet A Long on Facebook – Please join this FB group where you can find tips and ask questions, etc. as well as be tempted by other CALs that are going on!
Around the Bases group on Ravelry – This group will be a good place to visit to see other people’s samples, join chats, etc. The group is specifically for this CAL.
I’m really excited about this CAL and hope to see many of you join! Till next time, sayonara!
Hello ChiChi! I am so looking forward to your CAL! When I saw Esther’s blog post and saw your name how can I resist?:) I have a sweetheart bunny called Chichi (as you can see from my user name) Also, I have been wondering what I should do with my first Sophie’s Garden and now I know 🙂 And since I have plenty yarn from this lurking around…. I don’t need to buy anymore… well maybe one or two 😉 Lovely to meet you and I wish you well. Cheers, Elly (in Scotland)
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Very super cool! I am sure your bunny will love to cuddle up as you work on this CAL! Thank you for your comment and hope to see you back in a few weeks!
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Wow, I’m soo excited to join this cal. The sample is georgous. Will you also give us a list of colours you used ? Honestly I’m not very good at choosing colours so this would ver helpful for me. Thanks.
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Thanks! I am not too great with colors either but I will have more info on colors for my center block on July 12. I will also add which colors were used for each round every week.
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Looking forward to this new project. Look interesting
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Thank you for visiting! It will be fun and interesting!
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I can’t wait to start
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Me, too! So glad you found us!
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Can you use Sophie for the center block??
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Yes. Make rounds 1-35 and skip round 36. It will be a popular center!
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great I only have to frog row 36 yay
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So I am ready for ATB. Still not sure about all these different websites, i.e. ravelry, etc.
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Revelry is great (but addictive) because it links to a lot of great patterns!
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Will I be able to make this queen bed size?
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Depends on your center square and the size of yarn but you’ll probably have to repeat the entire pattern twice to make it a queen size
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I posted this question somewhere and now can’t find it (too may projects on my mind!). I am so excited about this CAL – it is gorgeous – I am wondering if Paris Drops will work as I have just ordered some wonderful colours. If so, would I need to go with a 5mm hook or larger? If the yarn is not a good choice I would also like to know that! I can always look for something different! Thanks so much!
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I haven’t used Paris Drops but I have one made with a 5.00 mm hook with worsted yarn and it is just as pretty as the one with lighter weight. Some of the testers are also using worsted yarn and they are coming out gorgeous. The weight of the yarn should not matter although I won’t go super duper chunky.
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Thank you! I just am not sure if a worsted cotton will be too heavy or how this yarn works for blankets. I do want to go worsted for a larger size – just want to make I am choosing a proper worsted.
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I’ve made it with I Love Cotton from Hobby Lobby and it was a little heavy for my liking but I live in Texas!
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Great pick!
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I have my square and yarn all ready, and I am very excited for tomorrow to begin on this. It looks gorgeous! Thank you for the fun in store!!
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Looking so much for it!
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Stunning! Is there any chance, that it will be translated to danish? 😉
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Yes, Esther has it in Dutch. Check out http://www.itsallinanutshell.com
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I love your pattern!! I’ve made 2 blankets and I’ve just started a poncho!! I’m so excited to finish it so I can wear your amazing pattern every where I go!! ❤ ❤
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